The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-09-02
REAR ADMIRAL DAVIS RETIRED
NAVAL OFFICER LEAVES ENVl.
ABLE RECORD OF YEARS OF
FAITHFUL SERVICE.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.-After a
career Of more than forty years OF
faithful and efficient service as an Off
Ger of the United States navy, Rear
Admiral Charles Henry Davis, We'd
nesday was placed on the retired list
on account of having reached the age
limit of 81 years. His retirement will
cause humber Of changes and pro-
motions all along the line of the SER
vice. Admiral Dawes place as COM
mander of the second squadron of the
Atlantic fleet is taken by Rear Admir-
al Charles M. Thomas, commander OF
the second division of the first squad
ron of the same fleet, who will be sue
ceeded by Rear Admiral Charles S.
Sperry, at present naval delegates at
The Hague.
The record that Admiral Davis
leaves behind him in the American
Layy is a continuous succession Of
diplomatic triumphs. In addition he
saw much active service in the civil
and Spanish wars. He entered the ma
val academy in 1861, and was made an
ensign in 1866. In 1854 and 1865 he
had his first experience in actual duty
On board ship, his vessel being at
tached to the New York harbor sta
ton. His promotions were: To mas
ter in 1866, lieutenant in 1868, lieu
tenant commander in 1869, commander
n
miral in 1904
Admiral Davis is a man of force,
learning and executive ability, and has
frequently been assigned to important
duties, not only in war, but in scien-
tific Investigations. Among the lat
ter ne was in charge Of or connected
with several expeditions for the de-
termination of latitude ard longitude
in the Atlantic ocean, and in the far
east. For three years he was chief
naval intelligence officer, and later su-
perintendent 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, Gripping forts
and smashing blockhouses, and on one
occasion routed a body Of Spanish cav
airy day or two before the Ameri-
can troops We're ready to make their
landing.
Rear Admiral Davis was selected as
the American member of the interna-
tional commission which met in Paris
two years ago to inquire into the firing
by Russia'S battle fleet in the British
fishing trawlers in the North sea. At
the time of the Kingston earthquake
disaster it was Admiral Davis whose
offer of assistance for the sufferers
was refused by Governor Swettenham.
Admiral Davis title as "GraLd Com
| mander of the Order of Isabella" was
conferred by Spain in recognition of
his services as personal conduct or as
representative of the United States
government of the Infanta Eualie.
when she visited America in 1898, as
Spain's representative to the Column
biaL exposition at Chicago.
The vacancy in the list of rear adj
mirals caused by the retirement of
Admiral Davis is filled by the promo
ton of Capt. Edwin Conway Pendle-
ton, Capt. Pendleton comes from Vir-
GINA and graduated from the naval
academy in 1867. During the 40 years
he has been in the navy he has seer
service in many duties and on various
stations. From 1900 to 1902 he was in
command of the cruiser Atlanta and
later served as superintendent of the
naval gun factory.