Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-12
R E RING ADMIRAL S
There Will Be a Number of Important
Naval Changes.
Admfrals Belknsp, Benham and Irwta
to Go Out of Active Service
The Promotions.

A number Of very important changes in
the navy will occur during the early spring
consequent upon the retirement OF three
rear admirals and resulting promotions all
along the line. The first retirement win be
that Of Admiral George Z. Belknap. whose
service on the active list will end on the
I'D instant. On the same date Commodore
John @. Walker. now on special duty I'm
Washington, will be promoted to the grace
of rear admiral. and will relieve Admiral
Beiknap of his duties as president of the
naval inspection board, with headquarters
at the Navy Department. The next i'm
porlant retirement will be that of Rear
Admiral A f. X. Benham, commanding the
south Atlantic station. He was recently in
command of the North Atlantic, or home.
station but was detached from that duty
when II became necessary TO send his nag
Ship San Francisco. 10 the brazilian .ta-
tion. Ii is expected that he will arrive at
hio today or tomorrow. He will relieve
capt Picking of command of the United
states forces at Rio at once. Can't Pick
ing mas been In command there ever since
the summary detachment Of Acting Rear
ADMIRAL stanton, because of his premature
recognition Of the insurgents
Admiral Benham's Service,
Admiral Benham's service I'm Rr.zn ara
i'm fact his active service in the trn,teo
states navy. will terminate by his retire.
ment April 10th next Commodore Frsncis
NJ Ramsay, who has been on duty in thu
city for the past four years. as chief of the
bureau OF navigation, will be promoted 10
inc grace of rear admiral ON the same data
ana VIII soon thereafter be given an as
signment more in accord with his Increased
rank possibly the command of the Pacific
or OF the North Atlantic station This LAT
yer command Is now held by Acting Rear
Aomirai stanton, who. however was as
signed thereto with the distinct undervtand-
ing that he would be transferred TO the
command of the South Atlantic station on
, .ne rsurement OF Admiral Benhsm. Ii 10
regarded as certain that Commodore RAM
say VIII get an important sea command i'm
the near future, even IL IL shall be found
necessary to assign another ofYicer TO the
spring. S
Admiral Irwin.
The third retirement referred to IN thar
OF Rear Admiral John Irwin. now In COM
fnand OF the naval forces at Honolulu, who.
UP 10 Few weeks ago, was In command
OF the Asiatic station He relieved Com
modore Joseph s. Skerrett OF duty at Homo
luiu, ana the latter took his place ON tie
Asiatic station. His service at the fa-
waiian capital viii be short, however. m
under the law he goes on the retired list
on the 18th of April. ana thereby promotes
Commodore Skerrett to the full grade of
rear admiral The latter's promotion win
anord him some compensation for the re-
Election cast upon him by the adminfstrs-
ton In relieving him from duty at honoiuIu
in the midst Of important diplomatic nego-
tiations. and that, too. by an officer who
had only few months to serve AS pub
nshed In The Star at the time Commodore
Skerrett was relieved from duty at Homo
lulu because he was supposed to be IN
sympathy with the cause Of annexation
and therefore might not be a good man 90
enforce the Presidents plans for the res
toration Of Queen Liliuokalani
The Pacific station, of which the i1a-
waiian Islands are but a part, and which
also includes Boring sea, is probably the
most important command In the navy at
present, and is likely TO be for some months
10 come, In consequence OF the unsettled
state of affairs I'm Hawaii and the neces-
sity for strong fleet of vessels 70 patrol
the waters of Boring sea during the COM
ing season for the enforcement of the regu-
lations adopted at the Paris arbitration for
the protection OF the seal rooker1es ana
the preservation of the species. Az Al
ready stated. this command viii be vacated
In April next by the retirement of Admiral
Irwin.