The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-20
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES,
Why Coppinger's Nomination Is
Not Confirmed By the
Senate.
GOSSIP IN ARMY CIRCLES.
Two OF the Brawlers of Battery A,
Fifth Artillery, Sentenced to
Severe Punishment.

L LIZ HUMILIATION OF colonel C0pplnger TO
be orlgadier-general has not been con-
hrmed by the United States Senate. The
opposition is said to come mainly from Sen
ator Burrows OF Michigan, although repre-
sentatlVes of the American Protective
ASSOCIATION from Detroit have protested
against the confirmation of General Cop
plnger on the ground that he is foreigner
and Catholic. Senator Burrows opposes
the confirmation because Coppinger
was promoted over several colonies,
among them Colonel Shafter of the First
infantry, now at Angel Island.
In army circles the nomination of Colonel
Copplnger by President Cleveland created
some comment. but not much surprise. 1t
Is known that Colonel Coppinger's mother
ln-laW, Mrs. James G. Blaine, made a per-
sonal request to President Harrison that
her son-ln-law should be made brigadier-
general, and gossip IS to the effect that
Harrison turned away from her without
giving any reply to the petition. 1t is said
that she did not forgive Mr.. Harrison for
TINS reoutt, but Immediately set to work
TO use all the influence in her power to Sc
cure the promotion from the succeeding
ADMINISTRATION. Presumably President
cleveland gave her friendly audience, and
consented to promote the son-in-law of his
OLD antagonist, James G. Blaine.
Army officers expect that Coppinger will
De confirmed, although it is fact that he
has been promoted over officers who we're
entitled by seniority, as we'll as by dis
tlngulshed services, to promotion.
Two OF the rlngleaders in the tumult in
Battery A. Fifth Artillery, at the Preside
on New Years Eve have been punished.
Pr!yate Charles r. Valentine was found
guilty OF assaulting with intent to kill
on-commlssioned officer, and was sem
fenced by the court-martial to be dishon-
oraoly discharged from the service, to for
telt all pay and allowances and to be con-
hned at hard labor for ten years.
General Forsyth reduced the term of
rest OF the sentence. Valentine will be
sent to the military prison at Fort Leaven-
worth.
Private Daniel w. Bault of Battery A,
Filth Artillery, was tried by court martial
and found guilty of falling to come to the
assistance OF a non-commlssioned officer,
and OF encouraging violent attack by
another man. Bault has been sentenced
to be d1shonorably discharged from the
service and to be confined at hard labor
for three months
Private George Dempsey of Battery A.
who was tried on the charge of failing to
assist non-commissioned officer, was
acquitted.
Private John W. Lewis, Battery L, Fifth
Artillery, has been dishonorablv dis
charged for assaulting a comrade and
being absent without leave
Private George w. Good, Battery A, was
found guilty of being drunk and disorderly
and OF stabbing a comrade. He was SEN
fenced to be dishoncrably discharged from
the service and to be confined at hard labor
for two years.
Private Walter A. Sims, Troop K, Fourth
Cavalry, was found guilty of absence with
out leave and of breach of arrest. He was
sentenced to be dishonorably discharged
from the service and 10 be confined at hard
labor for one month.
Private Charles G. Marsh, who was tried
on the charge of being drunk and dis
orderly and OF engaging in a fight with a
comrade, was acquitted.
Battery A of the Fifth Artillery has not
a bad name, but it has been known for
some time that there were two or three
bad men in the company. Captain Rob-
erts has commanded the battery for four
months only. 1t came to his knowledge
that the enlisted man who tried to kill the
corporal IN the barracks tumult boosted of
having killed man at Danville, Virginia.
In the drunken boast he said that the
name under which he was known in the
battery was assumed and pretended to
give his right name and the name of his
NlctlIn IN DanVllle. Captain Roberts has
written to DanvilIe to ascertain if any
brawl occurred there resulting as the
drunken soldier announced.
The refusal of an officer or an enlisted
man to respond to call for assistance to
stop tight or mutiny is very serious
offense under the Articles of War The
regulations are so positive that in a case
OF this kind private soldier may put an
officer under arrest if the latter engages IN
mutiny or brawl and refuses to desist
Word has been received from Washing
ton that Captains Hodgsdon and Stodder |
left there on January for San Francisco. |
They have been authorized to investigate |
the charges against Captain Healy of the |
Bear.
The cruiser Boston is still in port, but is
under orders to proceed to the Asiatic sta
ton and relieve the Concord.
The officers of the Philadelphia are hav-
ing delightful time ct Santa Barbara. |
The cruiser will go south after leaving
that port.
Rear-Admiral Jouett in a recent inter-
view pronounced the monitor Puritan the |
best fighting craft ahoat The Puritan
ana Monterey are of the same type, but |
former 10 Iorc - 4 III