New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-24
Mr.. GORRINGE'S RESIGNATION
WHY HE RETIRED FROM THE NAVY.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF
TIE NAVY AND THE LIEUTENANT-COMNIANDE

WHY HE RETIRED FROM The NAVY.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF
TIE NAVY AND THE LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE tRrBUgE.l -
WAsHINGToN, Feb 23.-The statement that Com
mander GOrrnge was supported his Reading
ship-yard venture by English capital was founded
upon information which proves to be erroneous,
and he is entitled to n correction Of it. If any un-
favorable inferenccs have been drawn from that
statement they unjust. The Departments DIFF
ferences with Commander Gorrnge not all re-
cent and they are somewhat alike, arising accord
ing to Secretary Chandler's showing. from freedom
IN discussing naval matters and those related to
the Navy which has not been always consistent
with the regulations OF the service.
MIR. GORRINGEs s IMPRoPRTETIEs.
Secretary Chandler says Mr.. GOrringc rendered
himself liable to court martial by publishing III Ihe
North AmcricdR RerieU last May an article entitled
"The Navy" in which some of the recommendations
of the Naval Advisory Board, of which Commodore
Shufcldt president, were opposed.
In this article it was said that the weakest" of
tho Boards recommendations was that twenty
knot vessels of about 723 tons displacement
should be built with live oak frames and blanked
and cciled with yellow pine, and the Boards
reasons for making 1t were pronounced
" manifestly inadequate, If not absurd"
The Secre airy points out that to say nothing of the
improperly OF naval officer attacking publicly
the plans of board constituted by Congress to de-
wise ways of creating new navy, tins was in vlo-
aton of section 33 of the general in
struction" In the naval regulations,
which is as follows "Oflicers and all per-
SONS belonging to the Navy are forbidden to dis
cuss matters porIaning to the naval service in the
public prints or TO attempt any legislation for the
Navy unless through with the approval OF the
Navy Department"
CALLED TO ACCOUNT FOR PUBLIC UTrERANOEs.
Secretary Chandler say this article attracted his
attention at the time AZ being an improper act on
Commander Gorringe's part. but he concluded to
pass IT over Not long after, Commander Gorrnge
gave In public his opinion the proposed abandon
ment OF the Brooklyn Navv Yard. and the Secre-
tIry let compclled to address him the following
letter under date of June 3, 1882:
The question of dispensing with selling some OF the
navy yarDs, including that at Brookyn, has been pend
Ing before Congress aud mas been reerredto TINS Depart
take cousidrra The Department notices
newfptp,r statement tnat you appeared be ore some
committee In Brooklyn rc'cutlt, aud submitted your
yards. Will you Inform the Department whether or not
you app AIRED II Az, why you appeared and what views
you sub Hittcdt
Mr.. GorrinCe's answer showed that he had given
his views simply because he had been requested to
do So aud that they were in accord with the policy
OF the Department. The Secretary then wrote as
follows under da'c Of June z
have To acknowledge Tho receipt Of your letter OF
June .. CLOSING the copy OF your communication OF
% amber ~ Commerce In reference TO the
policy of abandoning tho Brooklyn Navy Yard. Your
position with regird to tha' policy is aPpSrrn ii re-
coria with the present views OF the Dcpar ment II
IL not be-n the singular ace might bc presented
OF paIo Of tn par'ment opposed IN puelc meetihks
aud publications Dy = 5lnHe Oncof Oh me Navy
on leave OF Abscnce. Ihero - no disposition
Sv.p fe l5 par c patton BY oceTs re 81 tue Nav, in
private public discussions upon subjects connected
administrator ,re actually pending in tue Department,
thereon by any officer should made witGont ne nrt
Jinmi,cate views 90 the Department aud receives
nu hof..y make ,hsu public. You viii please heru-
alter oc .oyerned by this rule.
when "A statement was made in the New-York
paDefs some weeks ago of Mr.. Gorringe's views in
favor Of free ships and ree materials for ship build
ing and no subsidies or protection IN any form 20
American ship-DuIlders, a prominent citizen of
New York wro.e to the Secretary intlmatng that
Mr. Gurriugo had formed, or was about To form, a
connection " ia foreign company, and he >ecre-
tarv wroie to inquire If that was just az he
would have done, he says, II Congressman Cox lai
cone 70 the Nayv Department aud complained that
naval officer was using the pres
iice of his position TO enforce high
tariff views while he was understood
10 be- In tn pay Of some great manufac uring irm
In tue case OF naval officer the puOhc were en-
tItlcd 10 KNOW If sui tblng was 80, and the De-
partment bad II Ia lts power To iind II out.
THE LIEUTENANT COMMANDERs REsrGNArIoN.
Mr. Gurunge's statement seems to have Oeeu salts
factory on that point. but the manner in which he
addressed the Secretary IN subsequent letter was
such that he was ordered TO Washington 10 report
to the Secretary. He resigned. a-d his resignation
was at once ,tcf by tue Secretary. lt Is under
$1,000 that Mr GUTringc CLAIMS thar this acceptance
ls null and IoId because acceptances should
come rom tho President. IL Is the practice, how
ever, for the secretary TO accept designations Mr.
Chandler expresses the opinion that the Lieutenant
1 ommaudcr has been an insubordnate and trouble
some officer.