Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-09-16

ling on the slippery deck and fell.
!. A wave Of warm salty water
broke over him, drenching him.
|. The dripping float clanked onto
the deck. When Maryk clam
bered abroad his eye fell on the
bedraggled figure of Willie. What
; the hell happened to you, Keith?
Did you dive in. too?" The sailors
!, noticed Willie now and snickered.
:. Got too interested watching
Iyou," said Willie. THAT was
great work"
I Maryk swept water from his
broad brown chest and shoulders
with his palms. Hell. I've been
looking for an excuse to take a
dip. Come on, Keith, you and me
need new clothes"
i Sheds Sodden Khakis.
Willie dumped his sodden
khakiS in a heap in a corner of
the clipping shack. He had COM
|pletely forgotten the despatch in
his pocket. There it lay, dis
solving to a pulp inside the
crumpled khakis, while the shin
; steamed through maneuvers for
; the next two days.
On the third day the formation
moved in to shallow waters near
a beach and swept some dummy
mines. Willie was sitting on the
deck. deep in a thorny analysis of
his recent experiences.
1 Ensign Keith, report to the
: captains cabin on the double %
The announcement rasped
through the loudspeaker, bringing
him to his feet. AS he ran to the
, wardroom he rapidly reviewed
possible reasons for the summons.
De VrieSs, in trousers and
undershirt, sat at his desk,
Iglowering at a long dist Of des-
patch headings, one of which was
fcircled in heavy red crayon. Be-
side him stood Tom Keefer and
the radioman who had brought
Willie the forgotten message three
days ago.
| The sight told Willie all. He
experienced longing to vanish or
die.
Willie" said the captain in a
level. not unkind tone, three DAYS
ago this ship received q despatch
addressed to us for action. I
learned this interesting fact for
the first time five minutes ago
while making a routine check of
the headings of all dispatches
received while We were at sea. I
always do that when we come into
port. These dull habits sometimes
pay off. Now, the radio shack has
orders to shoot action dispatches
to the cooling officer the instant
they come in. Snuffy Smith here
claims he gave the message to you
three days ago. Is he lying?"
i The radioman blurted, "Sir. ]
gave 1t to you on the after deck
house while they were recovering
paravanes. You remember"
i You did, Smith," said Willie.
I'm sorry Captain. It's my fault. /"
Il see. Have you decided the
Imessage?"
mo, sir. I'm sorry, but it"
/ Very well. Smith, lay up to the
radio shack and bring 1t. Keefer
the Fox sked on the double"
! AYE. aye, sir" The sailor darted
out Of the cabin.
The Fox skeds" were the log
sheets on which all dispatches
sent to Navy ships at sea were
copied by the radio operators
These were preserved for several
months. then destroyed. De-
spatches concerning the ship were
recopied on separate forms. 1t was
such retyped form that lay mol
dering in Willie's khakis in the
Clip SIldCk.
i THE next thing, Tom" said the
captain calmly, lis to break that
message faster than you've ever
done anything in your life"
In a few minutes the codine
machine began clicking in the
wardroom. The captain went out
When Keefer had whirled through
the message De Vriess returned
and handed the breakdown to Will
lie. 1t. Comdr. William H. de
Vriess u. S. N. detached when re-
J lieved. Report to Buffers by all
transportation for further assign
ment. Glass two priority author
lied. Training duty of 1t. Comdr
Philip F. Queeg has been can
celed and he is proceeding to re-
lieve at once.
Incredible Stupidity.
Willie returned the despatch to
the captain. I'm sorry, sir. It's
incredible stupidity and careless
ness on my part" he said. choking
over the words. II don't know
what else to say, sir, except"
De Vriess leaned his head on his
hand for moment. Have you
any idea, Keith, how serious the
mislaying of an action despatch
can be?"
Eyes, sir"
i "I'm not sure you have"
The captain picked up a stack
of long yellow forms on his desk.
by a coincidence which is per-
hops unlucky, I've been filing out
the work sheet of your fitness re-
port this morning, together with
!; those of the other officers. have