The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-08
CAREER AS SEA
Fighter CLOSES
Rear Admiral c. J. Badger,
Who Retired Last Week,
Is Natural Sailor.
MANY NOTED ANCESTORS
History of the Fighting Badgers" Be-
gan Nearly Three Centuries
Ago.

Terminating a long and distinguished
career on the active list, the words 'U.
s. N. retired have been written after
the name Of Rear Admiral Charles John
ston Badger. lately resigned as COM
naander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet
Rear Admiral Badger retired last week
because he had reached the age limit
OF active service-not because he was any
the less capable or alert than when he
took the Atlantic Fleet to Mexican wa
tiers in April. 1914. when Huerta refused
to salute the flag.
The retired rear admiral comes of a
hghting stock. He is a good fighter to-
day. He is recognized as naval officer
OF unusual tact. ability and conscientious
ness. and II it were not for that retire
active" yet
Retirement Causes Regret.
Must a man OF Badgers type get out
Department was asked. is there no way
to keep q live one on the hst?'
The retirement is automatic said the
Official in natter-of-fact words. but with
touch Of regret. Rear Admiral
Badger even leaves the general board.
unless he requests specifically to remain
thereon, and then it's a question OF a
special dispensation. He's as able as
they make EN-. know. but on the other
hand, he's entitled to take il easy for
awhile now"
The name OF Badger has long been as
ISOLATED with the military and naval
service of the United Ststss. The retir-
ing admiral was almost predestined to
sail the seas on the battleships of his
country, for his ancestors. from the time
Of the revolution to the date of Charles
J. Badgers birth. had been among the
nations fighters.
Rear Admiral Badger was the son
of Commodore Oscar Charles Badger.
U. S. N, and the elder Badger was
appointed to the Naval Academy by a
cousin who was Secretary of the
Navy. The mother of Rear Admiral
Badger was the daughter of a naval
officer: his two sisters married naval
officers. and the son of the retiring
admiral is now an ensign.
Ancestor Here in 1885.
Away hack before the days OF Com
modore Badger. the ancestors of Rear
Admiral Charles J. Badger saw serv-
ice. The family is descended from
Giles Badger. who came from England
and settled in Newbury, Mass. pre-
vious to 1888 The long list of fight
ing Badgers" begins with Gen. Joseph
Badger, ST.. and Gen. Joseph Badger.
jr. of Revolutionary days. and closes
Y,
was killed in these modern days of
air flights
Rear Admiral Badgers latest con-
spicuous service was in Mexican
waters. to which he took the Atlantic
Fleet when it looked as if this coun-
try might go to war with Mexico
early in 1914. When he reached South
ern waters Admiral Badger demon
strated that he was true blue" and
officer above petty jealousies and
ambitions by virtually stepping aside
and permitting Rear Admiral Fletcher,
his subordinate official. TO have full
swing in carrying out the work
Fletcher had begun before Badgers
arrival.
Secretary Daniels publicly COM
mended Admiral Badgers course at
Tampico in these words:
Il have watched your handling of
the fleet with every interest. and
have not found you wanting in any
of the elements that go to make a
great naval officer. Your personal
qualities and the magnanimity you
showed Rear Admiral Fletcher on
your arrival in Mexican waters have
comma nded my highest admiration"
Natural Sailor and Fighter.
"A natural sailor. a natural officer and
a natural fighter and tactician.' is the
way one naval oficer described Badger.
Until he was assigned to the general
board. when relieved of the command
of the Atlantic Fleet about year ago.
Rear Admiral Badger had seen little OF
shore duty. He has been aboard ship
most of the time since his graduation,
and his duties have carried him to ev-
cry part OF the world.
He was in charge of the Alert. of the
Greedy Relief Expedition. in 1854 and be-
cause of that service was rendered the
thanks of the State of Maryland in a
Joint resolution passed by the legislature
of the State.
Other assignments have taken him to
the Asiatic station and to the Pacific
waters and for brief periods he saw
duty at the Naval War College. the
Washington navy yard and the Boston
navy yard.
He was superintendent Of the Naval
Academy at Annapolis for approximately
two years but Rear Admiral Badger has
felt most at home upon the deck OF a
battleship.
The retiring rear admiral was born
within twenty miles Of Washington. att
Rockville. Nd He was appointed att
large 10 the Naval Academy by Presi-
dent Grant. graduating as midshipman in
May. 1873. Since that time II has been a
constant climb upward for Badger.
He retired after having been the COM
mander of the country's greatest fight
ing rachine-the Atlantic Fleet-and then
was called TO service on the general
board, whose recommendation will be OF
most vital importance now that the ma
ton has become awakened to the need
Of better national defense.
Like other high naval officers. whose
advice has frequently gone unheeded by
the legislative branch Of the govern
ment Rear Admiral Badger believes in
a strong navy and even a retired Of
fcer his advice will be sought by those
national de-