The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-05-27

NEW YORK, May 1O.-Ihe Suns
Washington correspondent says
Rear-Admiral Meade's severe strict
ures upon the Administration in an
interview are considered here as the
most remarkable utterances that have
come from naval officer 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, If not satisfac-
tory, will lead to court of inquiry
and probably a court-martial of that
officer for violating one of the articles
of naval regulations, which expressly
forbids just such remarks as Admiral
Meade is reported to have made.
Secretary Herbert makes no at
tempt to conceal his great surprise
that an officer of Admiral Meade's
standing should have been so indis-
Greet as to criticize his superior Off
GERS and attack the Administration as
he did.
Naval officers who have known the
Admiral for years were not surprised,
and have predicted since the reports
were received from the West Indies of
the demoralized condition of the fleet
through the repeated censures. of the
Navy Department for trivial matters
that he would make use of language
that would ultimately get him into
trouble.
The President, it is understood, re-
CARDS the Admiral's interview as
direct insult to the Democratic Ad-
ministratiOn, and which, if not re-
buked, will place the Navy Depart
ment in a position where it's actions
can always be questioned and held up
to scorn and ridicule by any officer in
the service.
The records of the department do
not contain q case where an officer
has been so outspoken in condemning
the policy of the Navy Department.,
and where such exceptions have been
taken to the policy of the Admins
tration.
Every old officer in Washington
was shocked at the conduct of Ad-
miral Meade, and many of them be.
lieve that it will place the service in
bad light before the public If it is per-
mitted to go unchallenged.
Early this morning Secretary Her
interview by one of his bureau chiefs,
and, armed with the newspaper con-
tanning it, he met the President and
Cabinet and laid it before the council.
1t is said the entire meeting of the
Cabinet was given up to the consider
alton of Admiral Meade's case, and
while Secretary Herbert declined to
state what will probably be done in
the matter, it is known that the Ad-
miral will be called upon for q full
explanation of his language.
The Admiral is expected in the city
this evening or tomorrow, and he will
at.once call at the department. He is
now on waiting orders, and has al
ready forwarded to Washington his
request to he placed on the retired list.
By some officers it is believed that the
department will retire him from serv-
ice without waiting until June 18th,
the time named in the Admirars re-
quest, but by others it is claimed such
action might defeat the secretary's in
tentiOn to demand an explanation and
carry out any sentence which the
court might adjudge in the event of |
the offense being deemed of sUch i'm
pOrtance as to require cOurt-martial. |
The interview referred to in the dis
patch was printed in the Tribune this |
morning. It is as follows: "Rear
Admiral Meade was seen at his hotel |
tonight and asked about his retire !
ment from the Navy. The hauling !
down of my flag means simply that l |
have been detached from the North |
Atlantic squadron The salute is naval |
etiquette. I 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 |
just as much disgusted with it as the |
people at large in this country are,
and l preferred to quit rather than |
continue my connection with It."
"What were the causes in detail?" |
was asked.
In reply he said: 81 am q young |
man yet, I have five years before me |
that might serve before retiring. In |
two years 1 would be the ranking off,
Ger OF the navy. That is pretty de- |
sirable position. Well I preferred to |
resign and sever all connection with |
the navy, resign all right of succession
tiDue in charge with all hal to con-
tend with. That ought to give you
some linking of the gravity of the
causes
"Had the affair of Medical Surgeon
the fleet surgeon, anything
to do with your retirement 2" was
asked, and he replied, "No."
Admiral Meade, when asked if he
would have any official connection
with the court martial, said: "No;
they may call me as a private citizen
10 testify, but my relief from thrall-
IOm is closS at hand aud my interests
are not bound up in this case to any
extent.
"The imputaion has been made that
am trying, through this case. to
make trouble between the officers.
That is all wrong. I have always
been as friendly to one side as another"
Admiral Meade gave last parti, e
hot at the Administration as he said:
i am Republican, and a man who
ives on the Oc-an is apt to imbibe
and loyalty. / find these
articles at discount with the present |
lniIna d U Mt n no l