The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-15
NAVAL PROMOTIONS
PRESENT WAR BRINGS ABOUT
MANY CHANGES
Six Admirals Will Retire During the
Next Six Months-Dewey, Samp-
son and Others Go Up

WASHINGTON, June 14.-Acting Rear
Admiral Sampson, commanding the naval
forces opera ting in the West Indies, whose
actual rank in the navy is that of Captain,
will become a Commodore on the Third
proximo by the statutory retirement OF
Rear-Admiral VIM. A. Kirkland, command
ant of the Mare Island Cal, Navy Yard,
who is now the ranking officer of the navy.
In the event of successful performance of
the important duties assigned to him In the
West Indies, including the capture and the
occupation of Santiago de Cuba and San
Juan Puerto Rico, of which his friends have
no doubt whatever, Captain Sampson Is
assured of further promotion of the actual
rank of Rear-Admiral, being the highest
grade to which he can attain, unless Con-
gress shall re-create the grade of Vice-Ad-
miral for his special benefit. Those offices
were established during the War of the Re
bellion and lapsed with the death of their
last incumbents, Admiral Porter and Vice
Admiral Rowan. The plan of promotion
adopted byi President Mckinley in the case
of Admiral Dewey and his captains for
their great achievement in the harbor CT
Manila, undoubtedly will be followed in
case of similar victories by Admiral Samp-
son ana MS captains Oh tIils SUE VI LIE
water.
In addition to Admiral Kirkland, Ave
other Admirals will retire during the next
few months by operation of the law on
account of old age. They are Admiral
Joseph N. Miller, commanding the Pacific
station; Admiral Montgomery Sicard,
President of the War Board Admiral L.
S. Bunce, commanding the New York
Navy Yard, and Admiral c. S. Norton,
commanding the Washington Navy Yard.
With the exception of Admiral Miller, all
of these officers are likely to be retained
in their present places after the retire.
ment 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 case of war at the discre.
ton of the President.
1t is different, however, with Admiral
Miller He Is in command of fleet and
retired officers are not eligible for such duty
unless specially authorized by act of Con-
gress. 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 twor are in command of
fleets, Admiral Miller commanding the Pa
cific Squadron and Admiral Dewey, COM
manding the Asiatic Squadron. OF the Off
GERS having flag commands, two are full!
Rear Admirals, one an acting Rear Ad-
miral, and the others Commodores. Ad-
miral Miller, the senior officer. has three
vessels in his squadron, and Acting Rear
Admiral Sampson, the junior of them ALL
has over seventy vessels under his COM
mand. The last named officer does not at
tain the actual rank of a flag officer until
he becomes a Commodore next month by
the retirement 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 a
single 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 Ad-
miral. That designation 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 emol-
uments and no permanency of rank. No
greater compliment was ever paid an officer
of the United States Navy.