Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-12-14
THE MILITIA IMBROGLIO.
Col. StrOver Addresses Comm unicn.
tiOn TO Adjutant- General Knaebel
The Latter's Brief Reply.

regularity of certain orders issued by
the latter, Col. Strover has addressed the
annexed communication to the adjutant-
general and has also sent copies thereof
to Gov. Thornton, Secretary Miller and
to the secretary of war:
HDoRs. 1sT BAT. OF CAv'Y N. M. V. M.
Santa Fe, N. M. Dec. IL, 1896.
Col. Geo. W. Knaebel, Adjutant- General of
Territory of New Mexico.
Sir: Your special orders No. 6, dated
December II, 1896, were received and
noticed with establishment paragraph
of said orders, which contains the sum-
mons to appear before the governor of
the territory of New Mexico, on December
10, to show cause why, ETC., etc.
As you do not seem to be acquainted
with the army reg ulations, and do not
seem to understand military rules an
courtesy and have to rely on the advice
of your assistant" Col. Fletcher, whose
advice is in most cases lopsided and
mixed with malice, as far as the under
signed is concerned, shall explain to you
why could not possibly obey your sum-
mons without deviating too much from
military rules and the army regulations
by which officers and men in the militia
service are guided:
First-As an officer in the volunteer
militia service have the right of trial
by court martial if charges are filed
against me.
Second-If found guilty, the sentence
will be fixed by the court, and the govern
or of the territory can approve or dis
| approve the sentence, as he sees fit.
| Thlrd-A summons "to show cause
Why" etc, ETC., is not at all military and
not in accordance with army regulations.
1t would deprive me of fair trial by
officers of the volunteer militia, to which
I am entitled.
hope that these reasons will convince
your Office that can not obey your sum-
mons and also show you way lin accord
ance with army regulations) by which to
reach me, if you care to do 80 after the
following statement:
You charge me with "arrogating to my
self the duties of the Acknowledgment"
etc. Now, if you knew little more of
military affairs, you would not make such
ridiculous charge.
The order which have issued for the
parade and review was signed by me as
the highest officer in rank present in the
city, and is entirely correct from mill
tary standpoint. AS far as the adjutant.
general is concerned, he has nothing to
do whatever with my orders; he has not
the right to interfere with any orders fol-
drills, parades, etc., issued by the com.
manding officer, and most decidedly re-
ject any unwarranted interference with
my orders.
l have filed that order for the parade
with your office only as matter of cour
tesy, to let your Office know what was 60
ing on, and not for your approval, which
/ do not need in such case.
Furthermore, you accuse me of having
issued an order "purporting to come from
the governor"
In answer to this wish to say that al
my military actions and proceedings art
by order of the governor, to whom an
directly responsible. All orders which
are issued by me as commanding Office
are "by order of the governor" and i
seems ridiculous to consult the governor
in person every time it is necessary tt
: hold battalion drill or parade.
desired this parade and review simpl,
for the purpose of creating new interes
among the members of the local militl
and had no idea that pernicious loca
politics would rise in opposition and in
duce your Office to commit most ridicu
lous blunder.
. Par. of your special orders No. 6,
resent as insolent, and no officer of you
rank should be guilty Of such an offens
unless utterly devoid of all military knowl
al kha
have more than once tried to play me Al
underhand, low trick, unbecom1ng an OF
! fcer and gentleman, and you woul
have succeeded had you had to deal wit
more timid man than myself. You hav
sent me communications, which hav
now in my possession, "purporting t
come from the governor" of which tn
governor, according to his own state
rnents, never knew anything.
am getting tired of dealing with q
adjutant-general who has not the interest
of the militia at heart. Life is entirel
too short to be worried in that respec
and should Immediately resign my CON
mission were it not that consider
my duty to do all in my power to aid tn
volunteer militia of this territory, espt
cially at this time.
Furthermore, l would not resign no,
until have had an opportunity to d.
fend my rank ard position in the terri
torial militia against you and all thos
who would drag pernicious ward polite
into military affairs. As long as I am
the service l will not allow the adjutant
general to interfere with my duties q
long as do right. dare You or anyon
to bring your charges against me 40
have them Investigated by officers an
gentlemen.
Your special orders No. 6, conside
illegal, as they we're issued by order Q
Loriou Miller, acting governor, when tn
secretary of the territory and yourse
we'll knew that Gov. w. T. Thornton wa
at the time within his territory and ths
Secretary L. Miller had not the right
sign any such orders.
Furthermore, would say, in this oor
nection, that par.2 and especially par. 8 {
said orders No. show such gross igno
ance of military usage that they WI
= tend to bring discredit upon the Office
the adjutant-general.
= shall publish this letter together Wit
= my and your orders relative to the p'
- rade and review in answer to your sp
y cial orders No. 6, published in the SAINT
Fe NEW MEXICAN, Dec. II, 1896, and
J. shall also forward copy of these doc,
ments to the secretary of war, to aho
that official how military affairs are maj
aged in this territory.
VIM. STRovER,
Lieutenant Colonel, Comdg. 1st Batta
ion N. M. Cavalry.
The adjutant-gen has made tae 70
lowing brief reply to the foregoing con
munication:
TERRITORY OF New MExIoo,
Santa Fe, N. NJ, December II, 1895.
Lieut.. Col Strover, Commanding First Ba
talon Cavalry, n NJ. M, Santa Fe, N. M.