rch 11, 1902_.

_To the Senate of the United States_:

I return without approval Senate bill, No. 1258 entitled "An act to
remove the charge of desertion from the naval record of John Glass."

There can be no graver crime than the crime of desertion from the Army
or Navy, especially during war; it is then high treason to the nation,
and is justly punishable by death. No man should be relieved from such a
crime, especially when nearly forty years have passed since it occurred,
save on the clearest possible proof of his real innocence. In this case
the statement made by the affiant before the committee does not in all
points agree with his statement made to the Secretary of the Navy. In
any event it is incomprehensible to me that he should not have made
effective effort to get back into the Navy.

He had served but little more than a month when he deserted, and the
war lasted for over a year afterwards, yet he made no effort whatever to
get back into the war. Under such circumstances it seems to me that to
remove the charge of desertion from the Navy and give him an honorable
discharge would be to falsify the records and do an injustice to his
gallant and worthy comrades who fought the war to a finish. The names
of the veterans who fought in the civil war make the honor list of the
Republic, and I am not willing to put upon it the name of a man unworthy
of the high position.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

WHITE HOUSE, _Washington, May 12, 1902_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

One of the greatest calamities in history has fallen upon our
neighboring island of Martinique. The consul of the United States at
Guadeloupe has telegraphed from Fort de France, under date of yesterday,
that the disaster is complete; that the city of St. Pierre has ceased
to exist; and that the American consul and his family have perished.
He is informed that 30,000 people have lost their lives and that 50,000
are homeless and hungry; that there is urgent need of all kinds of
provisions, and that the visit of vessels for the work of supply and
rescue is imperatively required.

The Government of France, while expressing their thanks for the marks
of sympathy which have reached them from America, inform us that Fort
de France and the entire island of Martinique are still threatened.
They therefore request that, for the purpose of rescuing the people
who are in such deadly peril and threatened with starvation, the
Government of t