New-York tribune., 1911-01-16
BARRY RETIRES SUDDENLY
Rear Admiral Says He May Save
Navy a Scandal by Getting Out.

San Francisco. Jan. lJ.-NedI AuNhiTdi
Cbauncey NJ Thomas. commander OF the
second squadron OF the Pacihc neet' ar
rived to-day. having been given rush or
ders at Santa Barbara yesterday 10 20 70
San Francisco with his flagship. the cruis-
er California. 10 relieve Rear Admiral Ed
ward B. Barry, pending action on Admiral
Barry's request for retirement.
Admiral Thomas at once relieved Admiral
Barry as commander-ln-chief OF the Pacific
feet. in pursuance OF orders received yes
torday from tho Navy Department Ad-
miral Barry has requested immediate re-
tirement from the service under the rule OF
more than forty years service.
The cause OF Admiral Bsrrys sudden de-
sire to leave the service, after having held
the post OF fleet commander for only a few
months Is the subject of great deal of
gossip and speculation in naval and club
circles here. Stories rejecting seriously on
the character of the retiring admiral were
circulated to-day and naval officers In port
have taken cognizance of them. There Is
an intlmation in these stories that the ad-
mlral has been forced TO retire. In speak
ing Of these rumors. Admiral Barry said:
1t is not true that ] have been forced
10 retire. Other men have asked for i'm
mediate retirement before. The reasons
that have caused me TO do this are partly
public and partly private.
The man who is triumphantly vndi-
Gated under such circumstances is as much
a loser as If the charges were proved 20
be true believe that by requesting i'm
mediate retirement I can save the navy
scandal"
The stories concerning Admiral Barry
are Of o nature refocting upon his moral
character. According to reports published
here, the admiral sent his request for re-
lief TO Washington following a conference
with the staff and line officers on board
the West Virginia on Tuesday night. AT
this conference II Is reported the sugges-
ton was made that loaded revolver he
sent to the admirals cabin, but this sug-
gestion was lost on a vote. The officers
present then took an oath of secrecy on
condition that Admiral Barry forward his
resignation to Washington at once.
Instead Of resignng. the admiral re-
quested retirement. After that fact be
came known the alleged subject OF the con-
ference leaked out until all the sailors Of
the fleet were talking.
Admiral Thomas held a conference with
District Attorney g. NJ. Ftckert shortly
after he arrived, but no definite course Of
action was decided on. Mr.. Fickert said:
MY office is investigating the stories re-
garding Admiral Barry, but I am not pre-
pared to say what action we snail take.
Even in case Of an offence committed with
in san Francisco Bay there " question
as to whether the county courts would
have jurisdiction. I nave consulted win
Admiral Thomas, but there is nothing dem
rite to say at this time
Washington. Jan. f6--Beekman winthrop.
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy, said TO-
night that the Navy Department was not
aware Of any embarrassment in connection
with Rear Admiral Edward B. Barrys ap'
pIication for retirement, which was ap'
proved by Secretary Meyer and recon-
mended last Friday. He declared that so
far as ia known here Rear Admiral Barrys
retirement was based on the law which
grants this privilege 10 navy officers VINO
have served forty years Rear Admiral
Rarrv has been in the navy forty-five
years.
Mr.. Winthrop added that no kno"leuse
10 the effect that the retirement or rear
Admiral Barry was forced or that ne had
been ostracized by his staff officers OF the
Pacific fleet. as alleged in newspaper
story printed in san Francisco to-day, had
reached the Navy Department.
Admiral Barry IS a native or Ne"
York and is sixty-two years old. He en-
tered the navy in 1866 and has had twenty
Ave years of service at sea