New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-08
A SURPRISE TO NAVAL OFFICERS.
N VIEW OF ALI. THE FACTS TIE PRESIDENTS
NoN-ACTIoN IN THE CASE OF CAPTAIN


IN VIEW OF ALL THE FACTS. TIE PRESIDENTS
NoN-ACTIoN IN THE CASE OF CAPTAIN
REED PUZZLES THEM.
Washington March CSpeciaD.-Oflcers OF the
Navy who are familiar with the facts are MANIFEST
ing much surprise that the President should with
hold his approval of the report OF the Naval Exam
lining Board in the case Of Captain A. v Reed OF
the Navy According TO published stories. tho
President has withheld his approval on the ground
that Rear Admiral Gillis has said oficialy that he
d.d not regard Captain Reed as qualified IN all re-
spects for advancement and That MS report ID
based on the result OF his experience when Com
nander-in- Chief Of the South Atlantic station at
time whea Captain Reed commanded the flagship
Richmond.
7, has also been said that Captain Reed was
court martialled charges preferred by Admiral
ellis Such Is not the fact 1t IL true that
court of inquiry was held board the Richmoha
under orders from the Navy Department. OUT '"e
finding Of the court was favorable to Captain Reed
and unfavorabIe 10 Admiral Calls. There Is IN
file In the Navy Department correspondence bearing
ont this statement. which contains Information nero
,ofore unpublished which VIII surprise haVai OF
fcers The court OF inquiry was held WINE sec
retary Tracy was at the head OF tho Navy depart.
mont and J. r. Solely was Assistant Secretary. IL
o,roara that under date Of August %. 1880. Mr..
Soley as Acting Secretary. wrote this letter 10
Captain Reed: 49,.
I ,ransm,t for your Information a copy OF tno
0nding and opinion Of the court or inquiry iieI1 Oh
hoard the United States steamer Richnond LOT tns
nurnose of investigating certain aIcgatiohs anu
ronn,an.s made against you as COMMANDING o,i n'
~ ne Richmond BY Rear Admiral James n Sfiins.
together with certain allegations ana Complains ,n'
Oade nv YOU against that officer, nave 10 m
90, Won that. after careful consideration or the
rocord the DEPARTMENT has approved the Proceeu-
,nos and findings OF the court. and concurs IN ts
1on that further proceedings should not be mao
~, ,,omr case You are accordingly released IRON
ssmnsnension and restored TO your command
FolIowing is part OF a letter which acting secre-
,arv Solely sent to Admiral ellis at the same time
Won viii observe by reference TO the finding OF the
court of inquiry that except as 10 Two or tnreo
matters OF minor importance but one OF the numer
n,,e allegations and complaints made by you aealns
Cantoin Reed is found to be sustained by the svI.
1ence namely. that the language used IN me nrst
No rt of one OF his letters to the department rs us
resnecfful as alleged but that II IS not unquhheoIy
false az charged by you You VIII also observe nst
tho court finds the several allegations ana COM
nlaints made against you sustained susDtahtiay AS
made by Captain Reed. The finding being iuiIy sus
tained by the evidence adduced. the Department
cnncurs In the opinion Of the court that the facts
ascertained warrant the further proceedings recon-
mended In your case; but In consideration OF your
record of long and faithful service in the navy TO-
eeher with the fact that In pursuance OF exisiing
law YOUR active service must withln the perlou OF
three years be terminated, and believing that me
interests OF the service Will not be fn1uriously ar
fected by disposng OF your case otherwise man ny
court martial the Department deems II sumclent
10 inform YOU that your conduct az founn ana re-
ported by the court merits and receives It's uh-
Qualified condemnation.