New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-30
SECRETARY WHITNEY AND ADMIRAL LUCE
A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THEM WHICH h
CAUSING GossIP-RUMoR THAT THE AD'
ro mr. CrUFN OTHER Duty.

A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THEM WHICH ls
CAUSING GossIP-RUMoR THAT THE AD-
M1RA1, Is TO BE GIVEN OTHER DUTY.
v.sb,,cton. JuIy Golf Dame Rumor is to be be-
IIcved the details of Navy family quarrel which are
IN no given 10 tho public will cause no small
amount of interesting gossip The rllmor IS that sec
retary whitney has under consideration the rciei oi
Roar Admiral s. y. Luce as c0mmandant OF inc Norh
Atlantic Squadron, owing to n little unpleasahhess
betwcen the Secretary and the Admiral growing out Oh
the abandonment Of the Joint Army and Navy ma
nocuyros at Fishers Island. Tho original plan was
that all of the vessels Of The North Atlantic squadron
should participate In series OF sham battles win
the four batteries Of the 5th Artillery from tho forts
IN NewYork harbor and battery OF the 4th Artillery
from Fort Trimbull.
Tho first work done after the Army troops reachcd
Fishers Island TO construct rifle ranges WIN
twelve targets placed at distances ranging from @o
To 900 yards. The garrison was nameo camp o ID
Luce and It was intended to increase the force 10 ro
teen batteries. Then the Secretary detached inc as
shin Richmond and ordered her to be put In condton
Tor forc,pn souadron duty Tho cruiser Atlanta was
pext detached to be fitted for foreign service, and 'ho
yantc Was ordered 10 be repaired for West indies
cruise This left only tho Galena and the osspee'
and It was proposed TO have drill on smaer scaic'
This plan has now been abandoned honco inc ruors'
There has been a rumor for somo time that Rear
Admiral Luce and some OF the bureau chios ha'o ""'
been on the best OF terms. BE this as t may IL IS
fact that the Admiral quite offended and expressed
his opinion OF Captain schley chief OF the Bureau oil
Fouipment when that officer Issued percmpory ordcrs
that the vessels of tho North Atlantic Squadron should
burn less coal for steamlng and do moro sailing his
order considerably curallcd Admiral Luces programme
In HIS recent cruise in the West Indies and along the
Gulf Coast and his feet did not visit the Bermudas as
was intended. Then the Admiral has said that zap
tain Schey has crippled the training service, by oruer
ing one OF the vessels Norfolk another to Baltimore
and another TO Newport, and his remarks arc said 70
have offended CAPTAIN Schlcy and the Secretary. Next
came tho demand on the War Department for the cost
of the coal used by the Galcna and Ossipec Tor trans
porting the 9th Artillery to Fishers Island upon Wnch
The Admiral IS said have expressed his dlsappOVa
And right on top OF this comes the suggestion by me
Secretary consolidate the Naval War college, whch
originated with Admiral Luce and was made successful
by his efforts. with the Torpedo school al Newport
Tho affair Is causing considerable interesting discus
sion in Navy circles. 1t Is reported that one OF INC
bureau chiefs said THE sham battles and torpedo
practice at Newport unequalled summer atrac-
lion for that charming summer resort; and, for show
purposes may boom Bar Harbor or some other Inlet,
but are not useful nor economical"