New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-07
COMING CHANGES IN THE NAVY.

ADMIRAI,s MILLER AND NORTON LIKELY TO RE-
T1RE-CoMMAND OF THE PACIFIC FLEET.
Washington. May (SpeciaD-The propapihtles
are that Admira! J. n. Miller Will not assums COM
mand Of the Pacific feet. but that he VIII Apply
for retirement This officer ordered to the Pa
cihc abou: two weeks ago. few days later ne
was directed 10 Join the Brooklyn and proceed TO
England as the naval representative of this country
at Queen Victorias Jubilee celebration The report
was then started tina; he was not 10 go 10 'he
Pacific but this denied at the Navy Depart
ment the officials saying that on his return from
English waters the Admiral would sail for Homo
lulu and relieve Admiral Beardsee. IT seems that
the officials knew what their intentions were, put
they were not advised 10 those Of Admiral Miller
1t is now understood that in July when the BROOK
Ign returns home, the Admiral VIII ask TO be placed
on the retired list under the law which authorizes
the President to retire officers OF the Navy VINO
have completed forty years service.
Some time ago It intimatcd IN these as
patches that both Admras Miller and Norton
were soon 10 apply for retirement, In order tha'
Commodores Phythian and Wallace might secure
their promotion before being transferred from the
active list under the sixty-twO-year law. For rea-
sons which have not been made public-t is sald
that President Cleveland opposed the arrangement
this plan not carried out. Now. II seems tlat
the nropostion has been revived: that IT will be
approved by President Mckinley. and that through
the generosity of two admrals an equal NUMBER
Of deserving commodores will reach the goal of
naval officers ambition. 1t has been known FOR
some time that Admiral Norton was willing 10 re-
tire and now that IT is said Admiral Miller mas
agreed to leave the active list there appears TO he
no obstacle TO the execution Of the plan Indicated
The retirement of.the admirals will result in two
promotions in each of the lower grades or the
Navy. Naturally, therefore. all the juniors al
or near the top of their respective lists VIII he
benefited But the greatest advantage will accrue
to Commodores Phythian and Wallace.
Admiral Miller's retirement Will make necessary
the selection Of another flag Officer to command
the Pacific Station. Admiral Beardslees tour OF
duty on the station has been up for several months
The names of several officers are mentioned Tor
the detail Most prominently spoken OF are com
mOdores Dewey and Howison. The former was
an applicant for the command when Admiral MlIer
was selected. He is the president OF the Board OF
Inspection and Survey. His last sea duty was IN
1883 when he the captain OF the Pensacola,
the flagship of the European station. He has since
been the chief of the Bureau of Equipment. and a
member OF the Lighthouse Board Commodore
Dewey is an excellent officer OF fine address COM
modore Howson is under orders to command the
Boston Navy Yard. He recently returned from the
Pacific where he served as commander or the bat
tlo-shp Oregon Previous TO this he was at the
head of the Mare Island Navy Yard. While on the
Pacific Coast he IL said to have given considerable
study to the Hawaiian question: and this may nave
weight with Secretary Long in naming Admiral
Beardslees relief. 1t Is the general opinion among
naval officers that the most important subject
have TO deal with will be that relating 10 Hawaiian
fair