15
of death except in the case of murder
and mutiny, and of penal servitude in
all cases. The highest punishment is
therefore dismissal with disgrace, which
by section 53(6) involves also a sentence
of imprisonment. By section 53(7),
however, imprisonment can only be
awarded for two years. The result is
that, for example, by amending section 2
of the Act in this way, treachery by an
officer commanding a ship in the face
of the enemy is punishable by dismissal
with disgrace and two years' imprisonment
only. This seems scarcely an adequate
punishment. If, to remedy this, section
/
53(7) is altered so as to make imprisonment
possible for any term up to a life sentence,
the graded scale of punishments is
4
upset. I should accordingly be
new para.
obliged if you would consider whether, in teu ligil of these considerations, and in
the circumstances, it may not be preferable
to