New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-15
ADMIRAL SIMPSONS PROMOTION
AcTs JALLY A CAPTAIN NOW. HE BECOMES
COMMODORE NEXT MONTH


A COMMODORE NEXT MONTH
Wa ,hington. June 14-Actng Rear-Admir.,
willii IN 7. Sampson. commanding the naval
forces operating in the West Indies, whoss
actual rank in the Navy Is that OF can.
TAIN will become commodore on Julv
s by the statutory retirement for age O,
Rear. Admiral William A. Kirkland, com.
mand ant Of the Mare Island (Cal) NAVY
Yard. who Is now the ranking officer OF
the avy. In the event of the successful Der
forma nee of the important duties assigned him
In tho West Indies. including the capture and
occup rtion of Santiago de Cuba and San Juan
de Pa rto Rico of which his friends have M
doubt whatever. Captain Sampson is also a.
sured of further promotion to the actual rank
Of rear-admiral, being the highest grade which
he ca attain unless Congress shall recreats
the "a ade Of admiral or vice-admiral for his
special benefit Those Offices were established
during the War of the Rebellion. and lapsed
with the death of their last lncumbents Ad.
miraI Porter and Vice Admiral Rowan The
plan sN promotion adopted by President Nc
kinley in the of Admiral Dewey and his
captains for their great achievement in the har.
Dor Of Manila undoubtedly will be followed in
case Of similar victories by Admiral Sampson
and HI. captains on this side of the water.
In addition to Admiral Kirkland. five other
admira Is will retire during the next few months
by opa ration of law on account Of age They
are ADMIRAL Joseph y. Miller, commanding tho
Pacific Station; Admiral Montgomery Scad
president OF the Naval War Board; Admiral e.
o. Mat .hews. president Of the Examining and
Retirin.r : Board. Admiral F. S Bunce command.
ing the New York Navy Yard, and Admiral c.
s Norton commandant of the Washington
So
Miller. all these officers likely to be retained
in their present places after their retirement
during NE continuance of the war with Spain
because OF the non-availability OF officers on the
active list to take their places. Retired officers
are sub iect to duty Of this kind in time Of war
at the discretion Of the President.
1t is different. however. with Admiral Miller
He is II, command Of a fleet. and retired officers
are not eligible for such duty unless specially
authorised by act Of Congress Admiral Kirk.
land is native Of North Carolina and It 10
his pur,pose 10 make his home in that STATE
when be ia relieved from duty
OF TIE seven rear-admiras only two are IN
committed NJ neets-Admral Miller command
ing the Pacific Squadron. and Admiral Dewey.
commanding the Asiatc Squadron OF the six
officers raving flag commands two are full rear
admiraLi. one is an acting rear admiral and the
others are commodores. Adhllrdl Miner, the
senior officer has three vessels in his squadron
and Acting Rear-Adniral Sampson the junior
NJ them all has over seventy vessels under his
command The last-named officer does not at
tain the actual rank OF flag officer unit! be
becomes a commodore next month by the re-
tirement 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 YES
sell and In putting him in command OF the
largest and most powerful fleet that was ever
gathered under the United States rag the rres-
ident foi md IT necessary 10 give him the NOM
inal ranl- Of acting rear-admiral. That des'gna-
zion clothed him with all the authority neces-
sarv to the execution OF the highly important
duty coz fided 10 him. but carried with 1t no IN
crease OF pay emoluments and no perma'
nency OF rank. No greater compliment was eva
paid TO an officer Of the United States Navy