New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-26
FIVE OFFICERS GET OUT.
WHOLESALE RESERVATIONS IN THE
SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
DISSATISFIED 1T IS SAID. WITH TREAT
MENT OF CHARGES AGAINST COLO
MEL DUFFY-OTHER DEFEC-
TIONS EXPECTED


The smOuldering troubles in the 69th Regl-
ment broke out yesterday when five of the Lead
ing officers of the regiment headed by the senior
major. sent in their designations Although the
reasons given for this action were business and
expiration OF term of service. 1t is we'll known
that the officers have got out because the
charges recently preferred against Colonel Ed
ward Duffy were thrown out by General Head
quarters at Albany. These are the officers whose
designations have gone In Major Thomas F.
Lynch. commanding 1st Battalion; Captain
Charles Heay. of Company I; Captain Daniel
Mccarthy of Company X; First Lieutenant Pat
rick ]. Holohan Of Company l. and Second Lieu
tenant John F. Bolger. of Company f.
When the news leaked out yesterday Of the
action of these officers there was much surprise
expressed that Captain Anthony J. Griffin, OF
Company F. was not among the number Cap
tain Griffin was conspicuous in the preferring or
the charges last winter against Colonel DuHy'
and was placed under arrest by the colonel while
the regiment was in camp in the South. ana MS
well-known anmoslty toward the colonel was
expected to carry him out Of the regiment with
his brother officers The most recent trouble be-
tween him and the colonel was few weeks ago.
when Colonel Duffy relieved him from the COM
mand Of his company and put Lieutenant Reviile
In command. The reason advanced was that the
captain was considered by the colonel as never
having been a captain in the National Guard
Captain Griffin fought this bitterly and hnaliy
won his point. and was replaced In command.
AS other officers are still to resign Captain Grif-
fin is expected to be among them.
None OF the officers would talk for publication
as they were still amenable to the Military CODE
One of them said privately that the trouble
was they did not think the regiment couio
be recruited under Colonel Duffy. When the
authorities refused to consider the charges
against Colonel Duffy said this officer. "they
practically dealt the regiment its deathDiow'
They ought to have known that where such VI
spirit exists in a regiment as found vent III the
formal charges It can't be smOthered by refusing
TO consider the charges. The officers did not go
into the charges for fun. They pursued srlctly
military methods, but the Adjutant-Geherai
choked us off and thought that we would tamely
submit to having our rights disregarded. we
have now determined TO submit no longer.
Another officer when seen said: "A NUMBER
Of officers Of the Goth signed statements last
winter to the effect that Colonel Duffy disgraced
the regiment shamefuy in camp and nothihg
was done to him. but in the list Regiment fault
was officially found with officers against whom
no charges whatever were made ofhcialiy' IN IN
our case charges were made officially through
the proper channels.
Az soon as # was known that these officers had
resigned friends Of Captain Michael j. Ryan, or
Company E. announced that that officer had re-
signed some two weeks ago With Captain
Ryan out three companies are left without COM
manders while the supply Of lieutenants Is con-
siderably diminished With the other resigna-
tions TO come in the next few days, 1t Is SAID
that half of the regiment will be unofticerec
within week The men Of the companies
where their officers have resigned stand by them
to a man. It is said. and will show their senti-
ments in the matter by not taking part In drills
after the officers are honoraby discharged.