Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-03
TRANSFEROF COMMAND
SET FOR HAMPTON ROADS
Admiral Badger to Come From Vera
Cruz to Be Succeeded by
Admiral Fletcher.

Transfer Of command Of the Atlantic
battleship fleet from Rear Admiral Badg-
er to Rear Admiral Fletcher will take
place at Hampton roads about the mid
die of September Admiral Badger will
come from Vera Cruz on his flagship, the
Wyoming, and Admiral Fletcher will sail
back to Mexico as soon as his nag IS
hoisted on the big sea fighter That has
Just been decided by the Navy Depart
ment, the previous plan--to have the
transfer occur of the Mexican .port-haV-
ing been abandoned.
The special service squadron, under
Rear Admiral Winslow. created for spe-
cial duty in Mexican waters at the time
CT the American occupation OF vera cruz
has been dissolved. -
The ships of the squadron however. will
remain on the Mexican station under Ad,
miral Fletcher's command. and Admlrai
Winslow will return to his duties at the
Naval War College. Newport, r. l.
New Policy Outlined.
Outlining the policy which will prevail
under the new command of the Atlantic
fleet, Secretary Daniels today issued this
statement:
admiral Fletcher has been twice
member of the general board. and has
been a student of strategy and tactics
for several years, and become impressed
with the idea of adapting the principles
Of strategy and tactics as deduced by the
Naval War College to the actual organl-
cation and operations of the feet. Act
ing along these lines he has suggested
various notifications in the present
methods of handling the fleet. and mas
secured the approval of the Secretary.
who wishes to give. Admiral Fletcher
every opportunity to test out his IDEAS
and modify them as practical results may
indicate.
To Strengthen Divisions.
zone of the other changes which will
be introduced shortly after Admiral
Fletcher takes command will be the
reorganization Of the fleet in the sense
that the first and fourth divisions. as
representing the ends Of the fleet,
either in column or line, will be made
the strongest divisions. Another
mander will be retained in command of
his division during his entire cruise
as division commander in SO far as
may be found practicable.
up to the present moment every Tune
that a division commander has left
the fleet and been relieved by another
the division commanders have been
shifted in order that the strongest di-
visions will be given to the officers
of the highest rank. But Admiral
Fletcher believes that better results
can be secured by identifying a d.
vision commander with his division, so
that he will feel more direct re-
sponsibility for a division and more
interest in it than if his stay there was
to be only brief
Commands One Division.
Secretary Daniels announced today that
Rear Admiral Walter Mclean has been
selected to command a division of the
Atlantic fleet upon the reorganization OF
commands which will become effective
when Rear Admiral Fletcher succeeds
Rear Admiral Badger, September II. as
commander-in-chief. Admiral Mclean
lately has been member of the naval
examining board. with headquarters at
the Washington navy yard.
Capt. Roy C. Smith. lately in command
of the battleship Arkansas. shortly Will
be relieved by Capt. W.. Fl. Shoemaker;
at present a member of the navy general
board Capt. Smith will become director
of target practice.