Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-07
DRESS PARADE DUTY.
That Seems the Chief Work of Act
ing Rear Admiral Walker and
HIS FAMOUS WHITE SQUADRON.
Senior Officers Have Been Treated to Imru-
dence and Insults.
AN ADMINISTRATION PET IN A SCANDAL
rrRom A STAFF CORRESPONDENT

| rFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-Though nothing
has been said about it, the President, the
Secretary of the Navy and the Assistant
Secretary of the Navy have this week been
wrestling with the grave question of the
| disposition of what there is of the United
States Navy, and, primarily, with the quar-
rel between Admiral Gherardi and Acting
Rear Admiral Walker, for upon the cir
cumstances that led to this quarrel hinge
the proper and sensible bestowment of the
few ships that constitute the navy"
Gherardi is the senior admiral of the
navy, and Walker is only an acting rear
admiral. The former will probably be re-
tired in year, and, if things continue as
they are, Walker will have command of the
North Atlantic station and air himself as
the officer in charge of the great display
that will be made next year in honor of the
memory of that fine old-time navigator,
Christopher Columbus. Meantime, Walker
is as arrogant as he dares to be, and that is
decidedly impudent. He is brother-in-
law of Senator Allison, of Iowa, who is the
perennial Chairman of the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate, and has it in
his power to give or withhold millions from
administrations anxious to make record
for building up the navy.
Whatever the strength of the affection
between the two men, Allison favors
Walker in every way he can, and has had
him placed in command of the 'White
Squadron" or Squadron of evolution" in
Ill
has been doing nothing but swing about in
the pleasantest of weather, and in home and
foreign latitudes where there were splendid
harbors with facilities for no end of ban
quets aboard and ashore
AN ORNAMENTAL SQUADRON AFLoAT.
All this time Walker has had in his Or
namental squadron several Of the newest,
most beautiful and best-equipped ships of
the navy, while at all of the most important
points there have been lot of old tubs, and
at times no ship at all, flying the stars and
stripes. For instance, there was consid-
cradle period a few months ago when no
American naval vessel was within 1000
miles of the Sandwich Islands, though there
were plots afoat to insure or encourage the
occupation of the islands by the English
force.
The young Queen is afflicted with Anglo
phobia, and for this reason: She knows
that her American subjects are plotting for
a republic, and that the only hope Of the |
perpetuation of her rule is in forming q |
sort of alliance with another country. 1t |
has been part of her plan to catch the |
United States mapping, excite an uprising |
among the natives when there was no naval |
ship of the United States in the harbor at |
Honolulu, ask for protection from British |
vessels, secure the landing of British force |
and the organization of British ''protecto- |
rate," which, as any one will understand |
who knows the British temper and policy, |
would mean permanent directory of the |
islands from the north end of Westminster |
bridge.
HOW AMERICAN AFFAIRS ARE WATCHED.
Ditto at Samoa. There the Germans are
for absolute control, and to pre-
vent the United States from acquiring even
4 coaling station. and yet nothing but an
Did tub is left there to inspire fear from the
natives and respect from the others, and
part of the time there is no United States
vessel there at all.
Ditto at China. For months there has
been danger of q massacre of foreign resi-
1ents, and Americans in China have had to
|
other countries than their own, which had
On that coast only a few rotten hulks not
even capable of safely making the voyage
home in case they were wanted.
Soon after the revolutionary movement
broke out in Haiti, Admiral Gherardi was
ordered there to protect American interests
With the rotten old Galena, with an arma-
nent of so years ago and speed of II miles
IN hour. Later he received the addition of
he Ossipee, and still later of the Kearsarpe,
neither of them seaworthy and only capable
# uoing about ten miles an hour. As
hough TO add insult to injury, the "White
quadron," with its fine ships, was not long
go ordered to make its way to Port au
Prince and display its and Walkers mag
lifcence in the presence of the old sea dog.
iherardi, with his rotten vessels, and no
vonder Walker, favored as he was, should |
orget the etiquette due to his senior In |
ank, and when sternly called to account for
lis lack of respect rerform his part in such a
upercilious way as to be more insulting
han before.
'ooREsT VESSELS IN IMPORTANT PLACES.
Thus, while the poorest vessels of the
avy have been ordered to the most import | ,
Mt posts to perform vitality important duty,
his swell-headed acting rear admiral, with
is political and social influence SO power .
ll as to make him believe that he owns the
avy, has been all the time sailing in sum- j
Ter weather to suit his own sweet will, with g,
he finest of our new war ships at his COM
land. 1t is a fact that he has been ''run- {
ing" the navy, and that means that he has !!
ad influence that neither the President nor
ne Secretary of the Navy dared to resist. q
lie has had only to ask to get what he t
anted no matter how arrogant his demands. I
his favoritism has disorganized the whole
avy. Z
The grip of Walker on the navy and its
isposition has become of itself 80 great a
,andal that the President and Secretary
racy have been forced to consider some
nange, and it is probable that an arrange
tent will soon be made that will at least
lggest that Walker is not in absolute con- =
'ol, though it is probable that his influence ,
i'll yet be able to keep him constantly in :
ositions which are not in any way his
ue.
If Senator Allison takes hand to pre- /
ent any curtailment of Walkers great
wing there will be music, for Allison is as \
iff necked as Walker, and will have his a