The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-30
A SHIP,S CREK PR0TEsT.
Men az the United states snip west virginia
Resent q Reelection on the service.


To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: The
enlisted men composing the crew OF the
United States flagship West Virginia. now In
foreign waters, do most respectfully request
that we be allowed to take issue with Mr..
Martin J. Comberwell. who In n Sun OF
September 10 did foroibly and we must say
maliciOusly run down and malign q force
Of men who have done more for the honor
and glory OF true American citizenship than
any class represented by such men a. Mr..
Comberwell, even though their mental SUI
periority Is not called into question.
Where, oh, where did Mr.. Comberwell get
his informationH How does he dare to In
slnuate that an army OF 5000 soldiers. or a
navy Of some $1,000 bluejackets. are buns
and drunkRrds?
II a party Of bluejackets 90 ashore after q
cruise Of months on q foreign station. and
they happen 70 get DIR INK. why should they
be run down any more than a party Of excur-
slonlsts who have lool,ed too long on the
amber colored fuid2
Men who have served In both the army and
the navy can and do say that in the great
majority Of cases the enlisted man does not
get drunk. and that 20 per cent. do not drink
at all. Why ondemn your whole nshting
force because OF the wanton actions OF those
who are not representative OF the enlisted
men2
1t is said that we do not merit respect. Who
In the world offers us respect but the saloon
keeper and his kind2 None other thinks 1t
except as a necessary evil, Mr. ~Comberwell
would lead the general public TO believe that
the Government service is 2 refuge for buns,
whom shall you believe. men like Mr.. Com
berweli. or . Miles. Dewey. Charee. sehley,
Wheeler or Bob Evans: men who have heard
the hum of bullets. slept In fever reeking
trenches, went athirst and hungered because
OF their love Of country Men who cut cables
do II for love OF money. Oh, no, Mr., Com
berwell.
The soldier who was wounded unto death
by the poisoned spear Of our little brown
brother" was not OF the type of the city bum
and corner loafer. The sailor who jumps
shipmate's life might not be nj to associate
with. Mr.. Comberwell. but at all. events our
President IL not ashamed to shake his hand.
even though a bum and a tramp according to
Mr.. Comberwell's standard. Perhaps the
gentleman may not think us fit TO be seen IN
the vicinity of his family. but, We have noticed
that those who run down the enlisted per
sonnet usually remain furthest away from the
recruiting Sag Offices SssI in ii time miS Of t 1SSt *. vors, o,
the sights YOU see which offend the sensi-
bilities Of citizens like Mr.. Comberwell can
good common sense knocked into him by his
comrades. b. the time he has been pun
ished Tor drunkenness and dlsgraclng tine
Again, I think Mr.. Comberwell should have
had more pride In his. American manhood
than to make himself the laughing stock Of
more than a hundred thousand men. He might
fool his equals. but no one acquainted with
the service.
The writer Of this letter finds his sentiments
supported by the feelings of every, enlisted
man who read the venomous attack OF Mr..
Comberwell in THE Sun: although an ignO-
rant bum from the lower class of society. he
did not need a lawyer to help him write this
letter.
BE a man, Mr.. Comberwel: he honest with
yourself, II not with your neighbor, and admit
Inv your heart OF hearts that you are full Of
bile and ignorance, and did not know what
you were talking about W. F. FLETCHER,
United States FLAGSHIP West Vir ginia.
AsIATIC STATION. Port Said, October 10.