The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-07-12
YOUNG NAVAL
OFFICERS ARE To-
Be ADVANCED

New York, July 12.-Rear-Admiral s. G.
sperry. naval member OF the American
delegation at the second Hague peace
conference. has been selected to command
division Of the Atlantic battleship fleet.
to I'LL the vacancy which will be created
when Rear-Admiral C. III. Davis. now
commanding the second squadron OF the
fleet. retires in August.
The plan is for Rear Admiral Thomas,
now commanding the second division, to
succeed Rear-Admiral Davis as comman-
der OF the second squadron. consisting of
the third and fourth divisions. Rear
Admlral Sperry Will then become COM
mander OF the second division. which now
consists of the Virginia, the Georgia, the
New Jersey and the Rhode Island. Rear
Admiral Emory will continue to fly his
flag over the Ohio as commander OF the
fourth division.
In addition TO this important change
Capt. Joseph IL. Murdock will be. ordered
TO command the Rhode Island, 10 sue
ceed Capt. Charles G.. Bowman, just re-
tired.
The significance of this change and OF
the recent orders 20 Capt. Henry McCrea
10 command the Georgia and Capt. Regi-
nald +. Nicholson, TO command the Me-
braska, now in the Pacific, Is that battle
ship commands are being given only to
those captains who are sufficiently young
that the experience they Will gain In such
duty will be benefit 20 the service when
they go again TO sea.
While many captains who are due for
retirement in two or three years are as
eminently fitted as any younger officer
for the command OF a battleship, II Is not
as important TO give them the experience
at sea as IL is TO give II TO officers who
will continue in the service FOR five or six
years longer.
Capt. Nicholson has just been promoted
TO his grade. and has more than seven
years 10 serve. Capt. Murdoch has SIX
years yet on the active list, and Capt
McCrea the same.
Other battleship commanders In the At
lantic fleet have these periods 10 serve
until they reach the statutory retiring age
OF 60 years: Capt. Osterhars OF the Con-
necticut. six years; Capt Vreeland OF the
of the Louisiana Potter OF the Vermont.
and Schroeder OF the Virginia, five years
each: Capt. Kimball OF the New Jersey
three years; Capt. Comfy of the Alabama
four wears: Capt Blockinger OF the llli-
nois, two years: Capt. Barry OF the Ken
lucky, four years; Capt. Winslow or the
Kearsarge, three years; Capts. HeiiheT OF
the Ohio Harber OF the Maine ana Mer,
riam OF the Missouri, four years each, and
Capt. Hubbard OF the Minnesota, seven
years. .,.,.
or the officers who have comparatively
short time left on the active hst, oapL
Winslow will have finished his cruise IN
October and Capt Comfy In Decenper
next III the same rule obtains In orders
10 their SUCCESSORS some or the capIAihs
Recently promoted or to be promoted be-
tween now and that time VIII get the
commands. .,oo,
The advanced age at which American
naval officers reach important commano
rank has been keenly felt in the service
for several years. Rear-Admiral Evans
Is the only officer who has enjoyed iiag 8
rank enough to take two cruises as meet
commander. and the result OF the expert
ence is shown in the enlclency Oh MS
pd he Atlantic fleet.