Milford chronicle., 1949-01-28

eAS - 4. W. WnlCn
followed the com.
DECTEn munist line and in
cluded many Conn
munists among its bosses
Joseph Curran, the president. was
indistingishable from his Commu-
INST colleagues during the war. but
ne. pretends, at least, that in some
internal political fight since VI
day ne broke with the Bolsheviks
Like Mike Quill. Of the Transport
workers he now processes to be
their enemy. It remains to be seen
whether they have changed. After
all Stain signed up with Hitler.
The article in naval institute
proceedings was written bv
Lieut.. Holmes F. Crouch, Of the
coast guard, the service which
had the difficult duty Of trying
merchant marine criminals
from murders and Communist
saboteurs to piIfereFs, during
the war.
This duty was the more difficult
because Curran and other unioneers
including many Communist on.
Joyed the favor Of the White House
and the war labor board. Thus snv
patriotic officer who offended them
TOOK risk Of political persecution.
It was difficult, too, because law
ana jurisdiction were vague and
witnesses were hard to find.
Took Mr.. Crouch would
have risked his IA.
q ture in writing his
CL- article when Roos.
evelt and his wife
were in the. White House. Even
now he takes Some chance because
the National Maritime Union raised
a strident protest the minute the
publication hit the mail chutes. His
future viii bear watching for this
reason.
Crouch does not propose the abb
'orption of the merchant marine
nto the navy, but he does insist that
discipline is bad and must be excel.
ent II the merchant marine is IN
serve as an adjunct to the navy.
he army and the air force. And he
warns the country that the reform
must be made right away because
Var WIZ come without warning il
comes.
He then goes into particulars
OF outrageous conduct BY sea.
going criminals during the Wa-.
q record which has been SIM
pressed by the coast guard b.
order Of political officers whs
belonged TO the Roosevelt Cut
Even since the war the coast
guard has frustrated invSStira-
tors bent on reviewing the vic.
tOus record by demanding that
the inquiring person name the
vessel and the men concerned
and state the time of the Incl.
dent. This ruse had the sole pur-
pose Of protecting the unions.
which were political proteFes
OF the Roosevelt party.
The emphasis for a strengthen.
merchant marine is usually on
ore ships. newer ships and faster
Ups" Crouch writes. But shiBs ra.
IRE competent men in sufficient
Imbers. We can build the largest
ID finest merchant fleet ever to
rye mankind but unless these
lps are served by men who are
liable and disciplined. we place
jeopardy our maritime advan-
&c. Our merchant marine must be
en- that it can stand alone il nee.
'ary from the beginning Of anv
ack-and win. To do this we
ISL nave well-disciplined mer.
ant marine.
Casoe From a recent re-
cent review Of dis
of ciplinary cases il
A..,.H does not appear that
we now have such 3
reliant marine. INSTRUMENTATION
ttention to duty, intoxication. IN.
itude, willful carelessness. sub.
sion and other similar acts do
st.
There are cases Of assault with
IDLY weapons (meat cleaver. fire
!, broken bottles, etc. with IN.
t to kill; intentionally throwing
W members overheard. mental
physical incompetence resuI.
from narcotics addiction: set.
fire to ones own room; shoot.
Of crew members during
nken party; gross negligence re.
ing in loss Of lives Of crew mem.
s; homosexuality; dangerous
chopathics, mutinous conduct
I Of mail and continuous refusal
hey lawful orders.
There are also routine oaeea
vOlving deseFtiOn. si6wawavo
eeping on watch, destruction
ships property, theft of ship,a
ores and 50 on.