New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-09
DEWEY COMING HOME.
RrAR.ADMIRAL WATSON WILL SUCCEED
HIM AT MANILA.
.pMIRAL DEWEY WILL COME DIRECT TO
NETWORK ON THE OLYMPIA. AND
MAY NOT GO TO SEA AGAIN.


MAY NOT GO TO SEA AGAIN.
washington. May S,-The Navy Department
nas selected a successor to Admiral Dewey as
commander of the Asiatic Station. Orders were
,,sued to-day detaching Rear-Admral Watson
x,om command OF the Mare Island Navy Yard
ana ordering him to report to Admiral Dewey
=, Manila, to relieve that officer when ne feels
,hst he can be spared. Rear-Admiral Kempff.
Al present on waiting orders has been ordered
81 succeed Rear Admiral Watson in command
a. the Mare Island Navy Yard.
7, was said at the Navy Department to-day
chat Admiral Dewey will come from Manila
a,rect TO New-York when he returns to the
1rnted States. 1t was added. however. that the
Admiral will not start until the Philippine Com
,o,sson. Of which he is a member has COM
,,o,ed the work 1t has undertaken. at least so
,or az II relates to the restoration Of peace in
the islands.
The reason for bringing the flagship Olympia
=. Nevv-York instead Of to San Francisco where
sbs WAS built is said to be primarily because
ADMIRAL Dewey desires to make the passage on
nc own flagship. but also because the Mare ISL
erd Navy Yard is likely 10 be overwhelmed with
rorsr work as soon the numerous vessels Of
ravev's feet begin 10 return TO the United
states The Olympia is in need Of a thorough
overhauling as she has been away from her
home station longer than any Of the other YES
sells IN the Asatic feet and has rendered more
than the usual amount Of hard service.
When Admiral Dewey reaches home. It Is be-
,,eved that he will quickly haul down his flag
and come ashore. not to go TO sea again except
in the contingency Of a National emergency. He
will be nearly sixty-two years Of age. his birth
day being the day after Christmas this year.
When he reaches Washington he will decide
whether or not he wishes to revive such an
establishment as that maintained by Admiral
Porter after the Civil War. which not ma
terially unlike the position recently occupied by
the Major General commanding the Army A
naval chief Of staff to the President has always
been desired by the Navy. and officers generally
will urge Admiral Dewey TO establish that Office.
1t is known that the Administration would ap
prove the plan although the disposition is not
10 ask Admiral Dewey to undertake any respon-
sihilities. but TO leave everything to his intia-
tive.
When Rear-Admiral Watson reaches Manila
he will have the choice Of two fagships from
which to display his broad pennant. the cruiser
Baltimore and the battleshp oregon being
both provided with quarters for fleet com
mander and his staff. Captain A. s. Barker
will be he now is the next senior officer on
the station, but he will become a rear-admiral
by promotion next January, when Admirals Nc
Nair and Kautz retire, and will therefore return
10 the United States for duty.
Admiral Watsons last command afoat was in
charge of the special squadron organized TO
after Santiago fell. He was sent to San Fran
cisco to be in a position to start the
Pacific at a moments notice, but when Admiral
Dewey decided that the Philippine outlook de-
manded his presence there rather than in Paris
Watson. then commodore. was placed in COM
mand of the Mare Island Navy Yard.