Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-26
Navy Department Confirms Story of
Crowninshield Assignment.
WILL COMMAND EUROPEAN SQUADRON
Rear Admiral Taylor Named as
New Chief.
TO TAKE PLACE IN MARCH

Secretary Long today officially confirmed
the report that Rear Admiral Henry c.
Taylor has been selected as chief Of the
bureau Of navigation and that Rear Ad-
miral A. S. Crowninshield, who now holds
that office, is to be given command Of the
European station. The changes will take
effect In March next and the Secretary
explained that Admiral Crowinshield's
prospective relief involves no reflections
on that officer and had no connection with
the Sampson-Schley controversy.
Admiral Crowninshield, whose present ac-
tual rank is captain, will be promoted to
the grade of rear admiral In March next
by the statutory retirement of Rear Admi-
raj J. A. Howell, who. next to Admiral
Dewey, IS the ranking officer OF the navy.
Admiral Howell is now on duty in this city
as president of the naval retiring board.
Rear Admirals W. I. Sampson and b. ].
Cromwell will each retire for age February
8 next. Their retirement will result in the
promotion Of Capts. p. Ii. Cooper and @.
III. Wadleigh and place Admiral Crownin-
shield at the head of the list of captains.
Secretary Long said that the selection OF
Acm!ral Crowninshield as the next COM
mander-in-chief Of the European squadron
was In Conformity with request made by
that officer last spring that he be given a
flag command after he reached the grade Of
rear admiral and before his retirement for
age in March. 1905. 1t is the ambition OF
every officer of the navy to round out his
active career with the record of having
commanded a squadron, and the policy OF
the Navy Department has been to crafty
flag officers about to retire in that respect.
Squadron In Small.
Referring to the criticisms that have
been passed upon Admiral Crowninsh.eld's
assignment to the European station. secre-
tary Long said that the squadron was one
of the smallest In the service. and that the
station was surpassed in Importance by the
North Atlantic or home station and by the
Asiatic or Chinese station. The last-named
was by far the most important station In
the service at this time both by reasons OF
the number Of vessels attached to IL ana
because of the much greater responsible
ties of the service devolying upon ths COM
mander-in-chief. Moreover. commend of
the European station will be the first one
vacated.
Rear Admiral Cromwell. who now holds
that detail, will be retired, already
stated, in February next. and although he
might, under existing law, be continued IN
active command after retirement, there is
now no special occasion for such action.
The employment of retired officers on ac-
tive duty is not usually resorted to in time
of war, when there is an unusual demand
for services Of naval officers.
In the case Of Admiral Cromwell Score
tery Long said it was probable that he will
be continued in command of the European
squadron, despite his retirement February
o. until Admiral Crowninshield shall be able
to succeed him in the full rank of rear ad-
miral in the following March.
No Disagreement Over the Oregon.
Secretary Long also took occasion to cor
rect the published reports that there had
been friction between Admiral Crowuin-
shield and President Roosevelt when the
latter was assistant secretary of the navy
In regard to transferring the battle ship
Oregon from the Pacific to the Atlantic
station at the outbreak Of the Spanish
war.
The fact was, the secretary said, that
the plan of bringing the Oregon around to
the Atlantic originated with Admiral
Crowninshield and was promptly indorsed
by both Mr.. Roosevelt and himself tMr.
Long). There was really no other course
to pursue said the secretary, for the rea-
son that Admiral Dewey had DESTROYED the
Spanish fleet in the Pacific and the only
other Spanish vessels they had to contend
with were In the Atlantic ocean.
Rear Admiral Taylor, the incoming chief
of the navigation bureau, was Secretary
Longs original selection for that office.
When the office became vacant by the re-
tirement of Rear Admiral Ramsay In April,
1897, the appointment was rendered to and
declined in each instance by Admirals Tay-
lor Sampson and Sicard, each OF whom ex-
pressed a preference for sea service. The
name Of Admiral Crowninshield was sug
gested by Admiral Sicard. and the appoint
ment followed.
Secretary Long was asked this morning
whether Admiral Taylor would now accept
the bureau appointment, and he smilingly
replied that he thought he would, as ne
would be ordered" to do so, and a naval
officer always obeyed orders.