Hawkins, John "Convoy Captain"

Well crafted short story co-authored with Ward Hawkins (1912- ). Argosy tag line: “These ships must reach England, for they carry the bread and steel vital to a fighting people. So they sail through a hundred perils – and none more sinister and illusive than the whisper ‘Treason!’” Set aboard the fictitious “cargo wagon” (i.e. freighter) LOCKLAND during a convoy run from Halifax to England in the days shortly after Italy’s “stab in the back” entry into the War. A young Italian-American fireman (born on the “Frisco waterfront”) aboard the ship is falsely accused of sabotage before proving his very real commitment to the LOCKLAND’s crew and to the Allied war effort when the vessel becomes disabled and is forced to fall out of convoy. The Hawkins’ willingness to explore the issue of national prejudices in wartime is interesting and appears heartfelt. Their choice of a title, though, is somewhat confusing since the story has nothing to do with the captain of a ship in convoy — could it be meant to be taken as a metaphor for the actions of the LOCKLAND’s 2nd Assistant Engineer who single-handedly takes on the national rabble rousers among the ship’s crew and defends the Italian-American?