Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-12-22
MuTINY CHARGE
Against Part of Crew
of Transport America
Eleven in Irons Taken from Ship at
New York-More Arrests to Follow
Whole Crew Reported in Almost
Open Rebeilion-i. w. w. Reported
at Bottom Trouble

New York, Dec I.--Eleven members
of the crew of the transport America
including two petty officers, charged
with mutiny on the high seas and other
crimes. were taken from the ship IN
irons today when it docked at a Ho-
boken army pier. Other arrests are ex-
pected to be made, as the transport
crew is reported to have been in al
most open rebellion since leaving this
port last November on a trip to Europe
and return. An I. w. w. agitator IS
said to have fomented the trouble.
The America, an army transport man.
ned by civilian crew, returned from
France yesterday with members of the
American peace convention.
Six OF the II prisoners taken from the
vessel are alleged to have been ring
leaders in the trouble aboard. Seven If
the prisoners are charged with mutiny
en- the high seas. The others are charg-
ed with stealing and other offences.
William Calkins, an ordinary sea-
man. accused of being one of the
ring leaders in the trouble aboard
the transport and who is said to have
had an l. w. w. card, was arrested
by an armed guard who found him
hiding in the hold of the ship, after
1t had docked. Calkins had been ar
rested at sea for stealing, but in some
manner escaped and was reported
missing.
The trouble started last November
when the vessel was on it's way to
Europe. Members of the crew who
were caught gambling refused %
quit when ordered to do so by army
officers. The baggage of passengers
was looted and when ship officers or
de1ed the crews quarters searched u
number of automatic pistols were
found. These, it is said. were :tolen
from officers and soldier passengers.
Several days later two women pas
sengers, wives of officers on their
way to Coblenz became hysterical
when they discovered two soldiers
trying to gain entrance to their state
rooms through the deck windows. On
the same day a master-at-arms was
caught selling a raincoat, and every
one in the galley was found shooting
craps.
When the transport reached
Brest, because Of trouble with the
crew. the ship commander ordered
shore leave restricted. The CREW broke
out in rebellion and dec.ared they
would go ashore if they had to fight
their way there.
Sixty members of the crew in a
barge attempted to get ashore on the
morning of Dec. 4, but were forced
to return at the point of pistols in
the hands of the ship officers. A
chief boatswain, who hid aboard the
barge escaped. An hour later several
of teh crew stole a lifeboat and went
ashore.
When two detectives learned that
the fire room force was going to let
the fires 60 out. q special armed
guard was sent below. Another arm
ed guard of soldiers were put aboard
the vessel to prevent trouble on deck.
After the fire room incident, state
rooms and lockers ABOARD the ship
were broken open and looted of
clothing and valuables.
On Dec. Is. Calkins was placed un-
der arrest on a charge Of stealing and
taken to the captains office. He is
alleged to have boasted that he was
one of teh ring leaders in the trouble
aboard. He escaped after being lock-
ed in the brig.
Calkins is said to have Joined the
crew 10 minutes before the ship SAIL
ed from HCboken on its last trip. He
is believed to be professional agi-
tator and will be made the subject Of
a speciai investigation, it is said.