The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-05-22
ApMlRAL MEApE.s CASE.


The Secretary of the Navy Makes State
ment in Regard TO 1.-THE Admiral Re-
fuses to Criminate Himself.
WASHINGTON, May 15.-In regard to
the case of Rear Admiral Meade, Secre-
tary Herbert late yesterday afternoon
gave out to the press statement of
facts. The secretary said: "The navy
department addressed letter to Ad-
miral Meade, stating that it desired to
know if he was willing to answer
whether he had given, or had author
lied what purported to be an interview
with him published in the New York
Tribune, and Admiral Meade replied,
acknowledging receipt of the letter,
but declined to answer the questions.
Referring to other questions of differ
ence between Admiral Meade and the
department, Secretary Herbert said:
"The facts in relation to the failure of
the department to grant Admiral
Meades request to have the Cincinnati
ordered to the New York yard instead
of the Norfolk yard are that this vessel
was ordered by the department to go
to the Norfolk navy yard for some nee
essary repairs. This was done upon the
recommendation of the chief construct
or, who desires that work, which is
now scarce at 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 there
upon ordered to hoist his flag upon that
vessel upon her arrival at Norfolk, in
the interim hosting his flag upon the
Minneapolis. He afterwards forwarded
a second request to the department to
have the Cincinnati ordered to New
York instead of Norfolk. On the day
when this latter request was received
Secretary Herbert was not in the de-
partment at any time. Assistant Sec
retary McAdoo did not act upon the re,
quest.
On the next morning, when Secretary
Herbert came to the Office, this matter
having been brought to his attention
J he at once summoned before him the
J chief constructor and, after comforting
with him and Assistant Secretary Nc
Adoo jointly, decided to order the Gin
cinnati to New York and at once or
dered Admiral Ramsey, who was pres
ent, to make out orders to intercept
the ship at Hampton roads and order
her to New York.
) He also directed orders to be sent ou
to Admiral Meade, notifying him O
] this change and orders, both to the ad
: roiral and to the ship were written anc
: ready to be signed when letter cam
g in the noon mail from Admiral Mead
: asking to be detached from the squad
, ron, which request the secretar!
granted. Secretary Herbert said h
/ had nothing to add in explanation o
S the above, as it included all the infoI
: nation the department had to impart
: The sole object of the statement, it j
= understood, is to show that Admira
y Meade has acted impetuously in hi
dealings with the department, first, a
stated, in asking to be detached bC
, cause his request for the Cincinnati t
;, y, come to New York was not promptl
granted as he wished, and by implict
i cation that he spoke hastily in the i,
:; terview which caused so much surprise
u The president decided to hold the az
y .miral to account for his utterance an
!: on Saturday last letter was sent
the admiral at his club here, asking
=, he had authorized the interview. III
y admiral's reply to this letter was r
= ,ceived Monday, and as he therein d
- clined to incriminate himself, the d
" partment was met by the embarrassir
y situation that it would be unable
y prove anything against the admiral
resort were had to court martial pr
ceedings.
g Tuesday, when Secretary Herbe
a went to the cabinet meeting he w
Is closely followed by a messenger bea
lie ing big volume of the naval regul
"a tions corrected to date and other la
"a books relating to court martial. ~
e. entire matter, it was stated, was tho
W oughly considered at the cabinet NEE
B. ipr