"LIKE A DIRGE."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 79, 3 April 1928, Page 7

"LIKE A DIRGE."

ROYAL OAK'S MUSIC. Jazz Band Earns Rear-Admiral's Hearty Disapproval. COURT-MARTIAL SEQUEL. (By Cab!e.-Press Association.-Copyright.) (Uecelrpd 0.80 am.) GIBRALTAR, April 2. The court-martial of Captain Dewar and Commander Daniel, of the Roval Oak, on charges of insubordination, was resumed.

There was an ironical coincidence as the strains of jazz floated in on the Court while Commander Daniel was recounting the dance incidents at which Rear-Admiral Cullard (complainant) said that if Commander Daniel did not order the marine band off the quarter deck he (the rear-admiral) would do it himself.

Commander Daniel said he satisfied himself that the bandmaster's grievance was that Rear-Admiral Collard had called him a .

Commander Daniel then described the rear-admiral's landing at Malta, where le had no doubt that the admiral did not return his salute.

A member of the Court: What was your impression of Rear-Admiral ColJard'B behaviour oil this occasion?

Commanded Daniel replied: I considered it was a deliberate insult. In reference to his action in reading to his brother officers a letter, criticising RearAdmiral Collard's conduct Commander Daniel said he did so in the ward-room. This included the phrase, "the wardroom was inflamed with indignation." All agreed that he had not overstated the case.

At the opening of the sitting of the Court the Martial Judge-Advocate said that he desired to impress on the Court that much of Rear-Admiral Collard's evidence on Saturday was inadmissable because it related to conversations between him, Captain Dewar and others, at which Commander Daniel was not present. The Court had not tried to I top him because it desired to afford the defence every lattitude.

Mr. Kimball, counscl for the defence, then obtained permission for Commander Daniel to give evidence, and in further recounting the dance incidents, the latter asserted that Rear-Admiral Collard, addressing the bandmaster, ■aid: "You call yourself a flagship band, fit to be in the rear-admiral's flagship. I have never heard such a awful noise in all my life. It is like a dirge. 11l have you sent home to-morrow."

The rear-, dmiral later told witness: I cannot have a like that on my •hip.

Commander Daniel said the rearadmiral spoke loudly and several people heard him, including ladies and officers' guests.

Later the admiral called witness to bis cabin, saying: "The chaplain has accused me of calling the bandmaster » —r"« J didn't did IT" Witness said: You referred to the bandmaster as in mine, the band's ana the ladies' hearing. The admiral then became angry and said it was a lie and that such accusations would involve a courtmartial about the flag officer.

Commanded Daniel's evidence continued: "He asked how dared I'say such a thing? I replied, 'Nothing, sir, will budge me from the statement. Would I make these statements at this stage of my career if you had left any possible room for doubt about what you said?'

"I then proposed to Rear-Admiral Collard that in order to avoid a scandal I should have carte blanche, and make the best redress possible to the individuals entitled to it. The admiral wished me success. I left his cabin and spoke to the major of marines, and told him I would take it upon myself to accept a full apology from the admiral. The major said: 'I place myself in the captain's and your hands, if you are satisfied I shall be glad not to have to press the matter.'" The Commander said he reported these Vwws to Admiral Collard, who praised his tact and concluded by saying: "Thanks very much for getting me out of a damned nasty hole." Witness said that thereafter his relations with Rear-Admiral Collard Jfere most cordial. —(A. and N.Z. and Sydney "Sun.")