The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1911-12-29
COURT MARTIAL FOR
CASWELL SkUFLEY.
But Stanford Boy In Navy Is In
The Right And viii "shOw Up"
His Accusers At Trial.

Sundays papers told of the arrest
of Ensign X. Caswell Saufley, Of
the United States Navy, n son OF
the late Judge NJ. c. Sauflev. of THIS
city. The many friends of TINS pop
ular Stanford boy we're satisfied he
was in the right and this dispatch
in Wednesdays Courbr-Journal
seems to prove it:
Washington, Dec. 26.-The court
martial of Ensign Richard c. Saul
Fey, of Kentucky to begin at Nor
folk to-day, may develop into more
trouble for the Navy Department
and for Commandant Patton. of the
Norfolk yard, than for Saufley. AT
least, this view is taken by friends
of Saufley. who tell story of SUI
periors risking mems lives in UNI
seaworthy tubs and enforcing pri-
waite grudges. These facts, they say
will come out during the trial.
According to his friends, Saufey
will be absolutely exonerated by.
the cour. martial. but Commandant
Patton is likely 10 be reprimanded
for ordering out the torpedo boat
Biddle for night trip drought Hamp-
ton Roads. Senator Bradley, who
has been active in the matter. told
this story of Saufley's troubles with
the Commandant to-day, based, he
believes. on accurate information. ::
"Sauiiey was ordered off the
Kansas. on which he had been stat
toned ever since his graduation, to
take command of the Biddle. not
the Barry, then laid up at Charles
ton, $. c. She was one of num-
her of debilitated boats of her kind,
which has been beached by a ty-
phoon, and had bad name for un-
seaworthiness in the navy. Up to
the time he went aboard her, Saufley
had an excellent record.
Gle was ordered to take her to
Norfolk. which, without demur, al
though he knew her condition. and
amid many perils, he accomplished.
In her he made several trips from
Norfolk to Annapolis and finally he
took her to the New York review and
back, a rough journey, in which he
nearly lost the boat and all con-
cerned. owing to her condition.
"ller navigation Instruments were
deraHged; there were seams in her
just above the water line, and she
carried water in her hold. Still he
made no formal protest in his COM
mand.
Several days ago Saufley was
ordered to take the Biddle to Cape
Henry, with supplies for wrecked
collier. He did so. But her
condition grew so constantly worse
that Saufley began to fear that she
could make few more trips. He told
his superior officer about her.
"What must have been his sur
prise when he received orders to
sail with her that day again to Cape
Henry, despite the fact that he had
reported her unseaworthyf He pre-
pared to do So. lie was told at /
o'clock that he was to sail in about
an hour. Shutdown came and no or
der to embark. When it was grow
ing dark he was given the word to
go. lie felt that to go through the
dark seas on the Biddle would be q
grave peril that might result in the
loss Of the boat and his crew, for
whom. as Commander, he was per-
sonahy responsible. So he tele-
phoned the commandant and told
him that if he. still insisted on the
order he (Saufley) would take her
out alone, but under protest.
GAS am informed the command
ant declined TO take responsibility
of sending out Saufley under the En-
signs protest, but offered the SER
vices of pilot. This Saufley in
refused. considering il
reflection ON his seamanship, which
never before had been called into
question.
"The commandment then preferred
charges against Saufley, stating. l.
am told. that the Ensign's conduct
was unofficer like, and carrying the
intimaiion that he was afraid to
take out the Riddle. Conside ng
that he had brought up the boat
from Charleston, had taken her to
New York and back to Annapolis
and later, in the daytime, took her
10 Annapolis again, this seems very
Ihinly based.
"lf these facts are correct and |
believe hem TO be, Sauffey deserves
complete indication and Il any one
pets into trouble Il wir more likely !