Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-25
DEWEY'S COMING
WHY SCHLEY + ACCEPTED
Potent Reason for Taking the South Atlantic
Station.
Probably the Only Opportunity to Fly
His Flag as Rear
Admiral.

One of the most potent reasons for Rear
Admiral Schley's readiness to accept the
command Of the South Atlantic station is
the fact that it may be the only opportuni
ty he will have to fly his flag in his present
rank of rear admiral. When he relinquish-
ed command of the so-called flying squad
ION of Admiral SIMPSONS fleet in Novem-
ber, 1898, he held the rank of commodore.
and he did not reach his present grade of
rear admiral until March 3, 1899. He will
retire for age in 1901 and under existing
conditions, if he declined the assignment to
the South Atlantic station. might not have
another chance of securing a flag COM
rand.
The only other officer In the list of rear
admirals of the first class similarly situated
is Rear Admiral George Remey, command
ing the Portsmouth navy yard. He might
have had command of either the North or
South Atlantic stations, but declined them
both in favor of Rear Adlnras Farquhar
and Schiey. respectively. Admiral Remey
retires in a few years but it is believed
that before that event takes place he will
have had command of either the ASiatic or
European station Admiral Casey and Ad
miral Cromwell follow Admiral Schley in
eligibility for sea commands. Admiral
Casey's last cruise ended in December, 1897,
and Admiral CromwelPs last cruise ended
in September, 1895. Admiral Casey is now
commanding the League Island navy yard
and Admiral Cromwell is in command of
the Havana naval station
Will Not Go to the Mediterranean.
Admiral Schley has made several visits
to the Navy Department lately making ar
rangements fer the assumption of command
of the South Atlantic station about the
middle of next month. The report that he
will go to Montevideo, headquarters of the
station. by way of the Mediterranean. the
Red sea and the Indian ocean, following
the course taken by his predecessor. Rear
Admiral Howison. in order that he may
stop at CadiZ and salute the Spanish flag,
Is denied at the Navy Department 1t is
not believed that Admiral Schey has any
such desire, but even if he had. 1t is not
probable the department. would favor such
a proceeding under existing circumstances.
AS indicating the standing of the South
Atlantic station, in the view of naval off,
GERS, the friends of Admiral Schley have
revamped an old report on that subject
made by Rear Admiral Walker retired,
now chairman of the isthpian canal COM
mission. who had at that time just returned
from cruise in south Atlantic waters. Ad-
miral Walker argued that there was no
necessity for flag officer on the south At
lantic station. and in his official report on
the subject says. In part:
Admiral Walker'stView.
81 venture to repeat the Recommendation
which 1 have previously. made to the de-
partment, that this station; should cease to
be a flag officers command. The duties are
inadequate to a flag officer rank and posi-
ton, and the expense is unnecessary. The
new vessels of our navy can be more eco
nomically maintained and Gan render better
service elsewhere I wo.tad recommend
keeping small vessel Of tight draught,
preferably a special service vessel in the
river latte. and sending once a year ves-
sci from the North Atlantic squadron to
this coast, thence to the Cape of Good
Hope, up along the east coast of Africa,
and back home through the Suck canal and
the Mediterranean. occupying year in the
cruise. Round trips of this kind would
have many advantages, would perform eff
ciently the cruising service required in the
time Of peace, visiting many points in regu-
lar rotation. and would involve only the
ibsed absence OF one ship at a. time from the