The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-03
YOUNG MEN To
COMMAND NAVY
Shakeup in Commanders
For Big Cruise to
Pacific.
OLDER MEN TO REAR
Out of Eighteen Captains Now in
Squadron Only Four to
Take Trip.

New York. Sept. 2.-(SpeciaL)-
biggest shakeup in the history of the
line of the United States navy is now
in process of arrangement by the sec
rotary of the navy, who has the appro-
baton of President Roosevelt in the
plan outlined.
OF the officers now commanding the
eighteen battleships to make the long
voyage from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
for a world beating cruise. only four
captains now commanding ships will
make the trip. The president and sec
rotary of the navy have agreed to for
ward the long disired plan of advanc-
ing young men to the fighting line and
send their elders to the rear, and of
the eighteen captains who will COM
mand and be responsible for the $780,
100000 worth of armament and equip
nent to be sent through the strait OF
Magellan to the Pacific fourteen will be
men younger than the captains now in
command.
Seine who VIII Make the Trip.
The following captains hold their
ships and make the trip: Potter of the
Vermont. Vreeland of the Kansas, Os-
terhaus of the Connecticut, and Vain
wright of the Louisiana. Wainwright
was found to be well on toward the
retirement time but his services dur
ing the Spanish war advanced him in
rank so rapidly that he is one of the
first in line for a rear admiralship, and
will be saved the regret OF being put
ashore during his latter years of active
service.
Among naval officers OF high rank it
was said today that Capt McCrea, COM
handing the Georgia, might also be
kept in his command, making FIVE Of
the present captains to stay aboard
ship for this cruise. But this date of
retirement is in 1918. only six years
hence. and it is said that his case is in
doubt
The captains who will be sent ashore
to make room for younger officers of
the same rank are Seaton Schroeder of
the Virginia, William w. Kimball of
the New Jersey, J. B. Murdoch of the
Rhode Island. Samuel p. Comfy of the
Alabama, Gotfried Blocklinger of the
Illinois. Herbert Winslow of the Kear-
sarge. Edward B. Barry of the Ken
tpcky, Lewis c. Heilner OF the Ohio,
Giles B. Harder of the Maine, John
Hubbard of the Minnesota. G. a. Mer-
RAM OF the Missouri, and probably the
captains. Albert C. Berry and Theo-
doric Porter of the armored cruisers
Tennessee and Washington.
Relieved From Sea Duty.
The intention OF the navy depart
ment to relegate the older captains to
tho rear and put the young ones in
command of the great new battleships
of the fleet became known through an
official communication to tho first cap
tains to prepare for duty ashore. This
communication was delicately, even
with kindness. put. and it informed
the particular captain that his relief
from sea duty at this time was in no
way a criticism by the department on
his capacity as the commander of
first class battleship of the United
States navy. 1t is said to have also
extended in explanation so far as to
give comfort to the captain by assur-
ing him that the other captains, save
those given above. who Will retain their
commands. would also be put ashore
An effort to secure the names OF this
the first of the captains of the fleet to
be put aside, was unsuccessful.
The change in the commanders of
the ships at this time has so far ad-
vanced and so much of detail of the
plan has become known in the line Of
the navy that there Is no other topic
of conversation among the officers Of
the fleet which Admiral Evans will
take from the Atlantic to the Pacific
IL was said by a naval officer Of high
rank that the plan was to put on shore
duty all captains who had reached an
age where they could not expect to be
advanced two years before retirement
Etlict TO Follow Maneuvers.
The shakeup will occur wholesale
just after the finish OF the target prac-
tice and manuevers OF Cape Cod this
MONTH The work of the battleships in
these maneuvers viii be the first of its
kind ever ordered by the department
Naval officers are waiting for this
practice with the keenest interest
New range finding apparatus has been
invented Of recent years and where
only recently the target practice of the
United States battIeships a 1000 yards
was considered almost without equal
on the part of the ships of any other
navy. Uncle Sans present proposition
Is to make world records at 5000 yards
under full speed and under conditions
that promise to test the limit Of capa-
city of maneuvering and gunnership of
the American man and officer
The present captains of the big new
ships viii engage in these maneuvers
and will then be relieved 10 make way
for the younger ones. Just who will
take the places or the captains to be
sent ashore no one knows outside OF
the department. BY the time the fleet
Is ready to start on its long VOYAGE
there win be plenty of men of the rank
of captain, younger men with plenty
of eagerness to engage in the respon-
sible task