The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-11
ADMIRAL GRoEHINsRIELD RETIREs.
Quits Because His Flag Ship Was
Not Big Enough.

Washington, March 3.-Two interest
ing and significant communications
were received today 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
ander the provisions of the personal
law. The other was from Lieut.,
Henry Fl. Ward, naval secretary to
Admiral Crowninshield, resigning his
commission 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 undoubtedly
will be granted.
Rear Admiral Charles S. Cotton,
commandant of the navy yard at Nor
folk, Va, was assigned TO the COM
mand Of the squadron and will reiin-
quish 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
protected cruiser Albang-and Cincin-
natl, the cruiser Raleigh and the gun
boat Machias.
The navy department contehted 1t
self at first with the brief statement of
the admiral's application for retire
ment without explanation of the rea
son therefor. It is known, however,
that the officer was dissatisfied with
the arrangement of the armored squad
rons following the Caribbean manoeu-
vres last winter which deprived him Of
the further use of the Illinois as a
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, had de-
cided upon the creation Of magnii-
cent squadron of ironclads Of the first
type to constitute the "home squad
rom guarding the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts as the famous British
channel squadron" form first wall
of defense in that country. It was
necessary in the Judgment of the
board, in order to make this feet OF
the necessary strength to serve the
purpose in view, to include the lii
nois. Moreover, such battleships are
neither effective nor economical as
cruisers and the Illinois was doing
that sort of duty in Europe. So carry
ing out its general policy and without
regard to personal feelings the navy
department assigned Admiral Crown
inshield to command the Chicago and
keep the Illinois on the North Atlant-
ic station. Admiral Crowninshield
did not care to go back to the Medi-
terranean and to the ports of northern
Europe where his flag had foated
over the battleship in an inferior
craft so he protested. That protest
was made during the manoeuvres and
it was given due consideration, but the
original plan held.
Admiral Crowninshield retires under
that section of the personal act which
permits him to do so at an advanced
grade in consideration of at least forty
years creditable service. He is now
No. 20 on the list of rear admirals
and thus in the junior grade so that
his retirement will place him in the
first grade where his retired pay will
be IS, 625 per annum, or 81, 800 more
than he would receive we're he retired
in his present grade.