Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-16
APPROVED BY : PRESIDENT
Action Before Receipt of Advices
Affecting Officers Reputation.
RuMoR OF SERIOUS CHARGES
Late Commander Of Pacific Fleet
May Face Trial by
Court-Martial.

President Taft and he has been trans
ferred to the retired list Of the navy.
The Navy Department today received a
telegram from Rear Admiral Thomas. who
was appointed to succeed Admiral Barry.
that he had assumed command of the
Pacific fleet. The Navy Department is
sued the order retiring Admiral Barry
and advised him of that fact by tele-
graph.
This action was taken before the pub
LEGATION of the allegations that officers OF
the flagship West Virginia contemplated
charges against the admiral rejecting
upon his moral character. 1t was reit-
Grated at the Navy Department today
that no charges had been filed mere
against Admiral Barry, and that all that
was known officially in regard to his re,
tirement was that he desired to avail
himself of the privilege granted by law
to voluntarily retire after forty years
of active service.
Rumors Cause Gossip.
Gossip was rife in naval circles here
today over the reports from San iran
cisco as to the real cause for the sudden
retirement Of Rear Admiral Barry and
his relief from command of the Pacific
fleet In the absence OF official Informal
ton on the subject the officials and
officers decline to discuss the case Tor
publication, except to say that the case
is entirely regular, so far as the ret
ords, show.
The application of Rear ADMIRAL Barry
for retirement was received at the de-
partment by telegraph last Thursday. IL
was based on the statute which grants
that privilege to officers who have rem
dered forty years Of service on the active
list. Rear Admiral Barry has exceeded
that limit by five years. AS no reason
was known for denying him the privilege
it was promptly granted by the Presl-
dent on the Recommendation OF the Dec
rotary of the Navy.
Telegraphic orders were sent Friday 70
Rear Admiral Chauncey Thomas, the
next In command In the Meet, to reieVe
Rear Admiral Barry in order that the
latter might proceed to his home IN New
York. In accordance with these orders
Rear Admiral Thomas assumed command
of the fleet at San Francisco this morn
ing.
Approved by President Taft.
Assistant Secretary Winthrop said the
Navy Department was not aware of any
embarrassment in connection with Rear
Admiral Barry's application for retire
ment. which was approved by Secretary
Never and granted by the President last
Friday: He declared that so far as 1t is
known here Rear Admiral Barry g re-
tirement application was based solely on
Mr.. winthrop added that no knowledge
IN fine effect that the retirement of Rear
Admiral Barry was forced or that ne mao
heen ostra cised by the officers OF the
Pacific neet. as alleged by newspaper
| g. N a
reached e the Navy Department. The
lack OF offcial Information makes 1t diff
ficuIt TO forecast what further action, II
any. may be taken In the case
Real Issue Not Affected. .
It is conceded that the fact that Ad-
miral Barry has been transferred from
the active to the retired list does not
affect the real issue, II there exists any
reason for further action. If Admiral
Barry has violated any OF the naval reg
uiations he il subject to court-martial
proceedings just the same as II he had
remained on the active list. At least,
that is the expressed opinion of several
legal authorities at the Navy Depart
ment. Whether such action will be
taken, however, depends entirely on cir
cumstances.
Naturally the naval officers desire to
avoid an unnecessary scandal. IT, how
ever, it il true, as reported from San
Francisco. that some Of the officers OF the
flagship West Virginia have made formal
charges against Admiral Barry of con-
duct unbecoming an officer and gentle
man, the Navy Department hardly can
avoid converting a court-martial for the
trial of the ofYicer. No such charges have
reached the department and there Is
nothing on file to indicate that they have
been forwarded. 1t is not known here
oR u.l,o q n
threatened to file charges against Ad-
miral Barry unless he resigned will al
low the matter to drop, now that he has
retired"