Evening star., 1914-07-19
REPR|MAND GIVEN
ENSIGN BORCHARDT
Secretary Daniels Comments Severe
ly on Naval Officers
Misconduct.

Ae severe reprimand has been admin
istered by Secretary Daniels to Ensign
Herbert R. A. Borchardt, L. S. N. lot
intoxication and misconduct at vera
Cruz Mexico, while attached to the
battIeship Louisiana. According 10 the
specffications of the charges on Whlcn
he was tried by court-martial. convened
at Norfolk, Ensign Borchardt became
intoxicated in Vera Cruz last August
and was placed under arrest by the
Mexican civil authorities. and while
proceeding from the civil jail to the
landing place said in loud tone OF
voice to a Mexican naval officer that the
police and Mexicans in general are just
a bunch of damned pigs: We ought 10
land and blow up the place
The alleged offenses of the officer
were aggravated. according to the speci-
fcations. because of his knowledge
that "the international situation 'heh
existing demanded that he avoid all
friction with the citizens and officiais
Of Mexico
The court-martial found the officer
guilty of the charges, and sentenced
him to lose on hundred numbers IN
his grade, and to be reprimanded oy
the Secretary of the Navy.
Gravity of offense.
In acting on the case. Secretary
Daniels made the following comment;
Ensign Borchardt has been 1ouho
guilty by a general court-martial OF
'drunkenness,' and conduct to the
prejudice of good order and discipline.
The gravity Of these ofrenses-serionis
under any circumstances-is greatly
augmented by the fact that they We're
committed by an officer OF the nitso
States Navy on duty in Mexican wa'ssS
at time when the international fe1A-
tfons with Mexico were such AS 10 re-
ouire special care on the part OF a..
citizens of the United States IN she.F
conduct and hearing while IN that 0eV'n-
try. but even more especially WsS !
incumbent upon commissioned ciHSers
OF the United States to avoid all pos
sibilities of friction or criticism
Ensign Borchardt was in NeNieo be
cause of the existing relations Win 'hat
country and because of the commission he
bore In the United States Navy He was
allowed ashore in civilian clothes on the
night in question because of the pre-
sumption that a commissioner oIicsr
could be trusted to conduct himself in a
gentlemanly manner and in manner
which would not reflect discredit upon
the service or upon the uniform which
he as a commissioned officer was entitled
to wear.
unworthy OIL ATuSl.
His actions prove him unworthy of the
trust and confidence which Is reposed in
commissioned officers, and the department
considers that it is only through the en-
treme leniency of the court that he Is
permitted to retain a commission in the
service and mingle on footing of equal
ity with officers who are capable of ap-
preciating the responsibilities of their po-
sition and the high standards which are
imposed upon them and which as body
they zealously cherish. The reputation
of the commissioned personnel of the
service has been lowered by the irrespon-
sibIe unofflcerlike conduct Of Ensign Bor-
chardt.
The publication of the offenses in this
case and the circumstances under which
they were committed should constitute in
itself reprimand sufficiently poignant
and severe to any one who may have
been Jealous to achieve an untarnished
record in the service. But, as 1t is evident
from his conduct that Ensign Borchardt
il not an officer whose pride in his repu-
tation is such that the mere publication
Of the offenses of which he stands con-
victed would constitute an effective rep
riinand. the department has deemed 1t ex-
pedient to clearly express its disapproba-
ton of his conduct and regret at the
leniency of the court by which he Is per-
mitted to retain his status as commits
stoned officer in the navy.
The foregoing will be considered as ex-
ecuting that part of the sentence in this
case which adjudges that Ensign Herbert
r. A. Borchardt. United States Navy, be
publicly reprimanded by the Secretary of
the Navy"