The sun., 1919-02-21
Show Girls, Broadway Revels,
Yacht Cruises and Motor
Parties Figure in Case.
PUNISH CIVILIAN BRIBERS
Examination Questions Told in
Advance-BOats Wrecked
by Half-baked Officers.

heavy guard and have been detained |
here since Tuesday was but; another IN
dication yesterday that the investiga- |
tion into graft which is now stirring |
ocal naval circles is being extended by
the Navy Department to other naval
districts.
The number OF navy men now being
detained at Ellis Island, In the old
Granite States brig and other detention
places in the Third Naval district. had
assumed imposing proportions yester-
day. Not all of these are prisoners in
the sense of being confined to a brig.
and not all are accused of grating, but
about half a hundred officers. ranging
in rank from petty officer to Lieutenant
Commander. are now being detained be-
cause of charges of grating or of close
connection with grafters In the service.
More than sixty others have been told
10 stick around near enough. day and
night. to be within earshot when their
names are called
Prom Philadelphia came reports OF
the payment of sums as high as $1,000
by young men who sought soft berths
in the dry section of the navy because
they were too proud to fight, or some
thing. New England and middle West
ern stations are about to be combed by
the Navy Department as O result Of the
astonishing misdoings in the Third dis
trict, which Investigators brought to
light here without half trying. Tho
officers brought under guard to this dis
trict from Norfolk are charged with
cheaper tactics than the financiers in
the neighborhood of the League Island
yard at Philadelphia, the Norfolk men
being accused of selling discharges for
~ uhA tha N N900
To Punish Civilian Bribers.
Also It was learned yesterday that
the Navy Department Investigators now
plan to go after the civilian bribers-
parents or their sons who paid out the
bribes-as we'll as prosecute the men In
the service who accented bribes. There
is a Brooklyn politician not at any time
in the navy who Is OF particular interest
TO the investigators because Of the manly
complaints made that during the war
he fattened his bank account steadily
by acting as go between for youngsters
of draft age who wanted to escape the
army by getting a soft berth in a naval
office and the navy men who procured
perfectly safe Jobs for the rich young
heroes.
More than 100 men of this district
who were discharged from the navy
since the fighting ended abroad win be
called back into the service II 1t Is
legally possible for the Navy Depart
ment to accomplish the feat. The navy
Investigators want them in uniform
again, so that they may the easier be
compelled to testify at courts-martial
Among the 100 or so are number of
Young lawyers most of whom say mat
they will fight all efforts of the De-
partment to get them back into the
service
AS the investigation progressed yes.
terday it branched out to several ques-
tonable procedures other than the actual
passing of brides. The details were
taken up, for instance, of an examina-
ton held during the war In which thirty
Neomen attached to the Naval Censor
ship Office at 20 Broad street tried for
commissions as Ensigns. Three Ensikns
were officially delegated. just before the
day set for the examination, to prepare
the list of questions TO be asked the yeo-
men aspiring to commissions.
Easy Route to Higher Ratings.
All the yeomen in a department OF the
Broad street Office IN which one of the
three Ensigns who made up the ques-
tons passed the examination with flying
colors. Many of the rest OF the thirty
applicants failed. Now the investigators
lSdIll lldl lllC III TIC ucphl
where ALL the yeomen passed took the
yeomen in his department to noted
college alumni club in the heart of the
Forties one night and there gave his office
mates splendid idea Of the nature of
the questions which he and his two En-
sign colleagues had prepared for the
coming test a
Charges of culpable leniency in ex-
aiming aspirants for commissions in
local naval iOipp Gphonia nf
school IN particular. are being s!fted
with particular thoroughness. because
here it is charged that students of the
training schools got their commissions
hurriedly by presenting expensive gifts
TO certain examining officers. Some Of
these too quickly made officers got into
trouble last summer because through
their ignorance of seamanship small yes.
sells valued in the neighborhood of $751;
600 each We're badly damaged while
commanded by the youngsters who
had bought their way 10 commissions
while still only half baked.
Rich youths In a few cases also go
out of the army draft in this dstric
nnd spent. the war days--and nights
riotously by approaching anliable nav,
men of the district in still another way
The youths. owning fat bank accounts o
their own, or sons OF wealthy parents
n SAs2T2l inrtAaEes ''presenta4'--tha
Is parted with only temporarily-thei
boats on the understanding that tn
hoats so lent would be under the younI
owners command and that he could Sc
lect from his intimate friends the crew
Of the boat, thus enabling himself ant
friends to don navy uniform and es
cape the trenches.
Some scout Patrols Unseaworthy
Some of these alleged scout patrol
craft were launches OF a few feet II
length, with a small gun mounted Oh
the ribbon OF deck and so unseaworth,
that the launch would not dare go ou
into rough water beyond the Narrows
Al convenient intervals the fayore
Youths would take the navy officer o
officers who had got the young boat own
rrs into the service on river cruise
which danpened the innards OF tn
scout patrol" craft with almost a
much alcohol a the hulls were dampene
with river water.
The fact that Broadway in the tlieatrI
cal district knew more about getting sol
navy snaps than. any other part of the dis
trict was explained yesterday by the war
lime activities of a chief yeoman, VIII
vas an actor after fashion until h
oamc in out Of the draft and is Marie
70 a chorus girl with "A wide Broadwa
acqua intance. The chief yeoman wa
In close touch during his naval Service
with Lieutenant who for a time was
detail officer, ana now is In the brig G
- the old Granite state. where he is ava,
/-ng court-martial Tor grating in al
TtolntInents
II. tf4, o,t1