The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12
THAT HARSH CRITICISM
Administration Men Do Not
Relish the Naval Officers
UtteranCeS.
PROBABLY A CoURT-MARTIAL
There Is Also a Prospect of Sec
rotary Herbert's Methods Be-
ing Dragged Up.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 1o.-Ad-
miral Meade has been asked by President
Cleveland whether or not he was correctly
reported in harsh criticism of his supe-
rior officers published in the New York
Tribune, and upon Admiral Meade's reply
will depend the chance of a court-martial
inquiry and his possible dismissal from the
navy.
Nothing will be done until his reply shall
have been received.
The affair is an interesting topic of
gossip among naval officers here. An
officer said to the CALL correspondent to-
day that he expected there would be
trouble when he learned that Fighting
Bob" Evans and Admiral Meade were to
serve together.
The former stands very close to Presi-
dent Cleveland and goes hunting and fish
ing with him. 1t is believed that the two
officers are jealous of each others au-
thority.
Admiral Meade is smarting under the
belief that Fighting Bob" Evans opinions
and recommendations are given more con-
sideration than they deserve by the ad-
ministration.
The same officer said that the depart
ment would doubtless hesitate about court
martialing, as Secretary Herbert's land
Iubbering methods would be numerically
scored by Meade if that doughty and able
navigator should turn loose on the Secre.
tary.
According to the published interview
Meade explained his desire for early re
tirement by saying: 81 am an American
and Union man. These are two things
that this administration cannot stand.
am Republican, and man who lives on
the ocean is apt to imbibe patriotism and
loyalty. find these articles at discount
with the present regime"
This reference to unionism is considered
a direct reflection upon Secretary Herbert,
who is Southern man and an ex-Confed-
crate, and was due to the supposition that
the Secretary was responsible for the dis
Indignation of the admiral's feet in the
West Indies long before the conclusion OF
the prearranged programme of evolutions.
The records of the service do not show a
case where an officer has made such Sc
we're arraignment of the policy of an adj
ministration, and if Admiral Meade is not
disciplined in some way for his language
many officers Of the navy will be consider
ably surprised. What particular form o.
action will be taken is a matter of some
dispute.
Some officers incline to the belief that he
will merely be reprimanded by Secretary
Herbert in an official way, while Others
are of the opinion that he will be court
martialed. In the latter event, he would
undoubtedly be charged with the violation
OF naval regulation which provides as
follows:
"0fficers of the navy are forbiddenTtc
publish or cause to be published, directly
or indirectly, or to communicate by inter
view, private letter or otherwise, except a:
required by their official duties, any
information in regard to the for.
eign policy of the United State;
of any department of the Government o.
any officer acting Hereunder or any com
ments or criticisms thereon, or to furnish
copies of the same to any person withou
permission of the department"
This article for formulated by Secretary
Tracy few months before the close of thu
Harrison administration, and was intended
to prevent naval officers making too FIRE,
use of their tongues npublic print. Since
its publication there have been few in
stances where officers have criticized tn,
department or administration publicly.
Retired officers are subject to punish
ment for an infringement of the regulation
Just the same as their brothers on tn
active list, SO that Admiral Meade's retire
ment will not interfere with the proposed
action of the department in his case.