The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-15
ADMIRAL MEADE TOO HASTY.
HIS REQUEST WAS TO HAVE BEEN
GRANTED.

The Department Orders Ready To BE
Signed when the Admirars Re-
quest to BE Detached From the
Squadron Came to Hnnd-He De-
eiined 60 Answer the Departments
query whether lie Authorized the
Newspaper Criticism.
Washington. May 1i-In regard to tbs
case Of Admiral Meade. the navy DEPART
ment this afternoon gave out the follow
ing statement. THE navy department.
addressed letter to Admiral Meade.
stating THAT Il desired to know II he was
willing to answer whether he had given,
or had authorized. what purported 10 be
an interview with him published in the
New York Tribune and Admiral Meade
replied, acknowledging the receipt OF tho
letter, but declining to answer the ques-
tlon.
The facts In relation TO the failure OF
the department TO grant Admiral Meade
request 70 have the Cincinnati ordered 10
the New York yard instead OF to the Nor
folk yard are that this vessel was or
dered by the department to go to the Nor
pairs. This was done upon the recon-
mendation of the chief constructor, who
desired that work, which Is now scarce
a both yards, might be equalized between
the Norfolk and brooklyn yards Admiral
Meade, who had selected the Cincinnati
for his flagship, during the absence OF
the New York, was thereupon ordered
TO hoist his flag upon that vessel upon
her arrival at Norfolk, In the
interim hosting his nag on the
Minneapolis. He afterwards forwarded
"a second request to the department
10 have the Cincinnati ordered to New
Nork instead of to Norfolk. On the day
when this latter request was received
Secretary Herbert was not in the DEPART
ment at any time. Assistant Secretary
McAdoo being Ia charge did not act upon
the request, as he did not think II proper
TO take any action in the matter until ths
Secretarys return. On the next morning,
when Secretary Herbert came TO the office
and this matter had been brought TO his
attention he at once summoned before
him the chief constructor and. after con-
ferring with him and Assistant Secretary
McAdoo, jointly, decided to order the Cin-
cinnatl 70 New York, and at once ordered
Admiral Ramsay who was present, 10
make out orders TO intercept the ship at
Hampton Roads and order her to New
York. lie also directed orders TO be made
out to Admiral Meade, notifying him OF
this change ana orders both to the ad-
miral and to the ship were written and
ready to be signed when a letter came IN
the noon mail from Admiral Meade, ask
ing TO be detached from the squadron
which request the Secretary granted"
Secretary Herbert said he had nothing
10 add in explanation of tho above. as It
included all the information the depart
ment had TO impart
The sole object OF the statement, Il is
Meade has acted impetuously In his deal
| ings with the department, first. as stated,
4 In asking TO be detached because his re-
/ quest for the Cincinnati to come TO New
/ York was not as promptly granted as he
/ wished, and by Implication that he spoke
hastily in the interview which caused so
| much surprise. The President decided TO
/ hold the admiral to account for his utter
ances. and on Saturday last a letter was
sent 10 the admiral at his club here, ask
/ ing II he had authorized the interview.
| The admirafs reply to this letter was fe-
ceived yesterday, and as he therein de-
clined to incriminate himself. the depart
ment was met by the embarrassing situa-
tlon that It would be unable TO prove any
thing against the admiral II resort were
mad to court martial proceedings.
To-day when Secretary Herbert went to
the cabinet meeting he was closely fol-
lowed by a messenger bearing big vol
ume of the naval regulations. corrected to
date and other law books relating TO
| courts martial The entire matter, it was
stated, was thoroughly considered at the
cabinet meeting ana subsequently Secre-
tary Herbert, who had hitherto refused to
say anything about the case, announced
that n statement Of the affair would be
given out this afternoon. From TO 5
O'Clock he was closeted with Admiral
Ramsay, Judge Advocate General Lem
ley and Assistant Secretary McAdoo. For
q portion of the time, Ensign N A.. Black,
who was Admiral Meade's lieutenant
while the admiral commanded the squad
ron. was also present As a result Of this
conference, the authorized statement as
above given was finally made.