New-York tribune., 1901-05-22
ELEVEN CADETS PUNISHED
FIVE DISMISSED AND SIX SUSPENDED
AT WEST POINT.
SEVERE MEASURES TAKEN TO STOP INSUB-
Observation-Disclosures ACADEMY Off
GERS UPHELD BY SECRETARY ROOT.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1

GERS UPHELD BY SECRETARY ROOT.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.I
Washington, May 21.-Five cadets dismissed
and six suspended for a year represent the ex-
tent of the measures which the authorities have
taken to put a stop to the insubordination which
recently developed at West Point. Secretary
Root to-day approved the recommendations of
the board of officers which investigated the out
break of upper class men against the authorities
of the Military Academy several weeks ago. and
Colonel Mills, the superintendent of the insti-
tuition, will read the general order to the corps
tomorrow morning, when the punishments will
go into effect The culprits who have thus been
severely disciplined are all members of the high
class, that graduating next year. and. al
though divulged at the War De-
partment. 1t is known that Cadet Macarthur.
son of the commanding general in the Philip
pines. is not among them.
Secretary Root, before approving the
tences to-day. had a conference with Adjutant-
General Corbin and Colonel Mills and satisfied
himself as to the unquestionable justice of the
findings and the necessity of the punishments
for the welfare of the academy. 1t made
clear to him that whatever grievance the cadets
of the highest class fancied they had. they had
put themselves beyond any consideration of
clemency by the gravest military breach in re-
sisting the maintenance of rigid discipline spe-
officially enacted by Congress at its last session
-for the purpose of abolishing hazing and rem
dering impossible a recurrence of the disorders
which were shown to exist under the former
regulations by the Brooke court and the inquiry
by a committee of Congress in the Booz case
1t is held by the Secretary of War that Colonel
Mills and the other officers of the academy had
no alternative except to enforce the law. how
ever harsh 1t seemed and in whatever degree 1t
neutralized the former privileges of the upper
class men. whose acts had been mainly instru-
mental in bringing discredit on the corps last
year.
CHANGES OF OFFICERS POSTPONED.
The action Of the Secretary to-day has the
unqualified approval of West Pointers duty
in Washington, whose chief regret recently has
been that the cadets had by their insubordina
tion pursued to the verge of mutny defeated
the known purposes of the War Department tC
make several changes among the officers at the
academy which have long been contemplated
especially in the purely military. tactical as
| signments When the cadets took matters into
! their own hands. the department was forced
| into the position of supporting the academy au-
! thorities in the interests of the whole service
| The contemplated changes, 1t is understood will
| now be postponed for several months, and IT
/ the mean time the regulations will be rigidly
| enforced, and vacancies Will be made In the
| corps in every instance where cadets resist oil
! evade the rules. giving an opportunity for the
| admission of new cadets who are willing t6
| submit themselves TO the law.
| Secretary Root has become convinced that
while there NAV be certain officers at West
| Point who might perform better service in Other
details the chief trouble is with cadets who
have acquired bad habits In the last few years
and that the remedy for the condition of affairs
| which grew up a few years ago lies In a thor
| ough wedding out of the malcontents. He has
! no idea that the army will suffer for lack o
young officers next year or the year after or
! account of reducing the number OF graduates
! at the academy as better classes will prob
| ably be graduated in future years.
II was positively announced to-day that NJ
| appeals from Congressman or others, having II
| prospect a review Of the eleven cases passed ol
| nv the board would he entertained. but tina
| the flve dismissals and six suspensions had beer
| irrevocably ordered.