Court-Martial

U. S. Navy rear admirals are selected from a list of captains who have distinguished themselves by long and praiseworthy service. One such captain is Capt. Franklin D. Karns, commander of the 32,000-ton U. S. S. Colorado. With 37 years of naval service behind him, Captain Karns might well have been looking forward to early promotion.

But, one morning some six weeks ago, 37 good years were marred by one allegedly negligent moment. It was during the naval review in New York Harbor (TIME, May 9). Between Governor's Island and the Battery the Colorado bumped, stopped, stuck fast on Diamond Reef, remained there 36 hours.

Last week a board of inquiry report charged Captain Karns and Lieutenant Commander Dupree J. Friedell with negligence, ordered court-martial proceedings to be immediately instituted against them. Clark Cottrell, Navy Yard pilot, was guiding the Colorado when it grounded, but is a civil employe, not under Navy jurisdiction.