Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1907-09-05
REAR ADMIRAL
Davis RETIRES.
His Place as Commander ia
ken by Rear Admiral
Charles NJ. Thomas.
At the Time of the Kingston Earth.
quake Disaster 1t was Admiral
Davis whose Offer of ASSiS-
lance for the Sufferers Was
Refused by Governor
SWettenhdm.
(By special wire to THE ARGUs.)

(By special wire to THE ARGUs.)
Washington, D. c., Aug. 2s.-Today,
after a career of more than forty years
of faithful and efficient service as an
officer of the United States navy, Rear
Admiral Charles Henry Davis was
placed on the retired list on account of
having reached the age limit of sixty
years. His retirement causes a
number of changes and promotions all
along the line of the service. Admiral
DaVis's place as commander Of the
second squadron of the Atlantic fleet
is taken by Rear Admiral Charles M.
Tho mas, commander of the second di-
vision OF the first squadron of the same
feet, who will be succeeded by Rear
Admiral Charles S. Sperry, at present
navel delegate at The Hague.
The record that Admiral Davis caves
behind him in the American navy is a
continuous succession of diplomatic
triumphs. n addition he saw much
active service in the Civil and Spanish
wars. He entered the Naval Academy
in 1861, and vas made an ensign in
1866. In 1865 and 1865 he had his first
experience in actual duty on board
ship, his vessel being attached to the
New York harbor station. His promo
tions were-to master in 1866, lieuten-
ant in 1868, lieutenant commander in
1869, commander in 1885, captain in
1898, and rear admiral in 1904.
Admiral nouic &c a ~on of forao
learning and executive ability, and
has frequently been assigned to impor-
tant duties, not only in war, but in
scientific Investigations. Among the
latter he was in charge of or connected
with several expeditions for the deter
animation of latitude and longitude in
the Atlantic ocean, and in the far east,
for three years was chief naval intelli-
gence officer, and later superintendent
of the naval observatory.
During the war with Spain he was
in command of the auxiliary cruiser
Dixie, and did a large amount OF effec-
tive work along the southern coast OF
Cuba, sinking gunboats, erippling
forts and smashing blockhouses, and
on one occasion routed a body OF
Spanish cavalry a day or two before
the American troops were ready to
make their landing.
Rear Admiral Davis was selected AS
the American men Der of the interna-
tional commission whic!s .aet in Paris
1.-TWO years g to inquire into the firing
by iRussia's battle fleet ia the British
fishing trawlers in the NOrth Sea. Al
the time of the Kingston earthquake
disaster it was Admiral Davis, whose
offer of; assistance for the sufferers was
refused by Governor S-wettenham.
Admiral Davis's title as "Grand
w a s conferred by Spain in recognition
of his services as personal conduct OF
as a representative of the Quilted States
government of the Infanta Eulalis
when she visited America i'm 500 as
Spain's representative to the Colum-
bian exposition at Chicago.
The vacancy in the list OF rear Admi
trails caused by the retirement OF AID hi.
gal Davis is filled by the promotion q
ICaptain Ehwin Conway PendAeton
Captain Pendleton comes from Virgin
ia, and graduated fIom the Nava
Academy in 1867. During the forty
years he has been in the navy le ha4
seen service i'll many duties and OF
various stations. From 1900 to l00.
he WAS in command of the cruiser At
1antas and later served as superinten
dent of the naval gun factory.