Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-03-11
dewey AMERICAS
THIRD ADMIRAL
The Rank Was Created for Farragut
in 1866 and 1t Died With
Porter in 1891.
ON ACTIVE LIST FOR TEN YEARS
Bill Making Him an Admiral POST
pones His Retirement a Decade
Twill Draw $4,000 n
Year Hereafter.

Washington, March 6.-Dewey's pro-
motion to the position Of admiral re-
wives the grade in the navy, which has
not existed for many years. He will
be not only senior by two grades to
| the rear admirals, but he will be CORE
spondingly senior to the highest rank
ing officers Of the army. This gives
him a military prestige which is i'm
| portant. His increase OF salary to
$13, 500 is not one which means much
to the officer who will be the senior
naval commander, for il will thrust
upon him added social duties n OBJ
| legations equal in cost to his addition
al compensation.
He will at once secure n new uni
form, resorting probably in his case
| to the facilities on board the Olympia
| of adjusting the decorations and in
| sigma of his old uniform to the new
rank and title. There are always
means on board ship for accomplish
ing such emergency demands upon the
official apparel.
1t is doubtful if Dewey will be able
to display the flag which goes with his
grade, for ii is hardly possible the
lockers Of the Olympia contain the
emblem, of which there has been no
need of making use for so many years.
There is general rejoicing through
out the navy in regard to Dewey's pro-
motion. 1t has taken a practical turn
in that the service approves the pros
pect of keeping Dewey on the active
list, a privilege accorded the admiral
by the law which creates his Office.
n. IL. .,ot,rn. frn,, tha ACinfia station
he will probably be assigned TO duty
as adviser TO the secretary OF the navy,
perhaps taking n more
should his health permit. He is stun
in a vigorous condition, and his retlre-
ment for age, which would AXE place
in December, vas regarded as prema-
ture, and, under all the existing cir
cumstances, as unfortunate. by n
provision of the bill that gave him his
rank, he is exempted from retirement
for ten years, so he will enjoy his
proud eminence for a decade, IL not
until the end of his days.
The intimate friends of Dewey say
his letters give no indication of his
return to this country. They show he
really breads the reception which he
is told awaits him.
Successor to FaPragut and Porter
The rank of vice admiral was ere
ated by congress in 1864, and conferred
as a mark of special distinction on
David G.. Farragut. The, rank of ad'
miral was created and bestowed on
Farragut July rs, 1866, and David d.
Porter on the same day was made vice
admiral. On the death of Admiral Far
ragut, in 1870, Vice Admiral Porter was
made a full admiral. When Admiral
Porter died, in 1891, the rank of adj
miral and vice admiral became extinct
and the highest rank in the navy was
read admiral. -,
At the beginning of the wal WITH
Spain the ranking rear admiral OF the
navy was William A.. Kirkland and
George Dewey was fifth in the list OF
commodores.
Previous y the war with Spain our
heaviest 81, IRONS were the North Az
lantic and the Pacific. In 1897 the ASH
atic squadron under Dewey consisted
of the two cruisers Olympia and Bos'
ton and the three gunboats Petrol
Machias and Monocacy. Now the Asl
attic squadron, after the North Atlantic
the most important, and is likely tc
remain so. II the bill to appoint two
vice admirals is passed, m will prob
ably be assigned to the Asiatic squad
ron and the other to the North NJ
lontic.