The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-15
SAMPSON TO BE HONORED
WILL BE MADE A COMMODORE
WHEN KIRKLAND Is RETIRED,
And May Get Anything He Desires If
tured-The Marietta's Feat.

WASHINGTON, June 14.-Acting Ad-
mral William T. Sampson, commanding
the naval forces operating in the West In
dies, whose actual rank in the navy is that
of captain, will become a commodore on
the Sd proximo by the statutory retirement
for age of 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 the successful
performance of the important duties as
signed in the West Indies, including the
capture of and occupation of Santiago de
Cuba and San Juan de Puerto Rico of
which his friends have no doubt whatever,
Captain Sampson is also assured of further
promotion to the actual rank of rear adj
miral, being the highest rank to which he
attain unless Congress shall re-create
the grade of admiral, 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 adopted by President McKin-
ley in the case of Admiral Dewey and his
captains for their great achievements in
the harbor of Manila undoubtedly will be
followed in case of similar victories by Ad-
miral Sampson and his captains on this
side of the water.
In addition to Rear Admiral Kirkland
five other rear admirals will retire during
the next few months by operation of law
on account of age. They are Joseph N.
Miller, commanding the Pacific station
Montgomery Sicord president Of the naval
war board; E. o.. Matthews. president OF
the examining and retiring board; F. 5.
Bunce, commanding the New York navy
yard, and G. S. Norton commandant or
the Washington navy yard
no nj Admiral
Ter, all of these officers are likely to be re-
tanned in their present places after their
. retirement, during the continuance of the
war with Spain, because of the. nonavail-
ability of officers on the active list to take
their place. Retired officers are subject to
duty of this kind in time of war. at the dis
cretion 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 Spe-
cially authorized by act of Congress. Rear
Admiral kirkland is a 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 va; are ure
in command of fleets; Rear admiral Admiral Miller err
Rear Admiral Dewey, commanding the
Asiatic squadron. OF the six officers hay
mirals, an acting rear admiral and the
others are commodores. Rear Admiral Mil
Ter, the senior officer. has three vessels in
his squadron, and Acting Rear Admiral
Sampson, the juior of them all, has over
seventy vessels under his command. The
last-named officer does not attain to the
actual rank of a flag officer until he be-
comes a commodore, next month by retire
ment of Admiral Kirkland. His rank as
captain, which he now bears in the naval
register would not ordinarily entitle him
to a higher command than that of single
vessels, and in putting him in command
of the largest and most pow,
under the United States flag the President
found it necessary to give him the nominal
rank of acting rear admiral. That designa-
ton clothed him with all the authority nee
essary to the execution of the highly i'm
portant duty confided to him. but carried
with it no increase of pay or emolument
or no permanency of rank. No greater
compliment was ever paid to any officer OF
the United States navy.