Evening star., 1944-08-06
Capital Sidelights
By Will p. Kennedp,

AQmlral ernest j. King, chief of
naval operations, who last week cele-
brated the 43d anniversary of his grad
uation from Annapolis Gin the last
class to go across the Atlantic under
said is In line to become, after this
global war, the fourth permanent four
star admiral of the American Navy.
His three predecessors were: Admiral
David G. Farragut, greatest of Ameri-
can seamen: Admiral David D. Porter,
who succeeded Farragut in 1870, and
Admiral George Dewey, who served
during the Civil War in Farragut's
squadron. was promoted to the rank of
commodore in 1896, defeated Admiral
Montogo at Manila Bay in 1893 and
became the third United States admiral
in March 1899.
OF course, if the admiralty command
In the Pacific is consolidated, and, as
1t undoubtedly will be, is successful,
Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance,
senior in command, who was in charge
OF the forces taking the Marshall Is
lands In February, 1941, is likely to be
preferred when Congress by special
legislation names another admiral.
The highest rank in the American
Navy until 1862 was captain. COM
modore" was merely q courtesv title
Dewey held the title Of admiral until
his death in 1917. Sampson and Schley
were thwarted of the title of admiral
by controversy over the Battle of
Santiago, and disputes after the First
World War regarding the relative
merits Of fleet commanders prevented
any Navy officer from being awarded
the coveted distinction.
The Pacific and Caribbean outposts
OF the United States, SO important in
this global war, were brought under the
American flag either by treaties of pur-
chase or treaties for frontier settle
ment. Russia preferred to sell the un-
profitable colony of Alaska rather than
look forward to seeing 1t conquered by
the British Navy. Secretary of State
Seward on March 30, 1867, signed a
treaty which acquired Alaska to the
United States for $7,2OO,O00. The United
States Senate approved on April Q.
Formal transfer was at Sitka, October
1s, 1867.
The Philippines were acquired from
Spain in 1899, as a result of the War
OF 1898. Puerto Rico and Guam, largest
OF the Marianas group were ceded as
outright conquests. After years of Off
cial and unofhcial penetration, the
Hawaiian Archipelago was annexed by
joint resolution of Congress, recipro-
cally approved by the Hawaiian Legis-
lature. In 1899, Wake Island, a coral
atoll in mid-Pacific, claimed by Wilkes
in 1841, formally was annexed. The
Samoan Islands, east of longitude III.
were acquired in 1899. Jarvis, Baker
and Rowland were annexed by execu-
tive order, May l3, 1896. These equa-
torial islands are on the line to Aus
tralia, Samoa and Hawaii and poten-
TALLY important in development of air
routes. An executive order in 1888 as
signed to the Interior Department
jurisdiction over Canton and Ender.
bury in the mid-Pacific. valuable sea-
plane bases. England claims these
equatorial islands as within her sphere
Of influence and has challenged the
American annexation. The United
States claims them by virtue of dis
covery by Americans in the 10th GEN.
tury.
These Pacific islands are serving not
only as naval and commercial air
bases, but also for defense, as vital links
in chain stretching from the Aleutians
to Hawaii, Panama and Samoa.
While Congress had been reluctant to
grant Lincoln special war powers, Con-
gress in 1917 and 1918 gave President
Woodrow Wilson the broadest authority
to use his own discretion In solving
World War problems. Mr.. Wilson decided
not only the Nations military policies,
but set up special organizations to con-
troll the Nations economic life-indus-
try. finance, labor, foreign trade, COM
munications, transportation, production
and distribution Of food and fuel. Presi-
dent Roosevelt, promptly in 1898 copied
the method Of his World War predeces-
sor. At his request. Congress passed .
number Of laws granting him special
powers to deal with the economic emer-
gency resulting from the depression Of
1923. Under this New Deal legislative
program he directed control over relief,
money and banking. agriculture, indus
try. labor relations. foreign trade. etc.