Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-05-01
GERMANY MADE PROTEST.

| The German Government has en-
tered formal pro test againt the Ian
the Raleigh at the Union Club ban
quet in New York on the evening of
the 21st. The protest was lodged with
Secretary Hay through the German
ambassador, Herr Won Hollenben.
Secretary Hay replied that the Ian
guage appeared to have been used at
a dinner in club, and SO could not
be regarded as an official or public ut
terance in the sense that would war
rant the State Department in acting.
However, the Navy department was
fully competent to take such action
as the case seems to require. With
this statement the ambassador was
content for the time at least, and will
doubtless await a reasonable length
o. t.ne upon the Navy Department.
The Navy Department has asked
Captain Coghlan if he has been cor
rectly quoted in the newspapers. Cap
tain Coghlan can hardly do less than
admit the substantial correctness of
the expressions attributed to him.
That being the case, it is expected
the Raleigh's captain will be repri-
manded at least, and perhaps he may
be court martialed.
Once before Captain Coghlan got
himself into trouble because he gave
too free expression to his thoughts.
He wrote very bitter letter CRITICS.
ing his superiors, and this letter hav-
ing been brough to the attention of
the secretary of the navy, he was
court martialed and reduced thirteen
numbers.
Tt is said that Captain Coghlan's
case is not similar to that of the Span
ish Captain Conchas, whose utter
ances in Madrid just before the war,
in severe criticism of the United
States, caused the State Department
to lodge a formal protest through
United States Minister, Hannis Tay-
lor. Capt. Conchas's utterances were
embodied in a lecture before the
Spanish Geographical Society, and
were public in the full sense of the
term. Secretary Hay in his reply to
the German ambassador has undoubt-
ly taken note of the difference be-
tween the cases on this particular
point, and it may be very important
difference for Captain Coghlan. The
State Departments position is that a
club is simply the home of number
OF gentlemen, and SO cannot be con-
sidered public affair.
But this view does pot relieve Capt.
Coghlan from responsibility to his
brother officers for conduct which is
alleged to be detrimental to the navy.
Though relieved from accountability
to the State Department directly by /
Secretary Hays attitude, the Navy /
Department, as the secretary has in
must deal with the case. Cap
tain Coghlan can be called to account
on several charges, presuming that
he has been correctly reported and
that he admits his utterances. AS in
Meade's case, if he stands
mute and the newspaper ren refuse
to testify, the Navy Department can
proceed no further. The charges
which would most probably be
brought against Capt. Coghlan in case
the affair progresses to a court mar
tial would be conductto the prejudice
of good order and discipline and con-
duet unbecoming an officer and gen
tleman.
So far no response has been received
from Capt. Coghlan at the Navy De-
partment. 1t is expected that the Of
fcer will proceed with elaboration in
making any statement he may care to
submit to the department..