Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-29

department, mas Deen apparent ever since
1t was learned that flag captain McCalla
had; gone to the front with Vice-Admiral
Seymour's column for it was well-known
to officials that without McCalla's con-
slant advice the American senior naval
officer could not he depended upon to
meet grave emergencies involving dis
cretfon Of higher order. Kempff has
always been regarded as one of the finest
sailor men in the service and as good
fighter as ever commanded a ship, but
he was never proficient in diplomatic
matters and was declared to be unsuited
to represent the United States at great
gathering of the great naval powers on
the most important duty that has fallen
to any officer since the war with Spain.
The idea. that Kempff was sent to Asia
on account of special fitness was demol-
ished at the time he went. His orders
were simply the result of an effort in
the navy department to induce him to go
on the retired list and make a vacancy
for promotions all along the line. Admir-
al Remey was chosen for senior in COM
mand in Asia on account of his special
fitness After Admiral Remey, who was
No. on the admirals list, was ordered
to Asia last March, Admiral McCor-
mack, No. 18 on the same list was order
ed as second in command. promptly
retired as he was expected to do. He
rose grade by retiring and also avoided
what is really a captains duty, the sec
ond in command of fleet having no in
dependence of action and therefore be-
ing humiliated below his acutal inde-
pendent flag officers rank.
Then Rear Admirals Day (No ~ and
Cotton (No. 20) were similarly retired to
avoid duty as second in command Then
the same orders were given to Kempff
who was at the time in possession of
the exceedingly desirable billet of
commandant at Mare Island, where he
was awaiting retirement. He was No. Is
on the list and would presumably decline
an appointment that three Of his juniors
had 1sst refused; but he astonished the
department by accepting with alacrity
and offering to sail the next day. The
department had to make the best of the
matttr and then put Captain McCalla
one Of the most brilliant men of the
navy in command of Kempff's flagship
to equalize any deficiency that may exist.
Until McCalla left his post to march to
the relief of the legations all was plain
sailing, but since that time evaporation
In washington over Kempff's reports has
been steadily growing, each new dispatch
making 1t more acute.
The failure to participate with the 9TH
er admirals in taking the Taku will re-
qu1re clear explanation from Admiral
kempn as soon as the present crisis per-
mits a court of inquiry. Not one of
the dispat tches sent by the admiral in the
last two weeks Is clear in essentials.
Superfiuous words are common and in
several instances single words have been
omitted which would have been of great
value to the government. Last Sunday
Admiral Remey was ordered to go to
Nagasaki and coal the Brooklyn and be
ready to relieve Kempff. That day he
was crdered to proceed Immediately to
Taku snd assume command at once The
Brooklyn left Manila on Tuesday and
will reach Taku Sunday and from that
day the authorities will breathe easier.