Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-04

James Mcfarland of lo45 Union street
southwest declared today that he had
shore leave Saturday night when the
Ozark was at Annapolis, and decided to
go home instead of returning to the ship.
The grub was not fit to eat" he said,
and he added that he was seasick good
part of the time. His brother is still on
the ship. He enlisted, he said, the day
the vessel sailed, but was never sworn in.
He stated also that by going on the
cruise he lost his position with the Purity
Paper Bottle Company.
Misrepresented His Age.
Birney Hibbs of 1924 Az street south
west said that he enlisted about three
weeks before the Ozark sailed. He did
not want his mother to know of his en-
listment, SO he gave his age as twenty
five, although he is only eighteen.
THE grub was no good he said. land
the men had to drink salt water for three
days. The fresh meat was not At to
eat"
Hibbs said that he enlisted because he
wanted to see something of the world.
and he expected to take the cruise to
New York.
He stated also that he spent one day
in the brig because he refused to go on
watch after he had been on duty all Gay.
Saturday he got shore leave: he said. and
he returned to Washington instead of go
ing back to the ship. He wrote two let
tiers to his mother, telling her briefly OF
his experience as naval militiaman.
Hibbs said he personally knew about
ten men who deserted from the Ozark.
He stated that he had never been sworn
into the service. His chief complaint
was about she food.
Intended to Return.
At the home Of Frank Vernon, at 1924
Vernon street, it was said that the young
man came to Washington Monday morn
ing in order to get some tobacco. and
that he intended to return to the ship,
with cramps.
According to members of his family,
Vernon had no complaint about the food.
They said he was not dissatisfied. that
he did not expect to get fried chicken
on board and that he was going back to
the battalion. The reason he came to
Washington for tobacco, they said. was
because he had no money with which
to buy it in Annapolis.
Raymond Walker OF 356 Mclean street
southwest was not at home this morning.
Both his father and brother say he was
seventeen years old. although he gave
his age. they said. as twenty. According
to the members Of his family, he COM
planned good deal about the character
of the food furnished aboard the vessel.
His brother, who was formerly a men,
Der of the Naval Battalion. said that
some petty officer first suggested to Ray
mond to come home when they got shore
leave. Walker. Mcfarland and Vernon
all enlisted just before the ship sailed.
Legal Problems Arise.
According to a statement of an officer
familiar with the militia law of the Dis
trict, If these men, as they claim, were
never actually sworn in, and yet per-
formed military duty, several interesting
legal problems will be involved In their
trial. To give false age in enlisting. the
officer pointed out, is serious military
offense, being equivalent to fraudulent
enlistment" and yet. if the men were
never sworn in. the question arises wheth-
er it was actual fraudulent enlistment.
Will Order General Court-Martial.
AS soon as the report from Commander
Stratton is received at District Militia
headquarters it is thought that Gen.
Harries will order a general court-mar-
tial to try the men who left the ship.
The court will be composed of thirteen
officers of the National Guard, and as
there are only about that number in the
commissioned personnel of the Naval
Battalion some of the members Of the
court will probably be taken from the
other commands of the brigade
If during the trial of the men, or in
any other manner, it is brought out that
conditions on the Ozark were not such
as could be reasonably expected under
existing conditions, a court of inquiry,
consisting of about three officers Of the
brigade, will probably be appointed to in
Quire into the conduct of the officers Of
the battalion. Ii after investigation it
is found that there was laxity or negli-
gence on the part of any of the officers
they would then be ordered to appear
before a court-martial for trial.
The trial of the men, however, is prac-
tically assured, as it is explained. even
under undesirable conditions on board
the ship, cannot under military regula-
tons be pleaded in justification for the
action of the men in leaving her without
permission.
No direct communication has been had
with the Ozark since the report of the
assertions reached Washington 1t is
thought that she may call at Norfolk
and in that case her commander will i'm
mediately notify District Militia head
quarters of the location of the ship.
Believe Trouble Exaggerated.
An officer of the National Guard, who
n,
said to a reporter for The Star today: II
think the trouble has been somewhat ex-
aggerated. There are a lot of new men,
bers in the battalion, and many of them
are Only half-grown boys. One of them
was enlisted within an hour before the
boat sailed. These fellows expected an
easy time of it and probably did not real
ize that the boat is not comfortable
one and that there would be lots of work
Then there was also the disappointnient
of not going to the maneuvers
Within half an hour after the Ozark
got outside of Cape Charles half of the
crew were Seasick. AS for the food, 1t
was good, palatable and plenty of 1t. 1t
was sampled every day by the officer of
the deck. But. as you know, when
man is seasick no food tastes good to
him.
The main deck Of the Ozark is only
three feet above water, and in rough
seas, when the boat Is going at any
sort of speed. the main deck is constant
ly being washed by water. When the
boat left Washington it had abo 1T $1,000
gallons Of water on board. In some
mysterious manner It is said, this water
After a fresh supply was