New-York tribune., 1900-12-31
REAR ADMIRALS TO RETIRE
CHANGES IN NAVAL COMMANDS WITH
THE NEW YEAR.
scHLEY ONE OF THOSE TO GO OUT IN 1901
FIGHTING BOB" EVANS SLATED" FOR
NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON.

FIGHTING BOB" EVANS SLATED" FOR
NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON.
TBr TELEGRAPH no TIE rR1BUNE.I
Washington Dec. 30-The year 1901 promises
TO be notable for its numerous radical changes
in the highest rank of the Navy, not only from
the changes among the rear -adnrals by retire
ment but by reason of the important rearrange-
ment of naval commands afoat and influential
billets ashore. In adding to the so-called vol
untary'' accession to the retired list. aqd the
compulsory retirements account Of reaching
the age limit of active service, the prospective
expiration of the terms of Bureau chiefs in the
Navy Department are exciting much interest
among naval and causing extraordinary
speculation, as well developing much can
vassing for the succession.
The forced retirements for the ensuing year,
with the dates upon which the outgoing COM
missioned officers reach the age limit of sixty
two years, follows: January 3, Civil En-
gineer Peter c. Asserson; January 29, Rear
Admiral Albert Kautz; February 19. Captain
n. NJ. Dyer; March 4. Chief Constructor Philip
Hichborn; March f. Pay Inspector H G. Colby;
March 3, Pay Inspector j. P Loomis; April %,
Medical Director W. K. Scoheld; June 9, Chap
lain Wesley o. Holway: August q, Pay Director
Daniel A Smith; September p, Pay Director
Charles H. Eldridge; October 9, Rear-Adrnira1
W. S schley; November 8, Medical Director
Joseph G. Ayers.
Besides these. the following warrant officers
will retire on the dates specified, creating va
cances at the bottom of these grades with
which worthy enlisted men will be rewarded:
January 2S, Chief Boatswain J. B. Aiken; March
4. Gunner ]. R. Granger; September 8, Chief
sailmaker John ]. Byrne; November Is. Chief
Boatswain F. A Dram; December 26. Chief
Boatswain J. S. Sinclair
AssERsoN TO REMAIN IN SERVICE.
Taking the losses to the naval command list
chronologically, Captain Asserson, who has teen
almost continuously in charge of yards and
docks at the New-York Navy Yard for fifteen
years will retire with the grade of admiral
on account of his service throughout the Civil
War mate and acting ensign in the Navy
Secretary Long has taken advantage Of the
permission granted under the personnel law to
continue Rear-Admiral Asserson on active duty
in charge of various public works, with which
he has long been connected, including the build
ings and improvements he is superin;end-
ing. The Civil Engineers corps is short of off,
GERS, and fortunately for the Government, Rear
Admiral Asserson's splendid health will allow
him to give the Navy the benefit of his great
experience for many years.
Civil Engineer Menocal, of Nicaragua Canal
repute who retired at the close Of the war
with Spain, is also still performing active ser
vice in the Philippines Rear-Admiral Endicott,
the present chief of the Bureau Of Yards and
Docks, and the first of the technically educated
officers of his corps will become its senior OIL
Ger upon Asserson's retirement When Admiral
Kautz who is now cruising the Mexican
coast hauls down his blue pennant at San Diego
on January % as commander-in-chief Of the Pa
urhio ater
than that administered by any other officer
ahoat every man of the line Of the Navy save
two will advance one number. and many i'm
portant transfers will occur
Chief OF these will be that of Rear-Adnniral
Silas Casey, who succeeds to the command of
the station, with the battleship Iowa flag
ship. Admiral Casey for the last two years has
been commandant of the League Island Yard.
which, by general orders just issued, is to be
called the Philadelphia Navy Yard after to-
morrow. He will be relieved either by Rear
Admiral Sumner now commanding the naval
station at Port Royal, which is likely to be soon
abandoned, or by the junior Rear-Admira John
J. Read, promoted last month upon Admiral Nc
Nair's death. Read has not yet had duty COM
mensurate with his rank, and is active
candidate for Casey's place. with good chances,
especially he is entitled to shore duty for
eral years. while Sumner is about due for a
tour. Adn1lraI hauLZ s retirement VIII promote
Mortimer 1. Johnson, now captain Of the Boston
Navy Yard, TO be the junior rear-admiral which
will entitle him 10 higher duty, and it will raise
the relative rank Of Admiral Higginson, chair
man of the Light House Board. from that Of
brigadier- general to that of a najor-generaI Of
the Army.
Captain Dyer, who is No II on the list of
captains and next below Admiral Melville in
real rank. will retire as a rear admiral on ac-
count of Civil War service. He commanded the
Baltimore IN the battle of Manila Bay. and has
an enviabe record.
RETIREMENT OF CONSTRUCTOR HIGH
BORN,
Admiral Hichborn's retirement will remove
from active service one of the most conspicuous
figures of the naval administration in recent
years. The Tribune has frequently referred to
his work in the designing and construction OF
new warships especially in course of his six
years service as the head Of his corps. His sue
cessor. Captain Francis T. Bowles comes TO the
highest rank in the Navy at the age Of forty
two years possessed Of ability and experience
conspicuously fitting him for perhaps the most
important permanent position in either of the
allied arms Of the country. His selection, def
initely announced by the President last month
had been a foregone conclusion for several years
and has been enthusiastically received by the
entire personnel as an indication that merit
alone is to govern in building the bulwarks of
the Nation.
on the part of patronage brokers and other
spoilsnen, to attempt to prevent Bowles's con-
firmation in the Senate, and thereby secure
onv7 a