Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-04
SIMPSONS su.cc EssoR
Discussing the Available List st tho
81 DEPARTMENT
Adoption of q New Policy - Coming
Vacancy ON the south Attain
Il tic Ytation.

in the command Of the naval forces on the
North Atlantic station 1t Is said at the
Navy Department that this subject mas
been considered solely upon the personally
expressed intention of Admiral Sampson
to seek a relief in the, early fall His rea-
sons as explained were the Ill health OF
his daughter the need he felt himself for
rest and the fact that. his tour of sea duty
has already been protracted beyond the
usual period of time,
With this understanding the department
has been canvassing 1.-The available list CT
admirals for successor. and it is believed
that at this moment the choice incllnes TO-
ward Rear Admiral FarQuhar the com
mandant of the Norfolk navy yard VINO
has been longer on shore duty than any q,
the available admiFalS. and Is SO eHlllled
to first vacant sea command. AS alrea1y
stated. however, Admiral Remey' com
manding the Portsmouth navy yard, is also
on the available list, and must also De re-
garded as within Responsibilities
Something depends upon the GATE upon
which Admiral Sampson relinquishes MS
command, well as upon the Date upon
which Admiral Howfson arrives at New
York on the Chicago, and hauls down his
fiag for If the latter should happen before
the North Atlantic, command becomes va
cant the order now in line misht De re-
yersed. 1t is saG at the department there
is no disposition to carry out any program
in advance of a final decision by Admlral
Sampson as TO his plans, and If he prefers
to retain his command the project may De
dropped.
The Departments New Policy.
The limitation of the selection of Ad-
mirals Remey and Farquhar to the two
flag commands about to become vacant is
due to the adoption Of new policy by the
Navy Department. which is in enect that
the commands of fleets and important sta
tons, shall be reserved as far as practlca-
III hn ,ivn 16rp,ir DJ
class.
OF these. the only cnes not holding such
assignments at this time are Admirals NC
Nair, superintendent of the Naval Acad-
envy; Howell. president of the naval exam
lining board; Remey. commanding the
Portsmouth navy yard; Farquhar. com.
handing the Norfolk navy yard. and
Schley president of the retiring board.
Admirals McNair and Howell are elimi-
mated from the list of availables at this
time. for the reason that they have re-
Gently had sea commands, and are entitled
to further shore duty.
Taking the other three in the order of
seniority, Remey would be entitled to the
first vacancy, Farquhar the second ana
Schley the third Admirals Far4uhar ana
SchIey have applied for sea service. and
Admiral Remey is, known to- be willing to
accept the command of the North Atlantic
squadron. Admirals Reney and Farquhar,
in addition to- being senior to Admiral
Schley, have each been on shore duty long
or than that officer. and on that account
are subject to sea duty before him:
Admiral ReRys last tour of sea "a duly es
Farquhar in December, 1885, 50 that on
that score alone Admiral Farquhar would
be given the preference. Furthermore.
neither of these officers has had flag com
maud and unless they receive such an as
signment at this time they may not have
another opportunity before their retire
ment. With Admiral Sehley the case is
different. as he enjoyed that distinction
while in command of the flying squadron
during the Spanish war.
Before completing his tour Of sea duty.
however, the war ended and he was de-
tailed to duty in this city the retiring
board.
The South Atlantic station.
Although the command of the North At
Iantic squadron is considered one of the
most desirable billets in the navy. the COM
mand of the South Atlantic squadron is
generally conceded to be the least desir-
able. The latter station includes the east
coast Of South America, and Is usually
avoided by officers in search of pleasant
duty. 80
1t is therefore possible that Admirals
Remey and Farquhar may waive their
right to priority in the matter, with the re-
suit that Admiral Schley may be assigned
to the command of that station. 1t is no
more likely. however. that Admiral Schley
would be willing to accept this assignment
than would either of the other two ad-
mirals and it may be necessary to select
some other officer. not yet named. as the
successor Of Admiral Howison. or it may
be determined to give the command to
some officer of the rank of captain. as has
frequently been the case with that station
in the past
European Squadron.
There is a possibility of the re-estabish-
ment Of the European squadron. which is
conceded to be one of the most attractive
In the service. There would be no difficulty
in securing a comma nder-in-c chief for that
station
QPiICu WITH TUE DCRCf G