The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-24


efficiency of the navy. AS first announced,
this commission consisted of three members
from the staff, and an equal number from
the line. Here was q show of justice, but 1T
was quickly dissipated by the appointment of
an additional line officer; and when 1T was
seen that such an inequality in the represen-
tation of the two branches Of the service
would render the commission an ostensible as
well as practical farce, an attempt was made
to hoodwink the public by increasing the
membership of the commission to ten, equally
divided between the line and staff. Surgeon
Pinclney, who holds seat in the commission
as representative of the staff, is said to be
the only staff officer in the navy who favors
Yice-Admiral Porter's notions of the innate
and inherent superiority of a line over staff
officer. If this allegation be true, the COM
mission will prove a mere farce, and its re-
Communications have no more weight than If
the commission were made up exclusively of
representatives of the line. About the only
thing thus far accomplished by the commits
sion is the granting of permission to the staff
officers to present protest against the word
ing of the order convoking the commission,
constituted a board to examine into all ques-
tions in regard to the rank of the line and
the cjc& officers of the navy" The designa-
tion of the staff as cigH officers was nothing
more nor less than direct and intentional
insult for which ice-Admiral Porter is unques-
tionably responsible. The action of the COM
mission in permitting the staff officers to pro-
test against this slur deserves no special COM
mendation, for common decency demanded
it, and presents no reliable indication of its
probable action on more material points.
The difficulty yconcerningthe relative powers
of our naval commanders and diplomatic re-
presentatives abroad arose from the dispute be-
tween J. Watson Webb, our former Minister to
Brazil, and Rear-Admiral Davis, who was in
command of the Brazilian station. This sub
iect is also undergoing investigation at the
capital and an effort is being made by
committee of Congress to ascertain the claims
and practices of the diplomatic and naval
services Vice-Admiral Porter yesterday ap-
peared before the committee, and with his
customary assumption explained to them, in
the language of Washington despatch, "why
it was not exactly the thing for naval officers
to recognize any but their superior officers in
the navy"
In this connection we reproduce the follow
ing communication, which appeared in the
New York Times. over the signature of
'Emir," on the 10th of February last
"The webb-D Davis difficulty has excited considera-
bic discussion i'll naval circles, as il involves not
only the rights, but the O6cid dylitg of one of its
most distinguished orDamcnts--Rear-Admiral Davis.
The press has commented rather too freely on this
subject without understanding fuL.y the status of
naval officers commanding our squadrons abroad. 1t
forsets that an Admiral is clothed with extraordi-
nary powers and Is entirely independents OF any
ministerial CONTROL that lie Is the highest represent
tatye OF our country abroad ana is subordinate only
to the Secretary OF the Navy and the President of
the United States. 1t Is II gratuitous insult to
the navy to suppose that its line officers cannot
exercise Judgment ia international affairs, or
act upon their responsibility in all matters re-
lating to the honor OF our flag. They as well
of foreign Ministers, ana it is admitted that
naval line officers the best educated men in any
branch OF the public service They pass at the Naval
Academy an ordeal harder than Vest Point, Yale, or
HdrrrTd, or eren OrfOrG or Cambridge, and are not
only thoroughly grounded in everything relating to
war, naval and military engineering etc, but also an
the higher sciences aud International ldO-a classical
education not attainabe eseplere in this c0ntrM No
wonder then that they are proud of their position,
and jealous OF their rights and privileges, that they
are more diGnifed and less democratic than their
army cOyre'cs and that they Indignantly resent the
interference OF civilian Ministers with their ships or
squadrons unless through the Secretary of the Navy
''Thc trouble between Admiral Davis and Mr..
Webb arose from the fact that the latter required the
Admiral to send his fleet without delay to The River
Plate for the protection of American interests. The
Admiral having reliable Information from one OF his
ofncers as to the state OF affairs, saw necessity
for warlike demonstration, and fearing to embroll
the United States with foreign power, very pro-
pery, no doubt, dissented from the opinion OF our
Minister and refused to SAIL IL IS absurd to suppose
that any necessity whatever can give the right to
an EnrOy to direct the commander OF squadron to
make demonstration with his feet or to any OF
MS vessels Tor any purpose without the authority OF
the Secretary or the President.
"The idea seems to be that our squadrons are to
he used for the protection Of interests whenever
necessary in the estimation OF an ENJOY ErtraOrdi-
nary, reducing the navy to a Government police in
times OF peace, position which they may occupy in
countries where Ambassadors represent the sOve-
reign power and in consequence exercise authority
over their naval commanders. This will not do
under republic; our Admirals are as much the
representatives of the United States our Ministers
they are OF equal, If not superior rank; their powers
are greater, their dtqy no ess-yet there those
who would see our sea-kings, who saved the coun-
try in its need subordnated to mere civilian
Minister Plenipotentary, who knows nothing what
ever about naval affairs. Minister Webb consulted
and advised with Admiral Davis upon the critical
position OF MessTs. Bliss and Masterman and when
the Admiral dssented the matter should have ended
there Personal feeling, however, was engendered by
the Minister'S requiston for the Admiral'S fleet,
which was considered an interference on the part
OF civilian; and to prove to Minister Webb that he
had no authority over him, the Admiral very pro-
perly not only refused to go the sth dnstead Of
the 10TH, but delayed sailing until it suited his
convenience on the 29th This assertion OF the Ad-
mras dignity and rights excited the wrath OF the
Minister, who assails the navy by denying the
sity for large squadron's abroad, datng upon the
necessary expenses OF the Admirals Yacht as he
terms the agshps, forgetting that there is quite
much necessity for Admirals and their yachts as
Tor our ministers or Envoys abroad. Your cores
! away upon squadrOns which OF no use when re-
| qulred may be saved in the annual expenditures.
IS ne 0rgets tnat these squadrons are OF use. Truly
not when our Ministers require them, but when our
Admiral chooses to use them and OF that necessity