The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-08
rlLITIcS IN THE NAVY.
Admiral Walkers Hurtful "Pull" Is
not Doing One Arm Of the
Service Good.
Clips Needed In Chilian Watera
Are IN the Junketing Bust
ness on tho Atlantic.
Possibility THAI tho President May Take
tho Matter In His Own Hands
Conflict OF Authority.

Some OF Admiral Walkers friends il
Washington have suddenly taken the moos
of the navy to heart, and are loud in thei
complaints that the continued agitation o
tns subjecs Of the adniral's ''pulr' is hurt
.ug the navy. says the Now York Times
.r,,ac-o ia no doubt that there 10 something
That is hurting the navy, but it is the de-
plorsble condition OF affairs in the NORTH
Atlantic. and not the printing of the facts
The blame is not to DO laid on the news
papers for exposing the state in which Ad-
mi-el Walkers pulp has brought the en-
tire navy, but on the secretary Of the navy
who Las power to rut a stop to the whole
matter, bat does not do SO. 1t will be in
tcrssting to SEQ whether he changes his
cou-se after his conference with the presi-
Dent at Cape May Point. 1t 10 doubtful il
the president fully realized, until tho dis
~closu-es we're made by the Times, that his
administration was being made to shoulder
S grave naval scandal, and he may md it
aesessary to serve Mr.. Tracy in this matter
as hc served Mr.. Blaine in the Bsring sea
t4ett. re-, and take the whole thing into his
o7a hands.
Tho president must have thought II rather
Singular, however, thas whom ships were
-,ecSsd for aotual service in any quarter of
thu world none was available. Even o
there il a pressing need for more ships in
Cailian waters, for whatever may be the
facts about Mr.. Egan's mistakes - minis
ter end his speculation with Mr.. Blaine in
nitrate, Admiral Brown ia a very capable
cfToa- and can be depended upon to take
eli responsibility without hesitation or
waiting for instructions. Minister Egan
Fas undoubtedly made himself the most
fss ben such as greatly to prejudice the
congressional party against the United
Stctes. Admiral Brown and his two OH oisn
suEarGinates, Capt. Schley, Of tbs Balti-
Inors, ond Capt. Sampson, of the San Fran
cisco. osn be depended upon to do much to
Ger. OF course, If Admiral Brown had any
sach squadron as he ought to have at such
ar important point, his importance would
be much increased in the eyes of the Chill
ians. 6
= There Is also need for q ship at the Saliva
probability that more trouble will be made
over the recent attempted seizure of the
City of Panama. II the doctrine laid Owl
With so much emphasis in the Barrundia
case is to be upheld, the secretary is as
nrch to blame as Commander Rsiter was if
&c ileRleCbb 10 baA0 buO proper u0dbUIeD 10
prevent the repetition Of such affairs.
txihere is no ship to send. however, and if
San Salvador rants to seize the City of
Panama on her next trip there is nothing
" prevent her.
NAH this time, however, two squadrons are
tying up the new ships in the North Allan
&c. and Admiral Walker, with the finest ag-
s7egation of American ships ever brought
yogether, sails eaily on from one seaside
resort to another, and the summer girl Is
delighted with the big white ships and the
charming young officers with brilliant uni
forms.
Mt il possible that Secretary Tracy may
hnvs these facts brought to his attention by
the president, or that the president may
direct the attention Of Mr.. Tracy to them
for the purpose of indicating q way by
which the conflict of authority between
admiral Gherardi and Acting Admiral
Walker may be stopped and the vessels of
the white squadron put to acme useful pur-
rose. If the row between Gherardi and
Walker is hurting the navy" there does
not appear to be any good reason for allow
ing injury to American interests in South
America to be accommodating because seven
o. eight ships are kept in comparative idle
ness to maintain the pulp of an ambitious
political acting admiral. !