The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-28

Facts About the once Not Generally
known IN Land.
Chicago News.

Chicago News.
Admiral Dewey. with his flagship. the
Olympus, is at Hong-Kong, and as soon as
some necessary repairs have been made on
the vessel he will start for home via the
Suez canal, reaching New York as the first
American port. When ne will arrive is not
yet settled. as IL will depend entirely upon
his own desires. Some accounts Indicate that
he Is expected as carly as July, while others
place his return toward the close OF summer.
He is the only admiral in the United States
navy and as such his position Is somewhat
unique. and he is accorded honors that seem
strange TO Americans who do not understand
the etiquette OF the navy. when the ad-
miral officially arrives on board or leaves his
flagship, the marine guard IL assembled, the
band plays q march, the captain or the YES
sci and other officers salute him, the drums
sound four ~ruffies." the bugles sound four
'fiourishes" and 4 salute OF seventeen guns
is given him A vice admiral's salute Is
fifteen guns, a rear admirafs thirteen
guns, and a commodore's eleven guns.
There are three government officers who re-
ceive more guns in salute than an admIral;
the President, twenty-one guns, and Vice
President and a United States ambassador
with four white stars, the vice admiraIs blue
with three stars. the rear admirafS blue
with two stars and the commodore's a swal-
low-tailed blue flag With one star. The adj
miral designs his own uniform 10 suit him.
self, while that of other naval officers IS
fixed by the department.
On his route home Admiral Dewey will
visit the ports of other rations and meet the
fleets of other navies. where the rules that
6ONCIn lhc ulCClllS IL wal NCccGAS III
their commanders will be observed. IL Ad-
miral Dewey meets a feet commanded by
an officer of higher rank than his own he
must SALUTE first. when the other officer
will respond with seventeen guns. de must
then call upon his ranking officer. who al
most Immediately returns the visit. This is
reversed IL Dewey is the ranking officer.
II the vessels are under way Admiral
Dewey must not pass ahead of his SUI
perior's flagship. So in lowering and rails
ing colors the ranking officer of any fleet
takes the lead, the others following ac-
cording to rank. II Admiral Dewey and a
British officer who ranked him were on the
Olympia and at the same time left IL for
the other vessel Admiral Dewey would be
the first to leave the Olympia, but the Brit
ish officer would be the first to reach the
deck of his own ship. The British navy
has officers so far and high above our adj
mfral that by comparison he does not seem
TO amount to much. First, IL has two hon.
orary admirals of the feet, one of whom Is
the Prince OF Wales. and, curiously enough
Following these in rank are five admirals
Of the feet, and all Of these outrank Adj
miral Dewey. Besides these are nine adj
mirals. The highest officer ever known in
the British navy ie a lord high admiral.
which office Is now untitled, although il is
Wales to the vacancy.
In the matter or pay Admiral Dewey does
not compare with officers of the same rank
in the British navy; nor does he receive
more than is earned by very many profess
sional men and by the officers OF large cor
recent law, known as the personnel bill,
may change IL a little. An admiral I'm the
British navy receives 81, 335, while the pay
of the admiral of the fleet" is about 500
600. But no American officer is compen-
stated 50 well as the British OF the same
rank.