Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-05-18
ADMIRAL MEApE,s CASE.
Tho Secretary of the Navy Makes n State
ment in Regard to 1.-THE Admiral Re
fuses to Criminnte Himself.


Tho Secretary of the Navy Makes n state
ment in Regard to 1.-THE Admiral Re
fuses to Criminato Himself.
WASHINGTON, May 15.-In regard to
the case of Rear Admiral Meade, Secre-
tary Herbert late yesterday afternoon
gave out to the press u statement of
facts The secretary said: 1.-The navy
department addressed letter to Ad-
miral Meade, stating that it desired to
know If he was willing to answer
whether he had given, or had author
lied what purported to be an interview
with him published in the New York
Tribune, and Admiral Meade replied,
acknowledging receipt of the letter,
but declined to answer the questions"
Referring to other questions of differ
ence between Admiral Meade and the
department, Secretary Herbert said:
1.-THE facts in relation to the failure OF
the department to grant Admiral
Meade's request to have the Cincinnati
ordered to the New York yard instead
of the Norfolk yard are that this vessel
was ordered by the department to go
to the Norfolk navy yard for some nee
| essary repairs. This was done upon the
recommendation of the chief construct
or, who desires that work, which is
now scarce at both yards might be
Dqualized between the Norfolk and
| Brooklyn yards.
Admiral Meade, who had selected the
Cincinnati for his flagship during the
absence of the New York, was there
upon ordered to hoist his flag upon that
vessel upon her arrival at Norfolk, in
the interim hosting his flag upon the
| NJinnno,Np1ic of 70, ,Is fprNxyn rIad
second request to the department to
have the Cincinnati ordered to New
York instead of Norfolk. On the day
when this latter request was received
Secretary Herbert was not in the de-
partment at any time. Assistant Sec
retary McAdoo did not act upon the re-
quest.
On the next morning, when Secretary
Herbert came to the office, this matter
having been brought to his attention,
he at once summoned before him the
chief constructor and, after comforting
with him and Assistant Secretary Nc
: Adoo jointly, decided to order the Gin
] cinnati to New York and at once or
dered Admiral Ramsey, who was pres
5 ent, to make out orders to intercept
s the ship at Hampton roads and order
q her to New York.
e He also directed orders to be sent out
; to Admiral Meade, notifying him of
this change and orders, both to che ad-
d miral and to the ship were written and
d ready to be signed when letter came
in the noon mail from Admiral Meade
y asking to be detached from the squad
e ron, which request the secretary
It granted. Secretary Herbert said he
e had nothing to add in explanation of
u the above, as it included all the infor-
nation the department had to impart.
u The sole object of the statement, it is
= understood, is to show that Admiral
9 Meade has acted impetuously in his
% dealings with the department, first, as
stated in asking 30 be detached be-
's cause his request for the Cincinnati to
+ come to New York was not promptly
IL granted as he wished, and by implica-
cation that he spoke hastily in the in
terview which caused so much surprise.
The president decided to hold the ad-
!. miral to account for his utterance and
on Saturday last letter was sent to
"A the admiral at his club here, asking if
n he had authorized the interview. The
q. admiral's reply to this letter was re-
m ceived Monday, and as he therein de-
al clined to incriminate himself, the de.
as partment was met by the embarrassing
10 situation that it would be unable tC
r.. prove anything against the admiral il
- resort were had to court martial pro
Iv ceedings.
as Tuesday, when Secretary Herbert
RS went to the cabinet meeting he was
ill closely followed by messenger bear
ing big volume of the naval regula
ed tions corrected to date and other law
he books relating to court martial. The
I'll entire matter, it was stated, was thor
en- oughly considered at the cabinet meet
|