New Britain herald., 1919-02-20
NAVY CRATER GETS
 THREE YEAR TERM
Names Of Men in Naval Scandal
 Being Made Public

Washington, Feb. 20.--Secretary Daniels has made public the names of two of the Naval Reserve officers alleged to be involved in the scandal in the Third Naval district, centered at New York, as a result of the al legged conspiracy to obtain money through the naval reserve promo tions, the safe assignment of men to duties on shore, far removed from danger of battle, transfer of men from one district to another to es- cape sea service, and the early dis charge 10 men from the service after the signing of the armistice.
 The names made public by Secre- tary Daniels were those of Junior Grade Lieutenant Benjamin Shadrock Davis of Plymouth, Penn. as assist ant surgeon in the Medical Reserve Corps, who received a temporary ap- pointmcnt on July 19, 1917, and En sign Paul Beck of the Naval Pay ACorps, also a, Naval Reserve officer.
 Lieutenant Davis was tried by court martial and sentenced to three years Imprisonment, in addition to dismissal from the naval service. Ensign Beck who is from New York, has been ordered before q. court-martial for trial but has not been tried. Secre- tary Daniels withheld the name of third officer mentioned in a prelinlin- ary report made to him because this &fHcer has not yet been ordered be- fore q court-martial The prelimin- a.ry report is said to contain sufficient evidence to warrant bringing four or five other Naval Reserve officers to trial.
 Sono enlisted men are also in yolved in the scandal. The names of sIll these have been withheld, with ~the names of the unnamed officers, not only because they have not been brought to trial, but also because the secretary does not care to embarrass the investigation now in progress. Tn this investigation the naval intelli- gence and secret service officers are employed, and the whole machinery of the Third Naval district is being utilized in the effort to make it far rsstGching, painsta king, and complete.
 The preliminary report received by Secretary Daniels was prepared by Major J. c. Muir, retired officer of the Marine Corps, who has been as signed to duty in the Judge Advocate Generals office as a special investi gator Although no other names of officers were made public today, Sec retary Daniels did mention boat ekwain's mate" who had received money, and gifts in connection with assignm ents.
 Lieutenant Davis was brought to trial by naval court-martial after information of the situation in the Third Naval district was brought to Mir. Danels's attention in connection with the review of another case in Che office of the Judge Advocate Gen eral, Rear Admiral George R. Clark, When this case was reviewed it looked suspicious to Admiral Clark and he brought it to the attention of Secretary Daniels, and they decided to send a member of the Judge Ad- vocatee Generals staff to New York to investigate. This officer, Major Muir, Ssad authority to make arrests. The result was that Lieutenant Davis was ordered tried by court-narital. He was convicted and sentenced to dis n1iSsal from the service. When the action Of the court came to Washing @@.-------~-r---- @@.==--==----------