Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-12
PROMOTIONS IN DEMAND
Naval Officers Who Desire to Retire With
High Rank.
A Grand Shifting Among Comm cd ores
mand of Active Stations.

| The plan whereby two rear admirals in
| the navy were to advance their own retire
| ment from active service, so that Commo-
dores Joseph Fyffe and Henry Erben might
be enabled 10 retire with the rank and pay
OF rear admirals, has fallen through. The
two commodores named retire in July and
September of this year, respectively, and
in the regular course of events, they will
20 on the retired list in their present
grade. Admiral Gherardi, who is the rank
ing officer in the navy, is great friend of
Commodore Erben, and is willing to make
a personal sacrifice to serve him. He will
retire regularly on account of age next No
vember, but is eligible for retirement now
under the thirty years service law. The
I retirement OF two admirals before the first
of July next would insure the promotion of
Commodores Fyffe and ErDen to the va
cancies, and enable them to retire with the
I rank and pay OF admiralS. The retirement
of Admiral Gherardi would help Comrno-
dore Fyfe. but alone would not benefit
Commodore Erben. He was willing, now
ever, to retire in the interest of k'yffe if
some other admiral also near the retiring
age would retire in the interest of his
friend, Commodore Erben.
Admiral Greer is next in line to Admiral
Gherardi, and will retire a few months
later. He is similarly eligible for retire
ment at the present time under the thirty
years service law. The plan was proposed
to him, but he would not listen to it. Ad-
niral Greers refusal 10 enter into the ar
arrangement is said to be based on the idea
that its acceptance would prevent him
from being the ranking officer Of the navy
for the few months that will intervene be-
tween the retirement of Admiral Gherardi
and his own retirement.
Another Plan.
1t is therefore settled that Commodore
Fyne at least will retire in July, with his
present rank. Commodore Erben whose
regular retirement does not occur until Sep
TENDER, has not yet abandoned hope of
reaching the higher grade before retirement.
He has abandoned all idea however of
gaining 1t through the voluntary retirement
of the necessary number Of admirals. He
is OF opinion that the same object can be
accomplished. with the Presidents as
sistance in another way. In April next the
President will have the appointment of two
admirals in consequence of the retire
ment of Admiral Benham COM
handing the Brazilian fleet and of Ad-
miral Irwin. commanding the Pacific
squadron. According to the usual practice
in the navy of promotion by seniority, Com
modores Ramsay and Skerrett would natu-
rally succeeded to these vacancies, but It is
held that the selection rests entirely
within the discretion Of the President
Thlse claim has induced the friends
or Commodore Erben to apply for his ap-
pointment as an admiral to fill the vacancy
caused by the retirement of Admiral Ben
nam. They show by the records Of the
raVy that Commodore Erben is entitled to
this preference by reason of priority of ser
vice. Admiral Walker recently promoted)
and Commodore Ramsay entered the service
on the same day and were promoted to the
various grades on the same date up to the
grade of captain, which Admiral Walker
reached five months in advance OF Commo-
dore Ramsay. These two officers entered
the service midshipmen October g. 1850
Commodore Erben entered the service as a
midshipman June II, 1S4S nearly two years
before the officers named. and was senior to
them in rank up to the reorganization Of
the navy, just after the war in July 1866
when Erben, Skerrett, Fyne and Stan
ton were passed over" in the interests
OF Walker and Ramsay, who were appoint
ed commanders over their heads and have
Kept above them on the list in the various
higher grades ever since. The friends of
Commodore Erben contend that he was not
fairly treated when Walker and Ramsay
were jumped over his head, and claim to
have the written admission of those gentle
men to that effect M
Coming AdmiraIs.
Admiral Walker has always resisted the
claims of Commodore Erben for preference
In this matter. 1t Is understood, however.
that Commodore Ramsay has frequently
expressed the opinion that Commodore Err
ben had not been justly dealt with 1t is
therefore assumed that he will offer no OBJ
lection to the proposition to make Com
n odore Erben an admiral on the retire.
ly. as even then he ramsay could be pro-
NOTED on the retirement of Admiral Irwin
hve days later. Commodore Skerrett, who
Is next in line to Ramsay. will undoubt-
edly oppose This plan. for the reason that
II VIII postpone his promotion from April
or the retirement of Irwin. to Septem-
Der. on the retirement of Erben. Commo-
dore Skerrett who was recently in com
Eand of the Pacific station. is now in com
nand of the Asiatic station. Commodore
Eroen Is in command of the European sta
ton. The Chicago, which is his flagship
and the only ship on the station, was at
Smyrna at last reports.
Active Commands.
Commodore VIM. A. Kirkland will sue
coed Admiral Irwin in command of the
Pacific station, Commodore O. F. Stanton
Will succeed Admiral Benham in command
of the South Atlantic station, Commodore
r. w. Meade will succeed Commodore
Stanton in command of the North Atlantic
station and Commodore Thos. o. Selfrfige
will probably succeed Commodore Erben in
command of the European station. Admir-
al Walker, who is now president of the
board of inspection, will succeed Capt
Phythian superintendent of the Naval
Academy in June next and Commodore
Ramsay will probably continue on duty as
chief of the bureau of navigation until his
retirement