New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
TWO MILITARY COURTS.
TO TRY SEvENTY-F1RsT
REGIMENT CAPTAINs-COURT OF IN
CURRY TO PROBE COwARD1CE
ALLEGATIONS.


The ourt-mar.ial which was ordered by Genera
Roe for the trial Of Captains william r. MeeNs
and Anthony j. Blocker on charges OF conouc'
dotrr,ontal IN military discipline and unbecomins
an officer and "A gentleman will meet to-morro"
evening in the list Regiment Armory ana me'"'' |,
OF the lis, Regiment. well as gnardsmen az.
over the State. deeply Interested IN the res"''
OF the trial
II NAV be remembered that these officers charged
their superiors Colonel Downs. Lieutenant-Colohe'
Smith and Major Whitte. with cowardice ana IN
stead Of bringing the charges before the COM
ma nder- Chief through the prescribed course they
made them public through the newspapers. inc
charges or allegations. were made after Coione'
Downs had resigned from the regiment. but the
other officers whose sodierly conduct had been
criticised took steps al TO punish their SUD-
ordinates who they alese. published statements
deroga.ory to their good name.
Tic detail for the court martial which VIII de-
termine whether the action of Captains MeeKs ana
Bleecker was prejudicial TO good order and mill
tarv discipline consists of the following officers
Colonel Solomon r. Japha, 109'h Regiment Lieu
tenant Colonel Adolph l.. Kline. 1ith Regiment
Lieutenant Colonel James NJ Jarvis. Sth Regiment
Majo Austin A. Yates. ID Regiment. and Major
Edward NJ Crou:. OF General McLeers stan.
Judge Advocate.
Major Henry s Van Duzer formerly Judge
Advocate on the STAN Of General Louis Fitzgerald.
will be counsel for tho captains. and endeavor 10
place their IN favorable light before the
court When the order forming the court was
issued It was generally thought that Tho question
of the truth of tho allegations against the list
Regiment officers would not he touched by the
court martial and tha: the inquiry would so no
further than 70 determine whether the captains
did wrong 10 cricise their superior officers IN the
newspapers In order that the whole truth in the
case might he known the officers who had been put
unde~ cloud by tho published statements asked
tha. q court OF INQUIRY be appointed TO investigate
their conduct while in the field. This action was
taker and the court Of inquiry will meet In the
o2d Regiment Armory on Wednesday evening. and
will endeavor to bring 10 light all matters in con-
nection with the list Regiments experience in
Cuba which are not hroueh. out the court
martial
The detail FOR the court ~ inquiry Is Colonel
Samuel NJ Wech. c5th Regiment. Buffalo: Colonel
Franklin Bartlett I'D Regiment New-York
Lie4,enant" Colonel Chares J buchanan Of the
Third BrGade staff Albany
ines Of TIC Two courts and inssmuch as The list
Regiment was the only National Guard organza,
ton from the State Of NeN-York which took pa.
n the Cuban campaign many CITIZENS hops M;
cations In military circles here seems 10 be littr
doubt rs 70 The fate OF tn" Kicking captains. as
they have already been tried and found guilty.
and that nothing remains 10 be done more than
10 GARY ihe sen+ ~ -, inc SHe'Ei d ov again
said one man. He looked wise when both sides
had argued their case and said. The Court VIII
take the papers in this case and consider them for
weel; but the Court will eventually decide in
favor Of the plaintiff The court rtial will hear
all that there is 10 he heard bur the chances arc
that Blocker and Meeks will never again give
command IN tho fist Regiment"
Will" these inVcs legations are going on the re-
establishment OF 'he regiment is having the atten-
fiOn 90 tho present Board OF Officers. Companies
l. and NJ. which were recruited and formed when
the command went 10 the front have been dis,
banded by Order Of the division commander. and
their officers have been declared supernumerary.
This Will place the reglmnnt onCe more in The ten
COMPANIES preferable to twelve skeletons.
Colonel Francis has issued orders for company
meetings : follows. Companies 4. = and =. De
cemhe- 81 Companies u ana G. December 2s.
Companies. I. g and ~. December 20. and Com
panes and X. December 30 At these meetings
T. is believed that the officers will ascertain how
many members wish to Withdraw. ard definite
plans for further work may be formed