The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-19
APMY AND NAVY,

After the Navy Department had recovered
the Paymasters safe and other valuables from
the wrecks Of the United States Men-of-war
which were sunk in the hurricane at Apia,
Samoa, the wrecks were given 70 the Samoans.
The gift has not however proved very valu-
able one TO King Aalietoa, it seems, as there
was no appliances on the islands 70 raise the
wrecks. After much trouble a San Francisco
firm undertook TO recover the parts of the
wrecks that were valuable, on condition that
they were % be sold in San Francisco and the
proceeds equally divided between the Samoans.
When the wrecks were finally ready for ship
ment, the Collector Of Customs decided that
duty must be paid at San Francisco, on the
material, in which decision be was sustained
by the Treasury Department on the ground
that although the wrecks we're those Of Ameri-
can vessels, the deed Of gift to the SamOans
made them foreign, and therefore dutabe
property. Il is thought that the duty imposed
will be more than can be realized from the
sale OF the wrecks.
Secretary Tracy last week disposed Of the
case Of the wrecked steamer Despatch, by ap-
proving the findings Of the Court of Inquiry
which was to the effect that 10 was case call
ing for no further action. The court found
that the orders Of Lieut.. COwles, the command
ing officer, were safe and proper, and that the
accident would not have occurred bot for the
mistake Of Lieut.. Noel in taking the Assateague
court found that the AssateagUe light shOne
red instead Of white and that as the vessel
passed within four miles of the Winter Quarter
ShOal light, with proper lOOkOuts, without
seeing it, that light either must have been
entirely out or else was burning dimIy. The
court was Of the opinion that this condition
was the principal cause Of the disaster, and
that no one attached to the vessel could be
held responsible for il.
Officers Of the Army say they had no idea
how severe the sentence of 1sC Lieut. James A.
Swift. 1st Cav really is, until after reading the
Interpretation put upon 10 by The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE in its issue Of the sth inst Ii is
said that when q Second Lieutenant in the
Signal Corps he incurred the ilI-will Of his su-
perior officer, and was ordered to change stations
much more frequently than is customary.
Having a family TO transport, the allowance for
travel expenses was Insufficient and the Lieu
tenant was compelled, Of course, to make up
the difference. Added 20 that, as the President
said, in reviewing the case, he no doubt con-
tracted pecuniary obligations Of such a nature
and in such manner az to indicate a very
careless habit. ii not a more serious fault" He
was tried upon the charge Of conduct unbe-
coming an officer and a gentleman" any officer
convicted of which, say the Articles Of War,
"shan be dismissed the service" A part
Of what we said was this. "Of course the SEN
tence, as modified is great relief to Lieut..
Swift over that Of dismissal, but it is far more
severe than appears in the print. In the Army
Register for March, 1891 the name Of James A.
Swift il No. 132 on the list Of First Lieutenants
Of Cavalry, being only eight from the foot Of a
complete list; but as . Second Lieutenants
have been promoted to be First Lieutenauts in
the last seven months, it may readily be UNDER
stood how badly Swift will be left in i've years
if promotion should continue at that rate, or
One-half, one-quarter, or one-eighth Of that
rate" It has been suggested that possibly the
President did not realize the severity of the
modification, az in some instances where officers
have been found guilty Of duplication of their
pay accounts, which is mourning an indebted
ness of the most fragrant nature, the sentences
were not nearly rs severe az In the case of
Lieut. Swift.