The sun., 1919-07-01
ADMIRALS ACT AS
SIDE BOYS FOR MAYO
Retiring Fleet Commander
Does Not Compel Officers
to Row Him Ashore.
GIVES PRAISE TO MEN
Benson Tells Officers Plan of
Dividing Ships Is Funda-
mentally Wrong.
GIVES PRAISE TO MEN

Rear Admiral Henry T. Mayo was
piped over the side of his erstwhile flag
ship, the u. S. s. Pennsylvania, yes-
terday afternoon at s 80, with the eight
ranking Rear and Vice Admirals afoat
OF the navy tending as side boys, after
he had relinqulshed and Rear Admiral
Henry B. Wilson had a3sumed command
Of the Atlantic fleet with the rank Of
full Admiral.
The occasion marked also the division
of the fleet into the Atlantic fleet and
the Pacific fleet. the Pennsylvania be-
coming Admiral Wilson's flagship OF the
Atlantic fleet yesterday and the New
Mexico becoming Vice-Admlral Rod
mans flagship to-day.
Rear Admiral Mayo said good-by to
Admiral Wilson and shook hands with
Rear Admiral Charles +. Plunkett, Rear
Admiral II. Mel. Huse, Rear Admiral
r. f. Coontz, Rear Admiral f. w.
Eberle, Rear Admiral Spencer Wood,
Rear Admiral James c. Glennon. Vice
Admiral Albert Gleaves and Vice-Ad-
miral Hugh Rodman, who were the side
boys On his way ashore to become
head of the selection board Of the navy
seventeen shots were fired at hve second
intervals in salute.
Officers and men stood at attention
while Admiral Benson, representing the
Secretary of the Navy, opened the cere-
mony by a short speech to his officers
Praise Comes From Daniels.
'"The Secretary OF the Navy" said Ad
miral Benson. wishes me to express
his appreciation Of the Atlantic fleet"
Admiral Benson praised the morale OF
that part of the fleet which, during the
war, had to remain inactive In Chesa-
peake Bay and other home ports. He
called this inactivity the hardest and
most tiresome of work, and said that the
morale OF the men, upheld by a sense OF
duty. spoke volumes
He lauded the work of the navy In
the war, not for what 1t did in coopera-
ton with other countries, but for what
II did by itself. He spoke of the won
derful work of the destroyers in landing
troops safely. Then turning to AID
miral Mayo, he thanked him for his
work.
1.-THE division of the fleet" went on
Admiral Benson. addressing the officers
again, sis fundamentally wrong. 1t is
necessary. though. to familiarize our
selves with the Pacific coast and the
Panama Canal. That's why we are
sending Admiral Rodman through the
Canal to cruise the Pacific with the Pa
the Pacific"
Admiral Mayo then said few words,
thanking the Navy Department for It's
strong support, without which his efforts
would have been In vain.
He read the order relieving him OF his
command AS soon as he had finished
the first Of seventeen shots sounded In
his honor. At the seventeenth his nag
the silk flag with four white stars In a
all ,inh en-
wife made for the occasion-was lowered
Admiral wilson's Flag Run Up.
Admiral Wilson stepped forward and
read his orders promoting him to the
rank of Admiral. When he had finished
his flag was run to the masthead and
the guns doomed their salute to him.
For an hour previous TO the ceremony
Admirals and their aids arrived in their
boats, climbed aboard the Pennsylvania
and made their way to the quarterback
where Admirals Wilson and Mayo were
receiving guests under the shade Of an
awning.
Gosh" remarked COB. the sight
of so much gold braid hurts my eyes"
Many-colored pennants and flags hung
over the rail. The matches were deco
rated with flags. officers stood by In
their white uniforms to greet other OFF,
GERS and their wives and friends. Three
naval Jazz bands played dance music and
the distinguished personnel of our navy
danced to the tune of "A Little Birch
Canoe and You"
Below decks, in the ward room, were
refreshments and harmless seagoing
punch with a guard over them until the
Admirals had passed the compliments
of the day.
ADMIRAL Wilson's promotion was ir
recognition of his services as commander
OF patrol forces overseas in the worlC
war. For his distinguished service or
the coast OF France he was made 8
vice-Admiral. That was a year ago
Yesterday he became a fullfiedged AID
mlral.
He wears the decoration of a Crane
Commander of the Legion OF Honor fo
his work while In command of the nava
patrol and naval bases in foreign waters
1t was he who saw to 1t that our trans
ports landed safely with their troops ant
supplies.
Ten years ago, while on shore duty
Admiral Wilson established the presen
system of recruiting in the navy. H
has also been president of the board o
inspection of new ships.
Vessels Under Admiral Wilson.
As commander OF the Atlantic flee
Admiral Wilson will command 16 battle
ships, 100 destroyers, 20 submarines an
a feet OF mine sweepers. cruisers. col
liers and auxiliary vessels.
Admiral Wilson was born In Cantor
n j., in 1851. He was graduated fror
Annapolis in 1881. and since then ha
seen much service in different parts O
the world. In the battle of Santiago h
was aboard the Indiana. From 1901 t
1908 he served in the Asiatic divisio
and in the Philippines Instruction. an
was navigator and executive officer G
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