Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-01
OF RENEY And kENPFF
Good Stories About These Naval
Officers Hard TO Obtain.
CAN'T BE FOUND IN WASHINGTON.
Both Are Popular There, but Have
Never Exploited Themseives-i8oth
Are From the West and Both Are
Men of Exceptional Ahiiity.

Rear Admiral George &. Reney. who
IL very prominent in whatever the
| United States Is doing in the far east,
is personally popular in Washington.
He Is also wei liked by every naval
man who has ever served with him or
under him. They say tic Is man Of
unusual force OF character, Of excep-
tional Judgment and extremely unlikely
| 10 make mistakes. Some Of those with
whom The writer has talked were at
first very ioath 70 consider the stories
of Chinese cruelty sent from Picking
authentic because Remey had not in
dorsed them.
Veteran Of Two wars.
George G. Remey was born In Iowa.
He was sent to the Naval academy in
1865 aud was graduated therefrom In
1860. He had accordingly seen two
years of actual service when the civil
war broke out These two years had
been spent ON the steam sloop Hart
ford. which was attached 90 the East
India squadron. From the beginning
of the civil war until late in 1868 he
was constantly active In naval opera
tions. ON Sept s of that year, when
engaged In the bombardment of Fort
Sumter, he was taken prisoner by the
Confederates lie was soon cX-
changed, however. and on June 70.
1868. he had reached the grade Of
lieutenant commander.
Between the close Of the civil war
and the beginning Of the war with
Spain Remcy's services were much like
those OF other naval officers. being de
yidcd between navy yards, retiring
boards. the management Of squadrons
Of evolution and the like. For some rea-
son he saw less sea duty than almost
any other officer. When the Spanish
war began, he was exceedingly anx-
ious to take an active part In the fight
ing: hut, owing TO his exceptional ahii-t
ity as an executive officer Ia charge of
navy yards and stations, he was re-
uuested TO assume command OF the ma
val station at Key West. This was
one of the duties which no naval Off
Ger desired TO undertake. for the sim
pie reason TINT. while It would IN
doubtcdly require unusual ability of the
sort Iscmey had developed, II could not
by any possibility lead to the acquisi-
ton Of naval glory. Yet when lie was
requested TO take the place he accepted
n without n word OF demur and there
by won laurels Of no Inconsiderabie
sort as man who was ready to subor-
dInate his own desires 10 the good Of
the service.
Throughout the operations In the
West Indies he attended strictly 10 the
work mt Key West and undoubtedly
contributed much more markedly than
IL generally supposed to the success or
the operations.
kn Able Seaman.
Admiral Hemey was ordered to tire
Asiatic station in March, relieving Adj
fniraI Watson.
One of the reasons which prompted
his selection was the fine reputation
which he had won as an able com
mandcr In heavy weather. His exploit
in 1877 in taking the new Enterprise
out Of New York and navigating her
safely down the Atlantic coast I'm the
November gafe, during which the Hu-
ron was lost. has long been considered
one Of the finest achievements Of sea-
manship In the annals Of the American
navy Besides being good sailor, Ad-
mirai Remey is described by Dds ass0-
ciates as polite. but frm; generous,
hospitable and diplomatic in The best
sense. These qualities were all count
ed upon as likely TO ut him most admi-
rabry for service on the Asiatic squad
ron when IT meant only wise dealing
with the naval end OF the Philippine
situation. No better choice could well
have been made even had IL been then
understood that he would have to deal
witch far more complicated situation
In Chinese waters than anything which
has existed at the Philippines.
Admiral Fsemey b 80 years old. He
wears a ruustache and closely clipped
wfliskers, Out his head ~ bald. He IL
as robust physically as the average
man in the fortics
ADMIRAL Kempff.
Like many other naval officers, Ad-
nlral Remey IS not very well known 10
the newspaper men, and It ~ not easy
10 hunt up good stories about him.
But Remey Is better known than Adj
mlral kempff, who IN also now In
oriental waters have personal
knowledge that at least half a dozen
periodical editors have been securing
the capital 70 get material for good
story about Kenpff against the time
when he shall do something TO make
him famous; but, so far as have been
able to learn, NO one has yet succeeded
30 procuring story.
Louis Kempfr was born In Illinois.
He was sent 10 Annapolis in 1857. He
served through the civil war and won
his commission by landing a howitzer
from the Wabash and assisting In the
capture of Fernandina and Jackson
vile. In December, 1898, he was slat-