AMERICAN FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 194, 11 May 1908, Page 7

AMERICAN FLEET.

. ILLNESS OF ADMIRAL EVANS.. BY IKLBQEAPn-'I'IIESS ASSOCIATION—COPrBIGHT ■ (Ree. May 10, 4.23 p.m.) . New York, May 9. Mr.' Metcalf, Secretary'to the Navy, reviewed the United States fleet at San Francisco. Admiral Evans's command ended .yesterday, when ho was, so ill I that' ho was unable -to proceed aboard the flagship to participate in the review as he had intended. A message,in the New York "Evening Post," dated March' 17, statedßear-Admiral Evans's successor as tho commander of tho American battleship fleet was under discussion at the Cabinet meeting this afternoon. The names of Rear-Admirals Emery, Sparry,, and Thomas; and Captains Seaton Schroeder and Richard Wainwright were considered. It is admitted at the Navy Department that Admiral Evans's physical condition is su'oh that ho cannot continue in,command of tho fleet during tho voyage now projected round the world, and. home '.by'tho' Suez Canal.:. When Secretary:.Metcalf came to the '.White House at noon to attend tho Cabinet meeting, ho'was asked "What have you heard of the condition of Admiijali Evans's health ?" '' - "Nothing beyond the fact that he'is a;very ill man." "Has Admiral Evans requested-to bo relieved of his command because of. his physical condition?" • "I am afraid I. cannot answer that question just now. I may have a statement to givo out a littlo later covering that point; At this minuto/it would not no judicious to saj* anything about what may be done on account of tho admiral's health." .' Dispatches from the fleet sinco it left Trinidad, its first port of call, have all referred' to Admiral Evans's bad health, which'has kept him confined to-his ship, and made, it impossible for him to take part in any of the. festivities or receptions asliore N at the ports touched by tho fleet. The commander or the fleet is a suffo'ror from rheumatic gout, and. the long confinement aboard ship, with lack of fresh milk and other shore delicacies, has undoubtedly added to his sufferings. . Secretary, Motealf said, after 'the Cabinet mooting that Bear-Admiral Thomas would suecoed Evens in command of, the battleship fleet at San Prpnciseo. Roar-Admiral Charles S. Sperry, who is in command of the fourth division of tho Atlantio fleet, reached tho rank of renr-admiral in May, 190 G. He was president of the Naval War Co'llego at Newport in 1908, and was the naval delegate to the second peaco conference at The Hague. Rear-Admiral Sperry will retire- for ago on September 3, 190 S. : llear-Admiral Charles Mitchell .Thomas is. a nativo of Pennsylvania, and was grnduatod from tho Naval Academy in 1865, reaching the ranjc of rear-admiral in January, 1905. RoarAdmiral Thomas will retire for ago on October 1 next.