The sun., 1895-05-16
BOUND TO REBUKE MEADE.
SECRETARY HERBERrTHINHs THAT
HE CAN BE CoURT MAR1IALLED.
If Not, He May ne Fublicly Reprimnndcd.
His Years Leave OF Absence Revoked,
ana His Request for Retirement Refused.

WARRINGTON, May 15.-Secretary of the
Navy Herbert has examined the laws with ref
erence to securing testimony such us would be
necessary to convict Admiral Meade. and finds
that. unless the writer of the interview volun-
tarily appears and states what the Admiral said
to him, the department will be powerlcss The
failure of Congress last session to adopt legisa-
tion giving the navy the power of examining
civilian witnesses in trial cases. such ms Is pro-
vdcd for in tho army, leaves loophole which
has been taken advantage of by Admiral Meade.
Secretary Herbert said this evening that he
was fully determined to court martial the Ad-
miral IL proper testimony could be secured for
submission to u court. He says that his state
ment yesterday, reciting briefly the reasons
which impellcd the Admiral to apply for rolfef
from the North Atlantic station, does not imply
that the department intends to relax its efforts
to court martial the Admiral, but was simply to
inform the public Of the reasons why the Ad-
miral had taken offence Mt the Administration.
Mr. Herbert further said that there was only
one obstacle now In the way of n full re-
buke to the Admiral, and that was the
Admiras fiat refusal to deny or affirm the al
legged interview. Had the Admiral acknowl-
edged its authenticity. n court would have been
convened within forty-cight hours. AS it is.
the Admiral has probably scored point on tho
department and may get Off with rcprimand,
which he says he does not mind. he has be-
como used to them in the past six months.
Admiral Meade has been in tho hands of his
friends since his arrival here, and they have
been careful to see that he makes no further
statements. or calls at the department. where it
is believed he would give way to his anger and
speak his mind so freely that severe punishment
could not be avoided.
Secretary Herbert discussed the entire uues-
tion this evening with THE Sun reporter and
made no attempt to conceal his anger at the
Admiral's conduct. All naval discipline would
be subverted. he said, by permitting the Ad-
miral to go unrcbuked. Mr.. Herbert still holds
tho opinion that the Admiral can be legally
court martialled. lie Is exhausting every means
to inform himself on the subject, and may ask
the Attorney G eneral for an opinion. II. at
last it is shown beyond doubt that the Admiral
has been smart enough to block the depart
ment by his curt reply to the Secretarys re-
quest for information regarding the OBJ
jectionable remarks. the Admiral will be
publicly reprimanded, his years lesve of
absence revoked and his request for re-
trenent refused. He will then DO placed
on waiting orders, which involves the loss OF
$1,000 from his pay on leave of absence, de-
prlved Of further active duty, and possibly again
sent to at the end of year. 1t is safe to pre-
ulct that ne WOulu never again, unuer tnlS Al
ministration, secure command of the home sta
tion. but would undoubtedly get tho most un-
congenal billet at sea-that OF flag officer of
the South Atlantic station.
This afternoon the Secretary and President
discussed the situation. with the result that a
decision was reached that some sort of punish
ncnt will DC administered to the Admiral Mr..
Herbert is much wrought up by the attack on
him. and will not rest until he brings the indis-
Greet Admiral to terms.