The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-06-18
IN STORE FOR SAMPSON.
HonorS in Naval Rank Which the
Man in Command of Cuban
Forces May Attain.

Washington, u. c., June l4.-Acting
Admiral William I. Sampson. command
ing The naval forces operating in the West
Indies, whose actual rank in the navy is
that OF captain, Will become a commodore
on July by the statutory retirement of
ear-Admlral William \ Kirkland, COM
mandant of the Mare Is and Call navy
yard. who is now the ranking officer of the
navy. In the event of successful perform
ance of the important duties assigned him
IN the West Indies. including the capture
and occupation of Santiago de Cuba and
san Juan. of which his friends have no
DOUBT whatever, Capt. Sampson j.. also as
sured or further promotion to the actual
rank of rear admiral. being the highest
grade to which he can attain Until Con
Src>S shall recrcatr the grade Of admiral
or Ylce-admlral for his special benefit.
| Those offices We're established during the
War of the Rebellion and lap>ed with the
death of their last incumhents Admiral
Porter and Nicc-Admiral Rowan. The
plan of promotion adopted by President
Mckinley i'll the case of Admiral Dewey
and his captains for their great achieve
ment in the harhor of Manila uudouhtcd-
| ly will he followed in case of siElilar vie
tories by Admiral Sampson and his cap
| taln> on this side of tn" water
In addition To Admiral Kirkland. five
other admirals will retire during til" next
lew months by operation OF law on ac-
count of age. They are Admiral Joseph y.
Miller. commanding the Pacit" station;
Admiral Montgomery Sicard president Of
the war board: Admiral +. o. Mathews.
president of the examining and retiring
board; Admiral f. : Bunce. commanding
the New York navy-yard, and Admiral {.
:. Norton, commanding the Washington
navy-yard
With the exception of Admiral Miller
all of these officers are likely To be r.
tanned in their present places after their
retirement during the continuance of the
war with Spain because of the non-avail-
ability of officers on the active list tu take
their places Retired officers are subject
to duty of this kind i'll time of war at the
discretion of the President.
1t is different. however. with Admiral
Miller. He is i'll command of a fleet and
retired officers are not eligible for such
duty unless specially authorized 10y act
of Congress. Admiral Kirkland iS a ma
five of North Carolina and il ]. his rur-
pose to make his home in that state,
when he is relieved from duty. OF the
seven rear admiralS only two are in com
mand of fleets Admiral Miller command
ing the Pacific squadron. and Admiral
Dewey, commanding the ASiatic squad
ron. OF the six officers having flag com
nands two are full rear admirals. one an
acting rear admiral. and the others are
commodores. Admiral Miller. the senior
officer, has three vessels in his squadron
and acting rear Admiral Sampson. the
junior Of them all. has over seventy YES
sells under his command. Th" laSt-namcd
officer does not attain the actual rank of
a flag officer unit! he becomes Il commo-
dor" next month hy the retirement of
Admiral Kirkland. His rank as captain,
which he now bears in the naval register
would not ordinarily cutitlo him To 4 high
er command than that of a Sin@l" vessel
and in putting him in command of tn"
largest and most powerful fleet that was
ever gathered under the United States
flag. the President found it necessary to
give him the nominal rank of acting rear
admiral. That designation clothed him
with all the authority necessary to the
execution of the highly important duties
conhded to him. but carried with it no
increase of pay or emoluments. and no
pcrmanenCy of rank. No greater com
pliment was ever paid an officer i'll the
United States navy