Evening star., 1938-05-31
v. R. SHOEMAKER,
ADMIRAL, DIES
Naval Hero Directed Convoy
of American Troops
During World War.
b the Associated Press.

VALLEJO, CdIlI., May cl. - ItcdI
Admiral William r. Shoemaker, rs,
retired, who's as chief of staff of the
Nays Bureau of Navigation during
the World War directed the convoy of
hundreds of thousands of American
troops to France, died yesterday at
Mare Island Navy Yard Hospital.
Funeral services will be tomorrow,
with burial at Cypress Lawn Gene
terry, San Francisco.
Received High Honors.
A brilliant naval strategist, Admiral
Shoemaker was awarded the distin-
guished service medal for the efficiency
of the battleship convoy service in the
World War. His advice on other naval
aspects of the conflict brought him
the Navy cross.
When, as chief of staff of the Bureau
of Navigation, Admiral Shoemaker re-
tired in 1927 at the age limit, Curtis
D. Wilbur, Secretary of the Navy,
entered upon his service record this
notation:
Admiral Shoemaker's service as
chief of the Bureau of Navigation has
been very satisfactory to the whole
force. 1t is very difficult post to fill
and to have done so to the satisfac-
ton of the naval service, to have con-
vinced the men and officers that a
square deal was always intended and
usually given, is indeed an accomplish
ment of which one may be proud. In
matters of discipline he tempered
justice with mercy"
Admiral Shoemaker was born Feb
ruary 10, 1868, on Staten Island. N. Y,
the son of Capt Commandant Charles
F. and Mary Augusta (Cole) Shoe
maker. The father was an officer of
the United States Revenue Service,
which later became the Coast Guard
At II young Shoemaker entered the
United States Naval Academy, grad
uating in 1884. Quick of hand and
mind, he stood first in the fencing
class in each of his four years at the
academy. He also was rated a good
boxer, oarsman and golfer
Studied Electricity.
After his graduation he took an in
tensive course in electricity at Johns
Hopkins University, and then entered
upon his naval duties as an ensign in
1894.
He saw service in the Spanish
American War. carrying out naval
operations on the north coast of Cuba.
In the Philippine Insurrection he COM
manded the gunboat Arayat, operating
against the insurgents in the Islands
of Samar and Leite. He transported
the Walker Expedition to the east
coast of Samar and later displayed
heroism in aiding the rescue and re-
turn of the expeditions survivors to
Leite. For his bravery he was COM
mended by the commander in chief
and the Secretary of the Navy.
Other Activities.
Admiral Shoemaker had charge of
the enlisted personnel of the Navy
from 1907-09, then commanded the
scout cruiser Chester in 1910 as escort
for Gen. Leonard Wood, special Am
bassador to Buenos Aires. Upon his
return he became chief Of staff of the
Atlantic Fleet and then a member of
the General Board of the Navy, in
charge of the war plans section, his
duties including lectures at the Naval
War College on Strategy of the Pa
cific"
He commanded the U. S. S. Ar
kansas from 1914 to 1917, when his
services were again sought by the
General Board as the World War be-
gan
In 1919 Admiral Shoemaker was
named commander of the Battleship
Division 4, Atlantic Fleet; then COM
mander of Battleship Force /, Atlantic
Fleet, and on July l. 1919, he was
transferred to Pacific Coast waters as
commander of Battleship Division 3.
About a year later he was placed in
charge of the 14th Naval District in
Hawaii
Next came a commission as vice ad-
miral and commander of the Battle
Force, Pacific Fleet. Two years later
Admiral Shoemaker was made director
of war plans and operations of the
Navy Department, and on June 7, 1924,
he became Chief of the Bureau of
Navigation.
Established Aviation Course.
He established the aviation course
at the Naval Academy for midshipmen
and the finishing courses for graduate
ensigns at the Hampton Roads and
San Diego naval stations, for final
selection of aviators to take the course
at the Pensacola air station. Shoe
maker saw the training courses become
very successful in providing expert
naval pilots.
He also established the reserve on
GERS training courses at six leading
universities, advocated before Congress
an increase in pay for submarine serv-
ice, which was granted, and obtained
congressional approval for improve
ments in the status of naval reserves.
especially in the merchant marine
service.
He was married to Jennie D. Cheese
man June 2. 1896. They had a son
and two daughters.
Admiral Shoemaker was a member
Of the Army and Navy and Chevy
Chase Clubs of Washington, D. c..
the New York Yacht Club and the
Bohemian Club in San Francisco.
After his retirement he made his home
In California.