The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-22

charges of bribery and graft IN the
personnel of the Third naval district
have been made following an lnVestl-
eaticn ordered by Secretary Daniels,
the New York Evening. Post says to-
cay.
The Post quotes Secretary Daniels
as saying hat the investigation indi-
Gates that money was paid for as
signr,ents and promotions in the
service
It is charged that a system OF
bribery OF minor officials Of the dis
trict, with particular reference to
the naval reserve force, has been op-
Grating.
The Investigation by the secretary
OF he navy was ordered, 1t was said
aftS-. he .lad consulted with Rear Ad-
miral Nathaniel r. Usher, in COM
nland os the district, who is described
as preferriilg that any investigation
that was undertaken should be by
some one outside Of the. district. The
investigator is a member Of the stan
of the judge advocates Office IN WASH
ington.
Secretary Daniels IS quoted as fol-.
lows:
ST have learned that arrests have
been made and that one man has been
tried by courtnartial. The court con-
victed him and he has asked for re-
view Of the facts knowledge OF
this situation in the Third naval dis
tsIcu first came to me through the re
view of another case in the judge ad-
~1,oc. +e,s office No knowledge
of the state of affairs existing had
before that time come to the atten-
ton OF Admiral Usher. for, if it had.
he would certainly have begun an IN
vestigation f,nmediately on his own
He approved: our course IN
san0ing a special investigator to his
district ard he is just as anxious as
any one else that the entire case be
sifted to the bottom
The bribery charges are set forth
as consisting of the acceptance tor
enlistment of physically unfit men
upon false records; the assignment OF
men for duties far removed from war
zone and actual sea service; the
transfer Of men from one district to
another in order to escape sea ser
vice: permission to men to continue
their bushes sactivities while attend
ing to their naval duties for only an
hour or two a day. and the passing OF
reen for early discharge after the
signing of the armistice-
Pear Admiral Usher refused to
discuss the case this afternoon. stat
jng that all information must come
from the secretary Of the Lazy "hc
ordered the investigation.
Secretarv Daniels is further quoted
IS saving that when he FIRST became
aware of the situation he issued IN
structions holding UP all DISCHARGES
from the Third district, later modify
inc them SO that 70 man could be DIS
charged unless his application receiv-
ed the Endorsement Of the special IN
yestigator. This was done. he explain
ed. to prevent any of the men ifnpil-
Gated from getting back into civil he
before, being brought TO trial by
rourtnaartial.
The Evening Post says it is report
c4 that approximately s5o0.oo0 was
expended in payment for special ia
yors granted TO individuals in the ser
vice.
afany men. It is declared, were ap-
rarently admitted TO the navy and
the naval reserve in order to escape
/, fe:ng drafted into the army. The
nI,vsical standards for the navy and
the naval reserve were higher than
for the army. it is explained in this
connection. and some men who were
found physically untitled for service
in the navy or naval reserve were
nevertheless admitted when they
made payments of money.
Ramors Of the condition in the
third district. says The Post. had
spread throughout the navy until vir-
tuaIly every officer. even those re-
turning from overseas. had some
"sn1attering' Of the facts.
officers. especially those of the ma
val reserve, have expressed the hope
that the investigation viii go to tn"
roots Of the matter in order that al
the guilty may be exposed and sls-
picion removed from the innocent.
continued The Post. adding that
some officers feared that the influence
of some of the men who are believed
to have received favors might prove
strong enough to prevent a complete
expose
None Of the 10000 officers and men
at the Bay Ride barracks used as 9
"receivine ship for the Third naval
district, has been placed under ar
rest. according to the officer Of the
day on duty tonight. He added that
no one at the barracks was even
under investigation.
Washington. Feb 1S.-Secretary
Daniels said today that he understood
one arrest had been made and that
several persons were being detained
in the Third naval district as result
of an investioation he had ordered of
complaints that promotions and as
slsnments carrying shore duty ap-