Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-08-04
THE AMERICAN NAVY.
Only Small Part Of the vessels
to Be Kept In Commission.
Others to Be Retired to Reduce Expenses
Admiral Beardsley, Commander In
Chief of Pacific Station, to Be /.
Relieved in August.
ABSOLUTELY PURE

4uS UOA say <AA OiNSA AtiS OSSb loouSo
by the secretary of the navy which indi-
Gates that the presidentnolong appre-
hends trouble over either the Venezue-
Ian or Cuban questions, and that he res
CARDS it as not necessary to maintain in
active service and ready for immediate
action the entire available lighting
strength of the navy. He has therefore
directed that board be appointed to
designate what vessels can be retired
without inconvenience to the depart
ment or interference with the usual
demands of the service in foreign wa
ters. The disintegration of the fleet on
the home station, and probably that on
the Pacific coast, will not begin until
the late summer.
The plan is to retire one battleship
as fast as another is ready for commits
sion, and to keep but few of the moni-
tors in service. The Indiana will be the
first ship whose commander will haul
down his flag and will probably go out
of commission in August when ''Fight-
ing Bob Evans" time expires and the
Massachusetts, joins Admiral Bunce's
fleet. The -Amphitrite will also give,
way to the Puritan at New York, and
possibly the New York may 60 out be-
fore the close of the year, as well as ono
or two other Of the largest cruisers.
The idea is to make thorough test Of
each new ship ds she is added to the
navy, and then to select those most eS-
pensive to maintain and least efficient
for cruising purposes, and lay them up
in fresh water, probably at League IS
land, toprevent the growth of barnacles.
The board will fix the force of men to
be maintained on these ships. The pur-
pose is to have sufficient force to get
up steam at short intervals and to work
the machinery to insure that the ship
shall be in readiness for service at short
notice.
A New York Times special from
Washington says: One of the most
agreeable sea billets is that of com
mander-in-chief of the Pacific station,
where Admiral Beardsley is on duty.
The admiral's two years tour of duty
on the station will have expired In
August and he has asked for another
years duty in command Of the fleet.
This is likely to be refused, owing to
CAo Ad1S0 AuuGSE VI Objects WHO uCe-
anxious for sea duty and who are enti-
tied to some such command by virtue
Of their rank and service ashore.
An officer Of the grade of commodore
who is detailed to such duty has the
temporary rank Of rear admiral, enjoys
the luxury of flagship and has certain
distinctions which naturally attach to
[ the Office.
Among those who want the place are
, Commodore ]. A. Howell, of the League
Island navy yard, and Commodore
:. George Dewey. Both are well known
8 and capable officers. Howell is espe-
cia1ly anxious for sea duty. He hns
I been on shore for some time, having
: been in command of the Washington
navy yard previous to his detail to Phil.
: ndelphia. he was formerly in charge Of
: the ordnance shops in New York city
Dewey was formerly chief of the bureau
= of equipment, where he succeeded
Schley, the Arctic navigator. He is al
: present the head of the board of In,
l. spection.
4 While Howell is the senior of Dewey
y the latter has not been to sea since 1883
e Howell completed his last cruise in 1890