New-York tribune., 1900-01-30
SMITH DENoUNcEs COL. RE4DB.
GENERAL HAwKINs's SPEECH CAUSES
TALK IN sEvENTY-FIRsT REGIMENT
OF ASKING GOVERNOR TO RE-
OPEN COURT OF INQUIRY.
OPEN COURT OF INQUIRY.

So strong was the impression made BY the speech
of Brigadier-GeneraI H S. Hawkins. q. s. A. 70
the Board OF officers OF the list Regiment that
number OF the officers discussed yesterday the send
ing of petition to Governor Roosevelt for re-
opening Of the Court OF Inquiry the regiment
TO secure such evidence as General Hawkinss on
the point of the regiments conduct at San Juan
All the officers do not favor this idea as some hold
the belief that the Governor will without any
request from the officers reopen the court which
he can do IN his capacity as COmmander-in-Chief
of the National Guard.
If there should be a reopening OF the court the
officers will seek get the witness stand Colonel
Philip Reade. L. S. A. who is duty IN the
West. They especially bitter toward Colonel
Reade because Of his statement that he went along
the lines at San Juan and asked IL there was an
officer in the list that was not a coward Major
Clinton FL Smith Is particularly wroth at Colonel
Reade for this statement. Yesterday he denounced
the Army officer in most scathng terms.
when Colonel Reade. U. S. A." said Major
Smith, says that he asked II there officer
in the list who was not coward. he tells de-
liberate and malicious lie. / make this statement
advisedly. Colonel Reade's alleged remark was
made to Captain Rafferty,. OF the list. The Captain
told me that no such remark made by Reada
All that Reade said 10 ask Captain Rafferty,
if he would take order from General Kent
Lieutenant Garthvaite. who standing by Raf-
ferty's side the time swore before the Court of
Inquiry that Reade made remark about cow
ards. Reade makes his statement IN his Official
report. II this report is true then Reads Is
unntigated and puslllanimous cad. for real sol
der and no gentleman would ever refer 50 70
brother officers the field OF battle, when these
officers had stood all day under rain Of IRE *
his report is true. then Reade stands convicted
liar. He can take either horn OF the dilemma
he chooses. Besides, any one who knows ttdnerry
and his fighting blood knows that he would never
have allowed keade. to make such remark about
his brother officers
did you see Colonel Reade that day.
Why, he passed up and down the trail where We
were a number Of times during the day. and sew
eral times / asked him If he knew why the lst was
standing there without orders, to be shot 70 pieces
He said he did knOw-that L should ask some
body who knew more about It than ne did 19
knew perfectly we'll where Colonel Downs ana
were The next day, however, ne was very run or
Information as to what should have been done tha
day before. His assistance was entirely reTninis-
cent rather than prophetic. Colonel Reade must
have known what officer or soldier has ever de-
nied-that Colonel Downs. myself and all the otner
officers remained in the trail the whole day IN
the face of that knowledge, he would not nave
dared to refer to towards -,
DO you agree with General EtaWklns lnaI Ino
trouble with the list caused BY It's being taken
of his brigade?"
Certainly l do. and so must any military nan
who knows the situation. After taking US away
from our brigade nder. General Kent says
he abandoned us TO this very brigade COMMANDER
for further orders. In that case any one can see
we were helpless. so far directing mind Was
concerned"