The San Francisco call., 1897-04-14
Beardslee and Brown Will
Soon Give Way to
Younger Men.
Com modore Miller VIII, on Pro.
motion, Take Command of
the Pacific Station.
Other Changes Include the Placing Of
S card in Charge of the North
Atlantic F eet.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 13-A
number of important changes affecting
officers of high rank in the naval service
have been decided on by Secretary Long.
One of the orders directs Commodore
Joseph n. Miller, who will soon be made
admiral, to assume command of the Pa
citic naval station, succeeding Rear
Admiral Lester A. Beardslee. This is an
important assignment in view of the
| state of affairs in Hawaii through the
| Hawaiian Government prohibiting Japan
ese immigration. Hawaii is included
within the geographical limits of the Pa
citic station. The flagship Philadelphia
is on the way to Honolulu. and Miller will
relieve Beardslee there. This change in
command will probably mark the retire
ment from active service of Beardslee.
He announced some time ago his inten-
ton to retire voluntarily in February,
under the long service clause, but the
admiral held on, and it was supposed he
would serve the rest OF the time allowed
him before compulsory retirement on ac-
count of age.
Miller is the present commander OF the
Boston Navy-yard. When he goes to
Honolulu he will be relieved at Boston by
| Commodore Henry L. Howison. Captain
Norman Farquahar, who commanded one
of the three American vessels destroyed
at Apia in the Samoan hurricane. will sue
ceed Rear Admiral George Brown as
ranking officer of the navy in command
of the Norfolk Nayy-yard. Brown will be
relieved from duty June l, preparatory to
retirement on the 18th. Acting Rear
Admiral Bunce, com ommander-in-chlef of
| the North Atlantic station. will ch hange
places with Commodore Montgomery ST.
card, com mandant of the Brooklyn Navy
yard. The promotion of Sicard 10 the
rank of rear-admiral will follow the re-
tirement Of Beardslee.
Secretary Long has decided upon grad
ual reduction in the strength of the
North Atlantic fleet. During the next
few months he will retire from active
service several ships now in commission,
both on the home station and abroad.
The Secre tary's programme is TO go into
effect i'm m diately following a review of
the fleet in the North River, after the
Grant monument ceremonies. Secretary
Long said to- night he had decided on this
policy as matter OF economy, not to
show the administration be regarded
~tro uble with Spain or any other Govern
ment now es more remote than a year
ago, when the Government began to plan
the placing OF the navy on the strongest
war footing. All vessels retired, the Sec
retary says, will be in condition for i'm
mediate service if called upon.
The disntegration of the big feet be-
gins May l by the retirement of the triple
| flyer Columbia, attached to the home sta
ton, which broke the record three years
ago for vessels of her class. Soon after
the Minneapolis is to be Withdrawn from
the European station. Both ships are
sister vessels with three screws and almost
too expensive for the navy to maintain in
service. The withdrawal of the Min.
neapolis will leave the Mediterranean
fleet but three vessels, as it is the purpose
OF the departm to retire the Cincinnati
on the arrival out of the Raleigh.
About June l or the monitors now
with the home feet will be laid up and
possibly some cruisers. By that time the
battle-ship Iowa. the Helena, Wilmington
and Nashville will be ready for duty. The
big cruiser New York may also be laid up
later. With the Iowa in the service there
will be three first-class and two second
class battle-ships attached to the feet
| Two of these e-ships and either the
Amphitrite or Terror will also follow the
reserve list, so by the middle OF summer
the greater part of the present strength
of the home station will be composed OF
new vessels to be commissioned this
spring.
The gradual reduction in the fighting
efficiency of the station will continue un.
til the autumn, when the fleet will be
again formed more powerful than ever for
maneuvers in Southern waters.
Under the appropriation of the last
Congress several thousand dollars is to be
expended this summer in deepening the
League Island water front so large feet
can be accom- modated the year round,
ready for service on two weeks notice
and maintained in perfect condition. In
laying up these vessels Secretary Long
says he will now be enabled to save the
Government many thousands OF dollars
yearly without reducing the fighting effi-
l2:o