Army and Navy Review 1915 Panama-California Edition - Balboa Park

Admiral Howard Retires
Admiral Winslow Assumes Command
of the Pacific Fleet
Admiral Thomas Benton Howard, who
was relieved of the command of the
United States Pacific fleet Sept. 13, has
passed forty-five years in ilie service of
his country, twenty-four years at sea,
twenty-one years on shore duty, at various
naval stations, and at. Washington,
and eight months at home awaiting orders.
This record has been surpassed
by few flag officers.
During the time he has been Pacific
fleet commander Admiral Howard and
officers and crews of vessels of the fleet,
serving on the Mexican patrol have received
the thanks of three foreign governments
and a commendatory letter
from the secretary of the navy for services
rendered along the west coast of
Mexico.
Admiral Howard was born at Galena,
Ill., August 10, 1854. He was appointed
to the United States naval academy by
President Grant, graduating in 1873.
Howard was navigating officer of the
gunboat Concord during the battle of Manila
bay and subsequently saw service on
the cruiser Charleston and monitor Monadnock
during the Philippine insurrection.
In 1892-93 he assumed command
on its memorable voyage from Barcelona
to Havana. In 1901 he was given command
of the famous old frigate Chesapeake,
leaving that vessel two years later
to command the cruiser Olympia and the
naval academy squadron.
During the memorable world cruise of
the battleship fleet, Admiral Howard,
then a captain, commanded the battleship
Ohio. Following the conclusion of
his sea services at that time, Admiral
Howard became a member of the general
board, and later commanded the third
and fourth divisions of the Atlantic fleet.
He reached the grade of rear admiral November
14. 1910, and that of full admiral
on August 24, 1915. He took command
of the Pacific fleet in January, 1914.
Rear Admiral Winslow, who assumes
the rank of full admiral, has the repu
tation of being one of the most brilliant
officers in the United States navy. He
was born in Washington, D. C., July 29,
1954, and was appointed to the naval
academy at large by President Grant.
Both Admiral Howard and Admiral Winslow
graduated third in their respective
classes.
Upon graduating from the academy in
1874, Admiral Winslow went to the Asiatic
station on the frigate Tennessee as
aid on the staff of Rear Admiral Reynolds.
Admiral Winslow's most brilliant feat
and one which brought him instant recognition
from congress was performed on
May 11, 1898, when he was in charge of
an expedition from the gunboat Nashville,
sent to cut the cable leading to the
station at Cienfuegos, Cuba. Admiral
Winslow and his men were under a heavy
fire from 7:30 o'clock in the morning
until nearly noon, during which thirty
per cent of the cable cutting party were
wounded, although they did not desist
until the cable was severed.
Admiral winslow was hit by a Mauser
bullet, which made a clean hole through
three fingers of his left hand. For three
hours after being wounded the daring
naval officer directed the cable cutting
operations, only ceasing when the work
had been accomplished. Congress promoted
him to be a lieutenant commander
for “extraordinary heroism” displayed on
this occasion.
He reached the rank of rear admiral
in September, 1911, taking command of
the second, the third and then the first
divisions of the Atlantic battleship fleet.
He was in command of the first division
during the cruise of European waters
and upon returning to the United States
went to the war college at Newport.
During the trouble at Vera Cruz last
year Admiral Winslow was in command
of the special service squadron of battleships.
Following the seizure of the Mexican
seaport and the restoration of normal
conditions Admiral Winslow returned to
the war college, remaining there until he
left a few days ago for San Diego to relieve
Admiral Howard as commander of
the Pacific fleet. Admiral Winslow has
spent. 45 years in the naval service, 26
years at sea and 19 years ashore.