The herald., 1895-05-15
Meade Is Now at Outs With the
Navy, Department
TROUBLE OVER A VESSEL
The Officer Wanted to Dock at Brook.
Iyn Yard
Little Misunderstanding In Secretary
Herberts's Office-Talk Of Court Mar.
tial About Orders
Asse c,.ted Press Special Wire.


bert today, in response to inquiries, die
tated the following official statement con-
cerning Admiral Meade's withdrawal from
the navy:
cat the navy department today it was
learned that the department has ad-
dressed a letter to Admiral Meade stating
that it desired to know if he was willing
to answer whether he had or had not
authorized what purported to be an inter-
view with him published in the New
York Tribune, and that he had replied,
acknowledging the receipt of the letter
and declining to answer the questions.
1.-The facts in relation to the failure of
the department to grant Admiral Meades
request to have the Cincinnati ordered to
the New York yard instead OF the Norfolk
yard are that this vessel was ordered TO
20 to the Norfolk navy yard for repairs.
This was done on the recommendation of
the chief constructor, who desired that
yards. might be equally divided between
the Norfolk and Brooklyn yards. Adj
miral Meade, who had selected the Gin
cnnati for his flag ship during the
absence of the New York, was thereupon
ordered to hoist his flag on that yesse
term hoisting his flag on the Minneapo-
lis. He afterwards forwarded second re-
quest to the department to have the Gin
cinnat ordered to New York instead of to
Norfolk. On the day when this latter re-
quest was received Secretary Herbert was
not in the department at any time, Assist
ant Secretary McAdoo being in charge.
He did not act on the request, as he did
not think 1T proper to take any action in
the matter until the secretarys return.
'On the next morning. when Secre tary
Herbert came to his office, this letter
having been brought to his attention, he
at once summoned before him the chief
constructor and after comforting with
him and Assistant Secretary McAdoo
Jointly, decided to order the Cincinnati
to New York. and at once ordered Ad-
miral Ramsay, who was present. TO make
out orders to intercept the ship at Hamp-
ton Roads and order her to New York.
He also directed orders to be made out
to Admiral Meade notifying him OF this
change; orders both to the admiral and
to the ship were written and ready to be
signed, when letter came in the noon
mail from Admiral Meade, asking to be
detached from the squadron, which re-
quest the secretary granted"
This constitutes all the information
that could be obtained and leaves tie in
ference that the action. if any. to be
taken against Admiral Meade is not yet
determined.
NEW YORK, May 14.-Ex-senator
Dwight NJ. Sabin of Minnesota left early
this morning for Boston. Mr.. Sabin is
practically out of politics, but neveIthe-
less he takes keen interest in the affairs
of the day. Speaking of the case of Ad-
miral Meade. who retired from the navy,
Mr.. Sabin said
"There as ring of patriotism and an
air of independence in Admiral Meade's
action that found an echo.in every loyal
mans mind. 1t may be it was lack of
discipline, but he had grave cause. and |
think Meade was about right. see that
President Cleveland and Secretary Her
bert talk of courtmartialing Admiral
Meade. I do not think they dare take
that step. Let them go ahead, and they
will see how much this country honors a
brave man. Let Admiral Meade stand by
his words. There will be another admin
istration in a short time, and we want a
the navy department. He may be Sec
retary of the navy YETI
Rear Admiral Mcades severe structure s
upon the adimn nistration in an interview
are considered here as the most remark
able uJtcrances that have come from n
naval Off GER of high rank in years.
They have incensed the president and
cabinet to such an extent that the admiral
will be called upon for an explanation,
which. IL not satisfactory, will lead to a
court OF inquiry. and probably court
martial of tEat officer for violating one of
expressly forbids just such remarks as
Admiral Meade is reported to have made.
Secretary Herbert makes no attempt to
conceal his great surprise that an officer
OF Admiral Meade's standing should have
been SO indiscreet us to criticize his
superior officers and attack the admins
tration as he did.
The interview referred to in the dis
patch was printed in the New York Trib-
une. 1t is as follows:
Rear Admiral Meade was asked about
his retirement from the navy. He said: /:
simply that | have been detached from
the North Atlantic squadron. nhe salute
is naval etiquette. | am detached from
my squadron through my own request. !"
When he was asked why he had asked
to be retired, he said bitterly:
MY ideas are not in accordance with
those OF this administration. | am lust
as much disgustcd with it as the people
at large in this country are, and l pre-
ferred to quit rather than continue my
connection with it,
What were the causes in detail" was
asked.
In reply he said: II am young man
yet have five years before me that /
might serve before retiring. In two
years l would be the ranking officer of
the navy. That is pretty desirable
position; Well. preferred to resign and
oSNSA OH CoHHcCtlUH WIFI tDe navy, re-
nounce all right OF succession and be-
gin anew rather than to continue in
charge with all l had to contend with.
That ought to give you some inkling of
the gravity of the causes
Had the affair of Medical Surgeon
HI sinner. the fleet surgeon. anything to
do with your retirementp' was asked,
and he replied: NO.
Admiral Meade, when asked if he would
have any official connection with the
court martial. said: mo; they NAV call
me as a private citizen TO testify. | ut nv
relief from thralldom is close at har. d and
my interests are not bound up in this case
to any extent.
''The imputation has been made that
l am trying. through this case, to make
trouble between the officers. That is all
wrong. have always been as friendly
to one side as another
Admiral Meade gave last parting shot
at the administration as he said: ~ am
a Republican, and man who lives on
the ocean is apt to imbibe patriotism and
be loyal. l find these articles at Il dis
count with the present regime. l want
to be untrammeled, so l can think and