The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-18
ADMIRAL MEADE A MARTINEZ.
TWO NAVAL OFFICERS N TROUBLE
on HIS ACCOUNT.

/ The Finding of the COurt-martial
Against Surgeon E&erschner Not
Approved by the Secretary of the
Navy Yet and sure TO BE Fought.
Commander Ide of the Alert Or
dered Home for Trial.
Washington, June 1.-THE sentence Of
dismissal found BY the naval court-mar-
tial against Medical Inspector Edward
Kershner. has been announced at the
navy department. but Secretary Herbert
has withheld his endorsement until the
accused officers counsel can be heard in
his defense. The charges against DR..
Kershner. who was fleet officer Of the
North Atlantic squadron. were preferred
by Admiral Meade They first declared
that he had violated naval regulations in
forwarding privately to other officers
copies Of official documents which subse-
quently appeared in print. The second
charge was that Of scandalous conduct to
the destruction of good morals. its speci-
fcation reciting that his sworn testimony
before a court of inquiry investigating the
first charge was false and intended to de-
ceive. This was the first time in the his
tory of the service that an officer had
ever been accused Of perjury, and it
caused quite a sensation. The court sat
five days, beginning May -. at the New
York navy yard. and its record has been
under consideration at the navy depart
ment since May is.
Two weeks ago Dr. Kershner and his
counsel. Messrs. Choate and Hinsdale of
New York, were informed of the findings
and sentence and notified that anything
they had to say would be heard. They
have taken advantage of this permission
and Secretary Herbert has appointed
Thursday morning for the hearing. at his
Office.
1t is stated at the department that the
court martial was prevented by the regu-
lation from taking into account the strong
est points of DR.. Kershner's defense, and
that the court was barred from consider
ing the constitutonality of the regulations
or the animus which led to the charges.
There is a strong impression that the
President will not approve the sentence,
but If he does, It is very well understood
that the case will be carried to the United
States supreme court.
Cabled orders were to-day sent to Com
mander George e. Ide Of the cruiser Alert
detaching him and ordering him to report
TO the navy department. Commander
Franklin Hanford, on duty at the New
York navy yard, was ordered to succeed
TO the command of the Alert by the steam
er leaving New York June 80. In the
meantime, the vessel will be In charge OF
Lieut. j. II. c. Coffin, her executive OIL
Ger. Commander Ide Is coming homo to
answer charges of disrespect and discour-
va1 h.r IL roll IL,
who. when his squadron was at Colon,
the middle of last April, crossed the 18TH
mus with Assistant Secretary McAdoo
and in Panama met Commander Idc,
whose vessel was at that pert. Command
er Ide greeted Mr.. McAdoo very cordial
ly, but paid no attention to the admiral,
who was at the time off his station, Com
n.ander l1e being attached to the Pacific,
u der Admiral Beardslee. Admiral
Meade at the time accused Commander
lde Of discourtesy, to which Commander
Ide is reported to have retorted that
he had saluted him in accord
arce with regulations as ranking
officer, but he was not compelled to show
any particular enthusiasm. The appar-
ent delay in acting on Admiral Meades
charges is due to the fact that under the
law copy of the charges had first to
be sent to the accused and his reply re-
ceived. AS the Alert has been at San
Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua, and protecting
American interests in Ecquador, there
has been an unavoidable delay. 1t is ev-
ident from the action of the department
that Commander Ide's explanation is not
regarded as sufficient to Offset Admiral
Meade's charges, and that he will be
court martialed on reaching home.
1t is also said that the revocation of
Admiral Meades permission to go abroad
was due to the charges against Comman-
der lde, as the admiral will be the prin-
cipal witness for the prosecution.
Whether it is deemed probable that the
inquiry which is to be instituted will re-
suit in the censure of Commander Ide
or will supply additional ground of CEN
sure against Rear Admiral Meade, is of
course, a matter upon which navy off,
Gals are absolutely silent.