The San Francisco call., 1910-02-20
PACIFIC FLEET
UNDER PENNANT
OF A new CHIEF
kear Admiral Sebree Goes on.
Retired List and Harder
HOists His Flag
uold Laced Captains Act as
SIdebOys When "OId Man"
Enters Barge

The Pacinc feet gave Rear Admiral
1rlei Sehree the best and most MIC
iuresque sendoff that the navy regula-
mons viii permit when he bade goodby
yesterday morning TO his command and
10 the service of which he has been
an active part since 1867.
The captains OF the six armorad
cruisers acted as sideboys for the re-
firing commander in chief when he left
the flagship, and the pulling barge in
which he was rowed ashore was
manned by officers of the California.
This is a voluntary tribute and one
rarely paid As the barge showed of
The crew OF the flagship dehed the navy
regulations by giving three cheers for
probably the best loved old gentle
man that ever hauled down two
starred pennant
Rear Admiral Giles b Harber is now
commander in chief Of the Pacific feet
snd tomorrow the former chief viii
write himself "Uriel Sebree, rear ad-
miral, L 5. n, retired"
CEREMONY OF CHANGING FLAGS
The ceremony OF changing flags was
sci for 1880 and promptly at 1890
tnings began TO happen. The captains
and executive officers from the other
ships were gathered on the CALIFORNIA;
quarter deck where the bIueiackets
and marine guard were drawn up at
attention The two admirals, the old
and the new. stood side by side. The
bugle sounded attention and Rear Ad-
mirsl Sehree stepped forward and in a
voice that an attentive listener on
Goat island might have heard read the
orders q o navy 1ar,a RI mani rnIfaRr-
ing him Of command.
As he stepped back 10 his place
among the other officers the Califor-
MAS three Founders barked out in a
3 gun salute. At the last gun the ad-
mirals pennant was hauled down.
Rear Admiral Harber then stepped out
and when ne had finished reading his
orders new two starred pennant was
broken out at the California's main.
The California's guns saIuted the new
admiral and the other cruisers and
Goat island followed suit.
OFFICERS MAN BARGE
While the captains were shaking
hands with their new commander in
chief Admiral Sebree went below and
shifted to civilian clothes. The Cali
fornia's officers meanwhile manned the
admirafs barge Each mess was repre-
sented, from the wardroOm to the war
rant officers. and Commander n A. Nc
was brought round to the starboard
Eangway. Six bluejackets were de-
tailed to act a. sideboys and had taken
their places. three on each side of the
gsngwsy, when Captain Ochard of the
West Virginia suggested that he and
his brother captains take the places of
the sailors. The officer of the deck or
deued the blueiacket sideboys to ''ske
sddle" and in trice six gold laced
captains had taken their places.
minute later Admiral Sebree, in
civilian clothes. came on deck. He
thanked the captains for the courtesy
and told them:
You're the best looking bunch of
EideboyS I ever saw.
Admiral Sebee announced his plans
for the future when Henry Peterson
greeted him as he walked from his
barge to the ferry.
"GoOdby. admiral" said Henry, who
has known the veteran sailorman for
a quarter Of century.
What's that, Peterson replied Sc
bree. "GoOdby? Nothing of the kind.
7 live here"
NEW COMMANDER IN CHIEF
Rear Admiral Giles B. Harber. the
new commander in chief. viii reach the
retiring age in September. 1911. He has
been continuously on sea duty since
June. 1907 Admiral Harber was here
with the Atlantic feet captain of
ne Maine. He was executive officer Of
The Texas at the battle of Santiago and
has served as naval attache at Paris
and St Petersburg. He was in COM
nand Of the third squadron of the Pa
ci6c feet until January 1, when the in !
dependence of the third squa dron was |
restored, and he became commander in /
chief OF the Asiatic feet.
Captain W. :. Benson, Admiral Sc 1
brees chief Of staff. has been ordered /
home and Admiral Hsrber has not yet /
named his successor. The new COM \
mander in chiefs flag secretary is Lieu /
tenant Commander J. Y. Chase: Lieu /
tenant J.. r. Leahy is his flag lieuten- |
ant and Lieutenant ID. b. Craig his aid. /
The feet viii remain here until March |
!, when the ships viii leave for target |
practice at Santa Barbara channel