The evening times., 1895-10-22
ADMIRAL Called BltE1
Kirkland Detached From the Eu-
ropean Naval Station.
INTENDED AS A aEBuKE
violated the Etiquette of the Ser
vice and Acted In Manner CaIcu-
IMtcd 40 Prejudice the Dignity of
the United States-Com mOdOre Self
ridge Elevated to the Position.

The announcement last night In naval cir
cles that Rear Admiral William A. Kirk
land. commanding the European naval
station, had been detached from duty and
ordered home in consequence of actions
believed to be prejudicial To the dignity
OF the United States created q sensation.
1t is expected that Admiral Kirkland
VIII apply AT once to he placed on the retired
list. Commodore Thomas o. sclfridgc. jr,
win sue, ecd him as commanding officer of
the European station.
For sunic time past it has been rumored
that Secretary Herbert " III not pleased with
the conduct of Admiral Kirkland Dis-
s;,isfaction as first caused by the action
oflhc admiral in sending u letter of con-
graduation on his election 10 President
Faurc, of France.
Secretary Herbert COM trucd this as en-
tircly wrong, holding that the official
pos ition of The admiral. representing the
dignii yof The United States Navy In Euro
pcan atcrs, precluded him from :naking
any comment whatever with reference TO
politics and sent n letter OF repriindnd,
Admiral Kirkland was not slow 20 respond
and he did o 10y appealing To the President
to ovcrrulc Secretary Herbert's ,.ric.urcs
OH his conduct.
MERELY A fEhSoNa Al LIE i En-
He claimed in his own defense that he
had known President Faure personally
and had merely congratulated him in u
personal capacity and not US an OFFICER OF
the United States Navy. II is not known
what action the President took in the
matter, but the detachment of the admiral
indicates that the Secretary was sustained
by Mr.. Cleveland.
Admiral Kirkland next came into public
through "a newspaper interview in which
he made somewhat insulting comments on
the character of American missionaries
in Syria, whittier he had been TO give them
protection during the Armenian troubles.
This was brought to the notice of the Navy
Department by protest from religious
urga nizations in Boston, Mass.
Shortly following thik second cause OF
dissatisfaction came n complaint from
chaplain in the navy that the admiral had
ins ulted him before number Of Officers
during,hc festivities at the opening Of the
Kiel Canal, where Admiral Kirkland was in
command of the United StateG fleet.
UNKIND TO HIS CHAPLAIN.
1t was claimed by the chaplain that
while standing with Admiral Kirkland
and a group of other Officers on the quarter
deck of the flags hip San Francisco, The ad-
miralturned to him and ordered him below
in briisQuc, If not insulting manner because
he was not attired in full dress uniform.
The chaplain in his letter TO the Navy
Department made plain that chaplains have
only one regulation uniform, which serves
for all occas ions, and he therefore believed
hms elf very badly used. 1t is said that
Secretary Herbert sided W ith the chaplain
i'll his complaint, but II is not known
whether he look official action upon 1t.
In addition To these reports concerning
Admiral Kirkland, others reached the Navy
Department OF a more personal nature,
and after making q pretty thorough in
quiry into the matter, and consulting Presi-
dent Cleveland, Secretary Herbert yesterday
issued the order OF detachment. Admiral
kirkland will probably receive the news
by cable at Aigiers. for which place the
San Francisco sailed to-day from Gibraltar.
according 10 n dispatch received at the
Navy Department.
WILL ASK TO RETIRE.
While the recall is OF course uDcompl-
mentary Ia Admiral Kirkland, there is no
disposition at the Department 10 belittic
his record as sailor. He is looked on as
a man of active and quick perception, and
always ready to do his duty. He was
appointed to the Navy from North Caro-
Ina in / $50, and attained his present rank
March l last.
Admiral Kirkland has not long to serve
on the active list, but it is believed that he
VIII Apply loI
IL is said that he had expressed the inien
lion of going on the retired list If relieved
of his present duty.
Through his assignment to the Euro
pean station Commodore Selfridge be-
comes an active rear admiral, and this
fact brings about the unprecedented case,
at least in the United States Navy, where
a father and son attained the highest
grade in the naval service during the life
time of both. Admiral Selfridge's father, a
hale and hearty old gentleman "f four
score and ten, is Rear Admiral Thomas o.
Seirridgc, Sr. He has been on the retired
list for many years.