The herald., 1896-04-05
GOES OVER 70 DARLINGTON
BRIGADIER FIELDING HAS RESIGNED HIS
SALVATION COMMISSION
The Majority Of His Staff Goes With Him and
the Blow h Conceded to Be Severe Ono
to the Salvation Army-oenersi Fielding
Declines to Talk
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire
CHICAGO, April 4.-Edward Field
ing, brigadier-general in command Of
the northwest division of the Salvation
army. and with the exception of Com
mander Booth-Tucker the most prom
inent officer of the forces in America,
has resigned his commission and will
join the forces Of Ballington Booths
volunteers. The majority Of his staff
officers go with him and the blow is
conceded to be the most severe that has
been suffered by the Salvation Army
since the recall of Commander and Mrs.
Ballington Booth.
|, Brigadier Fielding's wifes personal
influence will now be exerted in behalf
of the new organization and it is pre-
dicted that the news of his resignation
will cause a tremendous detection in
the ranks of the army. not only in his
own division, but also all over the
country. Among the officers who have
resigned are Brigadier-General Ed
ward Fielding, Brigadier- General En-
ma Fielding, Adjutant Washington
Blackhurst. Adjutant Christopher C..
Heron, Adjutant Burt A. Heron, En-
sign Duncan, Lieutenant Galloway.
AS Mr. Fielding organized the Saliva
tion Army in the south and was one
of the NEST active In promoting the
| movement on the Pacific coast, his in
fluence by no means stops with his own
division, but extends all over the coun-
try. He Is known throughout the army
as being a man Of good judgment, and
thousands of people have been waiting
for an expression on his part before
committing themselves to the new
army.
A reporter called at the residence of
Brig. Gen. Fielding and was Informed
that the brigadier and his wife had
been away all day and that they were
not expected to return until tonight.
The servant expressed ignorance as to
their whereabouts, but volunteered the
information that she knew they were
not at headquarters. They had not
been there for two days" At the
Salvation army headquarters those in
charge said they did not know where
the brigadier was. They declared that
they had not heard of his resignation
and were in fact averse to discussing
the question.
|. Lieutenant Galloway, who ls REID
ing's secretary, was found in the Of
flee busily engaged in closing up his
connection with division business. AS
the reporter entered the room the lieu
tenant was writing a letter. He knew
no more about the brigadier's where
abouts than the other officers, but said:
''I think it will be difficult to find him
tonight He is anxious to escape, not
only from newspaper men, but also
from officers who have asked to see
him."
While it is to be presumed that CAL
| loWay knew of the fact that the br1ga-
dier's resignation had been sent in, he
| was extremely non-c committal on the
| subject All he could be induced to
say was: "If it Is true, / am not sur
prised If the brigadier has resigned
it will be the worst setback that the
army has had since the trouble COM
i,,c t.if fr1er =,
resignation to Booth-Tucker when you
came in"
From Ajutant Heron, the particu-
lars of the resignation were learned.
"Brig.-Gen. Fielding sent in his res
ignation to Commissioner Booth Tuck
er by mail Thursday afternoon" said
he, land also cabled the intelligence to
Gen. Booth in London. Ensign Dun
can. Lieut.. Galloway, and of course Mrs.
Fielding have also resigned. The brig
adler has been anxious to keep the mat
ter a secret for few days and has
carefully avoided headquarters"
1t is said that the resignation of the
brigadier has been expected by the Sal
walton army commissioners and that 1t
was for this reason Eva Booth made
her flying trip to Chicago. Officers at
headquarters last night admitted that
Commissioner Eva spent the greater
part of her time during her stay here
in endeavoring to make the prlgadler
comimt himself to the old army. 1t
was also said the brigadier, while ex-
tremeIy courteous, informed Miss Booth
that the past commander was one of his
warmest friends, and before he COM
mitted himself to either party he pre-
ferred to wait till he heard both sides
of the question
Later Brigadier Fielding was found.
but he was reluctant to talk upon his
resignation. He seemed surprised
that the news had reached the public so
soon and refused to say anything for
his staff officers.
TT has been a personal matter with
each of u.s." said he, land while going
out of the service simultaneously, each
came to the conviction he must resign
after independent consideration and
! perhaps for different reasons.
81 acted under the dictates of my
own conscience and l have not tried to
influence any other man to go with me.
1 did what ! thought to be right To
others I give the same right But it
is a mistake if any one thinks the acces-
sion to the volunteer service is the re-
suit of proselytizing. l hope no man or
woman who is in doubt will be in
Huenced to quit the old army by my
resignation. j cannot speak of my
plans, for have determined upon moth
ing"