The Washington herald., 1911-01-28
BARRY QUITS NAVY
Resigns ''for Good of the
Service" Upon Request.
LOSES ANNUAL RETIRED PAY
Resignation of Former Comma nder-
fn-chief of the Pacific Fleet Ten
Secretary Meyer as Result Of Ac-
cusatiOns Affecting Morals.

Rear Admiral Edward B. Barry, U. S.
n, retired, former commander in chief
OF the Pacific fleet, has resigned for
the good Of the service" His resignation
WIS called for by Secretary Of the Navy
Meyer by authority from President Taft,
following serious accusations affecting
Admiral Barrys moral character. The
resignation became effective yesterday
Admiral Barry will be entirely separated
from the naval service, and will lose the
annual retired pay of s60C0. He will also
lose the title of admiral. and will hence
forth be known as Mr.. Barry" The
incident is without precedent in naval
annals.
The Navy Department had no inkling
Of the serious charges against Admiral
Barry several weeks ago, when he sud
denly requested voluntary retirement
after more than thirty years sevice. His
application for voluntary retirement was
Il surprise to officers of the department
because of the fact that he would have
been placed on the retired list next Oc-
tober for age. The department was I'M
aware of the serious accusations against
him at the time his application for re-
tirement was approved by President
Taft.
The first knowledge of the charges
against him came through the publica-
ton in the newspapers of the country of
the recent events on board the armored
cruiser West Virginia, Admiral Barry s
flagship, VIXEN an attempt was made by
officers OF that vessel to force Admiral
Barry to resign from the service. In
stead of transmitting a report in which
he-was implicated by the officers of the
vessel, he attempted to suppress it.
Asked Barry for Report
To prevent this disposition of the re-
port the officers sent ii to the depart
ment upon their own responsibility. In
stead of reSigning, as the officers of his
vessel suggested, Admiral Barry asked
for voluntary retirement. which the de-
partment granted without suspectinG that
anything was wrong
AS soon as the department learned of
the situation. Secretary Meyer telegraphed
to the chief for a complete
report of the incident This was received
at the Navy Department last Monday
morning. Secretary Meyer Immediately
laid the case before President Taft. who
authorized Mr. Meyer to call for Admiral
Barry's resignation. The resignation was
received by telegraph Thursday night.
The admirars resignation was announced
at the Navy Department yesterday, i'm
mediately after the conclusion Of the
Cabinet meeting.
Admiral Barry is a native of New York
City, where he was born on October ~.
1919. He was graduated from the Naval
Academy in 1869. During the Spanish war
he participated in the blockade of Ha-
vana. the attack on MantanZas, and in the
search for the Spanish fleet He was
on duty at the New York Navy
Yard as supervisor of naval auXiliaries.
Later he commanded the battle ship
Kentucky.
He reached the grade of rear admiral
in May. 1863. and was assigned to the
of the second division OF the
Pacific fleet. Upon the retirement of Rear
Admiral Sebree. last year. Admiral Barry
became commander-in-ch of the Pa
cinc fleet. which post he held until about
two weeks ago.