Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-13
RespOnSIb bilsty for the GreeIy Disaste.

Responsibility for the Greedy Disa.ter.
VIEWS OF SECRETARY LINCOIN-LIEUT. GARLIsGrON
NOT SOLELY CHARGEABLE, THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM
THE SIGNAL OFFICE BEISG DEFECTIVE.
The Secretary OF War, in his letter to the chief
signal officer declining to order court-martial for
the trial OF Lieut. Darlington the charges OF dis
obedience OF orders and neglect OF duty in cOnnec
tion with the management OF the Greedy relief
expedition OF 1883, reviews eleven OF the thirteen
specifications OF General Hazen's charges and con-
court OF inquiry. The sixth and seventh specifica-
tiOns, charging Darlington with neglect OF duty in
retreating from LittletOn island, thereby causing
the death or nineteen OF the Greedy party are con-
sdered at length by the Secretary OF War with the
conclusion that the public interests do not require
a courtmartial to try Lieut. G. Ellington. The Sec
retary does not think Darlington free from all
blame yet he Is not solely chargeable with the dis
aster TO Greelys party, his instructions from the
able that Lieut. Darlington did not wait at ttIeton
island but to say that for not Selling this one
chance, when without Instructions for such an
emergency, he is to be held crimnaly responsible,
Is another matter. The actual catastrophe OF
Lieut. Greely'S party does not increase Lieut.
Garlingvon,s responsibility, he was not
properly chargeable with a knowledge Of Lieut.
Greelys lack OF resources. The Chief signal
officer in 1888 did not regard Greelys situ-
Darlington TO be better informed than himself
The secretary regrets that he had not the power
to stay the original expedition OF 1884, and after re-
marking that such enterprises are almost neces-
sarly disastrous and the interest in their history
is usually, If not always, measured by the amount
OF suffering and distress recorded, he concludes
with the opinion that It does not follow that the
errors OF judgment, but for which the crOWninp
disaster might have been avoided should ne fol-
lowed by punitive action.
SECRETARY CHANDLER ON THE HAZEN-WILEs CON-
TROyERSY.
The Secretary OF War received letter from Sec
retary Chandler yesterday, in reply to Mr. Lin
coins communication of January g, inclosinc a
letter from Gen. Hazen touching the controversy
between the chief signal officer and Com'dr WtldeS
In this letter Mr. Chandler says there are certainly
grounds for doubling whether Iiept. Darlington
and Com'd'r Wilde6 performed the utmost OF their
duty toward Lieut. Greely and his comrades but in
the absence OF any evidence that Lieut. CARING
con had requested COm'd'r WildeS to visit Little
ton island again and that the latter had refused TO
do so, the department did not feel called upon To
consider the question now raised by Gen. Hazen
There is also made public In this connection the
letter OF Secretary Chandler to Mr.. Lincoln OF De-
cember 49, 1884, with reference to the Hazen-WIldes
controversy. in which special mention is made OF
what is well known as the memorandum of ssSun-
Elemental Instructions" This memorandum. MI.
Chandler states, was rejected by Gen. Hazen as the
basis OF any instructions to Lieut. Darlington, and
IL through the disregard OF these Instructions
that the expedition Of the latter made failure
Enclosed with this letter Is also copy OF the Sec
retarys letter or Com'dr Wildes, of the same date
severely criticising the latters conduct but exon
Grating him from any derelictiOnS OF duty.