The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-29
An American Admiral for the Ger
man Navy-A Forgotten
Episode Of HistOry.

The Imperial German Government
is doing all 1t can just now to be-
little American military and naval
methods In the eyes Of the German
people; but there was a time when
Germany regarded the United States
Navy as the best In the world.
On October %, 1S4S, q meeting Of
the Cabinet was held AZ the White
House in Washington. JAMES X.
POLK Of Tennessee was President.
The leading members Of the Cabinet
were JAMES BUCHANAN, Secretary Of
State; ROBERT ]. WALKER, Secretary
Of the Treasury; WILLIAM l.. MARCY,
Secretary of War. and JOHN Y. Ma
SON of Virginia, Secretary Of the
Navy. We know what happened at
this meeting from the record of it
preserved by President POLK. All
through his Presidency he kept a
diary of his personal and political
experiences at Washington and else
where. This diary. which fills four
octave volumes of upward of 450
pages each, was published a few
years ago by the Chicago Historical
Society; and 1t contains much Curl
GUS and interesting matter, but moth
ing more remarkable than the Incl
dent we are to relate.
Mr.. BUCHANAN" says President
POLK, next presented an application
from the Government Of the German
Confederation at Frankfort to the
Government of the United States,
made through Mr.. DoNELsoN, for the
services Of an experienced naval Of
ficer of rank to take command of the
Ge,na0n Many. Their object was to
have the benefit Of the scientific
knowledge and experience Of such an
officer to instruct them in the orgahi-
cation Of their navy"
The Mr.. DoNELsoN referred to in
this entry was ANDREW J. DoNEIsoN
Of Tennessee. West Point graduate
who, after attaining the rank Of
Major, left the army for diplomacy
and became successfully Charge DAT.
flares Of the United States in Texas
while Texas was an independent ma
tionality; Minister to Prussia, and
Envoy to the German Confederation
stationed at Frankfort-on-the: Main.
His last appearance in public life
was in 1856 as the candidate fol-
vice-President of the American OF
Know Nothing party, which nomi'
mated FILLMORE for President.
The Secretary of State, the Secre.
tary Of the Navy, the Secretary OF
War and the Attorney General
ISAAC ToucEY of Connecticut, after.
ward Secretary of the Navy under
President BUCHANAN all expressed
themselves as strongly In favor OF
granting the application from Ger
many. There were objections to it
however, in the mind of the Presi
dent. which he proceeded to state
| as follows:
TN the nrst place. an officer Of tn,
United States Navy would be in ai
anomalous condition II he held also q
commission as commander admiral
was the title which it was stated he wal
to hold) in the German Navy. In tn,
second place. he would continue to re-
ceive his pay as an officer Of the United
States while he was In a foreign ser
vice and was performing no servic,
for tho United States 1t was ther
urged by Mr.. BUCHANAN and Mr.. ToU
cEY that he might have leave Of alb
sence to 60 abroad. relinquishing hi
pay during his absence. and that n,
order need be given to him to go int,
the German service. but leave It I,
him to do so II he chose
This did not satisfy Preskien