Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-29
BIG NAVAL EAL|
Plan to Retire Three Officers With the
Admiral's Rank.
Promotions That Will Undoubtedly
Follow as Well ms Transfers
of station.

A big naval deal is in process of success
full elimination. 1t has been adroitly man.
aged and its results will be far reaching,
so far as the line Of the naval service is
concerned. 1t involves the retirement of an
admiral and the promotion and retirement
Of several commodores, with the conse-
Quent promotion of officers of lower grades.
The plan has been arranged in the special
interest of Commodores Fyffe and Erben,
and its coDsummation will result in their
retirement with the rank of admiral. q
grade one above their present rank. and
incidentally in the promotion of officers at
the head of the next lower grades. Secre-
tary Herbert has indorsed the scheme. and
its successful accomplishment depends al
together ON the action of Admiral Jos. s.
Skerrett who Is known to favor II, provided
he suffers no personal disadvantage.
What the Plan Involves.
The plan involves the retirement of three
high-ranking naval officers at a grade not
otherwise obtainable. 1t has been under
consideration for several months, but has
never before presented the same prospects
of success. According to present arrange
ments. Admiral Skerrett, who now COM
mands the Asiatic station, Is to retire i'm
mediately under the forty years service
law. instead of waiting until next winter
when he would be compelled by law to go
on the retired list on account of his being
sixty-two years Of age. His retirement
will result in the promotion of Commodore
Joseph Fyffe. lately in command of the
Boston navy yard. who otherwise would be
retired at his present rank on account Of
age on the 2sth proximo. Commodore Fyffe
will retire Immediately on receiving his
commission to the advanced grade, and
Commodore o. F. Stanton. now in COM
mand of the North Atlantic station, will
be made an admiral. He. too. will then vol
nm "a r. 1x ratf nd t1a
ated in the list Of rear admirals will he
filled by the promotion Of Commodore Hem
ry Erben. now commanding the European
station, and Will permit his retirement as
or that grade In September next. Commo-
dore Richard Meade will then become the
ranking commodore in the navy and Cap
tains montgomery Sicard. f. O. Matthews
and Charles s. Norton will become COM
modores.
The Naval Academy superintend-
ency.
Several important changes in naval COM
manders are based on these and other pros
pective changes Rear Admiral John G,
walker, now In command Of the Pacific
station. will be relieved Of that duty in a
Few weeks In order to permit him to as
sumo the superintendency Of the Naval
Academy. He Is now at Honolulu but is
expected to return to this country in a few
weeks. His most probable successor in
Soinihaho Oh the naval forceS on the Pacific
Is Commodore Charles c. Carpenter. The
command of the Asiatic station, to be va
Gated by the retireme ent of Admiral Skier
rett, Will most probably devolve upon Com
modore Lester A. Beardslee. Commodore
Richard W. Meade will undoubtedly sue
coed Commodore Stanton in command of
the North Atlantic station.
1t Is yet too early to predict the successor
of Commodore Erben as commandant Of the
European station. he will not be relieved
from that duty until the fall, but II seems
to be settled that either the New York or
the Columbia will succeed the Chicago as
the flagship OF that station. Commodore
VIM. A. Kirkland will probably continue In
command of the South Atlantic station for
some time to come.