ARMY & NAVY: Icebox Raider (Concl’d)

ARMY & NAVY

Last week at Fort Jay on Governors Island, N. Y. a court-martial of one Brigadier General, six Colonels, one Lieutenant Colonel and one Major found stolid, grey-thatched Captain Ralph E. Fleischer guilty of violating three Articles of War. Because he embezzled from the U. S. Army icebox two chickens, pickles, assorted vegetables, two slabs of cheese and other victuals; because he gave false answers at a previous investigation; and because he bullied enlisted men and made them “keep their mouths shut,” his senior officers sentenced this Quartermaster Corps captain to dismissal from the service. Pending review of his case by the War Department, Captain Fleischer remained under technical arrest at Fort Jay.

Fortnight ago Captain Fleischer testified that the name of “Ella,” squiggled on the wrappers of some butter found in his car, was the U. S. Army trademark. Other witnesses disputed this testimony. Last week, “Ella” strode into court in the person of svelte, blonde Ella Anderson of Brooklyn. She admitted that she had met the Captain in Panama six years ago, that they had since become good friends. Of the supplies which the Captain was accused of having filched for her, “Ella” professed complete ignorance.