Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-23
THE FORMAL ORDER SIGNED
Detaching Rear Admiral Kirk
land From Command.
WAS INTENDED AS A REBUKE
diplomats Doubt Whether England Has Sent
- an Ultimatum.
LECTION OF 33O DEGREE MASONS
: ans Are Gathering in the Florida Keys
and Are Being Closely Watched by
the Cruiser Cincinnati-Their
Actions Are Suspicious.

w dSliils iOI, OCI. ZZ.-Ine IOrmal Or
der of detaching Rear Admiral kirkland
from the command of the European ma
val station was signed by the acting Sec
retary of the navy Mr.. McAdoo today.
II was reported at the navy department
that Admiral kirkland, since he became
aware that Secretary Herbert disap-
proved of several of his actions, has ap-
piled for detachment from his command,
but Acting Secretary McAdoo had no in
formation that would confirm this There
is no doubt whatever that the recall Of
the admiral was intended as a rebuke.
Admiral Kirkland cannot be placed
on the retired list on account of age until
1898 If he should remain in the service
until that time he would become the
ranking officer of the navy.
Admiral Kirklands friends are conf
dent that he will Immediately ask to be
retired under the fourteen years service
clause the provisions of which he has
given them to understand he would take
advantage of soon after the Kiel celebra-
tion. AS he entered the naval service
as a midshipman July 2. 1850, he was ell
gible for retirement after forty-fVe years
continuous service the I'd day of last
July, but in the excitement of the Kiel
celebration about that time he overlook
ed promise he is said to have made to
men little below his own rank and get
promotion. The Mare island command
ant position, to which the admiral as
pired, Is considered the finest shore bill
let in the navy, as 1t is the only shore
assignment that carries sea pay but 1t is
asserted that the navy department has
definitely decided not to give the po-
sition to Admiral Kirkland, and the
friends here who have been interested
in his behalf having learned that fact
think that the admiral will at once re-
tire.
Diplomats Growing Skeptical
Diplomatic circles are growing some
what skeptical respecting the correctness
of the London dispatches which announce
that an ultimatum has been sent by Lord
Salisbury to Venezuela, and 1t is believed
that these dispatches are misleading, IL
they are not in fact somewhat exagger-
ated.. 1t is pointed out that an uitimatum
is never the initial, but a subsequent step
taken in International disputes. 1t Is
shown in the case In point that although
the arrest of the colonial officers at Uru-
an occurred in November last, no official
cognizance of the matter was taken by
Great Britain until recently. The prob
ability of an ultimatum being suddenly
sprung is seriously doubted. 1t Is not
questioned that Lord Salisbury has sent
a communication to the Caracas govern
ment directing their attention to the ar
rest of Sergeant BehrenS and asking for
a suitable explanation. If VeneZuela's
explanation should not be satisfactory
then 1t is said Great Britain might with
propriety respond with an ultimatum, In
which she might demand not only an
apology and a proper reparation, but linn
1t the time In which these conditions
should be complied with. A continued
refusal by Venezuela to furnish the sat
isfaction demanded might be followed by
serious consequences, but some months,
1t is believed, will necessarily intervene
before an acute stage in the contention
is reached
Council of Thirty-Third Degree Masons.
The announcement Is made that the
council of Inspectors general thirty-third
degree Ancient and Accepted Rite of
Free Masonry, southern Jurisdiction, has
elected Thomas. H. Caswell of San Fran
cisco, grand commander. to the vacancy
caused by the death of Gen. Philip G.
Tucker of Texas; o. S. Long of Charles
ton. w. Va. lieutenant grand command
err E. T. Carr of Leavenworth, KS, grand
prior; Samuel E. Adams of Minneapolis,
grand chancellor; Martin Collins of st.
Louis, grand master of state; Frederick
Webber of Washington, general secre-
tary; Gilmore Meredith of Baltimore,
treasurer-general; R. C. Jordan of Oma-
ha, grand almoner, and s. w. Todd of
New Orleans, grand auditor
A special committee on the centennial
celebratio of 1901, which will be held in
ST. Louis, will be appointed.
The provincial lodge of the Royal Or
der of Scotland of the United States,
though not officially connected with the
supreme council always holds its annual
session when the latter order meets as
the majority of its members belong to
the rite.
The lodge today conferred the royal or
der on nineteen candidates from various
parts of the country.
The supreme council, thirty-third de-
gree Masons. northern jurisdiction, also
commenced its three days session today.
The acting grand commander, w. A.
Hershiser of Columbus. o.. read his an
nual address, showing the order to be in
a f1ourishing condition and declaring that
not alone in the east was a mark of inn
provement noticeable. but that all over
the country an astonishing revival was
going on.
Suspicious Looking Fishermen.
Reports received at the navy depart
ment from Capt. M. l.. johnson, COM
mander of the cruiser Cincinnati, which
is engaged in looking out for Cuban fill
busters about the Florida keys, are to the
effect that parties of Cubans are gather
ing in the keys, but not to any formda-
BILE extent. Whence they came Captain
johnson has been unable to ascertain,
although he has made every effort to do
SO. Groups of them, all strangers, have
been noted from time to time, but there is
nothing to indicate how they reached the
keys, the presumption being that they
came under cover of night. All of them
are apparently engaged in fishing, turtle
hunting or other peaceful occupa tions,
but Captain johnson considers their ac-
tions so suspicious that he has deemed
ii worth while to make reports on the
subject to the navy department So far
the Cincinnati has not been able to find
or