Evening star., 1952-10-04
The Coine Mutiny
BY Herman Wouk

an WOUk-
old Yellowstain' used by the Of
f1cers Of the Caine, and the facts
out Of which that sobriquet arose,
will be extremely relevant. quote
Article 1876: the conclusion to re-
|lieve his commanding officer must
be one which a reasonable, pru-
dent and experienced officer would
would regard as necessary from
the facts thus determined to ex-
list"
Before ruling, the court wishes
to caution defense counsel," j."
Blakely said, staring very hard
at Greenwald. "The court recog-
nizes that the defense Is COM
PEELED to try to challenge the
competence Of the officer. Never
theless, all requirements Of legal
ethics and military respect and
subordination remain in force.
The defense counsel will have to
bear full responsibility for the
conduct Of his case, including in
discretions and abuses of his
cross-examination privileges. Sub
ject to the foregoing comment,
the Judge advocates objection is
overruled. Court stenographer
will repeat the question"
The little yeoman in whites
said tonelessly. "You aren't aware
then that all the officers of the
Caine habitually referred to you
as Old Yellowstain?"
Queeg's head was down between
his shoulders. and he squinted up
at the air in front Of him. He
suddenly looked much more
familiar to Maryk. II am not
aware Of it."
Commander" said Greenwald,
"how many fitness reports did
you write on Lieutenant Maryk,
disregarding the one after he re-
lieved you?"
1.-TWO, I believe"
zone in January, and one in
July?" :.
THAT is correct
do you remeber their con-
tents?"
well. they weren't bad fitness
reports. as I recall"
did you give him the highest
classification - Outstanding Il
in both of them?"
well. that was at the begin
ming. may have"
"Photostats of the reports are
available to refresh your memory,
commander.
II can say definitely, yes, Il
was still classifying him as out
standing that early in the game. 81
did you state in your report
OF / July that he was qualified
for commando"
'"Well. as I say, he started of
like a house afire. If you want
to know how he ended up why
don't you bring up his last fit
ness report?"
"You wrote that report, COM
mander, did you not, after he
relieved you on the grounds of
mental illness?"
THAT made no difference at
ALL" exclaimed Queeg, with al
touch of the. old nasal voice. 1.-THE
fitness report is not an instrument
of retaliation or revenge-not in
my hand, it isnt!"
mo further questions at this
time" Greenwald turned to the
court. "Comdr. Queeg will be
called as a witness for the de-
fense." The eyebrows of the presi-
dent signaled astonishment fol-
lowed by resignation. Queeg was
excused. He walked out of the
room hurriedly.
Call 1t. Thomas Keefer." said
Challee. The novelist came march,
ing in. shoulders thrown back.
head tilted a little to one side, his |
eyes looking blankly ahead.
Challee brushed through the
opening questions in a monotone:
then said, Nov, 1t. Keefer, COM
ing to the morning Of 1S Decem-
ber. will you describe how you
learned that the captain had been
relieved?"
"Mr. Maryk passed the word
for all officers to lay up to the
wheelhouse. When we got there
he told us that the captain was
sick and he had assumed COM
mand."
did Capt. Queeg show any ex-
ternal signs Of being sick?"
well" Keefer shifted in his
seat and for a moment encoun-
tered Maryk's painfully intense
glance. Maryk looked away
angrily. ''Well. I have to say
that at the height of q typhoon
nobody aboard a four-piper looks
very well. He was wet. and tired,
and very looking"
"Was he raving, or foaming, or
giving any other common indica-
tions of insanity?"
mo"
"Did he speak incoherently or
gibberingly when he protested be-
ing relieved?"
mo. he spoke clearly"
What was your response to
Maryk's announcement"
WELL things were happening
very fast and in a confused way.
Capt. Queeg was talking to us
when the capsized George Black
was sighted. Maryk began to ma
neuver to pick up survivors and
for an hour that was all any one
thought about"
did you make any effort to
persuade Maryk to restore QueegI
to commando"
II did not"
Were you next senior officer to
Maryk?"
II was"