The Washington times., 1902-12-28
COMMANDER ROLLER
REACHES THIS COUNTRY
Ordered Home by Rear Ad-
miral Evans.
lNFRACTIoN OF NAVAL LAW
Said to Have Permitted Wife to Reside
Aboard Ship While in Command Of
Gunboat MonOcacy.

naval authorities on account Of persist
ent violation OF a regulation which FOR
bids women to reside on war vessels. In
the case OF Commander Roller. his wife
was concerned in the infraction Of naval
law.
1t is alleged that while in command OF
the gun boat Monocaoy in Chinese
waters. his attention was called several
times 10 reports that Mrs Roller was
residing on board the ship. but that ad-
monitions from Rear Admiral Evans.
commanding the Asiatic fleet. had no ef-
feet
Admiral Evans heard that despite the
warnings given to Commander Roller.
Mrs. Roller had sfterward remained
aboard the MonOcacy for several weeks
Thereupon the admiral detached Com
mander Roller from the ship and order
ed him to return to the United states.
Under Waiting Orders.
He has reached this country and been
placed on waiting orders pending a deci-
sion by the Navy Department as 20 its
course Of action. It is regarded as un-
likely, however. that the department
will inaict other punishment on the
erring officer than TO keep him for pro-
tracted period on waiting orders.
This is the first case OF which the
Navy Department has had knowledge Of
the violation by an officer of the reEula-
tion against the residence Of women on
vessels of the navy. IE the old days Of
the service the practice vas not forbid
den and it was customary for an admiral
or the commanding officer Of a vessel on
a foreign service TO have his wife. ana
frequently other members Of his family.
with him for the entire cruise.
Many officers complained that the sys-
TEN was bad as IL interfered with dis
cipline TO have women as passengers.
Much bad feeling existed where tns
wives OF several officers were quartered.
II is said that chickering's between the
women on these ships were frequent. and
that cabin and wardroom we're drawn
into the controversies OF the female con-
tingeut
Practice Was Stopped.
In 1876 a regulation restricting the
practice WIS issued. and in 1881 William
II. Hunt. then Secretary OF the Navy. ex-
tended the prohibition in the following
rule:
Women shall not be allowed TO resida
on board vessels OF the United States
Nax-,- Il, ~,rur,feefor for goa -o-,f-o,- r,o-
shall they be taken as passea gers on
such vessels under any eircums ances."
William z. Chandler. who succeeded
Mr. Hunt as the head Of the Navy y .
partment. was a bitter enemy OF thu
practice. and did everything he could to
assure. the fulfllment OF his predecessors
regulation. Mr.. Chandler even object
ed 10 the wives and families Of oficera
taking up residence at ports on foreign
stations while vessels upon which their
husbands or other relatives were servina
were attached 10 those stations. He at
tempted to carry out this idea. but was
unsuccessful. He gained his point in
some measure. however. by the following
order issued in 1883:
Strict Orders Issued
Naval officers attached to cruising
war vessels. especially commanding Of
icers. are expected to leave their fam
lilies al their usual or fixed places Of
abode. ans not TO attempt to transfer
them to more convenient visiting points.
officers disregsrding this injunction viii
be liable 10 be relieved from duty
Some officers refused 10 abide by the
order. and for the rest OF his term OF
Once Mr.. Chandler was rated severely in
naval circles. and particularly by the
women IN the families OF naval officers.
for what was held 10 be an interference
with the rights Of individuals.
When he surrendered the naval port
folio in March. 1855. q persistent effort
was made by naval officers to have the
order revoked. This effort was success
f'il On June 30. 1885. Secretary William
c. Whitney directing that Il he Cancelled
The order forbiddlng women from taking
up residence on board ships OF war re-
mains ii force. however. and II was this
which Commander Roller is accused OF
violating
Only One Other Case.
Naval officers here can recall only one
case other than that OF Commander Rol-
Ter, where Secretary Hunts regulation
prohibiting women from taking up res
idence on shipboard was not observed.
although there is a question whether IL
was actually violated In this instance In
this case the offender was the wife OF
naval officer. now captain in command
Of one Of the big ships attached TO Ad-
miral Dewey's fleet in the West Indies.
She was an exceedingly clever and at
tractiye woman, and the manner In
which she violated the regulation and AZ
the same time outwitted her husband
forms story which naval officers tell
With a great deal OF enjoyment
AZ the time Of this infraction OF the
rule. the officer In question had command
Of gunboat which was lying on a port
OF the Argentine Republic, where politi-
cal disturbances were expected and his
wife was living ashore with her mother
a. a place near the town.
The officer had warned his better half
that political disturbances were likely
TO occur az any moment. and he directed
her not 10 go to the town until danger
had passed. One day the revolutionists