The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-19
CAPT. G.4RST"S SENTENCE.
Loss OF Five Numbers and Suspension for
Six Months on Half Pay.

WASHINGTON, June 1S.-Secretary of the
Navy ~Bonaparte to-day passed sentence
on Capt. Perry Garst. commanding officer
OF the battleship Rhode Island. which weE,
aground on York Spit. Va, several weeks
ago. Capt. Garst, together with Lieutenant.
Commander Edward T. Witherspoon, wal
tried by court-martial at Norfolk on charges
growing out Of the grounding of the vessel
The case was a serious one and has attracted
much attention.
The our sentenced Capt. Garst to the loss
Of five numbers in'grade and to suspension
from active service for one year on one-half
sea Day. MIR. Bonaparte mltigated the GEN.
tence to the extent of reducing the period
Of suspension from one year to six months,
but at that the sentence is a severe one.
Capt. Garst Is now ffty-fourth in the list
OF Captains Of the navy. His loss Of five
numbers will make him ffty-ninth. Mr..
B%onaparte's opinion in the case was made
public at his office to-day. In part it is as
follows:
After carefully considering the record. and
also brief and argument Of Capt. Garst's
counsel. the Department holds that the ac-
cused In this case has been fairly tried by a
competent and impartial court, whose find
In rs are fully sustained by the evidence. The
Captains obligation Of vigilance was, in the
Departments judgment. not lessened but
rendered more imperative by the facts that
this was a "shakedown" cruise, and that he
had no previous personal acquaintance with
the navigator.
without going into a discussion Of the
technical questions it seems clear that a
cllpable error was made az to the state of the
tide and that, IL the testimony of the two leads
men Is to be credited, either insufficient atten-
tion was paid TO the soundings or the speed
of the vessel should have been reduced. The
Department considers that the good of the
ser vice requires the Captain Of every war
vessel to be held to very strict Responsibility
for the safety Of the ship and its officers and
men. 1t is satisfied from the record that the
accused failed to discharge himself of that re-
sponsibllity. and IL regards an adequate. hut
not an excessive. punishment as imperatiyely
demanded In his case. The findings and sem
tence of the court martial are approved. but
in view Of the courts recommendation for
clemency the period of suspension from dutv
on hall sea pay imposed as part Of the SEN
tence Ia reduced from one year to six months
Thus Capt. Garst, for allowing the Rhode
Island to go aground, loses command of the
big new battleship, half of his pay f%orrsix
months and five numbers in grade. This
may mean a great deal to the officer. "a II
will take a full year for him to recover the
loss OF the five numbers, and ultimately
may prevent ms re'irernent as a Rear Ad-
miral. Capt. Garst was found guilty. OF
neglect ofduty and carelessnessin grounding
the Rhode sland. He was tried on charges
growing out Of the incident and Immediately
after the court had finished with his case
it took up that Of Lieutenant Commander
Wjtherspoon, navigator Of the Rhode Island.
against whom were made charges similar to
those or which Capt. Garst was convicted,
MIR. Bonaparte will tomorrow make known
the conclusions Of the court and his own
findings in the Witherspoon case.
Following the announcement of the con.
illusions in the Garst case il was said at tho
Navy Department that Capt. Charles O..
Bowman, now captain OF the Pensacola
Navy Yard, will be given command of the
Rhode Island.