New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-28
STATIONS FLAG COMES DOWN.
THE ADMIRAL ACKNOWLEDGES SECRETARY
IIERBERTS REBUKE
NO EXPLANATION OF HIS RLUNDER OFFERED
HOW THE ADMINISTRATION LEARNED
rny TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiB-NE.1
THE FACTS

wosbinvton Oct 9I-An acknowledgment by
Admiral Stanton Of the receipt OF the oHiciai re-
buke administered to him by secretary HERBERT
reached the Navy Department to-day CONSIDERING
that the Admiral has been in the Naval service
since December lsi9 and that his career since that
time has been one Of activity and usefulness, his
words OF acknowledgment In what Is probably his
last public dispatch have much pathos IN them. lie
retires from active service next spring ana IN
view Of his serious blunder at Rio there Is no prob
ability that he will be assigned to duty again Re
plying 10 the Departments order removing MN
from the command OF the South Atlantic Squadron,
owing TO his folly In formally saluting Admiral
Mello n declared rebel against the de facto gov
eminent of Brazil. Admiral Stanton says In his
telegram: II have hauled down my hrst ana last
flag, and will proceed home by the first steamer
No word of further explanation or apology Is
given as TO why he involved the Government In
diplomatic complications with Brazil. or why ne
violated his distinct instructions to observe strict
neutrality and be most guarded In all communica-
ton with the insurgents lie merely acknoWi-
edges the receipt of orders putting him In diG-
grace and informs the Department tina, he will
leave the scene Of his folly at the first opportunity
1t was officially learned to-day how information
as 10 Admiral Stantons blunder was first made
known to the Administration The telegram in the
German paper relating TO the circumstancc hai
well as by the President. No credence; however.
placed In the report in view Of the explicit
stanton AT Rio. Through Minister Mendonca the
earliest official information on The snbtec, was was
through him to Secretary Herbert senior Men
donca lodged protest asainH admral Sn ia oe
rebellion against the existing Governmcnt OF btaZh
ia h anor naval wSs pGnr az o and through
him the President was made acquainted with the
According to Minister Mendonca's information
from his Government. Admiral Stanton had first
batteries and afierward rsi salute in honor
OF the pennant Of Admiral Mello. The friends o.
second salute Intended compliment to the
senior foreign naval officers IN me port ana M, Wsa
under the mistaken notion that II was Intended Tor
Oflcers who have reflected upon the folly Of Ad-
miral stanton and its embarrassing consequences
are wondering a, his action when 'nsy S SSs ap
naval regulations. On the subject OF saluteS m"
regulations are fun and explicit. They direct who
may be saluted and under what circumstances. and
for whom "A specified number Of guns snail be hrei
With these regulations all officers are supposed TO
have the force OF law. one regulation speclhcaliy
any nation or any official OF any nation not for
mally recognized by this Government.
Officers at the Navy Yard yesterday were willing
to express opinions newspaper men regarding
the suspension Of Rear-Admiral stanton. when
asked whether he had not committed most grev-
Gus offence the reply was: Don't Jump at con-
clusions too quickly; let's wait and learn what the
circumstances were.
one officer said: II think II due TO Admiral stan
ton and his good record that judgment be- sus-
pended until the facts Of the case are learned
All we know at present ~ that he ordered the nag
OF Admiral Mello saluted. and II he did this with
the full knowledge OF Admiral Meilo's official posi-
ton then he ought 10 - court-martalled and
suffer the consequences But did he commit this
offence with an understanding OF the situation?
The circumstances may he as suggest them 10
you now: Article ii2 OF the Navy Regulations re-
quires that when United States vessel enters a
port OF any foreign nation where there ~ n iort
or battery. where shp-of-war or That nation
IS lying she should IRE salute OF twenty-on"
guns. provided the captain Is satisfied mat the
and II is possible that instead OF tho fort an
swering that salute Admiral Mcllos ship returned
the salute and displayed the American flag at the
fore II no salute was fired from the foris IN re-
sponse TO the salute from the Newark for the Gov
eminent Admiral Stanton very likely took II Tor
granted that Admiral Mello's ship was recognized
Government it's representative. Ihcn
Admiral Stanton seeing the Admlrals pennnant
fvjng from the Brazilian warvessei. fired A salute
for that as provided for by Articl" ~ Of ~" Navy
Regulations and this was answered. IT these
were the facts then think Admiral stanton VIII
be able to explain the matter satisfactorily: Tor ne
10 too experienced officer and too loyal one
10 do ANYTHING TO cmbarrass his own Government
wilfully; and as Admiral Melo files no distinctly"
rebel flag the error OF judgment IL eNpainabc In
the way that have put II. But the suspension
OF Admiral Stanton will be followed By an invest
this will depend whether court-inartial VIII