The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-06-11
Captains Wise and Ster-
ling to Be Advanced
to Rank.
COOK And CJhEK AT TOP OF list
Early Promotion to Flag Rank of These
Two Participants in Naval Battle at
Santiago MISUNDERSTANDING Re-
tirenents Now Numerous.

Through the voluntary retirement of
Rear Admirals Edwin NJ Shepard ane
George f. Wadleigh. two unexpected
vacancies have been created in the lis;
OF their grade. The consequent promo
items will pave the way to the advance
ment to flag rank at an early day OF two
well known officers who commanded
ships in the naval battle Of Santiago
The vacancies will be filled by the
promotion of Capt. Yates Stirling and
Capt. William c. Wise to the grade Of
rear admiral. This will advance Capt.
Francis a. Cook. who commanded the
Brooklyn to the top of the list of cap
tains. and Capt. Charles E. Clark. who
commanded the Oregon. to the second
place on the Eat.
The provisions of a recent act OF Con-
gress will enable Captains Cook and
Clark TO attain promotion on the crea-
ton Of a single vacancy in the list OF
rear aGmirals.
One Vacancy to Advance Three.
Having been advanced in numbers for
war service. Captain Cook on being
promoted will become an additional rear
admiral. and as such will not fill a
vacancy. Thereupon Captain Clark will
be promoted. but as he, too. will become
an additional member. it will be neces-
sary to promote the next officer on the
list. Capt. Powell F. Harrington. and he,
being a regular number. will fill the
vacancy and stop the flow Of promotions.
While no rear admiral is to retire
for age during the coming months of
the present year, it is expected that
there will be some voluntary retire
ments for forty years service within
very short time, and the ist Of these
will create the vacancy which will ele-
vate Captains Cook, Clark, and Harring-
ton to flag rank.
President Roosevelt is anxious to have
Captain Clark promoted to the highest
attainanle grade. He will welcome the |
opportunity to place another rear ad-
miral on the retired list. so that the for |
mer commander of the Oregon. whose |
services in the war with Spain he re-
CARDS as second to no other officer OF
his rank in the navy, may obtain the re-
ward which the President recently found |
legally himself unable to confer.
Three Voluntary Retirements.
Within the week there have been vol
untary retirements of three ranking Of
ficers, and more are almost certain to
follow soon. Under the law an officer
is entitled to retirement on his own ap
plication after forty years service. Such
applications are the exception rather
than the rule, most officers preferring to
remain in the harness until they reach
the age OF compulsory retirement.
The unusual number Of voluntary re-
tirements at this time is due to the ac-
ton of the House Of Representatives In
acting favorabiy on provision to re-
peal the law permitting officers who
served In the civil war to retire with
advanced rank.
Thus Capt. Edwin 6. Houston. who en-
tered the navy in 1862. was retired en-
on his own application. with
he rank and increased pay of 4 rear
admiral II the Senate should agree
With the House, and Captain Houston
had waited until the appeal became eff
ective, he would not have become a
ear admiral on the retired list. and he
will reach the age of compulsory re-
ircment before sufficient vacancies
will have occurred to enable him to
,btain promotion in regular order.
Beth AduIirals Shepard and Wadleigh