The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-07-06
VETERAN WAR HERO
WHOSANK SPANISH
/. WARSH|P IS DEAD
Rear Admiral EberIe Closes an
Eventful Naval Career: He
Was Gun Authority

was 0UII VUAJtOJSSy
Washington. July 6.-iP)-Rear Adj
miral Edward Walter Eberle, retired,
died here today.
When Rear Admiral Edward w
Eberle was retired for age in August,
1928, he brought to a close n OF the
most constructive and distinguished
careers among naval officers Of mod
ern times.
He not only held the highest naval
posts, but instituted, developed and
took an important part in major
changes in naval construction and
operation during the last Is years OF
his service. His counsel often had
been sought by high government Of
ficialS in international matters.
Beginning in September. 1881. when
he entered the naval academy, until
he relinquished lis post as senior naval
officer and chairman Of the Navy
General Board. Admiral Ebcrle's Al
years of service vas a review OF the
evolution Of the navy from the days
Of sailing vessels to the fast aircraft
carriers Of today.
AS illustrious as was his career. his
accomplishments as all organizer OF
fleets. his knowledge of naval tactics
and of international affairs and his
work as superintendent OF the naval
academy during the World war. are
little better known than the innova-
ton he created and developed.
Rear admiral Ebcrle wrote the
navy's first work on modern gun and
torpedo drills. which formed the basis
for the present gunncry. He was an
authority Oh torpedos and mines and
their usage. Besides assisting in the
installation Of the first wireless tele-
graph on naval ships. he compiled the
first instructions and codes for the
first naval radio communication sys-
tenn. and later developed it to include
aircraft.
Eorn in Texas
Admiral Eberle was born at DEN
ton. Texas. August II. 1864, the son
of Joseph and Mary Eberlc. He was
appointed to tn, naval academy from
4Olt 0lAllNll. xAlh AL AOOA, uAAA GO
graduated four years later. AS a
young naval officer he learned SAIL
ing craft seamanship while charting
strange waters in the Bcring Sea
and the Strait of Magellan. and
helped to develop the Tanner sound
ing device. In 1880. Admiral Ebcrle
married Miss Tazic Harrison. of San
Francisco. a relative of the late pres
ident Benjamin Harrison. They had
enc son. Edward r. Eberle. who, like
his father. became a naval officer.
When the lbattleship Oregon made
her historic run from the Pacific
coast around Cape Horn in 1898 to
meet the Spanish fleet at Santiago.
Cuba. Eberle was in command of
the forward turret. Shots from the
guns he commanded wrecked the
Spanish warship Colon and drove her
ashore.
The admiral saw service in the
Philippine instruction as chief Of
the Asiatic fleet. after which he
served as aide at the naval academy
side to the commander of the New
York navy yard. and as flag officer OF
the Atlantic fleet. He became an
instructor at the naval war college,
recorder of the naval board of inspec-
ton and survey and later executive
officer OF the battleship Louisiana
when the fleet made the world trip
on President Rooseyelt'S admini5tra-
ton.
Circles Globe
When ho..ing the rank Of com
mander he va made commandant OF
the naval training school station at
San Francisco in 1908. 1t was in 1910
before he commanded the gunboa,
Wheeling Oh another globe -circling
trip, that he was accidentally struck
BY a tiller while III a small boat. The
shaft OF his eyeglasses IA driven into
his right a and the skin OH his
head. The wound never healed.
Admiral Eberle was selected by
President Wilson in 1915 to super
intend the naval academy. When the
United States entered the World war
he speeded up the work of the upper
classmen III order to supply the
much-needed naval officers and in
creased the academy'5 capacity. For
his work he was awarded the Dis
tlnguished Service Medal.
Later he commanded battleshiu
divisions 5 and 7 OF the Atlantic fleet,
and in 1921 commando the Pacific
fleet until he r~eorganized it into the
great battle fleet. He became chief
Of naval operations in 1923.
A small. grey bearded man, Admiral
Eberle was noted for his firmness
yet was beloved by officers and en-
listed men alike for his kindness. and
was respected for his calm Judgment
and wise decisions. His strict sense
OF duty and his love of his country
and the navy constituted q great
force for morale throughout the fleet,
where his name va regarded as a
symbol Of loyalty. He numbered
among his friends the heads OF e Y
eral foreign governments.