The record-union., 1895-10-22
Will No Longer Command the
European Naval Station.
HAS BEEN DETACHED FROM DUTY
AND ORDERED HOME
Secretary Herbert, Displeased With
lieves Him From Command-Prob-
VIII at Once Apply to Be Placed on
the Retired List.


in naval circles was caused to-day by the
announcement that Rear-Admiral Kirk
land, commanding the European Naval
Station of the United States, had been
detached from duty and ordered home.
1t is expected that Admiral Kirkland will
apply at once to be placed on the retired
list, Commodore Thomas C. Selfridge,
Jr.. will succeed him as commanding
officer of the European station.
For some time past it has been ru-
mored that Secretary Herbert was not
pleased with the conduct of Admiral
Kirkland. Dissatisfaction was caused by
the action of the Admiral in sending a
letter of congratulation on his election TO
President Faure of France. Secretary
Herbert construed this as entirely wrong,
holding that the official position of the
Admiral, representing the dignity of the
L United States Navy IN European waters,
precluded him from making any COM
nent whatever with reference to politics,
and sent letter of reprimand.
Admiral kirkland was not slow to re-
spond, and he did so by appealing TO the
President 10 oVerrule Secretary Her
berPs structures on his conduct. He
claimed in his own defense that be had
known President Faure personally, and
had merely congratulated him i'll a per-
sonal capacity, and not as an officer of
the United States Navy.
II is not known what action the Presi-
dent took in the matter, but the detach-
ment OF the Admiral indicates that the
Secretary was sustained by Mr.. Cleve-
land.
Admiral Kirkland next came into pub
lie notice through 4 newspaper inter-
view, in which he made somewhat in
suiting comments on the character of
American missionaries in Syria, whittier
he had been sent TO give them protection
during the Armenian troubles. This
was brought to the notice of the Navy
department by protest from religious
organizations in Boston,
Shortly following this second cause of
dissatisfaction came a complaint from
chaplain IN the navy that the Admiral
had lnsulted him before mum Der of otfi-
GERS during the festivities at the opening
of the kiel Canal, where Admiral Kirk
land was in command of the United
States tleet. 1t was claimed by the
chaplain that, while standing by Ad-
miral Kirkland and a group OF other
officers on the deck of the flagship San
Francisco, the Admiral turned and or
dered him below in a brusque manner,
uniform. The chaplain, in his letter TO
the Navy Department, made plain that
chaplains have only one regulation uni
form, which serves Tor all occasions, and
he considered himself very badly used.
1t is said that Secretary Herbert sided
with the chaplain IN his complaint, but it
is not known whether he took official
action.
In addition to these reports concerning
& a GFsl1 ral Il ir II laF n ho
Navy department Of more personal ma
ture, and, after making pretty thorough
inquiry into the latter and consulting
President Cleveland, Secretary Herber
to-day issued the order of detachment.
Admiral Kirkland will probably receive
the news by cable al Algiers, Tor which
place the san Francisco sailed to-day
from Gibraltar. according 10 dispatch
received at the Navy Department.
While the recall is of course uncompli-
mentary TO Admiral Kirkland, there is
no disposition al the department to be-
little his record as a sailor. He is looked
on as a man OF active and quick percep-
ton, and always ready TO do his duty.
He was appointed to the navy from
North Carolina in 1880, and attained his
present rank March 1st last.
Admiral Kirkland has not long TO
serve on the active list, but it is believed
that he will apply for retirement without
delay. 1t is stated that he had expressed
the intention OF going on the retired list
if relieved OF his present duty.
Through his assignment to the Euro
pean station Commodore Selfridge be-
comes an active Rear Admiral, and this
fact brings about the unprecedented case,
at least in the [ nited states Navy, where
a father and son attained to the highest
grade OF the naval service during the life
time Of both. Admiral Selfridge's father,
a hale and hearty old gentleman more
than four-scOre and ten, is Rear ADMIRAL
Thomas O. Seitridge, Sr. lie has been
on the retired list for many years. If Ad-
miral Kirkland retires at once, Admiral
Selfridge will change his acting rank for
that OF actual rank.