Evening star., 1899-09-20
WILL TAKE THE COMMAND
echley Tells the President He Has No
Complaint.
The Latter Says That No Slight Was
Intended-PrOpOsed Increase
of the Squadron.

Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley Will
succeed Rear Admiral Howison in COM
mand of the South Atlantic station. He
has no protest to make against the assign
ment which the Navy Department selected
for him. AS a sailor he will obey orders
without murmur. He called upon the
President yesterday afternoon and told
him that he had no complaint to make:
that he would cheerfully assume the duties
of any post selected by the authority which
1t had been his pride to serve for forty
three years.
Rear Admiral schley was very reticcnt
when he left the White House after his
interview with the President, and except to
say that he always obeyed orders, would
make no statement as to the interview and
offer no comment upon the assignment TO
the command of the South Atlantic station.
Only Chance for Sen Com niand.
To the rear admirals friends the Presi-
dent has said that he regards the station
as of great Importance, especially at this
time, in view of the situation in South
Africa and the unsettled condition of af-
fairs in some of the South American coun-
tries.
Far from regarding the assignment as a
slight, the President told Admiral Schley' $
friends he regarded it as a mark of distnc-
ton. Besides, he said it was the only way
to crafty the admiral's desire for sea SER
vice Rear Admiral Farquhar, who is Ad-
miral Schley's senior, has been selected for
the command OF the North Atlantic squad
ron, when Rear Admiral Sampson leaves it
after the Dewey reception in New York.
Remey Yielded to Schley.
The South Atlantic station is the only
sea command likely to become vacant for
some time to come except in the remote
contingency that Admiral Watson, COM
mandng the Asiatic squadron, should ask
to be relieved of that duty on account of
poor health. 1t is also stated that Admiral
Remey. commanding the Portsmouth navy
yard, was entitled by the usages of the
service to command before Admiral
Schley, but that in the matter of the
South Atlantic squadron he yielded the
preference to Admiral Schley.
May Increase the Squadron.
1t is possible, in view of the Importance
attached to the southern station at this
time, that some additional ships of modern
design will be assigned to the squadron,
which now consists Of only the Chicago,
Wilmington and Montgomery. In view of
the statement at the Navy Department
that the fleet is to be strengthened it is
possible that the Brooklyn, which was Ad-
miral Schley'S flagship in the battle of
July off Santiago, may be assigned to the
south Atlantic station and again become
the admiraTs flagship in place of the Chi
caso. which is now employed in that ca
pacity by Admiral Howison.
Inasmuch as there is no special occasion
for the retention on the home station of
the large fleet now in command of Admiral
Sampson, 1t is possible that one or more of
those vessels, which are the best in the
navy. may also be added to Admiral
Schley's command, for possible service in
African waters in the event of war in the
Transvaal
The North Atlantic Squadron.
There are now eleven vessels regularly
attached to the North Atlantic squadron,
to say nothing of the many additional ves-
sells which will be temporarily assigned to
the command of Admiral Sampson on the
occasion of the Dewey naval demonstration
in New York harbor. The list includes the
armored cruisers New York and Brooklyn
and the battle ships Indiana, Massachu-
setts and Texas.
On the theory that there is no longer oc-
caSion for such large and formidable fleet
in home waters. now that the squadron ev-
olutions conducted by Admiral Sampson
have been completed it has been suggested
that some of these vessels, including
ba tile ship and one of the armored cruisers
might easily be transferred to the south
Atlantic station, without in the least i'm
pairing the interests of the naval service
at nome. lhe friends OF Ad1nlral SChley
are interested in knowing whether advan-
tage will be taken of this opportunity. The
suggestion that the Brooklyn. in particular
be assigned to the south Atlantic station
does not contemplate the detachment of
the present flagship. the Chicago, from
further service on that station.
Will Be n Guest at the Dewey Dinner.
Admiral Schley will go to New York as a
private citizen to attend the Dewey demon
straton there and will return here in time
to be one of the guests of the Presidents
dinner to Admiral Dewey on the night Of
October 3. That dinner will be one of the
most notable features of the honors paid
to the hero of Manila. 1t will be attended
by all the leading officials of the govern
ment at Washington, including the princ-
pal officers of the army and navy. Major
Generals Miles and Merritt will be present,
as will also Rear Admirals Howson Gn
case he returns to the country in time),
Schley and Sampson.
TNTENRFISTS nEr VAROR