The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-04
VIII Quit Active Service Because He
Was Not Allowed a Battleship
for q Flagship.
SECRETARY RESIGNS
LIEUT.. III. III. WARD sURRENDERS HIS
COMMISSION In NAVY.
Rear Admiral Cotton Ordered Aboard
Squadron-The Panama Canal.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-Two interest
ing and significant communications were
received to-day at the Navy Department
from the European station. One was from
Rear Admiral Aren't Schuyler Crownin-
shield, commanding the European squad
ron. asking to be placed on the retired list
of the navy under the provisions of the
personnel law. The other was from Lieut..
Henry III. Ward, naval secretary to Ad-
miral Crowninshield. resigning his commits
sion in the navy.
Prompt action was taken by the secre-
tary in regard to the case of Rear Admiral
Crowninshield, and it was decided to relieve
him from active duty at once. His appli-
cation for retirement will undoubtedly be
granted. Rear Admiral Charles S. Cotton.
commandant of the navy yard at Norfolk,
Va. was assigned to the command of the
European squadron and will reinquish his
present duty at once and start for Europe
as soon as he can arrange his official and
private affairs. The European squadron is
composed of the cruiser Chicago (hagship),
the protected cruisers Albany and Cincin-
natl, the cruiser Raleigh and the gunboat
Machias
The Navy Department contented itself at
first with the brief statement of the adj
mirals application for retirement without
explanation of the reason therefor. 1t is
known, however that the officer was dis
satisfied with the Encouragement of the
armored squadrons following the Carib-
bean maneuvers last winter, which de-
prived him of the further use of the Ili-
nois as a flagship The circumstances I'M
DER which he came to be deprived of this
ship, one of the latest and most formid-
able in this or any other navy, were entire
ly lmpersonal. The general board, OF which
Admiral Dewey is the head, had decided
upon the creation of magnificent squad
ron of ironclads of the first type to consti-
tute the home squadron" guarding the
Atlantic and gulf coasts 1t was necessary
in the Judgment of the board to include the
| Illinois Moreover, such battleships are
| neither effective nor economical as cruisers,
| and the Illinois was doing that sort of duty
In Europe. SO, carrying out its general
ihngs. the Navy Department assigned Ad-
| miral Crowninsheld TO command the Chi
cago and kept the Illinois on the North
| Atlantic station. The Chicago, while
very serviceable cruiser and a fine vessel
| of ten years ago, Is nothing like as impos-
| ing from naval point of view as the Illi-
nois, and Admiral Crowninshield did not
care to go back to the Mediterranean and
| to the ports of northern Europe, where
| his flag had floated over the battleship, in
| an inferior craft. SO he protested. That
| and it was given due consideration, but the
| original plan held.
| Admiral Crowninshield is now No. 20 on
/ the list of rear admirals, and in the first
grade his retired pay will be $5,625 per an
| mum, or $500 more than he would receive
were he in his present grade. 1t was said
| at the Navy Department later in the day
| that Secretary Moody had cabled an ac-
| ceptance of Admiral Crowninshield's re-
quest to retire, and also expressed regret
| at the loss the navy would sustain. 1t Is
| expected that the admiral will haul down
| his flag about March 30. He will not re-
turn to the United States on a naval vessel,
and probably will spend some time in Eu-
/ rope before coming home. Admiral Cotton
| was instructed to go to the squadron at
! the earliest moment and he replied to-day
| that he could close up his business at the
Norfolk navy yard and be ready to start in
| about three weeks.
| Admiral Crowninshield's retirement, in
| the ordinary course, will promote Captains
! Cook and Harrington to be rear admirals.
| Captain Cook. however, Is in a deplorable
! state of health, and is now at Nauheim,
| Germany, where it is hoped that the waters
will benefit him. If they do not Ii is feared
| he cannot pass the physical examination
| necessary to promotion. The law does not
allow Of much delay in these examinations,
| so it is probable that, following a prece-
dent established some time ago, he will be
promoted on his record, subject to the re-
suits of physical examination to be held
later