OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 106, 29 January 1935, Page 9

OBITUARY

Admiral R. E. Coontz Washington, January 2(1. The death is announced of Admiral R. E. Coontz, former Commander of the United States Fleet. Born in Missouri in 1861, Admiral Coontz rose to hold the position of Com-mander-in-Chief of the United States Navy, lie graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1885, being commissioned ensign two years later. He was promoted through the various grades of the service to Rear-Admiral in 1917. ami became an Admiral in 1919. He was in the Alaskan service for six years, becoming proficient as a pilot in those waters, was executive officer on the Nebraska during tlie voyage of the United States Fleet ' round the world in 1908, was Commandant of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy in 191(111, Governor of Guam in 1911-12, and in command of the Georgia in 1913-15. In July. 1915. he was appointed to command the Navy Yard at Puget Sound, and in August, 1918, was ordered to take charge of the Seventh Division, of the United States Atlantic Fleet, Later in the year he was made Assistant for Naval Operations, and the following year became Chief of Naval Operations. In 1923 he was Commander-in-Chief of the United Slates Fleet, and he was in command of the vessels which visited Australia ami New Zealand in 1925. Later he became commandant of the Fifth Naval District, and in 1928 he retired, lie held the Distinguished Service Medal.