The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-29
Commanders Who May Be Detached
From Sea Service.
THEIR TERMS OF DUTY ENDED,
Among Those Who Have Nearly scry.
ed the Time Required Arc Capts.
schiey, Evans, Miller, Farquhar,
Howison ana Piaman. and Com.
manders Perry and Watson.
Washlngton T!mes.l

Ihere VIII be shaks-up among the
commanding officers of the North Attain
TIC squadron, should the Navy Depart
nlent FOLLOW Its custom of allowing Off
GERS or command rank to serve a re-
CURED period and then detachlnE them
LOT other DUTY. For a number of years,
oWihS 10 the comparatively few vessels
IN active service, officers OF the rank of
captain have seldom secured more than
Two ana three YEARS duty in charge of
vessels, while commanders have been
frequently limited to one cruise OF two
ana half or three years duration. But
until the navy is increased the length OF
sea service of the higher grade of OFF,
GERS cannot be materially heightened
FOLLOWING the custom OF the depart
ment' capt. w. S. Schley now in charge
OIL the flagship New York OF the home
station. should be relieved OF his com
mand and assigned to shore duty next
month, when he will have completed
three years at sea under his present
commission, the greater part, however
Oh which was as captain of the cruis-
er Baltimore.
Capt. Schley is not far from the top
Oh o., MS grade. and when he is forced to re-
ilnquish sea duty he will remain ashore
until he secures flag rank. In other
words. he Will not have after that q sim
gle command at sea, but direct fleet.
Just who will be Capt. Schley's sue
cessor is not to be determined until the
return of Secretary Herbert from abroad,
and there is little probability of any
changes being made in the present du-
Ties or hish-ranking officers until he
again resumes active control of the navy.
Ihere VIII unquestionably be an ac-
tNe competition for the New York
which Is regarded as most desirable
snip to command, and which will. in
addition remain the flagship so long as
Admiral Bunce presides over the home
station.
SHORE DUTY FOR CAPT. EVANS.
Capt Merrill Miller, commanding the
cruiser Raleigh. will have served the
usual time allotted officers of his rank
under their present commission OH Nov.
capt. n: II. Farquhar who took
coih'a nd OF the Newark in June. will
nave been at sea two and a half years
under his pres mt rank on October 10
The early part of Capt. Farquhar's
service since he assumed his present title
was s captain of the Inflated Trenton
Soon after her loss he became chief of
the yards and docks bureau for four
years, anu later 2ommandant of the
League Island maynard
Capt. Robley d. Evans. of the In,li-
ana. VIII have served two years at sea
on october ]. and as he is said 10 desilA
detail as member of the lighthouse
BOARD 1t Is not unlikely he may succeed
ly one year on duty here. Capt Evans
was first sent to S:a on this term OF
service in command of the New York.
ana succeeded to the command of the
first battleship of the navy when she
entered service, about one year ago
His close friendship for the Presl-
dent and his desire 10 return to Wash
ington makes 1t probable that his wishes
VIII be consulted. Capt. Bartlett, in this
event, may succeed TO the command of
some or the vessels now on the home sta :
ton. although there will be vacancies
among other fleets about the same time.
CHANGES IN FLEET COMMANDS
Cant. Howison. recently attached TO
the Mare Island Navy-yard and given
charge OF the oregon. is another officer
VINO is possibly slated for return again
| TO shore duty. owing to his having per-
| formed an allotted period of sea service
| ana the fact that other officers of his
grade are now due for commands
Among the latter is Capt. L. S. Cooke,
assistant chief of the Navigation Blu
| reau. an officer of fine executive quail
| lies and one who could be assigned to
some of the best ships of the navy.
| CAPT. COOKIES name has not yet been
| considered in connection with any of
the approaching vacancies. and Score
| larV Herbert may retain him in office
! until the close of this administration.
! though the chances are that the C.p-
| tam Will hoist his first pennant under
| his present grade before Congress
meets.
Other officers who are expected to be
relieved from command shortly are
| Capt Pigman. Commander Perry. and
Commander Watson.
The responsibility of fleet commands
| Is one that no one at the Navy Depart
| inent can assume except the Secretary,
and lust before his departure for Eu-
rome he announced the only vacancy
that would be created this fall would
he the detachment of Rear Admiral
Eeardslee from command of the Pacific
station.
The Admiral will then have served
| two wears as fleet commander, and some
other officer of flag rank will be en-
| titled to take up the duties of the posi-
ton.
LIEUT.. LYMAN IN TROUBLE.
These naval orders have been issued:
Ensign ]. II. Sypher. ordered to the
Naval War Record office; Lieut. ]. H.
Coffin. detached from the Alert and
granted three months leave: Lieut. #.
=. Phelps detached from the Philadel-
phia and transferred TO the Alert: lent
w. r. Elliott. detached from the Ben
ntngton and ordered to the Philadel-
| phla: Lieut.. s. r. Lasher, ordered to the
Bennington.
Lieut.. Charles II. Lyman, attached to
the cruiser Montgomery, at Key West.
Is said to be in trouble with the de-
partment. and may be court-martialed.
"A report has come to the Navigation
Bureau. presumably from the comman-
der of the vessel. setting forth charges
against the officer which are alleged TO
involve his habits on board ship.
Lieut.. LYMAN was the navigation Off
GER of the Kearsarge when she struck
| on Roncador Reef.