The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-08-18
OUR NEW ApMIRALs.

When last month the president ap-
proved the retirement Of Admiral Stan
ton and signed the nomination of Com
modore Meade to be rear admiral the
big naval deal that has been going on
for some time came to an end. The
navy is now pretty well transferred
from it's old chiefs to its new. There
are still remaining two of the old
admirals, but they will retire soon, and
by February next when Rear Admiral
Gherardl retires, the new officers will
be in command.
At the beginning of this year there
were six rear admirals on the active
list, Admirals Gherardi, Belknap, Har-
mony, Benham, Irwin and Greer. The
| terms of all these officers except Greer's
expire by age limit in 1894. Admiral
Greers time expires on February rs
of next year Following them the rank
ing officers of the navy were Commo-
dores George Brown, John G. Walker,
Francis M. Ramsey, Oscar f. Stanton,
Richard w. Meade, and Charles G.
Carpenter. That is to say, these were
the ranking officers excepting the COM
modores who retire in 1894 and 1895.
The retiring commodores, wit hthe date
of their retirements, were: Commo-
dore Aaron w. Weaver, on July 1: Com
modore Joseph Fyffe, on July 20; Com,
modore Henry Erben, on September 6,
and Commodore Joseph S. skerrett, on
January s, 1895. Only one of these,
however, would become a rear admiral
and that one was Commodore Skerrett;
as the others, although retiring under
the age limit, were not first in rank
through promotion, and they would not
step in as rear admirals dropped off
the list. Now 1t makes a good deal
of difference to an officer high up inc
commodore or a rear admiral. In the
first place, of course, there is the title
and the grade; and nthe second place,
as read admiral an officers retiring
pay is $3.50 year more than If he re-
tired as a commodore; therefore the
friends of these officers, Commodore
Fyffe and Commodore Erben, evolved
scheme which would enable them to
stand for while on the list of rear
admirals before their retirement.
This was that when, as would hap
pen early in the year, Commodore Sker-
rett became rear admiral, he should
voluntarily resign, until of serving out
his time until next January. and then
the two commodores would be pro-
NOTED in this manner: Admiral Sker-
retr was to resign in July. which would
promote Comn20dore iFyffe; Commo-
dore lryffe wo;ild be retired as an
on July 20, and on that day
Commodore Stanton would become a
rear edmiral. He, however, was ex-
pected to agree not to serve out his
twenty-five months as rear admiral.
for he would have retired on July IS.
1896, but to resign and give Commodore
Erban his grade. There was good rea-
son for this manipulation, If it need
80 be called, on behalf of Commodore
IDtHt DeCduSe ne was already actingI
ear admiral in command of the Euro :
'ean station, and has twice failed by +.
mere chance of promotion by congress-
md If the promotion had taken place :
le would have ranked Commodore
Walker and thus have been rear ad-
niral Immediately after Rear Admiral,
Brown.
This arrangement has now been car
led out fully, and the rear admirals
4 the navy at present are as follows:
Admirals Gherardi, Greer, Brown.
Ramsey, and Erben. Adinira,sI
'elknap, Harmony. Benham, and Ir-
iin have all retired. AdmiraIs Stanton
nd Skerrett have resigned, Admiral /
yffe has retired and Admiral Erben =
as got his grade. Commodore Meade
as been placed in command of the
'orsh Atlantic squadron, and has
oisted his flag on board the New =
-ork :