The sun., 1913-11-30
EXCUSES OF THE BLUEJACKETS.
I.A TOW lay aft to the mast
When this order 10

ItA TOW lay aft to the mast
al-l-l the reports"
When this order 10
passed aboard ono Of Uncle
sam's battleships II Is time for the
sailorman ION report" to think Of his
excuse II ne has one. for the mast" il
the daily court held aboard ship by the
Captain and II In there that punish
ments are handed out to offenders
against the chips rules for the prcvi-
Gus twenty-four hours.
II 10 there that tho offender is ex.
cused. passed along for q court martial
or let OF with minor punishment ac-
cording to the nature Of his offence, the
skipper's humor and his readiness with
tho gin O. CAB" Many and varied
arc the pleas put UP by the defence.
Some Of them would entitle the author
to life membership IN the Ananias Club
II the Captain is a good one from the
blueJackets point OF view he will give
you the benefit OF tho doubt; otherwise
anything from a few hours extra duty
on the quarter dack with . rife to .
short etay in the brig on bread and
water will he your portion.
At II o'clock every weekday morn
Ing the reports" are all assembled at
the mast. The executive officer reports
sounds attention" a. the "old man" sp-
pears on deck. and there IL . mental
rehashing Of stories and . stifssning Of
backs down the line. The order "re-
ports. salute" h given and the Captain
is ready to hear the first case,
Brown. H. r. two hours overieavs
from liberty" reads the yoeman stand
ing by with the records and report book.
Brown steps forward. salutes. makes
his plea and Is excused or punished
according to the fates and the skippsrs
humor.
well. sir. You ses." hs explains. N
was like this. was called late this
morning. Just had time TO make q
run for tho dock and catch the last
boat for the ship. I was coming along
straight for the ship when passed the
Salvation Army. Tho band struck up
The Star spangled Banner and OF
course I had to stop and stand at At
tention until they had finished. BY that
time I had missed tho boat"
The Captain calls for Browne enlist
ment record. looks II over and sees that
Brown IL . hsbitual liberty breaker.
Young man." he says. II don't be-
l!eve you. Four hours extra duty with
| nrtA -
retreats forward to explain his case to
his shipmates. The story Is told Of a
Captain old in the service of the navy
and wise in the ways OF liberty breakers
who boasted that no had heard every
excuse that could be offered At the mast
for overstaying shore leave. Should a
man give him new excuse. he declared
he would he excused, but for an excuse
he had heard before tho punishment
was to be doubled.
Before long a man appeared at the
mast charged with having been absent
three days over leave.
Sir" he said. II heard about your
offer for . new excuse. Accidentally I
broke my liberty for an hour and have
been over in town ever since trying to
think up q new one.
20 forward" said the skipper.
The yeoman consuits the report book.
Smith, @. f.. drunk on duty ashore"
he reads, and Smith. . newly rated petty
offlcer. steps forward eyeing the Grow
on his right sleeve in q manner that
would lead one to suspect that he was
fearful It would soon take flight and
soar away.
well, young man. what have you to
n,