The Washington herald., 1909-04-18

Philadelphia. April r.-Something SO
closely approaching insubordinaoon has
broken out at the Philadelphia Navy
Yard among the principal officers Of the
line that the Official wires between the
Navy Department at Washington and
the navy yard are kept hot with dis
patches summoning League Island Of
hcers to Washington
Courts-ma-tial for nine officers are
talked Of.
The officers are charged with violating
the rule Of the service designed 70 stife
pubic criticism OF the acts Of the de-
partment heads by the very men best
fitted TO criticise.
The officers maintain that they are
guiltless of characterization or infraction
Of the naval regulations, and are backed
up by Admiral Pendleton. commandant
at the yard, who IS quoted as declaring
that the officers are right, and had Il not
been that opportunity was not given to
90 50, he would have been with them IN
their actions
Pamphlet Brings CIimnx.
The climax Of disafection came last
week. when a pamphlet. more astound-
ing than any paper Of IT'S kind which
ever had fits origin in the United States
navy. reached Secretary OF the Navy
Meyer as a message from secret meet
ing held on board the United States
steamship Panther at League IslaEd, on
March ..
The officers present at the meeting were
Capt Albert G. Berry. chairman OF the
committee; Commander B. c Bryan,
treasurer: Lieut. Commander J. S. Nc
Kean, Lieut. Commander n. c. Twinch-
ing. secretary; Lieut.. Commander r. D.
Hasbrouck. Lieut.. E. H Delaney. Lieut.
g. ". Steele. jr., Ensign H. T. Dyer.
and Midshipman W S. Farber.
Immediately after the meeting the
pamphlet was sent to be printed. and a
copy was forwarded TO Secretary Meyer
at Washington. with the request that II
might be circulated among the officers
OF the line.
The pamphlet was Immediately sup
pressed and every available copy was at
once sent 10 Washington, under orders
from Secretary Meyer.
The Officers Circular.
The officers. speaking through the cir
cular. say:
The officers stationed at the Philadel-
phia Navy Yard and attached 70 the
ships at that yard held a meeting on
board the Panther on March 3. 1909. TO
discuss the conditions now existing at that
and other navy yards with respect to or
ganization and administration. and to de-
ternine whether or not it would be prac-
ticable, in a manner consistent with mill
tary discipline, to secure an interchange
Of views among the scattered officers. OF
the service. TO the end that, IN case Of a !
favorable opportunity arising. the crys-
tallized opinion OF the service at large
might be presented 10 the department |
II was the sense Of the meeting:
"First-That the subject OF naval ad- /
in general had received but
slight attention or study from the great /
OF the officials OF the navy.
'SecOnd-That the recent changes in /
The navy yard administration were prob (
ably known in detail 10 but few officers,
and were thoroughly understood by but a |
small percentage Of these.
Third-That the efficiency OF the fleet
should be the governing consideration 10
formulating any system OF naval admin
stratiOn, and that this subject, therefore.
be made the field Of earnest study by
Every officer Of the navy.
Association Proposed.
'Fourtn-That for the purpose Of arous-
ng all officers TO a full sense Of the i'm
oortance Of this subject, and Of promoting
among them a sense Of individual respon-
'ibility for the efficiency OF the navy, It
would be eminently proper to form an as
the object and function OF which
would he % eollzct. eollate. study. and
disseminate information regarding exist
ng and possible systems OF naval admin
-Fifth-Th9t for the purpose Of making
! beginning Of such an association. a com
nittee be formed from those officers now
n Philadelphia, which committee should /,
axe immediate steps to communicate
With brother officers at other stations
With a view 10 securing their cooperation
n the work"
The circular Is signed by the nine Off
ers named above.