Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-19
COL. o'BRIEN's SUSPENSION
Copy of the Correspondence Which Gave Rise
to the Order.
Commanding General District Ma
mate Omcer-Rcfuses to Retract.

while in camp at Leesburg, Va, last we'd
nesday of Lieutenant Colonel Richard A.
o. rien. I'd Regiment, ID. c. N. IT,, from
his command and directing him to leave
camp, announced in The Star, mas peeh
followed by considerable discussion in local
militia circles. 1t is pointed out, however
that all the facts in the case have not
heretofore been published, and that the
basis for the suspension--the criticism OF
the commanding general by a subordinate
officer-has not figured to any extent in
the discussion.
The official correspondence in connection
with the incident tells the whole story,
without need of explanation or comment.
Captain Alfred p. Robbins, acting ad1atant
general. D. C. Militia, the 18th instant ad-
dressed the following communication to
Lieutenant Colonel O'Brien:
THE commanding general having sent
you an order by Captain c. F. Cook, one
of his aids, and Captain Cook having re-
ported that you. being in the post exchange,
insisted that he should leave his horse and
enter the exchange. the commanding gen.
eral directs me to say that he cannot be-
lieve you were Intentionally discourteous or
that you were endeavoring to take advan-
tage of official seniority, which is merely
nominal.
The improperly of attempting to compel
an officer of the general staff to enter a
place of public resort, there to deliver an
official and confidential message, must be
instantly evident to any one and the i'm
propriety is not lessened when the at
tempt is verbal and audible to others
officers, enlisted men and citiZens-than the
parties Immediately concerned. An officer
OF the general staff, no matter what his
rank. Is the personal representative of the
commanding general. and as such is enti-
tied to and must be accorded respectful
consideration
The confidential order borne by Captain
Cook was verbal.
The Endorsement.
Ths communication above quoted was re-
turned June Ii, through military channels,
to headquarters, with this Endorsement
signed by Lieut. Col. O'Brien:
Respectfully returned Last afternoon,
while sitting in the tent in rear of thu post
exchange. which is used for the accommo-
datlon OF officers only, l was informed by
an officer of the LIST Regiment that Capt
COOK wished to see me. l stated that I
had no objections to his doing so. The
bearer of this message reappeared and said
the foregoing named officer had message
for me from the commanding general 1
then directed that he dismount and deliver
same, as l was ready to receive it. Any
statements to the contrary are false and
misleading
If the line of thought expressed in this
communication was followed, it strikes ma
very forcibly that the commanding gener-
81 :" VI ieiis, DIS MS Representatives, would
nave the same right to designate a place
where should appear to receive a message
from him.
III Capt. Cook had a verbal message
from the commanding general to deliver.
ne Ialled to do So and has apparently dis
obeyed his orders. Had he been familiar
win common military usages, this incident
would not have occurred
ihis, L have been given to understand.
IS a camp of instruction, and I am con,
strained to believe that it is the intention
OF the brigade commander to create con-
oltions therein which are not only contrary
10 military presidents, but also ridiculous,'
Respectfully Returned.
me communication was returned to
Lieut. Col. o'Brien through military chan
nels the same date, with an Endorsement
from the acting adjutent general as fol-
lows:
Respectfully returned. The command
ing general directs me to offer Lieut.. Col
~ Brien an opportunity to immediat ely re-
tract his statement relative to his views as
TO the Intention of the brigade com
manaer.''
Several hours later the communication
was received back at headquarters with
this Endorsement:
Respectfully returned, supplementing the
words, In the construction of this com
municatlon, it was intended in lieu of
the words it is the intention of the brigade
commander in the first Endorsement.
follows: %
Lieut.. Col. Richard A. O'Brien. ID Req
1ment, is suspended from his command,
and VIII leave camp this date
Inc suspension, it is stated, will continue
in force until further order.