New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-03
THE 71ST REGIMENT WRANGLE.
LIEUTENANT SMITHS CHARGES
AGAINST CAPTAINS MEEKs AND
BLEECKER NOT YET RECEIVED
AT HEADQUARTERS.


There were no Developments in the list Regiment
scandal Yesterday and while many offcers OF the
National Guard expressed regret that an open
rupture should have taken place between Lieuten
snt-Colonel Clinton H. Smith the present COM
rnanding officer and the captains who criticised the
actions Of their superiors many more applauded the
action which taken 10 defend ano uphoo INC
dignity OF the service.
Cantains Meeks and Bleecker have been relieved
Of their commands ny Lieutenant Colonel Smith
but the charges against these ofcers have nov yet
been formulated and presented 10 General george
Moore Smith commanding offcer Of the Firth
Brigade through whom they will have 20 90 TO the
d,,is,on commander and through him 70 the com
mander-n-chies General Smith said that charges
o. the nature which Lieutenant-Colonel smith VIII
present are Ike an Indictment and must be drawn
I'D carefully and deliberately. and he was not sur
prised that they had not yet reached his head
quarters.
w,an ths document finally reaches the com
nnander-,n-chief IL will be examined and II the facts
IN the case warrant II A court-martial Will ne
ordered and the adjutant- general Will name the
members OF the This action VIII he made
known through the headquarters OF the f,1th
Brigade
" has been suggested that the captains hope 20
escane punishment by hiding behind a techncality,
and that II will be maintained by them that the
United States Government. and not the State OF
New-York. has jurisdiction in the case. General
Smith
but said that there would probably be no hair
splitting in the matter
Among the causes for which an ofhcer may be
tried by court-martal according TO the new code
are: Insult disrespect 10 a superior oh1cer In
the line Of military duty: "unmilitary unsol-
6ierly conduct conduct unbecom!ng an ofncer
and q gentleman. for conduct 70 the prejudice
Of good order and military discipline etc The
new law pness an oep may be- snenee 10
dismissed from the service aon ne shaii tneteoy
commission. hned 20 an amount not exceeding 800
reprimanded. or 10 all or either OF such hnes and
Those people who expect the court-mart!al 70
clear up any disputed points as 10 the herosm OF
ofer or enlisted man OF the 71st Regiment in the
Cuban campaign will be disappointed. because II II
believed at headauarters ihat Sae So.rs ~ con- rd
Bleecker transgress the rules and regulations by
criticising their superior oficers?"
ra,ion when new colonel is chosen for the regi-
ment The officers may then elect any eng Ole
man 10 that position but the examining board vii
lions physicai mental and moral and must be
satisfied on all points before commission can oe
issued and Il any officer is chosen 70 that pae,
certain that his conduct there VIII De tnoroue ny
;pyestgaed Fer iea' p 5eas 8eeeker could have
brought about investigation by waiting uncl
Colonel Greenes place became vacant and tneh
cancy. That would have been a dignined way 70
reach the desired end and would have left no
nlemsn on 'ne ,b na oerse OF ,nyesiSsiion Would
have been found unworthy;
Another batch Of possible esndidates ior me
yesterday II included the names Of some men who
b. the operation Of the new code could not hold
shs be,hr OF Of the Naiona Guard active
or retired Army Officers II Is safe 10 say
that headquarters has given the subject no thought