The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-05-16
ADM, M EADE,
1Ls Administration Wrought Up by the
AdmiraPs Sudden Request to he Placed
on the Retired List and His Criticism OF
the presltient.


1Ls Administrator wrought Up by the
Admirars Sudden Request to he Placed
on the Retired List and His Criticism OF
the President.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE admins
tration was considerably wrought up
by the sudden request of Adm.
Mead to be placed on the retired list
on the first of June, but the officials
were fairly wild Friday because of the
admiraPs attack on the president.
The request of the admiral has been
granted, and he has been given q
years leave of absence, but this action
on the part of the navy department
does not by any means indicate the real
sentiment of the men who at present
dominate the naval establishment.
In view of Adm. Meade's distin-
guished service and really brilliant
record, nothing else would have been
but the admiral's official
superiors wished profoundly that they
could take some step which would in
dicate the disapproval of the depart
ment for his independent and self
assertive performance.
The retirement of the admiral five
years in advance of the time when he
would be compelled to retire by law,
and within two years Of the time,
when, in the ordinary course Of
advancement, he would have be-
come the ranking officer of the navy,
is direct reflection on the admins
tration's recent conduct in naval and
foreign affairs. The administration
would be very glad indeed of an oppor-
tunity to pay back the admiral in his
own coin, and it is believed that such
an opportunity may have been given
by the interview with Adm. Meade
published at Cincinnati.
So culpable violation of naval eti-
quette is his attack, in the opinion Of
the civilian officials in Washington,
that steps have already been taken
looking to an fflcial rebuke. An In
quiry was set on foot Friday to discover
to what extent Adm. Meade had been
correctly reported and to ascertain
whether he abided by the sentiments
expressed in his interview. II the re-
suit of this inquiry sustains the accu-
racy Of the interview, steps will be
takenat once to bring the admiral into
court-martial for insubordination to
his superior officers
There is no question that his utter
ance is court-martial offense, accord
ing to the regulations of the navy.
Adm. Meade is still an officer of the
navy in full standing, in spite of the
prospective retirement on June 1.
Even after that date, although on the
retired list, he will still be subjective
to the regulations of the navy so far as
their punitive functions are concerned.
1t is not unlikely, therefore, that the
navy will shortly be treated to sensa.
ton which will dwarf that created by
Adm. Meade's precipitate course in
asking for retirement. This is all the
more probable from the fact that the
admirals relations with some of those
to whom he owes official obedience
have never been cordial and have now
been strained to the point of frac
ture.
The report that Adm. Ramsay
contemplates assuming the command
of the North Atlantic squadron is not
generally credited among naval of
ficers Adm. Ramsay has the
post which is usually regarded
as the most desirable in the navy
He is chief of the navigation bureau
having the disposition of all officers a
sea, and in the absence of the secre
tary enjoying full power as head O.
the navy department. For an am
bilious man of political bent nothing
better could be asked, and Adm
Ramsey is hardly likely voluntarily tc
abandon his advantageous post in orde
to go to sea, however much his long
abstention from sea duty might maxi
such change welcome to him.
Adm. Walker is the officer who's
name naturally occurs to most mind
when the question of succession t.
Adm. Meade is under consideration
but there are objections to this assign
ment, the significance of which is t.
be found in the personal rivalries ant
jealousies involved in the politica
maneuvering among naval officers o
high degree.