Evening star., 1935-12-15
NAVAL COMMANDS
TO OPEN SHORTLY
AdmiraIS Reeves and Lam
ing to Come Ashore After
Three Years at Sea.

With Admiral Joseph N. Reeves,
commander in chief of the United
States Fleet, and Admiral Harris Lam
ing, commander of the Battle Force,
due to come ashore next Summer after
three years of service at sea in their
current tours, there is considerable
speculation in naval circles as to who
will be assigned to succeed them in
those high commands. At present the
choice of commander in chief seems
to lie between Vice Admiral Arthur
j. Hepburn, commander of the Scout
ing Force, and Vice Admiral William
D. Leahy, commander of battleShips,
Battle Force, with the one not selected
for the higher place being likely to
be assigned as commander of the
Battle Force. Rear Admiral Harry E.
Yarnell, commandant of the 14th
Naval District and Of the Pearl Har-
Dor Navy Yard, also has been men
toned in discussions about the as,
sfgnments.
Another place that may or may not
be an indirect factor in assignments
to high feet places next Summer is
that of chief of naval operations, the
present incumbent of which is Ad-
miral William H. Standley, who will
be placed upon the retired list for age
on January l. 1887. In the event the
elections next Summer result in a
change in the presidency in January
of 1887. Admiral Standley might be
continued as chief of operations, as
was done in the case of his prede-
cessor, Admiral William " Pratt, until
the new President has an opportunity
to select and appoint another to the
place.
Nine other flag officers next Sum-
iner will have completed two years or
more at sea in their present tours be-
ginning on the dates indicated: Vice
Admiral Henry V. Butler, commander
of aircraft, Battle Force, December
12, 1898; Rear Admiral Thomas c.
Hart, commander of cruisers, Scouting
Force, July 18, 1894; Rear Admiral
Clarence S. Kempff. commander of
Battleship Division l. Battle Force.
June Is, 1894; Rear Admiral George
T. Pettengin, commander of Battle
ship Division ?, Battle Force, June II,
1894; Rear Admiral Cyrus w. Cole,
commander Of the Submarine Force,
May %, 1894; Rear Admiral Charles
E Courtney, commander of cruisers,
Battle Force, June II, 1882; Rear Ad
miral Sinclair Cannon, commander of
destroyers, Scouting Force, April II,
1884; Rear Admiral Hayne Ellis, COM
mander of the training squadron, April
"a 1884, and Rear Admiral William
H. Allen, commander of the Yangtze
Patrol.
Army.
A number of important matters of
much interest to the Army generally
await the consideration of Secretary
of War Dern with Gen. Malin Craig
chief of staff of the Army The Sec
retary will probably make some inspec-
tions en- route from the West Coast to
Washington, which may delay his ar
rival here some time between Decem-
Der 18 and 20. Aside from the four
vacancies in War Department chief
ships to be filed, viz, adjutant general
of the Army, inspector general of the
Army, chief of National Guard Bureau,
and chief of Air Corps, there are two
existing vacancies among the major
generals of the line to be filled, these
being created by the retirement on No
vember 30, 1885, of Maj. Gen. Harold
B Fiske and Maj. Gen. Frank S. Co.
cheu. There will be another major
general of the line vacancy when Maj.
Gen. Robert E. Callan retires on jan
uary 81, on his own application, after
more than 43 years service.