The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-16
NEAR MUTINY ON
M|LITIA'S CRUISE
Men Thought Lieut. Dalton
Was to Be Denoted as
Executive Officer.
PETITION WAS GOTTEN UP
Commander Denpf, at End Of Trip, b
Told Of Matter, but Denies
Truth Of Rumor.
PETITION WAS GOTTEN UP

A tale concerning the recent cruise Of
the naval battalion Of the District Militia
with a plot that smacks slightly of neal
mutiny. found its way abroad last nigh,
from the mouths Of some Of the jackie.
who played a prominent part.
The routine Of life on the sea growi
very monotonous after a while. and 1,
Goes not take the members of the lcca
naval battalion long to learn this each
year. They weary Of the daily grind
end long for something out of the oodi.
nary to happen, and usually their ex-
rectations are realized. Almost every
year they succeed in stirring up some
thing to relieve the monotony of the
cruise.
This trip was not an exception. A
rumor fot around that Commander Jo-
seph A. Dempf was about to deprive
Lieut. ]. B. Dalton of the position Of
executive officer and was to elevate a
yoeman to the place. Friends of the
lieutenant held a secret indignation
meeting and before long a round rubin
was in circulation. requesting the C IN
mander not to carry out the rumored
design.
Petition Is Circulated.
The petition was circulated quietly dur
ing the cruise, and not a word got IL
80 SoHCcTUlnR the DTODOEl-
uon. II was not until the sailors were
lined up in the armory at the completion
Oh the trip just prior to being mustered
cut that the complaint Of the men was
voiced. Yoeman Murphy. one of the
leaders Of the movement, informed the
commander that the men had a peti-
ton to submit to him. The request was
read 1t told Of the rumor in circu-
iation and urged that the commander re-
Train from demoting Dalton.
Commander Dempf explained that he
mao no intention OF demoting the lieuten-
ant or Of making another person execu-
tive officer. and added that even n he
desired to. he would be without authority
10 take such action. The men seemed
satisfied with the explanat ton, and some
said that had they known all the parti-
culars they would not have signed the
round robin.
Lieut.. Dalton Is senior line officer and
by virtue Of that position is the execu-
i've omcer. The recent cruise was made
on the Battleship Alabama, SO that the
executive ofhcer of the trip was the sem
lor line ohhcer OF the Alabama, Lieut..
Daiton serving merely as a deck oficer.
II seems that some time ago there
was some dispute between Commando,
Dempf and the lieutenant. and since
then friends Of Dalton have been fearful
mat the commander would elevate SOM,
other person to Dalton's place. Accord
ing to the rumor a local newspaper man
who was on the cruise as a yoeman wa
scheduled to be promoted to the position
Of executive officer.
Calls Rumor Absurd.
>. The rumor was absurd" said Conn
mander Dempf last night IT had no in
tention Of demoting Dalton, of asking
lof MS resignation. or Of elevating some
other person to the position of execu-
i've officer. What is more, 1 was ab-
olutely without authority to promote
my one to the position of executive Of |
icer
Il looked upon the petition OF the mon
not as a protest. but as a request HAD
been the former. thei raction would |
lave been mutinous, and they would have
,een dealt with severely. / feel certain
hat all Of the men are satisfied now"
Commander Dempf has been connected
With the battalion for thirteen years.