And Dishonorable Discharge

The Mare Island mutineers heard their sentences last week. The 50 Negro sailors who refused to load explosives on a Pacific-bound munitions ship (TIME, Oct. 2 et seq) were reduced to the lowest rank (apprentice seaman), given stiff prison terms. Ten of them got 15 years. Because of "youth, previous clear records and short periods of service," 24 of them got modified terms of twelve years; eleven got ten years; five got eight years.

Good behavior can cut their terms down to one-third. The Secretary of the Navy may soften the punishment after the Judge Advocate General reviews their unprecedented case. Likely to be the heaviest burden for some of them to bear (unless there is clemency) is the fact that when they get out of prison all will be dishonorably discharged.

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