The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-21
MAY FLY NEW FLAG
Plan OH Foot to Promote
Robley D. Evans.
CONGRESS EXPECTED TO ACT
senator Warner to Take the Initi-
ative-Commande of Fleet Moving
10 the Pacific Likely to Be a Vice
AdmiraI-HOuse TO Fall in Line
and Give Its Approval.

A determined effort will be made to-
day IN both Houses of Congress to pave
the way so that President Roosevelt may
appoint Robley D. Evans TO the Office OF
vice admiral of the navy before that
gallant officer and his fleet reach the
Chilean port of Punta Arenas.
II there IS no more opposition than an
ticipated now, and the legislation is hur-
ried, the commander-in-chiefo of the mon
ster American battle feet may be able
fly the flag OF his higher rank from the
masthead Of the Connecticut when she
steams at the head of the squadrons up
the broad estuary of the Amazon to Rio
de Janeiro.
Senator Warner of Missouri, viii be-
gin the fight for the advancement of Rear
Admiral Evans in the Senate, ami a Rep
resentative. who is acting Independently,
will take up the cause in the House.
The name of Evans viii not be men
toned in the bills they introduce. but the
pJrpOrt will be plain. The measures will
provide that the President Of the United
states be authorized TO appoint vice
admiral of the. navy one Of the bills
may provide for the continuance OF the
INK Of vice admiral only during the life
II the officer whom the President may
select.
President FavOrs Evans.
The Presidents choice Of a vice ad-
miral is we'll known. Should Congress
give him the power 10 designate the man
for such place, it win be Rear Admiral
Evans without question.
His long service is in his favor. his po-
sftion at the head Of the list of rear
admirals would make such advancement
hrs right. and the command Of the great
batte-ship fleet which he now holds would
render his promotion imperative should
a higher rank be created.
There is no danger that the purpose OF
the measures TO be introduced to-day will
be thwarted by any Executive action
once they receive the approval of both
Houses.
What opposition may develop will GER
tainly not come from the navy. To a
man the officers IN that service who ex-
pressed an opinion on il give the idea
their warmest approval. Admiral Brown
son. chief of the Bureau Of Navigation.
was enthusiastic
Il am In favor OF the appointment of
Evans as vice admiral" he said You
cannot make it too strong that ! believe
the navy should have a higher rank
than rear admiral"
In my report I advise the appointment
OF more than one The navy needs the
higher grade. Rear Admiral Evans is
certainly worthy Of promotion. and as
commander IN chief Of the battle-ship
fleet. he should be = advanced
Delay from Army.
From other members Of the committees
IN the Senate and House it was learned
that there is sentiment in favor of
having two vice admirals-one in the At
lahtic and one in the Pacific.
Further. the indications are that if
there is decided opposition it will be led
by enthusiastic army supporters. who
want the Office Of lieutenant general re-
established.
Senator Warner who win lead in the
movement TO honor Evans. believes the
American nation has no business going
around taking its cap off To other nations.
We ought 10 have higher rank than
rear admiral for the man i'm command
of the battle-ship fleet" he said. Brazil
has full admiral and Chill has a vice
admiral and our fleet is going to stop at
ports in both Of these countries. The
President should have the power imme-
diately TO raise Evans TO the higher
rank"
Ruled by Etiquette.
According to international naval eti-
Quette. the commander last 10 enter a
port must pay the first visit Of honor to
the commander Of the feet Of another
nation If both are Of equal rank If their
grades are unequal. the commander OF
the lower rank must pay the hOnors To
the other, regardless Of the time OF en-
trance Of either into port
Should the admiral OF the Brazilian
navy. or the vice admiral Of the Chilean
navy, be in the ports of Brazil and
Punta Arenas at the time of the visit
Of the battle ships. Evans must pay the
respects and do the hOnors first, re-
gardless of the fact that neither ma
tion's navy can compare with the fleet
the rear admiral is now commanding.
The rolls of the United States navy
show that only four men have held the
grades of vice admiral and admiral
Farragut was made a vice admiral in
December. 1854 and was commissioned
admiral I'm July. 1866. Porter succeeded
him as vice admiral and held that rank
until he was made admiral in August
1870. Rowan then became vice admiral
and was the last to attain that grade
Rear Admiral Evans now stands al
the head of the list OF twenty-five rear
admirals in active service. He vii
reach the age Of retirement next Aug
ust If Congress should create the
grade of vice admiral without the ad-
diuional provision that he cannot bt
retired except by his own wish. made
in the case Of Admiral Dewey, Evans
could not wear the insignia Of his new
rank moro rhan for-