Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-20
The Topic Of Discussion in
Official Circles.
PUBLICATION DEPLORED
INQUIRY TO BE INSTITUTED BY
NAVAL AUTHORITIES
Efforts to Keep Admiral Crownin-
shields Endorsement of Courts
Findings From the Press.

What is called "the Venice incident, re
sulting from the arrest of officers OF the
United States steamer Chicago in the itai-
ian CITY continues to be topic of general
discussion in diplomatic and official cir
cles and renewed interest is shown In each
fresh development. The naval officials
deprecate the publication of Admiral
Crowrinshield's reflections upon the Italian
authorities and have instituted an inquiry
To determine who is responsible therefor.
With the sole purpose of avoiding any ac-
tiOn that might seem discourteous to the
Italian authorities. Secretary Moody took
every possible precaution at this end of the
line to minimize the incident and to keep
Admiral Crowninshield's Endorsement of
the report of the court of inquiry from the
press.
Plans Miscarried.
His plans succeeded perfectly, so far as
this end of the line was concerned. but mis-
carried entirely at the London end. The
full and complete dispatches from London
completely upset the calculations of the
department and embarrassed the govern
ment considerably. Although it will not
help matters much. now that the DANA ge
has been done. an effort is being made to
ascertain whether the record was made
public In regular way by some officer at
tached TO the European squadron or
whether 1t was obtained in a surreptitious
manner. 1t is understood that the matter
was fully discussed at tOday's cabinet meet
ing. but that final action was suspended
pending the result of the present inquiry
as to how the records became public in
London
Secretary Moody does not care to say
what will happen if his inquiry is success
ful in disclosing the responsible person.
Without a fuller knowledge of the facts
than is now had here 1t is not possible for
the officials to pass an opinion to wheth-
er or not the publication of the courts find
fngs constitutes an offense under the naval
regulations for which anyone can be pun
ished. for it is possible that the commander
n-chief OF the station himself was. accord
ing TO the ordinary rule, at liberty to make
such publication unless instructed not to
do so.
Under the regulations Secretary Moody is
at liberty to direct further proceedings even
In the case of the officers who were the sub
jects of examination before the court of in
qulry or as TO Captain Dayton himself
whose conduct has been so severely i'm
pusned by Admiral Crowinshield. If the
young officers had been tried by court-mar-
tial Admiral Crowinshield's action would
have been final. but a court of inquiry is
only an advisory body and the 'convening
authority is not bound by its findings and
may or may not order a court-na rtial to
follow. 1t Is believed. however that upon
the basis of the cable reports Secretary
Moody has positively made up his mind that
admiral Crowninshield acted correctly in
not ordering court-martial so unless there
Is something in the body of the testimony
taken by the court of inquiry which is not
now known here to exist, it is considered
improbable that he will abandon that con-
victiOn.
Capt. Dayton's Position.
Capt Dayton has not applied for a court
OF inquiry or a transfer to another station.
and 1t is now felt that he may not do So
Notwithstanding Admiral Crowninshield's s
severe criticism upon his failure to per
sonalIy attend the trial of the men at
Venice. 1t is suggested here however, that
some feeling must necessarily have deyeI-
oped as the result of the criticism and mn
less the vessels OF the European squadron
are Kept widely separated it may be neces-
sary in the interests of the service to make
some changes In the commands
italian Ambassadors Objection.
In his representations TO this government
the Italian ambassador made it clear that
his chief objection to that part of Ad-
mirai Crewninshieid's comment upon the
findings OF the court In which he referred
TO the revolving indignities" from which
the American prisoners suffered while in
Jail. The Italian government has taken the
ground that there was nothing exceptional
in the treatment of these prisoners. and
that statement has been accepted without
question by the authorities here
10 sustain the Italian position, If that is
Called Into question. there is the official re-
port OF the proceedings in Venice before
the regular municipal court These are all
ready in Washington and In the hands of
the ambassador. but it is not expected that
there viii be any occasion TO use them
save In the unlikely event that the govern
ment here adopts Admiral Crowninshield's s
view as to the treatment accorded the pris-
oHers- SO far the government has not made
any formal statement on that point and II
Is not likely that il will.
In that case Admiral Crovnirshie!d's ex-
preston Will simply remain as that of an
individual officer of the navy. commune
Gated to his own government. not with any
purpose OF giving Offense to Italy but In
the course of the execution of a routine
duty, which makes ii d matter of purely in
ternal administration In this view il is
hoped that the Italian government will NOT
feel called upon to concern itself with the
criticism and Will pass the matter over
without further agitation. Otherwise II
the issue became an international one the
Italian government would find it necessary
to make public Its own reports so that a
comparison could be made between the
hearing before the regular municipal cour,
and that before a secret court OF inquiry OF
shipboard.
The Mischief Done.
The publication OF the courts finding
has greatly agitated the surface of a sit
uation which was fast smoothing into pla-
eidity. The officers Of the Chicago had
been pardoned by the King of Italy and re.
leased; court OF inquiry on the vessel ha6
recommended a cOurt-martial In the cases
Of several of them; the commander-in-chiet
OF the European station had disapproyeC
the recommendation for a court-martial
Thus Italy was apparently satisfied for by
recommending trial by court-martial III,
court of inquiry had, In effect sustained
the Italian court. The officers We're not tC
be court -martialed and no further proceed
friss were apparently to be taken with re
gard 10 them Secretary Moody realtzins
the delicate nature of the situation. haC
Ia .urfr~l
90 tine public concerning the Chicago court
Secretary Moody informed the ambassador
yesterday that Admiral Crowninshield had
aot been authorized to make public the pro-
ceedings of the court. but that possibly the
findings and the admiraIs comment mad
been published In a general order and cir
cu'atcd among the officers and crews of th=
squadron. 1t is regarded unfortunate
that Admiral Crowninshield issued the