The Indianapolis journal., 1893-10-26
He Saluted the Admiral Mello, Leader
of the Brazilian Insurgents,
Without Instructions.
NAVAL OFFICERS SURPRISED
They Cannot See How Such a Seri.
Ous Blunder Could Be Made.
Captain. Picking Placed in Charge Of
the American War Ships in the
Harbor of Rio de Janeiro.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-The peremptory
removal OF Commodore and acting Rear
Admiral Stanton. stationed at Rio de JAM
eiro, Brazil. from the command Of the South
Atlantic station, was one OF the most start.
ling surprises ever experienced i'm Washing
ton officially, and for a time il has almost
obscured the interest in the silver fight
President Cleveland took action after a long
conference with the Secretaries of State and
the Navy, and when put in possession of
all the facts and also of such further infor-
| nation as Senior Mendonca, the Brazilian
| minister in Washington was able TO fur
nish. The official order briefly made
| public by Secretary Herbert in the follow
| ing memorandum: THE Navy Department
| learned by authority late to-day, by tele-
| gram from Rear Admiral Stanton, in COM
| mand of the United States naval forces at
| Rio de Janero, that this officer had saluted
| the flag Of Admiral Mello, commanding the
| insurgent fleet. This salute was unauthor-
| lied by any instructions the Admiral had
| received. 1t was an unfrendly act toward
| friendly power. and the Secretary of the
| Navy, after consulting with the President
| and Secretary of State, issued an order de-
| taching Admiral Stanton from the com-
|
to Captain Picking, the next in rank. This
| was in reply to a telegram of inquiry
| In the early morning State and Navy De-
partment officials were incredulous as to
the possibility OF there being any truth in
| the report published in the Berlin Nord
| Deutsch Zeitung and cabled to America
| yesterday. Commodore Stanton had been
| specially selected for this post of duty be-
| cause he was considered TO possess i'm pre-
| eminent degree those qualifications of cool
| ness and discretion which fitted him to deal
| with the revolutionary conditions prevailing
| in the various countries to which his as
| signment would naturally call him. AS one
of the highest officers in the service who
| himself influenced in no small degree Com
modore Stanton's appointment, remarked
| to-day: This matter is as much
of surprise to me as
slap in the face would be. The relations
of the United States to the recognized gov
| ernment of Brazil were such that it was
not believed an officer of high rank and ex-
perience would go out of his way to give
salute to u naval force avowedly in insur-
rection against the government and ac-
| tually engaged in bombarding the national
| capital. 1t was recalled that when the Bra
lillian monarchy was overthrown our gov
ernment, through Minister Adams. was the
first TO recognize the provisional govern
ment established by the republic. Both
houses of Congress- on the 18th of February,
1890, passed a resolution congratulating the
people of Brazil on their just and peace
able assumption of the powers, duties and
responsibilities of self-government based
upon the free consent of the governed Our
friendly interest in the young republic was
so powerful a factor in securing it's recog-
| in,
1890, just three years ago. BRAZIL sent a
squadron, consisting of the armored cruiser
Aquidaban and other vessels, to New York
harbor to return the visit of friendship and
oongratuation made by the United States
! squadron of evolution in Rio Janeiro in
June and July preceding. When, therefore,
Secretary Herbert received, through Secre-
tary Gresham, information that the Bra
zian minister reported the story of Ad-
miral Stantons salute to the rebel adj
miral's flag TO be correct, there was a
joint consultation OF documents and pro-
cedures in the document room, and the con-
clusion was reached that Commodore STAN
TONS act was so contrary 10 the require
/ ments Of the case to call for prompt re-
buke and reparation. With this conclusion
in mind Secretary Herbert at once went
over TO the White House TO consult the
President, who, on learning the facts, i'm
mediately conceded with the vieTs Of the
Secretary of State and Mr.. Herbert, and
authorized the issue of the order of sus-
pension.
Capt. Henry T. Picking. of the Charles
ton, who relieves Commodore Stanton, Is
also an officer OF experience. He has with
him the cruiser Newark, Captain Silas
Casey, and in three days from now should
be joined by the Detroit, Commander VIII
lard II Brownson.
Secretary Herbert was unwilling to speak
as TO what further action would be taken
| in Commodore Stanton's case, but il 10
supposed a court-nartial will result His
successor in command of the South At
hastily, but ii is thought IL will probably
be Commodore Richard w. Meade on
duty at the worlds fair.
Commodore Stantons record as a naval
officer is an excellent one. Born in sag
Harbor, N Y, July, 1888, he entered the
navy as acting midshipman in lSiS. In
July. 1862 he was commissioned lieutenant-
commander. Prior 20 the war he had served
on the steamer Memphis the Paraguay
expedition, and had also made cruises tc
the African coast and with the Pacific
squadron. He was placed in charge OF the
ship Tioga in the southwest Indian expedi-
tion and. in 1864, commanded the steamer
Panoka on the west gulf. From 1871 10 1874,
when he was transferred 10 the Atlantic.
Commodore Stanton commanded the re-
ceiving ship at Portsmouth ~. H., and the
steamer Monocacy. In November. 1881. he
went on duty at the naval asylum az Phil
adelphia, where he remained until Novem-
ber SS4swhen he was assigned TO the COM
mand of the steam frigate Tennessee, flag
ship of the North Atlantic station. He was
assigned to duty c0mmander-in-Chief OF
the South Atlantic station shortly after the
Columbus naval review OF last sprinsS
Naval officers who know Commodore
Stanton are utterly at a loss 10 Under
stand how he came TO make serious a
. mistake, If such il can be called. Secretary
, Herbert expresses his surprise that an Of
flcer of Stanton's experience and standing
should commit such a blunder, and his
prompt action is taken with the purpose
of announcing 20 the world that the United
States government has taken steps 10
refuse recognition TO the legally cOnsti-
. tuted Brazilian government.