The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-25
COGHLAM'S CHATTER.
This Not First Time the Captain Has
Been In Trouble.
CoutmaTtlaI Possible Represented 0exeJ
10 UnhecomIng Light.

Washington. April 25.-The Coghlan
case ia exciting more interest than any
thing else I'm Washington. The German
ambassador had an interview with the
secretary OF state yesterday. which. in
conversation later, he described as In
the highest degree satisfactory. from
which many persons drew the inference
that our government had made an
apology TO Germany. From more
trustworthy source however comes an
other version OF the incident. TO the ef-
feet that Secretary Hay requested Baron
Won Holleben TO inform his govern
ment that the alleged utterances OF
Captain Coghlan represented the senti-
ments OF nobody but himself; that no
international insult was intended. and
that the friendly feeling OF our govern
ment for Germany was unchanged; but
that under our system the captain S Of
tense OF talking In silly manner at
private dinner after the wine had been
flowing pretty freely fell within the
Jurisdiction of the navy department,
which would certainly call him 10 ac-
count and discipline him according 10
the measure of his proved indiscretion.
Coghlan's record leads some of his SUI
periors TO believe that lie did ttet realty
know what he was saying. IL is re-
called that some years ago he took Of
fense at some imaginary cause against
an old and faithful chief clerk OF the
department and wrote him letter
which for abusiveness was quite on a
level with some of General Egan's re-
cent productions. and that he was court
martialled and punished with suspen-
sion at "A time when promotions were
very rapid in his grade. so that he lost
more than dozen numbers while under
this cloud He regained six OF these
numbers by his share in the battle OF
Manila bay. and has applied for the
restoration OF the rest. His latest talk
has Of course ruined his chances OF res
toration. and upon the departments sat
isfying itself that ne said all he was
quoted as saying. he will undoubtedly
have another chance TO face court
martial.
This time. IL found guilty, he will pay
more severely than before When he
vented his abuse on the chief clerk, IL
was merely a quarrel between himself
and that functionary. Of Incidental in
tereSt 10 the puDnc service. his tiine
there liz another and very serious phase
TO the affair. wholly apart from the
question OF a possible international
complication. For Captain Coghlan did
not content himself with airing his own
views, but represented his superior Off
Ger. Admiral Dewey. in an unbecoming
light. Dewey, while a man Of firmness
and force. is noted for his knowledge of
how TO hold his tongue. and his best
friends declare that nothing could be
further from his usual habit of speech.
even under considerable provocation,
than the remarks put into his mouth by
Captain CoShlan. If Dewey fails 10
come TO Coghlans defense by avowing
his alleged insulting reference 20 the
German flag. the chances are that Cogh-
Ian will have to account TO the navy de-
partment for slandering his command
ing officer II the slander shall appear
TO have been only constructive. the
charge would come down 10 a mere
question of conduct subversive OF dis
cipline: but IL there were reasons to re-
gard the stories of Dewey's perform.
ances as made out of whole cloth. the
offense would be visited with the punish
ment for lying.