New-York tribune., 1911-01-17
BARRY HAULS DOWN FLAG
His Own Ship Only Vessel TO
Salute Him.
MAY BE COURT MARTIAlLED
Admiral Will Make His Future
Home in New York-De-
nies Allegations.
~ r.I.erarn b ~ TrlbnDe.

fUv Telegraph 90 The Iro1re.I
rau Francisco Jan. l6.-Rear Ao'h""'
Edward b. Barry hauled down his pen.
nant to-day and relinGuished commah" ~
The Pacific feet 10 Rear Admiral Chauh''S
Thomas The ceremony was marked ~
all the formalites prescribed by 'he 'e-
lations. hut peculiar and grave cuc"'"
stances 10 which report asrrioes Aoi'"''
Rarlys sudden request for rellrei'''",
rohto 90 the occasion Of the spontaneous anu
personal features which custom always
makes a part Of such incidents.
Tho West Virginia. Admiral Bairys has-
shin. returned from tveuty-ionr -I'"'
ccal test run. shortly after noon' ana "I'
hour later his two-staued pennant o""'e
down. 81,
After receiving the orders detachinS MN
from tie command OF the feet Ao'ira'
Barry made short speech 20 the assent
bied officers and men, expressing warm
Feeling for the West Virginia ana res'c'
az leaving the cruiser.
Tho retirins admiral was saluted only ny
Nis own ship. Instead OF going ashore I'M
rne5iatelv, ss Is customary, the adihHal
retired 70 his cabin. where he Walted uh'iI
nirhtfall. 7hen he stepped INTO motor
launch awaiting him and Nss taken 10 'he
naval landing.
when the admiral left the ship just be-
fore dark no officers gave him parting
,sI,,te but All the crew were on deck and
cheered him Justify.
While Ne was waiting IN his cabin Ad-
rniral Barry received reporters, 10 Whoin ne
denied in general and emphatic terms the
stories which have been published concern
ing the reasons for his unexpected retire
Will
leave san Francisco shortly for New forN'
where he expects 10 make his home.
II have retired partly from public
reasons and partly from private Tea-
sons" said Admiral Barry 10 reporters. !
cannot understand the stories against me.
Il isn't an unprecedented thing for an ad-
r1iraJ 10 request Immediate retirement. l
did So under n regulation which permits 1t
sfter forty years Of service" Admiral
Barry added that he intended 20 go 10
Mare Island tomorrow 10 visit an old
friend and that he would start for New
York tomorrow night
I have made New York my home nc
said. although since my wife died have
rot been much in any one place. / have
married daughter IN the East, but my son
is dead"
his officers had made no denial OF the
charges against him "To mako such
denial about another, one must have known
his every act from the time he was new
born babe" Raid the admiral lie drew
letter from his pocket and read part Of 1t.
II was from a sailor expressing sympathy
a0d declaring that the writer didn't believe
the charges.
That" said the admiral, lis a great
qualification TO me"
In assuming command Of the Pacific fleet.
with the California as his flagship Admiral
Thomas took over Admiral Barry's eXecu-
tive STAFF with the exception Of his secre-
1srv ana flag lieutenant. Lieutenant Com
msnder Victor Blue was made chief Of
staff. continuing in the post which he occu-
r'.d under Admiral Barry
washington. Jan. l6.-Secretary Meyer OF
the Navy Department telegraped 10 the
Pacific Coast this afternoon for fun re-
port on the allegation that the retirement
og Admiral Barry was caused by the de-
lnauds for his res ignatiOn by officers Of
tb, Harship West Virginia. The Navy De-
.r4rtment declined 20 say 10 whom the tele-
gram asking for a report had been sent,
hut II IS assumed that It was directed to
Rear Admiral Thomas. the new COM
lnauder in chief Of Tie Pacific feet.
The fact that Admiral Barry has been
placed on the retired list does not preclude
The possibility of court martial proceedings
being instituted against him i'm case charges
are preferred. lie still is part OF the
naval establishment and. it is said 1t
would be entirely within the province Of
the Secretary of the Navy to convene
court martial to try any charges which
might De presented.
Admiral Barry's request for retirement
was received by the Navy Department by
telegraph last Thursday. The fact that 1t
was received 10y wire instead Of by mail
was by no means unprecedented and eN-
cited no comment. Secretary Meyer APP
proved the application on the day following
it's receipt The President promptly ap-
proved the request, and the department
teltIraphcd 90 the admiral on Saturday,
dctachiug him from the Pacinc fleet and
ordering him to his home. in accordance
with the established custom. His retire
ment dates from January 1S,
BY operation Of law Admiral Barry would
have retired In October OF the current year.
His pay as a rear admiral was ss,0oo while
his retired compensation will be three
fourths Of that amount, or $3.50.
Not until the complaining officers Of the
West Virginia lave been heard from will
the Navy Department be in a position 10
determine whether there shall be any pro-
,cedings I'm tho case OF Admiral Barry If
~ should be decided in the affirmative, the
mere fact that the accused officer has vol
unfairly retired would not shield him from
punishment in the case Of a court martial
scsulting iu conviction.
Under the regulations convicted officer
IS liable 20 confinement not 10 exceed hf-
teen years and expulsion from the naval
service. cutting OF an retired pay.