fix the logging / null pointer / init failure

but only that portion of this bug:

https://csfe.aceworkspace.net/sf/tracker/do/viewArtifact/projects.veterans_administration_project/tracker.4_defects/artf229154

https://jira.ihtsdotools.org/browse/OTFISSUE-4

The bigger issue of the init sequence not reporting failures back is
still open.