The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-15
FLETCHER WILL BE G|VENCOMMANDOF . .THEATLANT|CFLEET Navy Department RecOg- niZes Merit of Officer in
 Mexican Waters WILL SUCCEED REAR
 ADMIRAL BADGER Several of Navy's High Officials Out rank Admiral Fletcher, But Sec retary Daniels Says He Is Entitled to Post

Washington. June 14.-Command of the Great Atlantic fleet. goal of every Ameri- can naval officers ambition, is to be the reward of Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletch- CT for his work in Mexican waters
 Secretary Daniels announced tonight that he will recommend Admiral Fletch- CT for commander-in-ch chief of the fleet to succeed Rear Admiral Badger when the latter completes his tour of serv- ice within the next five weeks Several of the navy's high officials outrank him but the Secretary holds that the con spicuously masterly conduct of Admiral Fletcher at Vera Cruz entities him to special recognition. Moreover, if Con gross passes the pending bill creating the rank of vice admiral. Fletcher will be among the first to be advanced to that grade.
 navy department statement tonight said:
 Since Admiral Badger took the At lantic fleet to Mexican waters he has had the whole situation well in hand and his services there have added to his reputation as one of the first men of the American navy
 A Man of Ability
 Admiral Fletcher will be promoted from the command of the first division of the Atlantic fleet. He has been in Mexico since the presence of American ships in those waters was first called for, and his command of the situation during the whole time he has been in charge has been masterful. He proved himself not only a great admiral but a states man and diplomat as we'll. His services commended themselves not only to the Secretary but to the President. Both in the taking of Vera Cruz and in the ad- mlnistration of the city government aft erward, Admiral Fletcher showed him self a man of the highest abilities Pres dent Wilson seized the opportunity when presenting diplomas to the Annapolis graduates at their recent commencement to hold up Admiral Fletcher as a pattern, saving in part:
 'Is not that something to be proud of that you know how to use force like men of conscience and like gentlemen, serv. ing your fellow man and not trying ts overcome like that gasiant who has SC long borne the hearts and perplexities and distresses of the situation in vere Cruz-Admiral Fletcher? I mention hin because his service there has been longe, and so much of the early perplexities fel upon him.
 I have been in almost daily communi- cation with Admiral Fletcher. l know that he is man with touch of states manship about him, snd he has grown bigger in my eye each day as I have read his dispatches. for he has sough, always to serve the thing he was trying to do In the temper that we all rec ognize and love to believe is typical American.
 The Secretary has no power to promote naval officers for meritorious service This can be done only by Congress. But the change in the command of the At lantic fleet falling due about this time the Secretary thought 1t well to make his recommendation 10 the President to pro- mote Admiral Fletcher The recommenda- tion for promotion of Admiral Fletcher is made in part for hls invaluable serv. ices In Mexico as well as for his record in the line"