The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-29
The Trouble Will End With the Dis
charge Of Ensign Child.
A BRIEF RESUME OF THE CASE,
Lieutenant wnIoughby Must Prove His
Citixenship Beyond Dispute to Retain
Command and Ensign Hall Must Go
Before q Board of Examination

Ensign Childs will be discharged from
the military service OF the state. Ensign
Hall will have to unfold his knowledge of
naval matters to board of examination,
and IL Lieutenant Willoughby desires to
retain command of the Newport Naval
Reserves he will have to prove his citizen
ship to the satisfaction Of the judge ad-
vocate general.
This is substantially the result of the
report of the board of inquiry appointed
last September to examine into the affairs
of the Newport Naval Reserves. This
morning the commander in chief would
neither affirm nor deny the story, but
stated that the report had been sent to
the adjutant general for action.
A Resume of the Case.
When the Newport Naval Reserves were
organised some two years ago, Mr.. Will
loughby, prominent and genial gentle
man of that city was chosen commander
with the rank of lieutenant. He appointed
two ensigns, one Mr.. Childs, a well known
photographer of Newport, and the other
Mr.. Hall, correspondent of the Provi-
dence Journal. Mr.. Hall appears TO
have given his superior officer no trouble,
but on the contrary Mr.. Childs by his
ambition and insubordination early be-
came thorn in the flesh to Mr.. Will
loughby. In November last Mr.. Will
loughby was given leave of absence until
April, and his farewell request was that
no petty officers should be appointed until
he again trod the soil of Newport. Mr..
Childs being senior ensign assumed COM
mand of the company, and in due course
thought it necessary to appoint petty Off
GERS. The news of his wilfulness reached
Lieut.. Willoughby in Florida, and from
the land of swamps and winter resorts
came a sharp rebuke laden with the breath
of cigarette smoke. Mr.. Childs was
moved to reply and apprise the lieu
tenant of his ignorance of naval etiquette,
and inform him that as he was not in COM
mand the appointment of petty officers
was none Of his business. This is not ex-
actly the language used by the senior
ensign out strong enough to
smell like the original. Mr.. Will
loughby came home and the COM
pany's elections drew nigh, affording Mr..
Childs an opportunity to mount horse
in competition with his superior officer
for the lieutenancy.
Discreditable Rumors Circulated.
Stories were circulated that Mr.. Will
loughby was unfriendly to the the Cath
olics, a slander which he credited TO Mr..
Childs, and for few days the struggle
was as exhilarating as Tenth ward fight.
Mr.. Willoughby was, however, victorious
and he followed up his victory with re-
quest for the recall of the order appoint
ing Mr.. Child as ensign. The result of
his request was the appointment of
board of inquiry.
1t is said that the testimony taken
Before the board reads very much like
washerwoman's squabble over the back
yard fence. Mr.. Childs was very anxious
to obtain the erection of an armory that
would house both the army and navy of
Newport, while Mr.. Willoughby thought
1t desirable that the naval reserves should
be alone in their glory. Mr.. Childs got
the armory and the telling between the
two officers grew more lurid.
But ii Is all over now, and the naval
reserve, with the disturbing elements re-
moved, should at once takeion the flourish
ing condition which marked its early
days. Its progress has been stopped by
an undignified, ridiculous squabble and so
far as the members of the company feel
il could no doubt be voiced in the express
sion, "How happy could be with either
were the other dear charmer away"