The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-04
Mastering Out viii Clear Regiment
Of All Charges.
LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE REPORT
While the Inquiry Was Ordered for
the Information OF the Commando
ing General. IL Was at Colonel
Males Request, and in JUS
ticc 10 Him Should BE
Given Publicity.

WASHINGTON. September Especial
1t is more than probable-almost GER
ta;nty-that the report OF the Third VIZ
rlnia court of inquiry will never be made
public unless sufficient influence can DC
brought 70 bear on the War Department
or Major General Graham to cause
change from the present intention
One of the members Of the court OF
inquiry. since the report was maze 10
General Graham. has had conversation
with an intimate friend who holds hish
rank I'm the military service, In which ne
referred TO tho Third Virginia case. his
eract words cannot be given, but they
conveyed the idea that the report of the
eourt was not a Victory for either side.
What he said justihes the statement that
,n the opinion OF the court the virginia
regiment was not entirely blamsless, yet
the misconduct was not such as TO JUS
tify as severe measures as tnose adopted
by General Butler.
THE MILITARY LAW.
A, oricer whose duties make him ia
miliar with military law and practice'
said 10 me:
when a regiment Is mustered out hon
orable discharges are given the men,
which clears their records of all chaIses
of characterization and breaches or dlscl-
pline OF whatsoever nature
Asked what course would have been
adopted had the report of the court OF
INQUIRY In the Virginia case charged INA.
the men had been guilty Of any serious
offence he said General Graham WouIu
then have ordered Il court martial 10 try
the offenders. 4, .t,s
"He has a great deal OF latitude IN TINS
respect. however. and If in his discreloh
the offense is not too serious, or Ioi
other reasons satisfactory TO him, ne heeu
not make public the report but may
oiliatIy let the whole matter diop'
"A court of inquiry is ordered by tne
general commanding TO collect inIorlA"-
lion FOR MS own guidance and he Is not
required to give the report puDhclty'
A COMPROMISE.
"rn matters OF this kind as insother re-
iations of life compromises are ire
ouently reached and Il may be 'tNit
neither side was entirely innocent anu
that II was thought best to let the mater
drop, especially ps the war IS over anu
the men about ID leave the service.
This officer had no connection with
the trouble and the opinion expressed IN
the last paragraph IS his own, but II IL
illustrates the feeling which obtains among
army officers. IA, %
IL depends altogether on the amountNot
nolitlcal influence the soldiers IN the
Wa with Spain can WELD whether the
records are published as were those OF
the war between Federal and Coniede-
rate states. If not published the records
will not be readily accessible and the re-
port be buried FOR all time.
ARMY MEN CAN'T TALK.
The peculiar position which army men
occupy makes them unwilling to allow
the use OF their names and l am unable
10 give more definite personah'y 10
those quoted above but If the facts
I'm connection with the report are ever
made public. this will be Verihed.
IL has been feared all along by TIE
friends Of the Third Virginia that II the
report OF the court did not entirely sus-
tain Butler that no more would be heard
OF It.
The order which he issued was publislo
from one end Of the country u the
other, aud the fact that court OF ir-
quiry heard the testimony IN the case
was given wide circulation and In 'cr.a'n
cases with various degrees OF falsity as
70 the trend OF the evidence The report
mas not entirely exonerate 'he reSiment.
That could hardly be expected OF a
court Of this kind. when superior tfii-
GERS conduct was being examined into.
Even II the report Is as outlined above.
the fact that Il does not justify General
Buffers order should bc given the same
publicity that was given 10 his o.der.
JUSTICE TO NALLE
The officer quoted above is correct In