Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-22
A NAVAL SENSATION.
Admiral Kirkland Has Been Detached and
Ordered Home-He Will Ask to
Be Retired.

Washington. Oct. PA sensation in
naval circles was caused today by the an
nouncement that Rear Admiral w. A.
Kirkland, commanding the European ma
val station of the United States has been
detached from duty and ordered home.
1t is expected that Admiral Kirkland
will apply at once to be placed on the
retired list. Commodore Thomas o. elf
ridge. Jr, will succeed him as command
ing officer of the European station. For
some time past it has been rumored that
Secretary Herbert was not pleased with
the conduct of Admiral kirkland. Dis
satisfaction was first caused by the ac-
ton of the admiral in sending a letter of
congratulation on his election to Presi-
dent Faure of France. Secretary Her
bert construed this as entirely wrong
holding that the official position of the
admiral, representing the dignity of the
United States navy In European water,
precluded him from making any COM
ment whatever with refernce to politics,
and sent a letter of reprimand. Admiral
Kirkland was not slow to respond and he
did so by appealing to the president to
overrule Secretary Herberts structures on
his conduct. He claimed in his own de-
Tense that he known President Faure per-
sonally and had merely congratulated
him In q personal capacity and not as an
officer of the United States navy. t is not
known what action the president cook in
the matter, but the detachment of the
admiral indicates that the secretary was
sustained by Mr.. Cleveland.
Admiral kirkland next came into pub
lie notice through a newspaper interview
In which ne made somewhat insulting
comments on the character of the Ameri-
can missionaries in Syria,>-whither he
had been to give them protection during
the Armenian troubles. This was brought
to the notice Of the navy department by
a protest from religious organizations in
Boston, Mass. Shortly following this
second cause of dissatisfaction came a
complaint from a chaplain in the navy
that the admiral had tnsulted him before
a number of officers during the festivities
at 1.-THE opening Of the Kiel canal, where
Admiral Kirkland was in command of
the United States fleet. 1t was claimed
by the chaplain that while standing with
Admiral Kirkland and group of other
officers on the quarter deck of the flag
ship San Francisco the admiral turned
TO him and ordered him below in a
brusque If not insulting manner because
he was not attired in full derss uniform.
The chaplain in his letter to the navy
department made plain that chapla1ns
have only regulation uniform. which
serves for all occasions. and he, therefore.
believed himself very badly used. 1t Is
stated that Secretary Herbert sided with
the chaplain in his complaint, but 1t is
not known whethe he took officiak action
on 1t. ). ssF 81.
In addition to these reports concerning
Admiral Kirkland, others reached the
navy department of more personal ma
ture. and after making pretty thorough
inquiry into the matter and consulting
President Cleveland, Secretary Herbert
today issued the order of detachment.
Admiral kirkland will probably receive
the news by cable in Algiers, for which
Mace the SanFrancisco sailed today from
Gibraltar, according to~ra- dispatch re-
ceiyed at the navy department.
While the recall Is. of course. uncompli-
mentary to Admiral kirkland, there is
no disposition at the department to be-
little his record as sailor. He is looked
on as man of active and quick percep-
ton and always ready to do his duty. He
was appointed 20 the navy from North
Carolina in 1850 and attained his present
rank March last.