The Washington herald., 1916-08-31
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Beat service Column In City.

Despite the fact that the cost of liv-
ing has gone up approximately ten per
cent since the outbreak of the European
war, the cost of subsistence In the navy
has decreased three quarters of a cent
per man this year as compared with
the fiscal year 1914 report Just hand
ed to Secretary Daniels by Paymaster
Gen. McGowan states that a net hav-
ing Of about $4,000 is indicated COM
pared with the 1914 figures, or a saving
OF close to $4,000 II the ten per cent
Increase in the cost of food supplies
is taken into consideration.
The reduction has been effected, the
report says. by the elimination of pro-
prietary articles, food substitutes, and
other supplies which could not be pur-
chased in competition.
The fact that the mey are better fed
today than ever. even at the reduced
cost, says the Paymaster General. 'ie
fully attested by reports from all
sources"
Secretary Daniels has approved the pro-
ceedings, findings, and sentence in the
cases of Commanders r. r. Belknap and
Arthur Macarthur, their court-martial
having resulted from the grounding Of
the San Francisco on Nantucket Shoals
on May IT.
1t appears that the ship was proceed
ing from Portsmouth. n. H., to Newport,
r. l. Commander Belknap was in COM
mand OF the mining division, whereas
Commander Macarthur was in command
of the ship San Francisco. The decision
as to whether the ship should take the
inner or outer passage hinged on whether
she sighted a light at the entrance buoy
TO the channel leading to the inner pas
sage.
The weather being thick, Commander
Belknap went on the bridge, and a light
Icing sighted by the officer of the deck
soon thereafter. though not visible to
the captain, Commander Belknap gave
an order to head for IT, thinking it was
the light on the entrance buoy. Com
mander Macarthur accordingly headed
the ship for this light, according TO bear
Ings given him by the officer OF the deck
and Informed the division commander
that he did not personally see the light,
but continued to head therefor for about
twenty-five minutes, when the ship
grounded.
The court found Commander Belknap
guilty OF Improperly handling a vessel
of the navy. and Commander MacAr-
thur was found guilty OF "culpable neg
hgence and inefticiency in the perform
ance of his duty" Both officers were
sentenced to lose ten numbers.
The Secretary OF the Navy also has
approved the acquittal in the case OF
Lieut.. w S. Nicholas Junior grade). who
was tried for improperly hazarding the
vessel under his command. in conse-
quence Of which the Terry was run upon
a shoal and seriously injured. Lieut.
Nicholas was acquitted OF culpa biIIty.
Secretary Daniels has approved the rec
ord of the proceedings of a court-martial
in the case OF Assistant Paymaster
James p. jackson and Chief Pay Clerk
William H Crap. Jackson was serving
as pay officer OF the Tallahassee and
Crap was attached to the same ship. On
the occasion Of inspection OF accounts
there was a shortage OF $500. which Jack
son Claimed to have given to his pay
clerk. stating that his receipt was CON
tained in a memorandum receipt book
in which Crap initiated sums Of money
that had been turned over to him ny
Jackson.
Crap. however. maintained that he had
not received this money. that he had
not reCeipted therefor. and owing 10 the
inability of jackson to produce the re-
Ceipt book, which was lost between the
fret and second day of the inspection,
Jackson was unable satisfactorily to ac-
count for the money.
Crap was tried and acquitted Of mis-
appropriating the money. but was found
guilty OF neglect OF duty in failing to
keep an account and record of the money
delivered to him by Jackson. The lat
ter was found guilty OF neglect Of duty
and shortage of accounts. in that being
the responsible disbursing officer, he was
unable satisfactorily to account for the
Disappearance OF this money. jackson
was sentenced TO lose six numbers il
grade