Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-06-03
WRITER'S REBUFFED ON PATOKA,
NAVY THREATENS DISCIPLINE
Correspondents limited for Trip Los Angeles
Only 'Cet the Air'' From Officers of MOoring
Ship-Latter Smoke, But Order Visitors to Desist

Up in the early morning air to go
to Annapolis to take to the air in the
giant dirigible Los Angeles, as guests
of the Secretary of the Navy, 10
Washington newspaper correspond.
ents, who cover" the Navy, were
given the air" and took to the water
yesterday after sizzling hot 10 min
utes aboard the U. $. s. Patoka, moor
ing ship.
While the 10 writers stood on the
steel deck, not having been allowed
to get away from the ganGway, Capt.
George j. Meyers, commanding the
ship, sat in a nearby chair, smoking
a pipe, with his feet cooked up on A
rail- having previously demanded to
know by whose authority a crowd of
civilians climbed over the side of his
ship.
Yesterday afternoon after the cpl.
sode nearly as many naval officials. as
there were correspondents in the
party were offering profuse apologies
for the action OF the Patoka's COM
mander and Lieut.. Comdr. w. H. Bur
tbs, her executive officer. The officials
were so chagrined over the reported
discourtesy that they threatened and
promised disciplinary action.
Guest of Wilbur.
The 10 writer's, some of them the
chiefs of news bureaus here, boarded
an early morning train for Annapolis.
having been instructed, after being in
vited to be the guests of the Secre-
tary of the Navy, to be at Annapolis
by 9 o'clock. They arrived in various
forms of attire. swinging canes, some
of them wearing Knockers, and report
ed at the Naval Academy AdminiStra-
ton Building There Lieut.. Ludlow,
aide to the superintendent. took them
in tow, and extended to them every
courtesy of the grounds and buildings.
He took them to the dress parade,
showed them the making of movie
1lm. and other interesting sights.
Along about 1880 they arrived at
Phlox Landing, where a handsome
mahogany launch, the gig of the Reina
Mercedes and a steam launch for that
ship were waiting. Lieut.. Ludlow saw
that they were comfortably placed
aboard these two craft and gave spe-
cific orders to the coxswains. The
steam launch was to remain at the
Patoka for the exclusive use Of the
correspondents in visiting other ships
of the fleet in the harbor.
Start for Patoka.
Everything was lovely, and the en-.
thusiastic band almost broke into song
as the spray from the ships broke over
the bows. The Patoka was about 5
miles out in Chesapeake Bay.
When the first boat placed on the
gangway her charges, who clambered
up two flights Of steps, Capt. Meyers
sent word down demanding to know
by what authority these men came up
the side of his ship. 1t might have
been a pirate crew, and the canes
may have been mistaken for guns. Elk
plantations were made. His representa-
tive-for the captain never came down
was told that these were news writ
ers who were sent there by the Secre-
tary of the Navy to be his guests on a
trip aboard the Los Angeles. That
didn't seem to go over. But a few
cigars and cigarettes did, as the re-
porters were told that smoking was
not allowed on deck as this is an oil
ship. Capt. Meyers and his officers,
however, sat in their deck chairs, not
more than 10 feet from the scribes, puff
flng away and sending a smoke screen
in the direction of the fleet to which
he was about TO have them directed
After much comforting with the cap