New-York tribune., 1901-07-14
CASE OF CAPTAIN P. B. STRONG
INQUIRY INTO ALLEGED MISCONDUCT
ORDERED-RESIGNAT NOT
ACCEPTED.
lDy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE-l

Washington July 13.-Just what the status of
Captain Putnam Bradlee Strong is In the army at
present II is difficult to say. Through a personal
friend in the War Department Captain Strong late
yesterday rendered his resignation 10 Secretary
Root by telegraph from San Francisco. But the
Secretary of War has authority to accept the
resignation OF army officer. The President is
the sole authority in such matters. and all resig
nations addressed 10 him through military
channels. the Secretary of War, of course. acting
In advisory capacity.
Captain Strong's telegram to his friend yester-
day briefly recited the of his action the
pressing necessity of his returning TO New-York
at once to assist in strengthening out the affairs
OF the estate left by his father and which have be-
come involved In the failure of his fathers firm
soon after the latters death. Believing last night
that this was the sole reason for Captain Strong's
desire TO quit the army so hurriedly and after
brief an experience IN the regular establishment,
Secretary Root announced that the resignation
would be accepted. However, when he read the
reports this morning of alleged escapade of
Captain Strong in San Francisco. Mr.. Root decided
that 1t would best subserve the interests the
vice to ignore the irregular tender of resignation
and. pending the forwarding to the President
through military channels of Captain Strong's
resignation In writing. to deal with him all army
officers dealt with when charged with indis-
cretions. Accordingly the Secretary this morning
sent dispatch 10 General S. B. NJ. Young, COM
manding the Department of California, informing
him of the reports concerning Captain Strong's al
gate fully and report the result the War Depart
ment If the military authorities so disposed
they can hold UP Captain Strongs resignation in
writing to the President until they have made a
thorough and searching Investigation of the aega-
tons against him and thus defeat his supposed
desire to get out of the army without attracting
further attention. If they disposed,
Captain Strongs resignation can reach the Presi-
dent and he accepted before the investigation or
dered by Secretary Root be completed.
BEFORE the receipt of his resignation another tele-
frp0 m
Captain Strong requesting that he be permitted to
proceed to his station In the Philippines by the
merchant steamship Nippon Maru Instead OF by
the army transport Grant which he was or
dered 10 leave San Francisco July 16 This request
was referred to Captain Strong's superior. Quar-
termaster-General Ludington and that official re-
fused to grant the request. Captain Strong as
signed as the reason for his desire sail on the
merchant ship rather than the transport that he
wished 10 visit Japan. The Nippon Maru touches
at Nagasaki on the way to Hong-Kong from which
port the captain said he would make his way 10
Manila. The reports say that the woman Captain
Strong is alleged to have been with In San Fran
cisco was booked to sail the Nippon Maru.
II Is considered here not improbable that II the
investigation ordered by Secretary Root should
prove Captain Strong not have been guilty OF
the misconduct charged ne may be induced bv his
friends to retain his commission in the army This
at any rate. is what his Washington friends hope.