Evening star., 1952-09-19
The Coine Mutiny
By Herman Wouk

Navy Yard, Carmody, the OOD,
saluted him and said, 1.-THE cap
: tain wants to see you in his cabin
the minute you return aboard.
, sir"
/ Gorton went below and knocked
at the captains doom. There was
no answer. He knocked louder,
then cautiously turned the knob
and peeked into black room.
captain? Captain?"
I "Oh. Come in, Burt" Queeg
switched on his bed light and sat
up. scratching his stubbly face.
He reached to the shelf over the
bunk and took down the two steel
balls We'll? What's the dope?"
/ Il don't know. sir. The opera
tions officer wouldn't tell me-"
! What"
/ Gorton. perspiring, described
the interview with Capt. Grace.
lQueeg glowered at the rolling
balls.
And you let it go at that, hey?"
II didn't see what more could
! do, sir. was practically thrown
out"
I'm not delighted" said the
captain after silence. when I
send an officer out for the dope,
l expect him to return with the
dope. and to use whatever in
genuity is called for to get it.
That's ALL" There was a knock
at the door. Come in!"
| Signalman Third Glass Urban
entered, carrying a despatch
board. His dungarees were faded
and streaky, and his shirt hung
outside his trousers. Visual from
ComServPac. Cap'n."
Gets Target Orders.
Capt. Queeg took the board and
read: Caine under way % Sep
tember 0600. Pick up target op-
Grafton and operation order at
target repair base.
KAY" said the captain, initial
ing the dispatch and returning the
board to the sailor.
THANK you, sir" Urban scut-
tied out.
Now" said Queeg, rattling the
balls in his fist, "that's another
thing I want knocked of right
away. Mr.. Gorton."
What, sir?"
''You know damn we'll what.
Since when do uniform regula-
tions permit the crew to wear
their shirts outside their trousers?
They're sailors. not Filipino bus
boys"
"Aye aye. sir" said Gorton re-
signedly.
"Aye aye. sir. He'll" snapped
Queeg. I'm serious about this,
Burt. You will make the follow
ing announcement in the plan of
the day tomorrow: Hereafter all
shirts will be tucked inside trous-
ers. Failure to comply will result
in heavy disciplinary action"
AYE aye. sir" The exec went
out, closing the door softly. Capt.
Queeg lay back on his bed and
stared at the green overhead. Rub,
rub. rub, rub, went the little steel
balls.
( In a special wardroom meeting
the next day Queeg appointed
Willie morale officer in addition
! to his other duties. and advised
him that his task was to see to it
that every man on the ship tucked
his shirttail inside his pants. At
i the same meeting he declared
that the Caine was going to be
the best damn target-towing ship
in the Navy. or he would know the
reason why
During the next two weeks the
I"beSt damn target-towing ship in
the Navy" carried out several tow
ing assignments without mishap.
Willie Keith posted a long no.
tice in the crews quarters, headed:
Morale - Smart Seamanlike APP
pearance as an Improver of. In
five paragraphs of rolling prose
he asked the crew to tuck in their
shirttails. Much to his amaze
ment, he was obeyed; the Tapping
tails vanished.
The trouble started one after
noon when the Caine was steaming
placidly on a straight course. the
target trailing in it's wake a mile
behind.
Over the TBS, the short-wave
speaker in the wheelhouse, the
squadron leader of the destroyers
spoke up: "Gwendolyn, Gwendo-
lyn, this is Tarzan. Ready to
commence final run. Out"
Willie Keith was lolling on the
fantail with his shirt off, enjoy
ing the show.
Ensign Keith. report to the
bridge on the double!" the p. a..
blared.
Frozen in Fear.
A horrid sight confronted him
on arrival. The little moon-faced
signalman, Urban, stood at cata-
leptic attention, his face frozen in
lines of fear. His shirttail hung
outside his pants. On one side of
him stood the captain, glowering
out to sea and rolling the balls.
On the other side was Keefer,