New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-09
ACCUSED OFFICERS REPLY.
:. VEHEMENT oUTBURsT FROM CAP
TAIN WHITTLE.
.rrAcKs GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT AND THE
METHODS OF THE COURT OF IN
oUIRY-wHAT MAJOR SMITH
HAS TO SAY.

The publication yesterday of the findings of the
=, which investigated charges Of cowardice
Ss,,st Major Clinton II. Smith and Captain John
~ white of the list Regiment has caused
-, deal OF lively comment and discussion. espec-
NV among National Guardsmen Some think
~. Governors comments. which were published
,,h the report. were more harsh than is neces-
Nv but others uphold him. and assert that
owardice is the worst crime soldier be
lily OF and cannot be too severely dealt with.
naturally some reply was expected from the con-
.,rned officers, and Captain Whittle is out with
~, one whether he improves his position in the
hlc eve by practically calling Governor Roose-
-, liar and charging that sordd motives insti-
,sa the entire proceedings. or whether he only
eo,A-rs thereby the Governors estimate OF him,
,rsv be open argument. Major Smith has also
rsnled but rather in an aggrieved than m trucu-
lent tone ,
,arad has a real estate office at No. 50 East
ors.hundred- and sixteenth-st To reporters VINO
av him there yesterday he said that the Gov
.-rors statements were malicious les ana 'hat
enc entire investigation inspired by spite De-
rsa he kept Governor Roosevelt out OF the list
rostnent al the beginning Of the war Roosevelt
1,-rtte declares. wanted TO fill a vacancy IN the
s,,,on Of major in that regiment but Whttle being
- ssror captain laid claim to the place, and In
it, NJ considerable persuasion from men VINO
n,os Colonel Roosevelt in that regiment, re-
,,ssd 10 give way and obtained the position himself
Th,s white declares, reused Governor Roose-
vsIt's wrath which was increased by the fact that
,,nS his own regiment of Rough Riders cost
raising overnor considerable money. Whitue de-
the the statement that he was the only major
IN M sne went forward into battle as lie mace
out Of whole cloth; He says ne was IN, tne ,ran
Amsh he remained under calling fire for hve
Yours in which the regiment lost nearly an oI ~
MN who were killed in the fight OF san juan HILL
NEVER DIsOBEYED ORDERS.
". saws also that the statement that General
-, gave positive orders for him to come TO the
front at once. and that instead Of ooeying' ne
rst,red 10 the rear and stayed there till after DARK
when he went forward with Colonei Downs Is
likewise untrue. On the other hand, white de-
clares that he never disobeyed an order. and was
never absent from his command wit94S! Inc c per
plains that the Court OF Inquiry adopted star
Der proceedings and did not ALLOW e nun me 10 witnesses
who were giving evidence against nlm were ps ii9
ed de Evidence says snSS to be pnted he feels
sure it would completely vindicate MIN: ,oo,eo IN
,bs a Charges against him and he felt sure that If
martial had been ordered "ou1 be were ere
b him banshed or Po6eng Orders Every
snt-eoone is supposed to stay with his colonel ana
case he Soud be rssdy to take his place
mand Of the regiment. Accordingly Smith stayed by
the SIDE 81 Downs and Smith says he did
da re 10 assume the command OF the regiment under
those circumstances for fear OF getting himself INTO
q worse predicament. Smith declares ne mas not
been treated with fairness. and with reference ~
the ''I3ouncing Board" before whic he Is ORDERED
10 apnear on May IL, he says 1t looks as II ne nao
been condemned before trial. He presumed ina
his decapitation had already been Determined on
IN the National Guard. Major Smith SAID ne was
preparing detailed statement OF his case TOT 'he
press.
WHAT COLONEL DOWNS SAYS.
Colonel Wallace A. Downs, late commander Oh
the list Regiment, seen last evening. he salo
that he was not yet prepared to make any fornal
statement In reply TO the report OF the Court OF
Inquiry but declared that the report OF the Couit
was wrong and undeserved. They have set ASIDE
testimony which would be favorable TO me and my
Officers" he said land have selected only. such as
zUould be unfavorable. / defy Governor Roosevelt,
The Court or any person to produce the man VINO
delivered 10 me the alleged order of General Kent
10 move my regiment forward or the man Dy
whom I sent the message back to General Kent
that had taken the regiment as far as II could
90 The statements are malicious falsenoous:
when Governor Roosevelt states that disoDeyed
orders he does not speak the truth. for obeyed
the orders Of my commanding off1cer implicitly. |
do not desire say anything further until can
fully consider the findings OF the Board, when L
will submit a statement for the public.
Captain Anthony j. Blocker, one of those, who
preferred the charges against Smith and Whittle.
said he felt well satisfied with the outcome because
II showed that the regiment did all that could be
expected OF II under such leaders