New-York tribune., 1900-03-07
REMEY RELIEVES WATSON
A NEW COMMANDER FOR THE FLEET
AT MANILA CHOSEN
fBy TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBUNE.


Washington March 6.-Rear Admiral George
c. Remey has been ordered to command the
Asiatic station in place of Rear Admiral John
Crittenden Watson, relieved at his own request
In issuing the orders to-day Secretary Long
made the following statement:
On account of the delicate condition OF Admiral
Watson's health, he has been authorized TO
transfer his flag to the Baltimore, which vessel
Is to be detached from the Asiatic Squadron, and
to proceed home by way of the Suez Canal and
the Mediterranean Sea- stopping at such Euro
pean ports as he deems proper. as was done in
the case of Admiral Dewey. He will probably
arrive in European waters some time during the
summer, and may go TO Northern Europe and
visit the Paris Exposition Rear Admiral Wat
son is regarded with great favor by the De-
pertinent, and his services are thoroughly ap-
preciated.
Rear-Admiral Watson went to Manila to
lieve Admiral Dewey last summer Captain
Barker having command of the fleet as senior
officer present from the Olympia's departure in
May until Admiral Watson arrived in June. 1t
is possible. in Admiral Watson desires to
leave Manila Immediately, that Captain G. F. F.
Wilde, of the Oregon No. 80 on the list Of
captains will similarly assume command until
Admiral Remey, who commands the Navy
Yard at Portsmouth, N H, reach Manila.
Captain Wilde has been at Manila since May
of last year, when he relieved Captain Barker
Of command of the Oregon, and he is thorough
" familiar with the great fleet of fifty vessels
Of all classes that now represent the Navy in
the Western Pacific.
THE BALTIMORE COMING HERE.
It is the intention to send Captain Mccormick.
at present at the Washington Navy Yard, to be
second in command of the Asatic Station.
While Admiral Remey remains the flagship
Brooklyn at Manila, Captain Mccormick will
take command of division of the fleet to be
assigned to duty on the Chinese coast. He will
probably fly his flag from the Newark, as the
Baltimore will not be available She is coming
to New-York, and will be rebuilt on the plans
of the Philadelphia.
1t is regarded desirable that Admiral
Remey should reach his post with the least
possible delay, and he will probably sail from
San Francisco before the end Of the present
month Army transport. He is an ex-
ceedngly popular officer among men OF his
rank. and his record is pronounced excellent by
the naval authorities He ranks Watson by
two numbers and originally selected as
Dewey's successor a year ago, but there was
disposition to solace Watson for his disappoint-
ment in not attacking the coast Of Spain with
his Flying Squadron after the destruction Of
Cervera's feet and Remey graciously stood
aside and took the chances of getting the Eu-
ropean Station revived. When it decided
last fall to send an admiral to the South At
lantic Remey had another opportunity, which
he magnanimously surrendered to Schley. In
the war with Spain no man IN the service,
cept the naval bureau chiefs. did greater work
for the Government than Remey who COM
manded the naval base at Key West and kept
the squadrons supplied the blockading line
1t was an obscure position, so far popular
knowledge of its prime Importance went. but
it essential to the successful conduct Of
the war as the more brilliant achievements
of Sampson and Dewey.
REASONS FOR wATSON'S RETURN
There are many officers at the Navy Depart
ment who satisfied that Admiral Watsons
health alone would not have driven him to
quest permission return home at this time.
1t is true that he suffers from an affection OF
the heart, but the fleet surgeon has never
garded this dangerous, the Admiral being
only hfty-seven years old, and the youngest
officer of his grade in the Navy. 1t has been
common gossip for several months that he has
been subjected to frequent annoyances by the
bureaucracy in Washington. whose moving
spirits imagine they know everything about the
Philippines, because they have never been there.
They are the same persons who not at
Santiago but knew all about ito their own
satisfaction. Recently they ordered Captain
Thomas to command the Brooklyn. Admiral
Watson put Thomas on the Baltimore and
transferred Captain Forsyth to the flagship. for
obvious reasons. but to the intense dissatisfac-
ton of the bureau strategists. They also ac-
cuse Admiral Watson of allowing too much
responsibility to youngsters in giving them in
dependent commands of gunboats. Officers re-
Gently returned from Manila are enthusiastic
in praise of the Admiral. Some of them regard
him too conservative but all agree as to
the remarka bic amount Of good work he has
secured from the men under his command. and
as to the excellent condition of affairs on all
the islands that have been tnder naval domina-
ton.
Captain Merrill Miller, who is No 8 on the
list of captains of the Navy, and who was until
recently in command Of the receiving ship Yer
mont at the New-York Navy Yard will proba-
bly, succeed Admiral Remey commandant of
the portsmouth Navy Yard.