The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-15
THE CASE OF ADMIRAL MEADE.
This High Naval Officer Refuses TO
Answer Questions Propounded.
Ky Snnlhnrn Assn..,nLal Dean

by Southern Associated Press.
WAsuINGTOH, May li.-Iu regard TO
the case OF Admiral Meade. the Navy
Department this afternoon gave out
the following statement:
The Navy Department addressed
letter to Admiral Meade, stating that it
desired To know if bo was wiling to
answer whether he had given or had
authorized what purpOrted to be an
interview with him, published in the
New York Tribune, aud Admirsi
Meade replied. acknowledging receipt
OF the letter, but declining to answer
the questions.
Tho facts III relation to the failure
OF the department t grant Admiral
Meadcs request To have the Cincinnati
ordered to tie New York yard Instead
OF 10 tie Norfolk yard arc Ihnt tins
vessel was ordered by the department
To go to the Norfolk navy yard for some
repairs. This was done upon tho re-
commcndniion Of the chief constructor
who desired that work which il now
scarce at both yards, might he equal
lied between the Norfolk and Broukiyn
yards.
Admiral Meade. who had selected
the ,iucinnati for his tlnpship during
tho absence of the New York, was,
ihereupon, ordered to hoist his flag
upon that vessel upon her arrival ut
Norfolk, in the interim, hosting his
ling on the Minneapolis. lie after.
wards forwarded secoud request To
the department to have tho Cincinnati
ordered To New York instead of to
Norfolk. On the day when this latter
request was received Secretary Her
bert WAS not IN the department at
any time.
Assistant Secretary McAdoo. being
In charge. did not act upon tue 70
quest, as lie did not think 1t propcr to
take any action In tue matter until the
Secretary's return. On the next morn.
lug, when Secretary Herbert came to
the Office, thus matter having been
brought to his attention, h. ut once
summoned hefurc HIM tho Chief Con
sfructor, aud, nttor Cuufrrriup with
him aud Assistant Secretary McAdno
JOINTLY, decided To order the CiucIn
natl To New YORK. aud nj once ordered
AduiraI Ramsay, who was present.. to
mako out orders tn intercept the ship
ut HAMPTON Roads aud ordcr her TO
New lork,
lie also directed orders to be made
out 10 Admiral Mad. notifying him OF
TINS change and orders both to the
Admiral aud 10 tho ship were written
nuu ready to be sigucd when a leiter
came IN the noon mail from Admiral
| Meade, asking 10 he detached from the
squadron. which request the Secretary
Brauted.'
secretary Herbert sad lie hnd moth.
| lug TO add IN explanation OF the above,
a. 1t included all the Information tue
Department had to imparr. The sola
ouIect of the statement II is under TODD
Is To show that Admirul Meade has
acted impetuUusly.
IN his dealings with the department.
trst. Us stnich,In asking TO he detached
| because his request FOR the Cincinnati
| to come to New York was not us
| promptly granted rs he wished and by
| Implication that he spoke hastily III
the Interview winch caused so much
surprise. The President decided TO
hold the Admiral to account Tor his
utterauces aud on Saturday last letter
was sent to the Admiral ut his cluh
here, asking If he had authorized the
| interview.
The Aamiral's reply to this letter
was received yesterday, and as he
therein declined to lncriminnte hun.
self. the department was met 10y the
| embarrassing situation that 1t would he
| uhhoie 10 prove anything against tn.
Admiral IT resort were had to court
martial proceedings.
10 day when Secretary Herbert went
10 tie Cabinet meeting he was clo.ely
i"liowed hy messenger bearing big
volume of the naval regulations cor.
rected to date ami OTHER law books re
| IutlnR 10 courts martial,
The entire matter, il was stated, was
thoroughly considered at the cabinet
meeting aud subsequently,, Secretary
Herbert. who had hitherto refused TO
say anything about the case, announced
That statement OF the affair wonld be
gwen out this afternoon. From , TO >
O'Clock he was cluseted with Admiral
Ramsay, Judge Advocate. q eneral
Lemiy and Assistant Secretary Me
hdoo. For portion OF the time
EnsIgn NIblack, who was Meadt.'s hen
tenant while the admiral commanded
the squadron. WAS Also present. As n
result OF this conference the author
lzed statement as above gwen was
finally made.