The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-04
TO HAUL DOWN FLAG
ADMIRAL CRowNsHIELD WILL
 RETIRE.
Makes Request of Navy Department and is Cabled That He Can Get Out in Very Short
 Time.

Washington. March 1.-Two interesting ceived today at the Navy Department from the European station.
 One was, from Rear Admiral A. S. Crowninsheld, commanding the European squadron asking to be placed on the re- tired list of the navy under the provisions of the personnel law. The other was from Lieut.. Henry Ward, naval secretary to Admiral Crowninshield, resigning his commission in the navy.
 Prompt action was taken by the Secre- tary Tn regard to the case of Rear Ad- mlral Crowninshield and it was decided to relieve him from active duty at once. lis application for retirement undoubted- ly will be granted.
 Rear Admiral Charles s. Cotton. com mandant of the navy yard at Norfolk, Va., was assigned to the command of the european squadron and will relinqnish ms present duty at once and start for Europo as soon as he can arrange his official and private affairs
 It IS known that Rear Admiral Crown inshield was dissatisfied with the ar- engagement of the armored suuadrons Ioliowing the Caribbean maneuvers last year which deprived him of the further use or the Illinois as a flagship
 The circumstances under which he rame to be deprived of his ship. one of the latest and most formidable in this or any other navy, were entirely impersona1. me general board of which Admiral DeWey is head, had decided upon the creation of magnificent squadron of noncIads Of the first type to constitute the home squadron guarding the Alt ldhtc and Gulf coasts. It was necessary lh 'he Judgment of the board. to include the Illinois. So, carrying out its general policy without regard to personal feeling. the Navy Department assigned Admiral Crowninshield to command the Chicago. ana Kept the Illinois on the North Atlan- tic squadron
 Admiral Crowninshield did not care to go back to the Mediterranean and to the ports of Northern Europe where his flag had hoated over the battleship In an in- ferior craft. so he protested. That pro. test was made during the maneuvers, and 1t was given due consideration, but the original plan held.
 It was said at the Navy Department later in the day that Secretary Moody had cabled an acceptance of Admiral Nlo"HinsHlelu 5 request 10 retlre ana also expressive of the loss the navy would sustain, It is expected the Admiral will haul down his flag about March 30. He will not return to the rnitetd States on naval vessel and probably will spend some time in Europe before coming home
 Admiral Cotton was instructed to go to the squadron at the earliest moment and he replied today that he could close mp his business at the Norfolk navy yard and be ready to start in about three weeks
 Admiral Crowninshed's retirement in the ordinary course will promote Cap tains 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. it is feared. he cannot pass the physical examination necessary to promo ton. The law does not allow of much delay in these examinations. so it is prob able that following a precedent es- tablished some time ago, he will be pro- noted on his record. subject to the results of a physical examination to be held later on