The times., 1899-10-01
DEWEY BECOMES A COMMODORE
He Is Assigned to the Command of
the Asiatic Squadron.


He Is Assigned to the Command of
the Asiatic Squadron.
Dewey became commodore in February.
1886. In December, 1899, he would be re-
tired for age. He was serving as president
of the Board of Inspection, and had seen
ten years of shore duty. He asked the
President TO appoint him to the command of
a squadron. When war with Spain was
threatened, Commodore Dewey asked to be
put in command OF the Asiatic Squadron
1t was then considered very likely that
Commodore Watson. at the time governor
of the Naval Home at Philadelphia, would
be given the command, even though he was
five numbers behind Dewey. Dewey's
friends saw Senator Proctor of Vermont,
who saw the President and Secretary Long
was directed to give TO Dewey the COM
mand of the squadron in Asia.
His Choice of n Flag Officer.
When Admiral Dewey was assigned to
the command of the Asiatic squadron one
of the first questions that presented itself
to him was the selection of his flag officer.
Because of the close personal as we'll as
/ official relationship that exists between
! fleet commander and his flag lieutenant,
complete harmony between them is essen
tial. This was a particularly important
matter TO Commodore Dewey, as a friend
| in that branch of the Navy Department
which assigns officers to the various ships
and stations we'll knew. This friend being
/ familiar with the personal characteristics
| of the commodore, who is precise in the
/ smallest details of dress and department,
and an authority in the matter of good
| taste, decided that his flag officer should be
! the same manner of man. Therefore among
/ the names of lieutenants suggested as
available for the billet, was that of Thom-
/ as Nj. Brumby who was at the time sta
toned in Washington, and like the COM
modore, had reputation for punctilious-
ness.
Planning the OIympia,s Cruise.
When the Olympia cruise was planned a
war with Spain was considered remote
possibility. The outlook promised nothing
outside OF the ordinary round of visits TO
the ports of China, Japan, and other East
ern countries, where the heaviest duties
that were expected to fall upon the flag
ships officers would be principally of
1 social nature. The commodore desired the
| services of a gentleman as flag lieutenant
capable OF assisting him in such functions
as entertaining various dignitaries. 1t
was not expected that the name of Admiral
| Montoio would appear as calling for a pc
culiar kind of entertainment.
At the Army and Navy Club the commo-
dore met Lieutenant Brumby and suggest
ed to him that, if agreeable, he apply for
assignment as his flag officer. The lieu
tenant hesitated, mentioned the fact that
he had several months shore duty to his
credit, and had arranged to remain in
Washington; and that he hoped for as
I-signment to the European station on his
next tour of sea duty, though he appreci-
ated the great honor rendered TO him by
the commodore.
Makes Another Selection.
The commodore after hearing Mr.. Brum-
by's statement referred again to his list
of available officers and selected another
name. Soon afterwards friend of Lieu
tenant Brumby met that officer and was
informed of the commodore's offer.
"Why, you should have accepted that
billet by all means; at any seeming sacri-
fee" the friend advised. "You and the
commodore would hit it off admirably, you
are both so darned particular, and he is a
prince of good fellows. II you want to
have fine cruise, reconsider and ask for
the assignment" Then the speaker de-
scribed, with enthusiasm, a trip he had
made TO the Orient. 1T beats Europe
was his opinion.
Lieutenant Brumby Accepts.
The following day Lieutenant Brumby
called upon the commodore and requested
to be allowed to withdraw his recent decli-
nation. The commodore informed him that
he had already rendered the assignment
to another officer. In the course OF a few
days, however, Mr.. Brumby received a note
| from fha commodore informing him that
the other officer, to whom the post had
been offered, had declined it, having made
other plans and renewing the former offer
to himself. This time Brumby accepted
promptly, and 1t is probable that the off,
Ger who so narrowly missed fame is still
regretting "those other plans
Long Favored Watson.
It has been said that Secretary Long was
not in favor of sending Dewey to the Ash
attic station. His objection was not SO