New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-21
NEWS OF THE NAVY.
RETIREMENT OF THREE
REAR-ADMIRALS
COMMODoREs WHO ARE TO TAKE THEIR PLACES
STRENGTHENING THE PACIFIC SQUAD
RoN-TIIE vEsUvIUs TO BLOW
Up DERELICTS

Up DERELICTs.
Washington Jan. 2O.-Rear- Admiral George r.
Belknap will be sixty-two years old on Monday. and
will be placed on the retired list from that date on
account of age lie closed his In the active
service to-day. Admiral 3ellnap appointed
to the Navy from New-IIampshire as a midship-
man in 1876 The vacancy created by his retirement
will be filled by the promotion OF Commodore John
G. Walker who succeeded Admiral Beknap on
Monday last as president OF the Naval Board OF
Inspection and Survey.
Two more ear-admirals will retire in April The
retirement of Admiral Benham viii promote Com
modore f. NJ. RI May. and the retirement Of
Admiral Irwin will promote Commodore Joseph s
Skerrett. When Commodore Ramsay Is promoted
he will probably be assigned 70 the command OF
the North Atlantic Station Commodore Skerrett
will remain in command OF tie Asatc station
Commodore Richard W Meade will soon be as
signed to a command He would prefer an assign
ment to the North Atlantic Station having desire
TO develop the naval reserves. but the exigencies
of the service likely 10 assign him to the Pacific
Station 10 relieve Admiral Irwin
In the interest OF strengthening the Pacific Naval
Station Secretary Herbert to-day ordered the gun
boat Bennington from Nice. France. to San Fran
cisco Th. order was sent by cable to Rear Admiral
Erben commanding the European Station. and he
was directed 20 have the Bennington proceed by way
Of the Straits OF Magellan The withdrawal OF the
one vessel the flagship Chicago. and the Bennington
assignment the Pacific Is probably preliminary
to orders sending her 10 Behrng Sea The regi'a-
tons presented by the Paris Court Of Arbitration
have made II necessary that a good sized fleet or
naval and revenue vessels shall be sent 10 the seal
islands to maintain the protective zone established
When the Brazilian is over. the Charleston. and
probably the San Francisco Will return 10 the Pacc
Station and II IL likely that they or the vessels
which they relieve will be sent to the sealing waters
Secretary Herbert has taken no action AZ yet
on the report OF the Naval Stability Board recon-
mending that the gunboats Machias and Casiine
shall be heightened fourteen feet to make them
stable and seaworthy. II Is learned that the plea
OF the board contemplated the utilization Of the
additional space gained by the lengthenng. for
storing coal and Il Is estimated that "igh'y-hve
tons in addition TO the regular coal capacity. can b.
carried The board in its report says that this ad-
ditlon 70 the coal bunkers has the twof9hi object
vessels sufficient additional weight 10 overcome
the tendency to top-hedviness caused by the heavy
guns ana masts
The dynamite cruiser V~suvus returned to New
York this morning from New-I.ondon. where she
has been on duty connected WIN the ulhi OF the
MONTGOMERY The Nesuvlus VIII be lifted out for a
cruise along the Atlantic Coast. probably 10 the
West Indies. with instructions I" BIO" np an OBJ
structions To navigation.
The Navy Department has been officially informed
Of the md Of an o.d mp. sort OF "il-o -the-wsp
Of the ocean. owing aliegiance to no Government
and claimed by none After the war between
Paraguay and the combined forces OF Brazil and the
Argentine Republic. the Government OF Paraguay
presented TO the United States n wooden warship
a tribute Of respect Congress never authorized
the Navy Department to accept the present. and
the question of ownership was LEFT in doubt The
Navy Department dd not feel authorized 10 use
the vessel to send her back 10 Paraguay, so the
old ship has been lying for years al the Mare
Island Navy Yard. Some time ago she sunk and
recently the Navy Department found II necessary
10 destroy the hulk to open the channel The
official report Of the comman liant Of the Navy Yard.
just received al the Department. says that the
destruction has taken place.