The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-09
MINISTER'S AND REAR.ADMIRALs.
To the Editor Of tn. BUcnasg Telegraph


To the Editor Of The Buening Telegraph
In an article headed ministers and Rear
Admirals, published in your paper of Friday
last, you do great injustice to the officers of the
navy in several particulars, but chiefly in the
assumption that large number of them believe
that 1t was beneath the dignity of Rear
Admiral to obey the orders of any mere civilian,
and that the unfolding of the dignity of Rear
Admiral in the United States navy was of quite
as much importance in foreign waters as the
protection of American citizens, or any other
little matters of that kind"
The letter you refer to as disclosing such sem
timents may have been written by an officer of
the navy, and, if So he must have been very
young and very ill-informed as to the purposes
for which our ships are sent abroad. The young
est midshpman does know that the protection
of our citizens and our merchant vessels is the
first and highest duty of our commanding OIL
GERS on the high seas and in foreign waters.
II is new thing for any complaints to be
made in this direction, because in all the past
our officers have been more apt to be jealous
than discreet. The youngest officer knows, or
ought to know, that the civil authority is above
the military, and that he should always be pre-
pared to yield ready and respectful obedience to
it when legally exercised. With regard to the
authority of our diplomatic functionaries abroad
ever naval officers, there exists great misappre-
hension, and in order that your readers may un-
derstand the matter extract the following from
the Regulations for the Navy" issued in 1865,
article 107, page 17:-
The commander OF a squadron, on arriving at
foreign port is 70 call in person and pay the first
visit to the diplomatic functionares OF the United
States thereat, whose rank is of and above that of
charge dafares and the commander of a vessel OF
the navy, arriving, is to call and first visit the
functionares of our Government thereat whose rank
is OF and above that OF consul general. The COM
mander of a squadron, on arriving, is to send
suitable officer to visit the consular of1lcer, and
tender to him q passage to the hagship; and the
sommander of a Vessel of the navy, on SO arriving
10 to send offlCer who Is to visit the consular
oficer: and n he be of the rank of consul general
To m 10
commanders intention to visit him, unless the lat
ter should find 1t convenient to make the visit at
that time; If of lower rank than consulgeneral, to
oner him passage to the ship.
Article 5S page 9. Whenever minister appointed
to represent the United States Abroad or minister
OF foreign country, shall visit vessel of the navy
he shall be received by the admiral commodore, or
paraded, and salute of fifteen guns shall be fired.
Article 80 charge daffares or commissioner
shall be received In the same manner but the salute
Article CO. A consul-genera shall be received by
the commanding officer aud sauted with nine guns.
Article 81. A consul shall be received by the COM
manding officer aad saluted with guns. A
vice consul, consular agent, or commercial agent,
with five guns.
The above. cited regulations show the official
courteses to which our representatives abroad
are entitled. l think may add that all other
courtesies due their position are cheerfully &C.
corded to them as a rule, to which the unfortu-
nate Brazil controversy may be an exception.
The question of the authority OF a minister
over q naval officer is settled by Article 80, p.
3d. NAVAL Reguatlons:'-
On arriving within the limits of his station on
foreign service, he (the admiraO is to place
himself in communication with the diplomatic
agents of the Government OF the United States
thereabouts and he is to afford them, on his
own responsibility such aid and cooperation in
all matters for the benefit of the Government as
they may require and as he may judge to be
eXpedient and proper.
1t will be seen that a naval officer is not under
the orders of minister, and cannot be relieved
of his own responsibility by the request of
minister to pursue q certain course of action, if
that action should be subsequently disapproved
by the Government at home. want of har
mony and good understanding between minis
ter and an admiral is always to be deplored, but,
both being human, it must sometimes occur. 1t
is not my intention to enter into the merits of
this wretched Brazil muddle; merely wish to
deny for myself and for all the officers of the
navy any such opinions are attributed to
them in the editorial article above referred TO.
1 am, respectfully,
AN OFFICER OF THE NAVY.
I'VE wish our correspondent, who is a highly
esteemed officer of the navy, had discussed ''the
merits of the wretched Brazilian muddle," for
the conduct of Rear-Admirals Godon and Davis
greatly needs some explanation to relieve
them from the imputations that have been
cast upon them. Neither of the reports from the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the House
are satisfactory in this respect, and they have
the appearance of attempting to hush the mat
ter up. From all that has been made public on
the subject hitherto, we can deduce nothing
that will place the conduct of the two Rear
Admirals in favorable light and the explana-
tion which our correspondent complains of is
the only one yet offered that appears to have
any foundation. This explanation was made
ostensibly by an officer of the navy, and it was
intended to be a defense of Admiral Davis If
any better can be offered we should be pleased 20
hear oft. Rear-Admiral Godon refused to give
Mr.. WashbuTn transportation when he required
it, and Rear-Admiral Davis refused to go to his
assistance when he represented not merely the
interests Of the United States and her citizens,
but his own personal safety to be in peril; and
SO far as we have any information on the sub
ject, these refusals were based upon some absurd
points of etiquette and an indisposition to sub
NIT to the orders of ''mere civilian" We have
no disposition to do injustice to anybody, but
there is something that greatly needs clearing up
with regard to this affair-ED. EVE TEL.