In January 1900, he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to . Over the following year he served on and . On board "Buffalo", he returned to the Asiatic Squadron near China and was finally transferred to , the squadron's flagship. He remained on board "Brooklyn", until its return home in May 1902. After a brief leave, Pollock was assigned to the USS "Chesapeake" (as the watch and division officer), a position he held for more than one year. He was transferred to , serving for another year, and then to Cavite Naval Base. At Cavite, he was promoted to lieutenant commander in February 1906.