Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 August 1890 — NAVAL OFFICERS SUSPENDED. [ARTICLE]

NAVAL OFFICERS SUSPENDED.

Story of a Court Martial While the White Squadron of Evolution Was at Bio. A story has just leaked out to the effect that while the white squadron was anchored at Rio Janeiro, Brazil, in J une last, two of the officers, Ensign Manning Keyres and Junior-lieutenant William R. Rush, were subjected to a court-martial for being on shore over night, xtne staying away twenty-four and one forty-eight hours, and that for this both were sentenced to suspension from duty for two years. The reason for this heavy sentence, as given by a prominent yard officer, who is authority for the story to a reporter, was that Rio Janeiro was at that time an infected port, the disease being yellow fever. As is well known, infectious diseases are much more likely to be contracted at night than by day, and for this reason the navy regulations: provide very stringent rules in relation to shore leaves in Infected ports, the order being that no member of the ship’s company shall remain on shore after dark. Disobedience to this rule means the likelihood of infection to the whole ship’s crew. Whether or not this is the whole of the story cannot be ascertained, since the whole affair has been kept so quiet that not more than half a dozen of the yard olHcers are aware of its having occurred at all. There are rumors of other troubles having occurred on board ship, one of the cases being well krown, namely, the Buspension of Commander Howell, on the ground of disobedience of orders in having sailed his ship out of the harbor of Toulon without permission. The case, it is said, still remains to be settled.