The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-11
OFFICIAL CENSURE
THIS is THE PORTION OF ADMIRAL
EVANS.
ON COMPLAINT OF CHANDLER.
THE Ex-sECRETARY FELT HIM
SELF AGGRIEvED.

I'm Rear AdnairnI Evans, Book EN-
titled "A Sailors Log" Appeared
Structures Upon the Actions of MIR.
Chandler When Head of the Navy
Department-!The Rebuke Admin
istered "A sharp One-UnIess Fur
ther AEitated by Mr.. Chandler or
Admiral Evans, the Incident is
Closed.
Washington, Aug. 10.-The Navy De-
partment has acted upon the COM
plant made by the Hon. William E.
Chandler against Rear Admiral Rob-
ley D. Evans. 1t has reprimanded the
Admiral and the following letter has
been addressed to him:
Navy Department, Washington,
Aug. 8, 1901-Sir: The Honorable Will
liam Il. Chandler. president of the
Spanish Treaty Claims Commission,
lately a senator of the United States,
and formerly Secretary of the Navy.
has complained to the department, as
you are aware, of certain structures
upon himself in your book entitled a
Sailors Log
1.-THE structures in question are in
the nature of aspersions upon the bff1-
cial conduct of the then (1SS4) Secre-
tary of the Navy.
1.-The text of your book II is not nee
essary here to recite. Nor is 1t need
full to ask of you an explanation why
you felt yourself justified in publish
ing what you have. 1t is obvious to
any reader that you speak extensively
of Secretary Chandler's action; that
fafh
traduce him in respect to orders given
you by the secretary in the discharge
of TIE duties of his office.
You are informed that this deliber-
ate publication of yours has justly in
CURED the displeasure of the Depart
ment. For an officer thus to attack a
former head of the navy department
because of orders given to him by. that
official, is to abandon the courtesy
that should always characterize an Of
ficer of the navy. II tolerated 1t would
unquestionably prove subversiye of
discipline. 1t would tend to bring the
Office itself into disrepute. The act is
the more reprehensible in this instance
because of your long experience in the
service.
1T has become my duty, therefore.
to censure you for this breach of the
| obligation imposed upon you as a COM
| missioned officer of the navy of~-the
United States, which accordingly do.
"A copy of this letter will be fur
nished to the Hon. William e. Chandler,
Respectfully, F. w. Hackett,
"Acting Secretary
Rear Admiral Robley d. Evans, u.
S. NJ, Washington. d. c.
Secretary Chandler was notified
of the action of the department In the
following letter:
Navy Department Washington,
Aug. 9. 1901. Hon. William F. Chand-
ler, Waterloo, N. H.-Sir: Referring
to recent correspondence upon the sub
ject of alleged structures made by Rear
Admiral Robley d. Evans upon the
conduct and motives of the Secretary
of the Navy in 1884. published in his
book entitled A Sailors Log / have
the honor to inform you that the de-
partment regards this action of Nd
miral Evans as deserving of reproof.
Accordingly, the department has
censured that officer, as will appear
from copy of letter to him of this
date, herewith enclosed. / have the
honor to be, Yours respectfully,
IF. w. Hackett, Acting Secretary"
Admiral Evans has acknowledged,
under date of Aug. 10. 1901, his receipt
of the letter of Acting Secretary Hack
EFT.
1t is the understanding at the Navy
Department that the action taken
closes the incident This is certainly
so, SO far as the Navy Department is
concerned. and If anything further is
done, 1t will have to be on the Initiative
of Admiral Evans, in asking for a
court OF inquiry, or of Mr. Chandler.
The right of the Navy Department to
administer a reprimand without wait
ing for the findings of the court, has
been In question at times, but 1t is
said the precedents leave no doubt that
this right exists