The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-16
Navy Department Agitated by
Charges Against Off
GERS Character
ALLEGATIONS MADE
BY HIS SUBORDlNATES
While Same Were in Mail
Rear Admiral Wires Resig-
nation and Has it
Accepted

SAN FRANCISCO. jan 16.--Rear-
Admiral Edw. Barry commanding the
second squadron Of the Pacific fleet,
.his afternoon will turn command OF
the squadron over 10 Rear Admiral
Chauncey NJ. Thomas.
Despite the fact that District Attor-
ney Fickert is making an investigation
of the charges against Barry, said to
have been filed with the Navy Depart
ment by officers of the hattieship West
Virginia the officers of the squadron
are endeavoring 40 "nush the whole
matter up"
IL is not believed that they viii take
any steps towards prosecuting barry
district Attorney Fickert declared
to- day that he would not know whether
his office would take any action untii
he could determine whether he had
jurisdiction He is pushing the matter
SO that, II he decides To act, he can get
the officers and men wanted as wit
nesses before they can get beyond
reach.
II is understood that the officers Of
the squadron are planning 10 give Ad-
miral Thomas roustns welcome, but
that the ceremony OF Barry's retire.
ment will De q chilly affair. Accord
ing to reports. the officers want to
avoid firing IA salute TO Barry. dipping
the pennants Of the warship or having
officers row the admiral ashore. The
band on the battleshtp West Virginia,
the flagship, wifi be silent when hurry
leaves. according 10 reports.
WASHINGTON. u. c.. Jan. ia
.laky tg.rg
has seldom known and one that mas
no duplicate H. the history OF the
United States navy threatened to be
exposed mere to-day an the result OF
the hurried retirement OF Rear Aa~
mirai r.. Is. Barry, commander Of the
Pacific feet, following the filiug OF
personal charges against him by his
officers.
The fact that Barry applied for re-
tirement by wire and succeeded in
gaining action from the Secretary OF
the Navy and President Tart hef.Fe
the arrival here OF charges mailed
from San Francisco is not expected to
end the affair.
When President Taft ordered Bar
ry retired last week nothing was
known here OF the circumstances of
the case, further than the fact that
Barry, having served forty-fve years,
tirement
May Have Court Martial.
Barry Is still an officer of the navy,
though retired, and h ~ believed here
that his aceusers Will not be satisfied
with the situation. Hints of posi-
bic court martial as a result OF efforts
OF Barrys accusers to force him en-
tireiy out of the navy were heard here
to-day. II was declared unlikely.
however. that anything would be done
3, nnttd the changes, said la ,ha.e. aIhean
mailed from San Franciso. were re-
ceiyed at the Navy Department,
A court-martiaI or inquiry OF such
q nature as TO bring out the details
OF the charges viii he opposed, IL
possible, on the ground that IL would
not be good policy for the navy, but
II the circumstances seemed to de-
mand such action, II is declared to-
day that the department will not hest
tate 10 compel thorough airing OF
the whole affair.
II Is said that four officers OF the
ship, having observed. without detec-
ton by the rear admiral what they
assert o be positive proof of their
charges. openly demanded his imme-
date resignation. They made n re-
port of the affair, and placed IL In
his hands With Il request that he for
ward II to Washington. Instead. IL
Is said that he destroyed the doeu-
ment and at once applied by tele-
graph for retirement. The officers
then mailed a duplicate of the report
to the Navy Department In Washing
ton. In the meantime Barry succeed
ed in gaining his retirement. and Rear
Admiral Chauncey NJ. Thomas, hasti-
iy summoned from shore leave at
Santa Barbara, California. was order
ed to take charge of the fleet to-
day. The West Virginia has been at
sea for two day cruise. being ex-
pected In San Francisco harbor to-
day. when Barry will leave the ship
and be succeeded by Thomas.
OMcer Of Long Service.
Rear Admiral Edward Buttevant
Barry was born in New York Oc-
tober 20. 1919. He would have been
retired for age next October Barry
was appointed to the Naval Academy
in 1858. and in less than six years
after his graduation was commission
ed lieutenant He became a COM
rnandcr In 1900, captain I'm 1905 and
rear admiral in February. 1909. TAX
Ing command Of the Pacific fleet last
fall. when he succeeded Rear Ad-
miral Giles b. Harder.
Barry IN one Of the best known Of
fcers OF the navy His forty-fiye
years service has been spent mostly
at sea. during which time he has ira
vorsed the entire globe many times
The charges are OF an unprintablc
character.