The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-10-09
GURNEY AFFAIR HAS
ABOUT BLOWN OVER
Other Clashes With Foreign
Diplomats Are Known
cOALING DEVICES FAIL
Navy Department. VIII Endeavor to
Improve Apparatus for Taking
Coal at Seattle Talk of
Washington.
cOALING DEVICES FAIL
BY w. T. MANNING.

washington, OcIODer o.-IHe GurHey
affair has almost seased to be a topic
of conversation, as 1t has been fully dis
cussed In Washington's circles and all
of its features fully brought out and the
conclusion that has been reached is that
1t Is just one of those affairs that could
have been avoided by the exercise of a
little judgment and common sense by this
youthful diplomat and forbearance by
the court which tried him. The whole
matter has caused the British Ambassa-
dor no little annoyance and little doubt
that Quincy will be recalled at an early
date is expressed in diplomatic circles.
In the past escapades among the diplo-
matte representatives of foreign coun-
tries have been infrequent. but number
have taken place and as far back as 1894
NJ Geuet, the French Minister, became
insoent and attempted to stir up the
people against President Washington. 1t
is needless to say that he was promptly
recalled. but no arrest was made as there
was no doubt as to the legal power of
the president in the matter. In 1906 Senior
ltujo. the Spanish Minister, tried to
brlbe Philadelphia newspaper to advo-
cate the Spanish view of boundry dis
pute and his recall was demanded after
President Madison had informed him
that his presence was displeasing. There
was no arrest in this case
Last summer the. children of the min
lister of South American government
went bathing in the Potomac in full view
of Georgetown heights without bathing
suits. The police were informed and
went to stop the proceeding, but when
the youngsters announced that they were
sons of a foreign minister, the police
withdrew with apologies for having in
truded and the bathers finished their
swim without further molestation.
Minor clashes have been frequent, but
good sense and discretion have as a rule
prevented any publicity and occasions
are rare when the question is raised, but
there came near being serious conSe-
quences when the furniture of French
Secretary of Legation was seized In 1S49
for non-payment of rent, but the pro-
ceedings were finally quashed without
involving the two governments.
Coaing Devices Failures.
That the devices now in use in the
navy for the purpose of coaling at sea
have proven a failure has caused great
01SdppOlnIInenL at THE navy DSpdltlHcllt
where great hopes of success had been
In existence. 1t Is curious coincidence
that Rear Admiral Bradford, who was at
the head of the bureau of construction
when the Illinois was built, was not en-
thusiastic over the idea and doubted
that a galloway connecting a warship
with collier would overcome the diff
cuties to be encountered. When the
Illinois was built -.owever, specially de-
signed wrenches were built on the quar-
terdecks for the purpose Of assisting the
apparatus proposed, but not until recently
was the test ordered The report of the
board of officers who supervised the test
is awaited with interest and the depart
ment has not abandoned hope that some
plan will yet be devised by which sue
cess will be obtained. That less than
three hundred tons were transferred has
excited some comment and the bureau
will probably set at work without delay
to devise some new plan to accomplish
what has heretofore proven impossible.
Congress VIII Settle Question.