Evening star., 1898-03-25

Commander of the Flying Squadron.
modore w. S. schley was detached from
his present service as chairman of the
lighthouse board and was ordered ito COM
n!ard the flying squadron. cruiser Brook
iyn. flagship The fact that this squadron
was contemplated has been well known,
but not until today has the department
defined it's character and named its COM
manGer.
The designation of flying has a dis
tinct meaning i'll naval pariance 1t will
give the ships a base at Hampton Roads,
but they will be at all times subject to
ConlmorodTe Schley's orders for immediate
service at points along the Atlantic coast
or wherever they may be needed. At pres
ent the fine armored cruiser Brooklyn.
which is to be Commodore Schley's flag
ship, and the battle ship Texas are the
only ships CT the flying squadron at Hamp-
ton Roads. They will be speedily aug
Eiented, however, as the battle ship Mas
sachusetfs is hourly expected to report her
arrival there, and the crack cruisers CO.
lGrnbia and Minneapolis are QUILTING at
the League Island navy yard and will
proceed to Hs mpton Roads at an early
cate. These vessels compose the SQUAD
ron at present. The cruiser Cincinnati and
gunboats Wilmington and Bancroft are not
unlikely. also to he added to this squadron
An indication in this direction was given
To-Day by an official order, which detached
Capt. Chester. commander of the .Cfncin-
nau from coinInand of the South Atlantic
squadron, but left Inn in command of the
Cincinnati. The effect of this is to remove
the Cincinnati from the South Atlantic
service and make her available for the
Hampton Roads, where her speed would
make her valuable adjunct to the quick
maneuvers of flying squadron
Commodore Schley's orders in terms make
him commander OF an independ ent squad
ron, SO that the ships at Hampton Reads
will be entirely separate from the North
Atlantic squadron, Of which Capt Sampson
is in command. This is an unusua. exped-
lent, ds all the vessels On the home station
have always heretofore been intact AS
flying squadron, however, the vessels of
Commodore SChley's command have wide
latitude quite outside OF the regular assem-
tl&Se of ships in the North Atlantic Com
medore Schley was at the Navy Depart
ment and announced that he would assume
command Monday at Hampton Roads.
Another order issued by the. Navy De-
partment today carries out the announce
ment of Secretary Long yesterday that
Capt. Sampson would command the North
Atlantic squadron. The order as issued
reads that he Is communicative chief OF
the North Atlantic station" Although
Key Wes. advices state that the battle ship
Iowa will probably be his flagship, the
orders of the Navy Department indicate
that the cruiser Nsw York will continue as
flagship of the squadron. Capt. Sampson's
flag is triangular blue pennant without
stars or other insignia.
Admiral Sicard's Retirement.
Admiral Sicard was detached from COM
Inand of the North Atlantic squadron and
allC wed SIX months leave by orders issued
tcCay. The effect of this six months leave
is to practically close Admiral Sicards
active service in the navy. He retIres
under the age limit of sixty-two years On
September 80 next, which is just six months
and six days from the beginning Of his
leave. This will give him but six days of
active service VIXEN his leave expires, so
that TO all practical purposes the admiral
closes his active service when he hauls
down his flag from the flagship New York
This Is a source of the sinc@rsst regret to
Secretary Long ard all naval officials, who
pay the highest tribute 10 the devoted SER
wee OF Admiral Sicard throughout the re-
cent critical period. aiid TO his personal
bravery in remaining at his post while his
health was in precarious condition.
Utilizing Naval Militia.
The Navy Department has TAKEN active
steps TO utilize the naval militia of New
Englard- and New York state in manning,
the Old singls-turreted In1nitcrs recently
called into service. To that erd the as
s.stant secretary wrote some days ag, to
tie heads of the naval militia In Massa-
chpsetts and New York asking them how
quickly they could furnish officers and men
tc take the monitors frcm League Island
to their respective posts ut Boston, New
York and Portland. The answer of Massa-
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