The record-union., 1898-06-15
CAPTAIN SAMPSON
Is to be Promoted to a Commodore
on the Sd Proximo.

WASHINGTON, June a. - Acting
Rear Admiral Sampson, commanding
the naval forces operating in the West
Indies, whose actual rank in the navy
is that of Captain, will become a Com
modore on the Sd proximo by the
statutory retirement of Rear Admiral
William A. Kirkland, commandant of
the Mare Island (California) navy yard
who is now the ranking officer of the
navy.
In the event of successful perform
ance of the important duties assigned
him in the West Indies, including the
capture and occupation of Santiago de
Cuba and San Juan Puerto Rico, of
which his friends have no doubt what
ever, Captain Sampson is also assured
of further promotion to the actual rank
Of Rear Admiral, being the highest
grade to which he can attain unless
Congress shall recreate the grade of
Vice Admiral for his special benefit.
Those offices We're established during
the war of the rebellion, and lapsed
with the death of their last incumbents
Admiral Porter and Vice Admiral
Rowan. The plan of promotion adopt
ed by President Mckinley in the case Of
Admiral Dewey and his Captains for
their great achievement in the harbor
of Manila undoubtedly will be followed
in case of similar victories by Admiral
Sampson and his Captains on this side
of the water.
In addition to Rear Admiral Kirk
land, five other Rear Admrals will re-
tire during the next few months by op-
grafton of the law on account of age.
They are: Rear Admiral Joseph N.
Miller, commanding the Pacific Station;
Rear Admiral Montgomery Sicard
President of the War Board; Rear Ad-
miral E. 0. Matthews, President of the
Examining and Retiring Board; Rear
Admiral F. S. Bunce, commanding the
New York navy yard, and Rear Ad-
miral G. s. Norton, commanding the
Washington navy yard. With the ex-
ception of Rear Admiral Miller, all of
these officers are likely to be retained
in their present places after their re-
tirement during the continuance of the
war with Spain, because of the non
availability of officers on the active list
to take their places.
Retired officers are subject to duty of
this kind in time of war at the discre-
ton of the President. 1t is different
however, with Rear Admiral Miller. He
is in command of a fleet, and retired
officers are not eligible for such duty
unless specially authorized by Act Of
Congress.
Rear Admiral Kirkland is native of
North Carolina, and it is his purpose
to make his home in that State when
he is relieved from duty. OF the seven
Rear Admirals, only two are in COM
mand of fleets-Rear Admiral Miller,
commanding the Pacific squadron,
and Rear Admiral Dewey, commanding
the ASiatic squadron. OF the officers
having flag commands, two are full
Rear Admirals, one an acting Rear Ad-
miral and the others Commodores. Rear
Admiral Miller the senior officer, has
three vessels in his squadron, and Act
ing Rear Admiral Sampson, the junior
of them all, has over seventy vessels
under his command.
The last named officer does not at
tain the actual rank Of a flag officer un-
til he becomes a Commodore next
month by the retirement of Rear Ad-
miral Kirkland. His rank as Captain
which he now bears in the naval regis
ter, would not ordinarily entitle him to
a higher command than that of sin
gle vessel and in putting him in COM
mand of the largest and most powerful
fleet that was ever gathered under the
United States flag: the President found
it necessary to give the nominal rank
of Acting Rear Admiral. That designa-
ton clothed him with all the authority
necessary TO the execution of the highly
important duty confided to him, but
carried no increase of pay or emolu
ments, and no permanency of rank. No
greater compliment was ever paid an
officer of the United States navy.