CEYLON HOOCH IN THE HOLD ALTHOUGH IT HAS NEVER FOUGHT A WAR, 
THE BATHTUB ROYAL CEYLON NAVY MIGHT AT LEAST BE EXPECTED TO 
DEFEND ITS HOMELAND, OFF SOUTHERN INDIA, AGAINST SMUGGLERS . BUT LAST 
WEEK MANY A CEYLONESE WAS WONDERING WHOSE SIDE OF THE SMUGGLING 
RACKET THE FLEET WAS REALLY ON . CLIMAXING A TWO-YEAR INVESTIGATION, 
A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY IN COLOMBO ACCUSED 22 CEYLONESE NAVY OFFICERS 
THE CREAM OF THE TOP NAVAL LEADERSHIP OF CONSPIRING TO SMUGGLE 
A TREASURE-TROVE OF CONTRABAND INTO THE COUNTRY . CHIEF AMONG THEM 
IS THE FORMER NAVAL CHIEF OF STAFF, REAR ADMIRAL ROYCE DE 
MEL, 47 . WHEN HE SAILED GRANDLY HOME FROM A 1960 
GOODWILL CRUISE IN ASIAN WATERS, THE COMMISSION CHARGED, THE MAGAZINES OF 
DE MEL'S FLAGSHIP AND AN ESCORTING FRIGATE HAD BEEN LOADED WITH 
SOME $10,000 WORTH OF BOUNTY BOUGHT IN DUTY-FREE PORTS . MAIN 
SOURCE WAS SINGAPORE, WHERE DE MEL'S BLUEJACKETS HAD JOYOUSLY LAID IN 
100 CASES OF GRANT'S SCOTCH, 25 CASES OF OTHER BRANDS OF 
WHISKY, PLUS CASES OF RUM, GIN, BRANDY, CHAMPAGNE AND BEER, INTENDED 
FOR DISPOSAL BACK HOME . INVESTIGATORS ADDED THAT THE HOT CARGO 
ALSO INCLUDED CRATED REFRIGERATORS, HI-FI SETS, TRANSISTOR RADIOS, FURNITURE, RARE HONG 
KONG VASES AND GOLD BANGLES MOST, UNFORTUNATELY, CONFISCATED BY CEYLON AUTHORITIES 
AFTER THE FLEET DROPPED ANCHOR UPON ITS RETURN . DE MEL 
AND HIS FELLOW BRASS NOW STAND TO LOSE THEIR COMMISSIONS, BUT 
THE PROSPECT IS THE LESSER OF THE ADMIRAL'S WORRIES . WITH 
27 OTHER SUSPECTS, HE IS ALREADY IN PRISON, ACCUSED OF PARTICIPATING 
IN AN ABORTIVE PLOT LAST YEAR TO OVERTHROW CEYLON'S STRONGWOMAN PRIME 
MINISTER, MRS . SIRIMAVO BANDARANAIKE . TWO VINTAGE FRIGATES, TWO CONVERTED 
MINESWEEPERS, A SEAWARD DEFENSE BOAT, A DOZEN PT-BOATS AND A SEAGOING 
TUG . 