Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-09-21
DID NOT CONSULT S|HkY
a.
The Rear AdmiraPs Transfer
Said to Be a Very Unus-
ual Procedure:
NOT DESIRABLE STATION
Preliminary Steps Taken to Assign
Him to Command of South At
lantic Squadron.
NOT DESIRABLE STATION

To Perform a Duty Which Has Usu-
ally Fallen to the Lot of a Cap-
tain = His Present Appointment
Declined on IA Previous Occasion.
May Revive Old Controversy.
| Washington, Sept. 10.-Formal or
| ders have been issued to Rear-Adm1ral
| Schley directing him to hold himself
| in readiness for sea duty, this being
| preliminary toward assigning him to
command the South Atlantic station
From all that can be learned here III
the absence of Rear-AdmUal Schley,
he has not had IN opportunity to in
dicate whether this assignment would
be agreeable to him or not. 1t is un-
usual in the case of an officer of flag
rank to give him an assignment with
out first consulting his wishes, but
Schley's pleasure in this instance does
not seem to have been considered
This is the least desirable of the flag
commands and one which has hereto
fore been given to captain for
that reason. Altogether RearAdmiral
Howison has been in command of this
station, il was only in Il nominal way,
around Africa and through the South
Pacific waters embraced within this
station.
Two small gunboats plying i'll South
ern waters were designated as belong
ing to the South Atlantic station.
Therefore it is obvious why Schley
would not care for the station. In
fact, when it was offered TO him some
time ago he declined it. 1t was well
known then that he desired n sea com
mand more bef1tting his rank, having
expressed preference for the European
station.
His friends have confidently be
lieved he would be given the Europ-
can station when there should be YES
sells to permit its re-eStahlishment. 1t
has been thoughtithat when the Kear-
sarge was put i'll commission the de
partment would bp ready to organize Il
squadron for that station. 1t has been
desired by the department to send rep
resenative ships to the European wa
ters in view of the reputation gained
by American warships during the war
with Spain. and as Schley was one OF
the naval heroes it was thought the
department would at least be generous
enough to have him cross the Atlantic
Whether Schley will make Il formal
protest or not remains to be seen, but
his friends are already active and may
intercede in his behalf. He cannot re-
fuse however, if ordered to go, unless
he Is prepared to resign or submit to
court-martial. But it is believed
Schley will not 30 on record as re-
fusing. awsp
1t is now believed Rear-Admiral
Remy will be given the Asiatic station
should Rear Admiral WatSon's health
incapacitatp him for further duty
afloat, and it has been intimated that
Sampson will he permitted to take n
squadron To European waters, in
which event Il squadron of respect
able proportions would be assigned to
him.
Those who had hoped that the
Schley- Sampson controversy had end
ed now fear that il will assume a
more unpleasant phase than has AT
tached TO it heretofore. if the Depart
ment continues to treat Schley with
such Indifference while showing the
fullest consideration 10 Sampson.