OCR Text |
Show For Reform of Deserters From Navy TII&' ultimata housing of all deserters de-serters of the havy in a model penul Institution, sucb as the naval prison at Portsmouth, N. H, from which they may eventually be liberated as useful citliens, Is the hope of Secretary of Navy Wilbur. Tha advisability of recommending to the coming session of congress .the designation of Portsmouth ss a reformatory re-formatory for deserters Is being considered con-sidered by the secretary. Early In his administration Secretary Secre-tary Wilbur studied the question of msking the naval prisons useful, not only from the standpoint of punishing the guilty, but for reforming those whose Infractions of military discipline were of the mind. In pursuit of this study, Secretary Wilbur, accompanied by Rear Admiral Julian L. Latimer, then Judge advocate general of the navy, visited Portsmouth and Initiated a novel experiment In getting to the "heart" of the men incarcerated there as deserters. Directing that the 150 deserters be lined up In the prison yard. Secretary Secre-tary Wilbur presented to each two sheets of paper and a pencil, and asked that each write one hundred words or more on: "Why I Joined the Nuvy" snd "Why I Left the Navy." As h handed the writing material to the erstwhile sailors snd marines who were paying the penalty of "taking French leave" of the naval service he Informed each that his statements would be considered by the Navy department de-partment at their face value. : Later a similar experiment was made at the naval prison at Paris Island, S. C, In the name of the naval secretary by Major General John A. Lejeune, commandant of the Marine corps, and at the naval prison at Mare Island, Cal., also In the name of Secretary Wilbur, by Admiral Latimer. Under a critical analysts of the answers an-swers the mental qualities of the deserters de-serters have been classified. Of the 4G7 prisoners only 61 were classified as of "superior Intelligence." Those listed as of "average Intelligence" to-tuled to-tuled 228, while 103 were marked as "inferior" and 13 were given the low mark of "very inferior." The present prison population of the navy Is 1,057, with Portsmouth having 342, Parts Island 354, Mare island 310, Cavlte 13, Sun Quentln-18 and Atlanta At-lanta 15. Fully 80 per cent of the prisoners are deserters. |