New-York tribune., 1900-12-31


ing within sight in the Navy is giving so much
concern to officers. unless 1t be. perhaps. the
speculation as TO Admiral Crowninshields sue
cessor in the Navy Department. All that has
been determined at this time is that Rear
Admiral Farquhar, commanding the home
squadron in the North Atlantic. will on his own
request relieve Admiral Schley and succeed MIN
in command of the South Atlantic Statlon.
Admiral Farquhar would like to make this ex-
change Immediately. but it is doubtful II the
authorities can be induced 10 consent for sew
eral months or at least until it can be deter
mined what effect will be made upon the re-
tired list and resultant promotions by the ar
rival Of Rear-Admiral Rodgers, with his white
pennant on the cruiser New-York. in Asiat1c
waters in February.
If this unprecedented display Of a white flag,
as far as the American Navy is concerned, does
not produce as it has been carefully calculated
to do one more vacancies high on the rear
admiral list, perhaps Schley may have his
last few months of active service afoat as Ad-
miral OF the home squadron, after all II the
Rodgers mission succeeds even in part, Captain
Robley D. Evans will become the senior captain
OF the Navy. aud then the voluntary retire
ment with only slight pressure. of the senior
rear-admiral John A Howell, will make Evans
rear-admiral, and the home squadron will i'm
rnediately be his own.
EVANS AND NORTH ATLANTIC FLEET
In other words. It is slated that Evans shall
have the North Atlantic fleet either next March
or next November. depending upon the date OF
his promotion to adequate rank, and that pro-
motion is in turn dependent upon how soon Ad-
rniral Remey or Admiral Kempff, both, get
tired OF the Philippine Islands and the Sulu
Archipelago while junior officer relieves them
of all their big ships and steps between them
and all possibility of glory in the Chinese devel-
opments. Rodgers is going out to command the
fleet in Chinese waters while Remey rusticates
at Cavte and Kempff at Zamboanga. Both the
latter are already entitled TO retire with the
rank and ernoluments Of major-general. and to
quit improbable hard work, in a climate that Is
said to be killing upon old men. Both of them
are sixty, and have nothing to gain by further
arduous service, while Captain Bob Evans Is
only ffty-four, and has eight years OF lively
duty ahead of him.
Admiral Schley has now been on the South
Atlantic for thirteen months and in that time
has not been permitted by the Navy Depart
rnent to take his two ships beyond the simple
cruise along the coast between Montevideo and
Rio. These vessels, the Chicago and the At
lanta were completely rebuilt and so vastly
improved recently that they are among the
finest Of their class in any navy, and their COM
mander has wished to show them in every port
of his station, which extends from the equator,
between Africa and South America, to the Ant
arctic Continent and around the Cape of Good
Hope include all the indian ocean as Tar
north as Zanzibar. The refusal Of the naval au-
thorities to allow these ships to cover the entire
station has been due, 1t is asserted to an osten-
sible reluctance to offend Great Britain wnHe
operations were brisk in South Africa, but when
Farquhar relieves Schley the two ships will go
at once 10 Cape Town 10 be drydocked, ana
thence will visit Madagascar and other interest
ing places falling in frequently with the cruisers
and fleets Of other nations
TEMPORARY REAR ADMIRALs
1rta-a rAr,air m he mentioned only four other
nrospecttve or possible claims OF general inter
est in the Navy in 1901. They re due to the
statutes relating to the Navy 4ich give the
bureau chiefs terms Of four years, with the rank
of Rear-AdmiraI while holding ofice. The ap-
pointments are made by the President and must
be confirmed by the Senate The-ternn Of Rear
Admiral Crowninshield, Chief Of the Bureau OF
Navigation expires April 8; that of Rear-Ad-
miral O'Neil Chief of Ordnance, is limited TO
June l. and on December Is Rear AdmiraIs
Of Equipment of Medicine and Surgery, VIII
have served in these capacities for four years
desire if he should decide to remain in the
Cabinet, to reappoint the present -lncunoents'
except, perhaps in the cases Of Admiral crown
inshield and Admiral Bradford.
A year ago there every reason to regard
CroWninsheld a permanent fixture, as long
as he chose to stay ashore and as long Sec
retary Long was at the head Of the Department,
but that is all changed now, and it is believed
the Admiral whose power in the Navy by virtue
Adtutant-General of the Army, will prefer
change from the irritating and exacting duties
to which he devoted himself through the Span
fsh war, and that he will insist on cruise
after a brief recuperative European tour. In
any event he has been entitled to retire in the
highest grade ever since last September, and he
may take advantage of that fact at any time
As far as Admiral Bradford is concerned,
Secretary Long wants to abolish the Bureau of
Bureau Of Ships, to be headed by Constructor
Bowles. If Congress does not allow this, the Sec
retary will try to keep Bradford as chief of
equipment another four years. Bradford was
the first Of the bureau chiefs (and the only one
that went on record to volunteer for duty
when the Maine was blown up. He is a sea dog
and believes a naval officer should be afioat
proved a remarkable organizer and executive
in the Navy Department, and there will be
strong pressure to have him remain for another
term TO continue his aggressive plans for a
greater Navy, with supply stations in every sea.
Admiral O'Nen is looked upon as altogether
Indispensable to the continuance of American
supremacy in naval ordnance growth along ex-
one to take his place with the new guns and
powders and the vast arnor contracts requiring
a of the highest experience in control. In
the same category is Surgeon General Van Rey-
pen, the creator Of the Solace. of the splendid
surgical and sanitary arrangements which have
kept the naval death rate lower than ever be
fore in its history, in times of peace not
more ships than ever on tropical stations He is
practically sure to continue as Surgeon General
until he retires in November, 1902.
THIS NAN WILL SEE THREE CENTURIES.