The sun., 1917-03-18
BEST NAVY SHOT
is DISMISSED
Daniels Refuses Courts Appeal
for Leniency to First
Offender.

WASHINGTON, March 17.-While the
Navy Department has been making a
canvass of young officers sufficiently
skilled in gunnery to protect American
armed liners the most expert young
officer in the service. Lieut.. Thomas NJ.
Upton, has been dismissed from the
service by Secretary Daniels on a charge
Of intoxication.
The case has caused a stir in naval
circles because every officer on the court
which tried the young officer pleaded
for clemency and Rear Admiral Leigh
c. Palmer. chief OF the bureau OF navi-
CATION. added an earnest appeal Of his
own to save him.
Rear Admiral Palmer pointed out that
the young officer. who comes from New
Mexico. had twelve years excellent SER
vice behind him, that this was his first
offence and that he not only was the
best gunnery officer in the service but
had established a worlds record by not
missing single shot with his turret at
long range and under conditions almost
as difficult as shooting at a periscope in
a rough sea.
Admiral Pnlmer's Appeal.
This officers record is clear of all
previous offences" said Admiral Palmer
in his appeal to Mr.. Daniels. land he has
been in the naval service for over twelve
years. \ perusal Of his record shows
that he is steadily increasing In eff
cheney, that he is interested In his pro-
fession and the naval service. that he is
held in high esteem by his previous COM
manding officers and that he has just
made 100 per cent. and obtained an L
excellence for the practice, the score
being the highest ever made with that
type OF turret.'
Admiral Palmer then proceeds to show
that his services are of real value and
that the navy cannot afford 70 lose him.
Lieut.. Upton was held to lie Just the
type which the navy urgently needs for
the peculiar type OF expert cunnery re-
quired TO protect vessels against sub
marines. The recommendation OF Ad-
miral Palmer and other naval officers
was that his sentence be held in abey-
ance for year and that II at the end
OF that time his conduct had been along
the line of twelve years of previous SER
vice punishment other than dismissal be
meted out 20 him.
Secretary DnnieIs's Reply.
Secretary Daniels. who has strong
views on the liquor question. after re-
ceiving Admiral Palmers recon nenda- =
ton. replied that no punshmeIt other
than dismissal could adequately re-
! buke the young officer for his having
yielded to intoxicating liquors. Lieut..
, Upton therefore has been dismissed.
Meanwhile Admiral Mayo, commander
in chief Of the battleship fleet. has been
overruled by Secretary Daniels concern
ing the case of Lieut.. Edward C. Lange
OF Wisconsin. who also was tried by
oourt-martial for overndulgence in in
| toxcants
Admiral Mayo recommended that the
sentence be held In abeyance for year
and then mitigated to loss Of 100 num-
bers II good conduct was shown. He
based his plea on the necessity of saving
: for the navy "the services OF a capable
young officer" Admiral Mayo's recon-
mendation was Endorsed by the ajority
o. the court which tried Lieut.. Lange
hut Secretary Daniels has declined to be
| guided by 1t.
mo punishment could be ADEQUATE
| for this serious offence except Dismissal
was his reply. Lieut.. Langc has been
! dismissed
| Other Officers Dismissed.
1t IS learned thar four more officers
have been dismissed from the navy for
| various offences not made public-Lieut
Junior grade, Anson O. Merrick: Lieut.
| Junior grade, Daniel s. McQuarrie
| Passed Assistant Surgeon Charles p
! Lynch and Assistant Paymaster John A
| Harman.
! Six officers have been dismissed from
the navy since January /. Lieuts Mer-
rick and McQuarr.e and DR. Lynch were
before court-martial last fall, and al
though found guilty OF the offences
| charged against them were permitted Ia
remain In the service.
At that time Lieut.. Merr!ck was ac-
cused Of absence from duty withou,
leave and was sentenced to be reduced
twenty numbers in his grade. His dis.
missal took effect on February G.
| Lieut.. McQuarrle was found guilty o.
drunkenness and was sentenced TO los,
thirty numbers. Dr. Lynch was charged
| with absence from his station and dut,
at the expiration OF his leave and wa.
sentenced to be placed at the foot OF tn.
list of officers OF his grade until he shal
have lost five numbers, Lieut.. McOuar
rie and DIR. Lynch were separated from
the navy on February 20 and Paymas steI
Harman on February 2l.
| nPnnnRA Frnnp