The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-26
DEWEY ON THEIR HANDS
NAVY PEOPLE AT LOSS To KNOW
WHAT TO DO WITH HIM AT HOME.
Secretary Long May Place the Hero
Picking a Place for sampson.

NEW YORK, July "a special to the
Herald from Washington says: There is
much gossip in naval circles respecting the
duty to which Admiral Dewey will be as
signed on his arrival in this country. Sec
rotary Long positively declares that the post
has rot yet been selected, and that de-
cision will be made only when he has had
an opportunity to consult with Admiral
Dewey and has learned his wishes. There is
apparently no doubt, however, that the Ad-
miral will be stationed in Washington at
the head of a strong board, possibly the
board of inspection and survey, whose
duties will be enlarged so as to take in
questions Of policy relating TO ship construc-
ton. Should a board of admirals be the re-
suit Of the reorganization OF the mechanical
bureaus of the department as proposed ny
those who favor such a solution next TO the
retention of the present system, in case the
secretary determined to modify II, then
there is little doubt that the admiral will
be made the head of the board.
Rear Admiral Sampson does not intend
to relinquish command of his squadron until
soon after the return of Admiral Dewey,
and perhaps not until next winter. The re-
port is persistent that Rear Admiral Crown
inshield, chief Of the Bureau of Navigation,
contemplates retiring and that Admiral
Sampson will be selected as his successor.
Secretary Long is authority for the state
ment that Admiral Crowninshield has never
intimated that he purposes giving up his
bureau If the secretary decides to give him
a second term. Regardless of this fact, how
ever 1t would be natural for Admiral Samp-
con 10 be given Cf arse of burtau.
Rear Admiral Schley is president Of the
Retiring Board, and Secretary Long told
him last winter that as soon as vacancy
occurred in a sea command he would re-
ceive il. Rear Admiral Howison, COM
mander-in-chief of the South Atlantic
squadron, will retire on Oct. 10. and it may
be Admiral schley will be his successor.
Friends of the administration have sug-
gested to the president that the way TO set
tie the Sampson-Schley controversy is to
show the country that there is no intention
of sighting the latter.
1t is too early to indicate with any posi-
tiveness who will succeed Sampson next
winter in command of the north Atlantic
squadron, but probably Schley will not re-
ceive this billet Rear Admiral Remey
who commanded at Key West during the
squadron if he wishes it. Rear Admirals
Il
| list and may be considered.
Secretary Long has made a decision OF
considerable Importance to young officers OF
the line formerly engineers, who will come
up for examination for lire officers before
March 8, 1901 Lieut.. John X Robson
Junior grade, asked the secretary that, ir
| view Of his early promotion to the grade
of lieutenant. he be permitted to undergo
| examination, physically and mentally, the
| examination under the latter head to be In
| steam engineering only. The secretary has
| decided that Mr.. Robson may be examined
| physically. but will have to pass the lin,
| examination before March 3. 1901, as re
quired by the personnel law.
The auxiliary cruiser Dixie has ended
her career as an army transport, and Will
now be fitted out a training ship for al
landsmen enlisted in the navy. By thi
means q corps of trained men will be OBJ
| tanned for the service The old Hartford
which has been remodeled at Mare island
| will be placed in commission in the fall
| under the command of Commander J. NJ
Hawley. Three hundred Western men hav
| been enlisted. Commander Hawley will
have as his assistants Lieutenant Com
mander Alexander Sharp, jr., who com
manded the Vixen In the Santiago battle
and Lieut.. ]. +. Hines, who did excellen
service in the Bureau Of Navigation durin
the war.