Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-06
CAPT. BLOCH NAMED
CHIEF OF NAVY YARD
Officer Now at War College
Will Become Commandment
Here on June IL.

Capt. Claude G. Bloch, now at the
Naval War College, Newport, R. l., will
become commandant of the Washing
ton Navy Yard on June IL. He will re-
lieve Rear Admiral Arthur L. Willard,
who will become commander of the
scouting fleet, with the rank OF vice
admiral, relieving Vice Admiral w. G.
Cole.
Capt Bloch served in Washington as
chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, Navy
Department with the rank OF tempo
rary rear admiral, about five years ago,
and prior to going to Newport was
commanding officer of the U. S. S: Cal
ifornia. The selection board of the
Navy, which picks high-ranking Of
GERS for promotion, is scheduled to meet
on Monday, and it is thought likely that
Capt. Bloch will be promoted to the
rank of rear admiral when the list OF
adyancements are made public about
two weeks hence.
Wears Medal and Cross.
Capt. Bloch has had an outstanding
career in the naval service, which has
taken him to many parts of the world
and awarded him specially merltorlous
medal during the Spanish American
War and given him the Navy Cross for
his duty as commander of the U. S. s.
Plattsburg, in which he was engaged In
escorting troops and supplies to Euro
pean ports through waters infested with
enemy submarines and mines
Born in Kentucky on July IL, 1878
Capt. Block was appointed naval cadet
in September, 1895, his first active serv-
ice being aboard the U. S. S. Iowa.
He served on the ASiatic station
in 1899 he served on the famous Ole
ship Oregon.
Service aboard the Wheeling and
philadelphia came next and he was
promoted through the various grades,
becoming a lieutenant commander on
March 4, 1911.
Commanded Plattsburg.
He was sent to the New York Navy
Yard In connection with fitting out the
U. S. S. Arizona in 1916 and in that
year was promoted to become a COM
mander During the World War he as
sisted In fitting out the U. S. s. Platts-
burg and was placed in command when
that vessel was commissioned. Later
he commanded the u. S. S. Massa-
chusetts and came to duty in Washing
ton to the chief of naval operations,
following that tour of service.
He served as assistant to the chief oil
the Bureau of Ordnance, during his
sojourn in the National Capital, and in
1921 he went to Honolulu for duty as
commander of the mine force of the
Pacific Fleet, with additional duty In
command of the U. S. S. Baltimore. He
was promoted to captaincy on June
3, 1921.
Capt. Bloch next became chief of
3D. Do A he .
cif1c Fleet, and on December %, 1921,
his flag was transferred to the U. S. S.
New Mexico.
Is Ordnance Expert.
In 1923 Capt. Bloch was serving as
chief of staff to the commander Of the
battleship divisions of the battle fleet
Next he came on duty as naval inspector
of ordnance in charge, Naval Proving
Grounds, Dahlgren. Va, and the naval
powder factory at Indian Head, Md. In
August, 1928. he returned to Washington
for duty at the Bureau of Ordnance and
was commissioned chief of that bureau
with the rank of rear admiral for four
years from october l, 1928.
He was awarded a special meritorious
medal during the Spanish War for his
rescue of SpaniardS from burning ships.
His citation, with his Navy Cross, reads
For distinguished service in the line OF
his profession as commanding officer OF
the u. S. S. Plattsburg engaged in the
important, exacting and hazardous duty
of transporting and escorting troops and
supplies to European ports through
waters infested with enemy submarines
and Mines" Capt. Bloch was also
awarded a letter of commentator by
the War Department for his outstand-
ing services.