Evening star., 1942-01-04

Scouting Force and Battle Force. Hav-
ing gained the rank Of vice admiral, he
reported for service on August l. 1899,
as a member of the General Board,
sort of cabinet" to the Secretary of the
Navy. In December, 1910, he assumed
duty as commander Of the Patrol Force
of the United States Fleet, and on Feb
ruary l, 1941. became commander in
chief OF the Atlantic Fleet. with the rank
Of admiral
Depending on severity Of discipline,
there are two sorts of vessels in the
Navy-"taut ships" and happy ships"
Admiral King is foremost exponent Of
the "taut" school and is renowned as
the strictest "sundowner" OF them all.
This is an officer who insists that shore
leave must end with the setting sun.
In 1905 King was married to Martha
Rankin Edgerton Of Baltimore. They
have six daughters and one son. who is
now a "plebe," or freshman, at the Naval
Academy. The family home is in
Annapolis.
Admiral Nimitz . Texan.
Admiral Nimitz, who on Wednesday
succeeded Admiral Kimmel in the
crucial post Of commander of the main
American Fleet in the Pacific, was born
in Fredericksburg. Tex, and will be 81
years old next February "a.
Young Chester yearned to be . soldier,
and would have tried for West Point
best, ne accepted an appointment to
Annapolis tn 1901.
It took him until 1898 to become Q
rear admiral. In the meantime he won
. silver life-saving medal for rescuing
q Navy fireman from drowning. and
developed into an expert on marine
engines, submersibles and naval admin
istration
On the entrance Of the United State.
into the World War; he was named chic,
Of staff to Admiral s. S. Robson, com.
mander Of the submarine force Of the
Atlantic Fleet. His duties consisted
mainly in getting submarines ready and
then across the ocean to operate with
the Allies. The reward was a special
letter Of commendation from the Navy
Department.
In 1889 he was appointed chief Of the
Navy Departments Bureau Of Naviga-
ton, which has little to do with navi-
cation. but is the departments person.
mel Office.
He is noted for a soft Texas drawl, an
Icy v1sage, steel-blue eyes, a bearing OF
invincible serenity and hair so white
that behind his back he Is sometimes
nicknamed "Cottonhead" He has three
daughters and one son. Following in the
paternal footsteps. 1t. Chester william
Nimitz, jr, is now on submarine duty
somewhere in the thick Of things" The
family home is in Washington.
Hart Not Caught at Base.
Admiral Hart, who was already nick
named Dad" when student at Annap.
oils, has been commander In chief Of
the Asiatic Fleet since 1899. What the
Navy thinks of him was shown by the
fact that 1t refused to let him retire
when he reached the statutory age o1
ga last June II. The wary veteran re.
| paid its trust by making sure his fleet
would not be caught at anchor. of guard
in case of sudden attack. Long ago hi
worked out system Of keeping hi!
ships at sea and sending them int
| Manila Harbor, one at a time, undel
cover of night, for refueling and over
hauling. When the veil can be lifted
his superiors believe he will be fount
to have drawn the last ounce of resist.
ance from his small fleet in the face o.
overwhelming odds. and to have mad,
particularly expert use Of submarines.
He was born at Davidson, Mich, IL
| 1877, and was graduated from the Nava
Academy in 1897. He emerged from tn.
World War with the rank of captain ane
the Distinguished Service Medal, havinf
commanded submarines In the water,
of the British Isles and the Azores. H,
is graduate of both the Army and Nav
War Colleges.
| A Native Of the District.
Professionally submarine man, h
has never lacked a penetrating instinc
for airplanes. In fact, lectures which h
delivered 20 years ago on the role o
aviation in future warfare are held b
some Navy officers to have been usefu
to Gen. Billy" Mitchell.
Along with his appointment as com
mander in chief Of the Atlantic Flee
Vice Admiral Ingersoll would no douh
have received advancement to full ad
miral-if the law did not forbid tn
existence of more than four Of this ran
at the same time. Congress ma
be asked to amend the statutes In hi
behalf. He was born So years ago 4
Georgetown, D. c., was appointed to tn
Naval Academy in 1901 from the Hoosie
State, and gives La Porte. Ind, as h
home. Admiral Nimitz and he were class
mates at Annapolis. His father Is Res
Admiral Royal Rodney Ingersoll, U. S. n
retired.
The new "Cinclant"-to use a servic
abbreviation-wasa assistant to the chit
of naval operations when fate installe
| It,. a.. Advro3ro1 Kipo'c former shoe