SS President Polk, Tasman Sea

Had a little trouble aboard ship last night. This damn merchant marine crew is typical of what ship masters and owners of the U.S. are forced to put up with by the unions. The majority of it is honest and willing to work and cooperate, but there is a small minority of agitators, troublemakers, and downright shiftless bums.

It seems as though members of the black gang and the deck force have been stealing equipment (shirts, coats, shoes) from the soldiers aboard. Yesterday they pulled their masterpiece by getting into the Army supply of medical alcohol.

The engine room watch in the middle of the night, last night, was blind drunk. One of them (by accident, or intent?) fell against a very delicate piece of machinery, which was broken by the blow, and cut off the flow of oil to the turbine. Luckily the chief engineer happened along at that moment, and threw the turbine into reverse, in time to save it from being DESTROYED. The ship was stopped for about 30 minutes in these dangerous waters and was absolutely helpless. The fellow who broke the instrument, has been noticed by several of us earlier in the voyage is being particularly lazy and surly. He is now chained to a cot in sick bay. I’d have shot him, by God.