The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-10
1ss CASE or ADaua1r oHsa1aDE.
The ofs rrehtf.r ssncr ASKS /. Favor 81
the Goverruert.


The ora r,eht.s Sailor ASKS I. Favor .,
the Goverrnert.
FonTRrss MoNRon. April e-Conslderabie
space has been given up In print to an alleged
strsining Of the relations between Rear Ad-
miral Bancroft Gherardi and o junior officer
OF high rank. The subject has been promi-
nent In the talk and thoughts OF the majority
OF the officers OF the navy. Much that was In
tudicious has been written and spoken. and
the simple. plain facts in the case have some
times been overlooked or confused. The plain
facts are these: Rear Admiral GhersrdI is at
the head Of the active list In the navy. and Is
to the navy what Mnjor-Gen. Schoneld Ia to
the army. By an order OF Gen. Tracy's, is
sued on Jan. 4 OF this year. he is in
command OF the combined neot that
Will take part in the naval review. by tho
same order OF tho last Secretary he In to haul
down his flag and rellnquish command aiont'
on the completion Of the review. 1t is under
stood that a Commodore was to succeed to the
important command II Secretary Tracy's plans
were carried out. Gen. Tracy IL no longer
Secretary. and the Admiral has expressed q
desire to remain in command OF the North At
lantic squadron after the review and until he
retires on Nov. 10. 1894. These are the plain
facts In the case. 1t Is scarcely necessary to
say with regard to such a man as Admiral
Gherardi that he has never directly or indi-
rectly in any way whatsoever caused a word
OF what has been published on this subject to
be written or made public.
1t can hardly be said that there are two sides
to this case. The great majority OF the naval
mon are OF the opinion that the head OF the
navy should not BIZ showed about from office
to office and from sea to shore like a new
graduate from Annapolis. Tho semblance Of
two sides to the argument is created by per-
sonal friendships. In no other navy in tho
world could such q dispute ariee. because the
sDested and distineuishsed az Becomes os o ~ his
rank. In our country this is the fortunate lot
OF the senior, tilcer Of tho army. He always
quarters at WASHINGTON, but By some strange
c cSSsiss,Ghs no suSh provision Is made for the
rank have. often been made to perform duties
tnat might be commanded o, Captains or Com
mH S y Other navies. but never OF the
North Atlantic squadron: and on Sept g. 1902,
to San Francisco to assume aaus le'eo mas Tsdde 81 q
This squadron consisted OF the Baltimore. San
but the last named ship never Joined i. fHIc,
%ns MS, ordered to bring this SQUADRON to the At
but at, Mohtevideo he received i ms H1ia foast To-
sail direct for Hampton Roads. Then came
f ne order r. or giving r him his Just due in putting
Ing With the notice that he must haul down
his flag when the review ended and be pre-.
those Of @ com@ ma Sea's oi the au' Nor. lnf atiapt to
squadron. might be put upon him.
one nn can adb%1 ams Is si ssid no not to Ike this and no
country and OF his Government. He is over
years Of age. and has been in the navy since
t~inction: and did his duty then as in years Of
peace. He has nov. for, some years. been tho
and he asks that he may have the only yr cone.
mand that BELTS his rank during the year and
four, months that remain before he viii DO re-
him In the interest Of another officer that
there Is an unwritten law Of the navy that
but this. has often been Ignored BY the de-.
y%eniense q ~ Government. Only during the
Acting net l1l Rear a Hdm HlHafls Walker ( won to aea ss Hnee tsa
he naval, review, Tor that offeer has Been aa' IN
command Of the largest and best fleet we ever
Possessed during three years and six months.
and at the expense OF shelving his
'f L Sss of bssa IN sa G5d sSs to FIX r Sd him the a ehsaesi
has his very natural desire gratided. he may
'riends reply that at such q cost as that no
sst, ana refrain from applying to the Secretary
+ be the Sq bsc.ua He win make the he aBplisasHtiIoh
;srfere with the chances Of no man undsr him.
Rear Admiral Belknap has seen his sea ser.
ice. Rear Admiral Harmony is now at sea and
las applied to, be retired in June. Rear Ad- |
.hirteen months tahead OF Admiral Gherardi. |
Rear Admiral, Irwin also retlres in the same |
wy. Rear Admiral Greer has seen his sea |
service. Rear Admiral Weaver does not want |
akine one. and that ends tho cases Of the
Commodore Brown has been at sea
hree years. and has time enough to servo at
east em1n tw Toy years In IT, r. place Of Benham or
such cruise without displacing any one.
'kerrett Is at sea: Fyffe ~retires in July OF next
'enr. Stanton has till 1886 to serve. and can
II irwin's when they retire. Erben has no
las asked to be. allowed to .serve three
ears In command OF the New York station.
ctivo service four months later. This is tho
tatus OF every Hear Admiral and Commodore
n active service. 1t is, therefore. not appar-
mt how tho natural and honorable ambition
hese officers dues.
The whole amount OF It. inside and out. is |
hat the highest officer In the navy regards the
ommand Of the North Atlantic squadron as
place In which he would like to end his
ervics.. He cannot do as he pleasss under the
Nv. and the law makes no provision for such a
ase. SO he asks this appolntment as a favor
nd strained feelings are beyond and outside
he question. 1t Is the case OF the first fight
~ sailor Of the country asking O simple favor
I the Government.
Idvice from the Taiiors to the Diplomats.
From 1e Cahier anil Furniher.
1t would truly DO a benson IL our Ambassadors