Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-02

struction corps. After three years at the
University of Glasgow, where he gradu-
ated with high honors, he returned to this
country as an assistant naval constructor,
and since then the work he has done has
been probably the most varied and diversi-
fed of any member of the corps, covering
all branches of his profession.
His first duty after returning from abroad
was at the New York navy yard, in the de-
partment Of construction and repair In
1892 he came to Washington and served
several years as assistant to the chief con-
structor in the bureau of construction and
repair In 1896 he was ordered to the Union
iron works. in San Francisco, superin-
tending naval constructor for a number of
naval vessels under construction there,
was on duty at the Union iron works at
the breaking out Of the Spanish-American
war.
Raised Spanish Ships at Manila.
One of the first requests of Admiral
Dewey after the battle of Manila bay, May
/, 1898, was to have a constructor ordered
on his staff, and Constructor Caps was Sc
lected for that important duty. He spent
more than a year in Manila and earned
the highest commentator from Admiral
Dewey for his professional work. Such of
the sunken Spanish vessels as he Consid-
cred worthy of repair after examination
were raised under his direction and put in
such condition in Cavite that they went to
Hong Kong under their own steam. There
they were later repaired under the super
vision of Constructor Hobson, to
whom has often been ascribed the credit
for their raising, but as a matter of fact
that work was entirely under Mr.. Caps.
He returned to this country with Admiral
Dewey on the Olympia in the autumn of
1899. He was ordered to Washington
where he did duty in the bureau of con-
struction and repair and upon the board of
inspection and survey for about eighteen
months. In the spring of 1901. when Rear
Admiral Bowles was appointed chief con-
structor he selected Naval Constructor
Caps as his successor at the navy yard
New York. where his administration has
been very successful, and earned him the
commentator of all his official superiors
Made Chief Constructor.
Upon Rear Admiral Bowles' resignation
of the position Of chief constructor, Naval
Constructor Caps was selected for the
place by the President upon the earnest
recommendation Of Secretary Moody entire
ly upon his merits and record for efficiency
Immediately upon learning that Admiral
Bowles was going to leave the service Mr.
Moody gave careful consideration to all the
officers eligible for selection as his success
sor but there was no intimation generally
that the place was vacant. and the an
nouncement Of Admiral Bowles' resignation
was simultaneous with the announcement
OF the name OF his successor. AS general
thing, officers obtain the position of chief
Of bureau of the Navy Department only
after strenuous competition. In this case
Admiral Capps was not candidate for the
position and had not even the slightest in
timation Of the vacancy.
Admiral Caps is bachelor. He is very
popular with his fellow officers of the navy,
and has many warm friends in Washington.
who will be glad to welcome him with his
new honors.