Trial by Oaths

His Majesty's Navy boasts a spry and cocky little marine who is listed officially as "First Class Bandmaster Percy Barnacle."

At Gibraltar last week Bandmaster Barnacle became the star witness at the celebrated court-martial of two officers charged with having complained, "in a manner subversive of discipline," against the alleged insulting conduct and awful oaths of their superior, peppery Rear Admiral Bernard St. George Collard (TIME, April 9). The two court-martialed officers are Captain Kenneth G. B. Dewar and Commander Henry M. Daniel. In support of their contentions Bandmaster Barnacle took the stand, braced himself and testified that he personally had been called a series of unprintable names by Rear Admiral Collard. The names, it appeared, all began with "b." "They were ugly names and dishonoring names," said Bandmaster Barnacle, "and I felt that after they had been uttered nothing could restore my prestige with the band. ... I wanted to leave the service."

When Captain Dewar was placed on trial, last week, he asked and received permission to cross examine Rear Admiral Collard. Then for some four hours snarling questions and vituperative rejoinders flew between Captain and Admiral, both of whom purpled gradually with rage and seemed to become oblivious to the presence of the august Court. Printable excerpts:

Dewar: "Now, Sir, I ask you to imagine yourself in the place of Bandmaster Barnacle."

Collard: "I have no intention of imagining myself a bandmaster!"

Dewar: "Did you ever say you were fed up with the ship on which I was your flag captain?"

Collard: "I said I was fed up with you."

Dewar: "Answer yes or no."

Collard: "I will not! I will answer as I see fit."

After much further bickering the proceedings were closed. They had consisted of two distinct trials, respectively of Commander Daniel and Captain Dewar; but the charges and evidence in each case were substantially identical. To an impartial civilian it was clear that both the accused had acted from commendable motives in complaining against a superior whose conduct had been well nigh unbearable. This view was taken by practically the entire London press, last week, including the usually antithetical Conservative Daily Telegraph and Laborite Daily Herald. At Gibraltar, however, the Court held to the unwritten law of Navy discipline and found both the accused "guilty." Both were sentenced to lose their active commands and to go on half pay until the Admiralty shall see fit to order them once more to active service. Cried the Telegraph: "We must deplore the system of discipline which made the verdicts inevitable." Echoed the Herald: "The public will receive the verdict with astonished indignation."

To still such universal protest First Lord of the Admiralty William Clive Bridgeman shortly announced that the Admiralty had found a way to punish Rear Admiral Collard without actually court-martialing him. He has received orders, said the First Lord, which have the effect of placing him in provisional retirement upon half pay.