The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-06-22


Acting Admiral wHlism r. sarnp-
son, commanding the naval forces op-
Grating in the West Indies, whose actuai
rank in the navy Is that Of captain,
viii become commodore on July 3 by
the statutory retirement for age OF Rear
Admiral William A Kirkland, COM
mandant of the Mare Island fCal.)
Navy Yard, who Is now ranking off,
Ger Of the navy. In the event Of the
successful performances Of the import
ant duties assigned him IN the West
Indies, Captain sampson IS also as
sured OF further promotion TO the actu-
al rank OF rear admiral, being the high
est grade % which he can attain, un-
less Congress shall recreate the grade
Of admiral or vice admiral for his spe-
eial benefit. Those offices were estab-
lished during the War of the Rebellion
and lapsed with the death Of their last
incumbents, Admiral Porter and Vice
Admiral Rowen. The plan Of promo
ton adopted by President Mckinley
in the case Of Admiral Dewey and his
captains undoubtedly will be followed
in case of similar victories by Admiral
Sampson and his captains
In addition to Admiral Kirkland,
five other admirals will retire during
the next few months by operation OF
law on account Of age. They are Adj
miral Joseph n. Miller, commanding
the Pacific station Admiral Montgom-
cry Slcard, president Of the naval war
board Admiral f. o. Mathews, presi-
dent Of the examining and retiring
board; Admiral F. 5. Bunce, COM
manding the New York Navy Yard,
and Admiral c. 5. Norton, command
ant of the Washington Navy Yard.
With the exception Of Admiral Miller,
all o. these officers are likely to be re-
tained in their present places after their
retirement during the continuance Of
the war with Spain, because Of the
nOn-availability Of officers on the act
i've list to take their places. Retired
officers are subject to duty of this kind
in time Of war at the discretion of the
President. II Is different, however,
with Admiral Miller. He is in COM
mand of fleet, and retired officers are
not eligible for such duty unless spe-
cially authorized by act Of Congress.
Admiral Kirkland is a native of North
Carolina, and it is his purpose to make
his home in that state when he is re-
lieved from duty.
OF the seven rear admirals only two
are in command of fleets-Admiral
Miller, commanding the Pacific squad
ron, and Admiral Dewey, command
ing the Asiatic squadron OF the six
officers having flag commands two are
full rear admirals, one an acting rear
admiral, and the others are commo-
dores. Admiral Miller, the senior Of
fieer, has three vessels in his squadron,
and Acting Rear Admiral Sampson,
the junior of them all, has over seven
ty vessels under his command. The
last-named officer does not attain the
the actual rank of Tag officer until
he becomes "a commodore next month
by the retirement of Admiral Kirk
land. His rank as captain which he
now bears in the naval register would
not ordinarily entille him to a higher
command than that Of a single vessel,
and in putting him in command Of the
largest and most powerful fleet that
was ever gathered under the United
States flag the President found It nee
essary to give him the nominal rank of
acting rear admiral. That designa-
ton clothed him with all the suthOri-
" necessary TO the execution Of the du-
ty confided 20 him, but carried with it
no increase Of pay or emOluments and
no permaneney of rank. No greater
compliment was ever paid an officer Of
the United States navy.