The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-03-04
CROWNINSHIELD RESIGNS.
ASKS TO BE PLACED ON NAVAL
RETIRED LIST.
Secretary of the Navy Decides to Relieve
Him at Once-Rear Admiral Cotton
Assigned TO the European Station
Crovntnshield DispIeased at Being
OebRrTed of the Illinois.

DebarTed of the Illinois.
Washington, March 3.-Two interest
ing and significant communications
were received to-day at the navy de-
partment from the European station.
One was from Rear-Admiral Aren't
Schuyler Crowninshield, commanding
the European squadron, asking to be
placed on the retired list of the navy
under the provisions of the personnel
law. The other was from Lieutenant
Henry H. Ward, naval secretary to Ad-
miral Crowninshield, resigning his COM
mission in the navy.
Prompt action was taken by Secre-
tary Moody in regard to the case of
Rear-Admiral Crowninshield, and it
was decided to relieve him from active
duty at once in order that he might
come home or visit European capitals,
whichever should be his desire. His
application for retirement will undoubt-
edly be granted.
Rear-Admiral Charles S. Cotton,
commandant of the navy yard at Nor
folk, Va, was assigned to the command
of the European squadron and will re-
linquish his present duty at once and
start for Europe as soon as he can ar
range his official and private affairs.
The European squadron is composed of
the cruiser Chicago (flagship), the pro-
tected cruisers Albany and Cincinnati,
the cruiser Raleigh and the gunboat
Machias.
The navy department contented itself
at first with the brief statement of the
admirals application for retirement
without explanation of the reason
therefor. 1t is known, however, that
the officer was dissatisfied with the re-
arrangement of the armored squadrons,
following the Caribbean manoeuvres
last winter, which deprived him of the
further use of the Illinois as flagship.
The circumstances under which he
came to be deprived of this ship, one
of the latest and most formidable in
this or any other navy, were entirely
impersonal. The general board, of
which Admiral Dewey is head, has de-
cided upon the creation of magnifi-
cent squadron of ironclads of the first
type to constitute the '"home squad
ron," guarding the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts, as the famous British Channel
squadron" forms first wall of defense
in that country. 1t was necessary, in
the Judgment of the board, in order to
make this fleet of the necessary
strength to serve the purpose in view,
to include the Illinois. Moreover. such
l.
economical as cruisers and the Illinois
was doing that sort of duty in Europe.
So carrying out it's general policy, and
without regard to personal feelings, the
navy department assigned Rear-Ad-
miral Crowninshield to command the
Chicago and kept the Illinois on the
North Atlantic station. The Chicago,
while very serviceable cruiser and a
fine vessel of ten years aao is nothing
like as imposing, from naval point of
view, as the Illinois, and Admiral
Crowninshield did not care to go back
to the Mediterranean and the ports of
northern Europe, where his flag had
floated over the battleship in an inferi-
or craft, so he protested. That protest
was made during the manoeuvres and
II was given uue coliSlueidtioii' put lhe
original plan was held to.
Admiral Crowninshield retires under
that section of the personnel act which
permits him to do so at an advanced
grade in consideration in at last forty
years creditable service. He is now
No. 20 on the list of rear-adnirals, and
thus in the Junior grade, so that his re-
tirement will place him in the first
grade, where his retired rank pay will
be IS, ,625 per annum, or 81, 500 more than
he would receive were he retired in his
present grade.