New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-07
CAPTAIN NCRYSTAL OUT
GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT DIsBANDs CON-
PANY B. sIxTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

PANY B. SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT
The wedding out process has begun In the Ss,h
Regiment. and the first head be Topped OF was
that of Captain Edward T. McCrystaI who re-
ceived word yesterday from Governor Roosevelt
that his company had been disbanded in keeping
with the recommendation of the commanding
officer Of the Fifth Brigade and the maior-generaI
commanding the State forces
This action was the outgrowth OF a recent visfr
to the armOry OF the 6sth Regiment by Major
Strong, inspector on the staff OF General George
Moore Smith. Major Strong went there to inspect
company F. Captain A ]. Griffin. He found that
company below the standard. and then went to
another part OF the armory where Company B.
Captain McCrystaI. drilling The men looked
unsoldierly their shoes and belts were dirty ard
there were only eighteen present in command
of a uou-cOmmissioned officer. The inspector had
the roll called. made his memoranda, and then
recommended that the company be dIsbanded-
This recommendation sent TO brigade head
quarters where il received the proper Endorsement
of the brigade commander but. II the reports
which were circulated after NAV be believed
the matter was held up in division headquarters
McCrystal wanted be heard and General Roe
was reported as having utmated that he would
send an inspector from his own stan to verify the
report made by Major Strong before he woulG
take any action In the mean time knowing mem
bers of the National Guard predicted that Captain
Griffin would never be ordered before a court
martial and McCrystal. Why he is
solid where he is" said one officer and
General Roe viii not dare disband his company.
He IL a clerk IN OF the courts a pro-
fessiOnal Irish patriot and that. together with
the fact that General Roe's Judge advocate, Lieu
tenant-COonel William " Laid. jr is a member
Of Mayor Van wycks official family will keep him
and his company in the regiment If there were
so many reports Ike Major Strong's."
There must have been some truth in the re-
ports as 70 General Roe being unwilling TO act on
fFVa
of General Smith, because efforts being made
TO have good showing of McCrystaFs company
a special inspection which it was believed would
take place Monday evening. But in the
time the matter had been brought TO the attention
of Governor Roosevelt and he called a halt. and
gave the officers concerned 70 understand that he
would brook whitewashing practices. no matter
who the officers were. and that If Major Strongs
report correct far the facts were
cerned and if his recommendations had been in
dOrsed and approved by General Smith, those
recommendations must be carried out There was
consequently no further inspection OF Company B.
and the order which came from Albany yesterday
disbanding the company was evidence that i "a
the intention of Governor Roosevelt 10 elevate the
standard in the Guard and that political pulls will
have no weight when they stand against discipline.
Captain McCrystaI enlisted in Company I 18th
Regiment. in March. 1881. elected second leu
tenant of Company X in June. 1884. and became
captain of Company on June II, 1881
10 the DISARMAMENT OF Company and the possible
court martial OF Captain Griffin, the report
freely circulated that II Major StrOng's report was
set aside or made void by any report made by
special inspector sent 70 the armOry by General
Roe both General Smith and Major Strong would
resign. because IL would be impossible 10 maintain
discipline under such conditions General Smith
was seen at his office yesterday, but declined 20
discuss the matter He said that he did not even
know about an order disbanding Company B
Major Strong when seen at his Office NO u
Broadway. yesterday said
II is true that I recommended the disbandmenr or
COMPANY 3. seth Regiment, but have not heard
that the recommendation has been acted upon
Frederick G. NIcLewee, former Inspector-Ger-
eraI when he was told that Company had been
disbanded, said:
II nv recommendations had been followed some
things would have been done wears ago JIsiI nave
been left undone until now The sooner the men
who want 10 use the 69th political machine are
forced out the the regiment Will become an
efficient part of the National Guard
The court martial try Captain Griffin OF Com
many F will probably be the next instrument Tor
the Improvement OF the 69th Regiment