New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-10
MEApE's ENSIGN DOWN.
HE RELATIONSHIPS COMMAND OF THE
NORTHATLANTIC SQUADRON.
THE REAR-ADMRAL WILL. RETIRE ON JUNE IL
BITTER ATTACK ON THE NAVY DEPART
MENT-CAU,Es WHICH LED TO THE
AcTIoN-rHE RETIRING oFFIcER

A BITTER ATTACK On THE NAVY DEPART
MENT-CAUsEs WHICH LED TO THE
AcTIoN-rHE RETIRING oFFIcER
SPEAKS OUT PLAIN ".
One OF the peculiar incidents which sometimes
happen in naval affairs occurred yesterday
afternoon. when. in the presence of the officers
Of his staff and his flagship and the commandant
OF the Brooklyn Navy Yard and his staff. the en-
sign Of Rear-Admiral Richard Worsum Meade
was hauled down. and he gave up the command OF
the ss9adr( o. and practically ended his active
service In II Navy. The ceremonies were SIM
pie but impressive. When the crew had aligned
on one side of ne N'w-l ork's deck and the Off
GERS on the otler. tha quarter master slowly low
cred the nag while from the guns of the Vermont
came the boom OF ne Rear-Admirals salute OF
thirteen guns the gins OF the flagship not being
used on account OF her being In drydock
Shortly after the official orders detachng the
Rear Admiral had teen received at the yard,
Commodore Sicard. accompanied by Commander
Franklin Hanforo and Lieutenant Commander
Charles A. Adams his aids made an official visit
to the retiring officer and expressed their regret
at the severing OF their official rea tons The
Admiral cordially acknowledged the greetings.
and expressed his regret that circumstances led
him to leave the active service. For the officers
or MS snip and the members Of his personal staff
he had nothing but kindly words. and wished
them pleasant trip TO KEEL for which port they
will sail on May 90
The action of R.ar-Admiral Meade in resgning
his command ard asking for retirement on June
II Is peculiar. ia that on the date mentioned ne
will have completed forty-fve years OF service,
while he would not be compelled to retire on ac-
count Of age Until 1892 but 1t does not surprise
those acquainted with the devious ways OF naval
politics He Ia the youngest Rear Admiral on the
list and has been fl command Of the North At
lantlc Squadron only since August OF last year.
THE RESULT OF NAVAL POLITICS.
The causes which have led to Admiral Meades
action have been the subject OF good deal OF
quiet discussion for some time. ard that the Navy
should lose the services OF a man OF his attain
ments and executive ability at this time. and for
reasons which are the subject OF much criticism,
Is regarded peculiarly unfortunate. Opinions
have been advanced by his friends and by his
enemies as accounting for his action and his
friends say that It Is only the logical ending OF
series OF exasper iting annoyances which have
been inflicted OF him In matters connected with
the service. During the West Indian trip Of the
feet the Admiral continually hampered in
carrying out the extended and creditab'c pro-
gramme arranged. by the Department detaching
FIRST one vessel and then another and another.
until the whole affair was thrown into confusion.
the itinerary altered. and the expected benefit TO
the service placed out of reach.
Ant thcr complication arose over the decision TO
send the New-l'ork and Columbia TO kie. This
involved the transferring Of his flag to another
vessel and the Minneapolis was ordered TO Nor
folk have CHARTERS fitted for him. But the
Admiral had de himself prominent in oppOsl-
ton to vessels OF the Minneapolis class. and de-
cided that he would fly his flag on the Cincinnati.
hat oil cnHh no
wanted them done at the Brooklyn yard. The
department ordered them to be done at the Nor
folk yard. but at the last moment changed the
orders and the cruiser will come TO New-York.
but will not receive the Admiral
Had he accepted the assignment OF the Mime
apols, 1t would have involved a stay of six weeks
or more at q tel. and then flying his ensign on
a ship which was IL every way disasteful, while
an officer hi ju- Tor by two numbers had his flag
ship and tn. f0 yer Of the new Navy at the kiel
celebration. the representatives or the
Nations STA over would be on dress parade
and the Secretary of the Navy present in per-
son. These points. together with the Curacao
difficulty and the rebuke by the Secretary for
his action In the Kershner affair. all cited as
Incidents which In the aggregate have so wrought
upon the Admiral that he deemed his retirement
the least Objectionable way Of escaping what
bore the appearance Of petty persecution.
PROBLEMS OF SUCCESSION.
Rear-Admiral franc NJ. Ramsay. at present
chief of the Bu-cau Of Navigation. has applied
for the comma vacated by Rear-Admral
Meade. This appl ton will probably be
granted. and as 1t " leave an important office
want the ruggest. has been made that the
Secretary could do Juch worse than appoint
iekde 10 the place. An active. energetic man Is
required for the office. in executive control It's
chief Is practically Secretary Of the Navy In the
absence Of the Presidents Cabinet officer. and
no one will deny that the Admiral. possesses
those requisites. Another name mentioned for
the command Is that Of Rear-A1miral John G.
Walker, at present chairman Of the Lighthouse
Board. who Is president OF the Kershner court
martial, which reconvenes on Monday next and
the fact that ne had long interview with the
Secretary on Wednesday is cited as evidence that
he was after the place. All these points Will
soon be settled by the Secretary, whose prompt
ness in complying with the Admiral's request Is
regarded as indicating that he expected II. and
officers Of the Navy will have something new to
talk about. In the mean time Rear-Admral
Meade will have a months vacation. and the
work OF fitting the New-York and Columbia for
their European trip Will 20 on
THE ADMIRAL AND THE ADMINISTRATIONS.
Rear-Adniiral Meade makes the Park Avenue
Hotel his headquarters during his stay In the
city. lie was at the hotel last night. and
asked about his retirement from the Navy. He
was pacing up and down the corridor OF the
hotel II on the quarterback. and from his face
would have Judged that ne was In an ex-
cellent humor. When reference was made 10
the hauling down OF his flag on the New YORK.
and the Incidental salute Rear-Admirai Meade
said In reply TO the question
The having down OF my flag meaos SIMPLY
that have been detached from the North At
lantc Squadron The salute Is naval etiquette.
am detached from my squadron through my
own request"
When he was asked why he had asked to be re-
tired he said bitterly: MY ideas not In &C
cordance with those Of this Administrator.