Evening star., 1900-05-02


Chadwick respecting the published inter-
view in which the captain is reported as
severely rejecting upon Rear Admiral
Schley. The Secretary's letter was written
today and was forwarded only after the
Secretary had a conference on the subject
with the President at noon. The depart
ment's action in the case is a severe repri-
| mand, and 1t is noteworthy that its letter
| has been made public, a fact which in itself
adds to the weight of the punishment ad-
ministered. The correspondence is fol-
lows:
Capt. Chadwick's Letter.
IS West 9th St, New York,
April %, 1900
Sir:
l. have the honor to acknowledge the
reception of the department. letter of the
25th instant. inclosing clipping from the
| New York Sun, and desiring a statement
| from me in regard to its contents.
| 2. have in no way been privy to the
| publication of said article. The circum-
stances on which it is based are as fol-
| lows: On the 10th or 18th of this MONTH
| in passing down 1ith street, in Washing
| ton. ] was saluted by Mr.. Atkins, CORE
| spondent of the Brooklyn Eagle. a gen.
| tleman whom l have known in Washing
ton a number of years, and always favor
ably. Mr. Atkins had called my attention,
/ j
Brooklyn Eagle of, l think, December 81,
1889 expressing an extreme desire for me
| to read it, and asking If he could see me.
l declined to him, as | knew that he
probably wished to discuss continental
subject. l later obtained copy of the
paper referred to and read the editorial
mentioned. 1t was discussion of the con-
troversy regarding Rear Admiral Schley,
and proposed remedy, viz, the promo
ton of both Rear Admiral Schley and
Rear Admiral Sampson to vice admiral
3. At the casual meeting mentioned ION
the 10th or 18th instanD l entered into con-
versation with MIR Atkins regarding the
ditorial l asked if he had received note
which had sent him regarding it, in which
l said the writer was evidently not aware
of the facts in the case and that he entirely
mistook the principles involved. This was
the extent of the note so far as l remem-
ber. Mr.. Atkins said yes; he had received
| the note and had not used 1t in any way
replied, of course not that it was entirely
private. l repeated what had said in the
note and said the question upon which the
navy stood was not the advancement OF
any particular man, but one of honor. l
added that the whole difficulty in the mat
ter with the press in general, Whic n
had failed to put before the country the
facts. based upon Rear Admiral Schley 8
own signals and dispatches, stated In the
letter of the Secretary of the Navy to the
Senate of the 9th February, 1880; that the
people in general were thus ignorant of the
true status of the case.
That the Secretary'S letter, which, OF
course was virtually the Presidents state
ment of the matter, was as severe an ar
raignmeut as 1t was possible to make re-
garding an officer, and accused him of con-
duct such that no officer should remain
silent under the assumption. That every
sentiment of military honor demanded that
Admiral Schley should ask for a court to
clear himself of such charges, ani that L
believed every officer Of the navy would be
most pleased to him cleared for the
honor of the service, and that could GER
tainly say for myself. That long
he remained silent rnder these, I would not
take his hand or meet him socially. That it
was impossible to advance Admiral Schley
(as the editorial propOsed) so long as he
rested under these charges without destroy
ing the whole standard OF honor and duty
in the navy. That the whole navy, far
as / knew il was of this opinion, and that
its attitude was matter of self-preserva-
tiCn.
3. The foregoing gives my remarks in
substance and purport as far as my recol
lection serves me; the conversation was en-
tirely private; regarded by me, and also,
/ supposed. by Mr.. Atkins, evidence of
which latter is the fact that ne knew that
my note which consisted OF, as far as / re-
| member. but this one short phrase men
toned, was private; and also that nearly
or quite a week passed before he mentioned
any conversation publicly. 1t was in no
sense and in no part intended for publica-
tion nor considered an interview.
Very respectfully, f. +. CHADWICK,
Captain, U.S.N.
To the Secretary of the Navy.
The Reprimand.
May 2, 1900
Sir-The department is IN receipt of your
letter of the 9th ultimo. in reply to the
departments letter OF the 25th. inclosing a
clipping from the New York Sun and de-
string a statement from you in regard TO
its contents.
The department regrets that 1t has occa-
and experience for inexcusable indiscretion
and offense against the navy regulations
1t appears from your letter that in yolr
| interview with Mr.. Atkins, whom you know
to be newspaper correspondent, you spoke
OF a fellow officer. your senior in rank, in
a way calculated to bring him into con-
tempt.
You knew this to be a violation of the
munication by interviews of such comment
and criticism. You knew it to be against
| the good order and discipline Of the service,
because 1t is the example of one officer in
nigh rank rejecting upon the honor and
| character of another-an example which,
| unrebuked and followed, tends to bring the
whole service into contention and scandal
You knew that the professional business
of your interviewer is to collect material
| for publication. While he may not have
| had justification in publishing what you
| understood, and regarded as understood by
| him, to be private conversation, you knew
/ the risk you ran, and within a year had
| been reprimanded for similar misconduct
| in putting yourself and the welfare of the
| service to the same risk with the same
result You have thus again and further
| impaired the confidence Of the department
| in your discretion.
| 1t is true that your case differs from some
| recent cases of offense on the part of other
| officers. in that Objectionable remarks made
| by them were made on occasions and under
| circumstances which they knew assured
1 their publicity. In your case the DEPART
ment unreservedly accepts your statement
| that your remarks were "in no sense and in
| no part intended for publication, nor con-
| sidered interview 1t is for his rea-
son that 1t takes no other action than this
emphatic reprimand. the receipt of which
| you will acknowledge.
| Very respectfully,
GSigned) JOHN D. LONG, Secretary.
| Capt. F. E. Chadwick. U. S. N. No. ~
| West 9th street, New York, N. Y.
| Decree of Divorce Signed,
| A decree was signed late this afternoon
by Justice Barnard, in Equity Court No.
| 2, granting Rudolph A Hass1er a divorce