The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-08-05
FIRST LEARNS OF HIS RETIRE
MEHT BY THE PRESIDENT
OVERCOME WITH EMOTION
4 Sealed D~ocumcn. From the War
Department with the omefal N,,t-
hcntion Was Handed Him ar
Quarnntine-uc immediately Re-
tired tn His Cabin and Denied
Himself To all Comers-Had uop-s
that the President Would Not Tan~
Action Against Him-Did Not Mean
all His Orders Suggested.

San Francisco. August standing
on the bridge Ct the Thomas. eagerly
waiting with h ships captain for
GLIMPSE OF his native shore. General
Jacob II. Smith. tried by court-mar;ial
for having orders ed the island OF samar
transformed into a bowling wilderness
was doomed this morning 10 first learn
that the president had retired him from
active duty.
The pilot boat which met the Thomas
Just outside the heads At two O'Clock
this morning. brought 10 General
smith the first news OF the PRESIDENT
action. In the failing light Of a him
nac!e lamp the Veteran read the mes
sage that appriscd him OF his fate. An
hour later the dawn came and with 1.
the sight OF land. but General Smith
mad retired to his cabin where. with
MS wife and chief aide, Lieutenant T
H. Shields. OF The Twelfth Infantry
discussed the outcome OF the long or
deal through which he had passed. Six
hours later when the Thomas reached
the quarantine station in the harbor.
Major Duval OF the transport service
boarded the ship with his secretary
and met both General Smith and Lieu
tenant Shields 1t the door Of the gem
erals cabin.
A sealed document from the war de-
partment was ndnded General Smith.
II contained the official notification of
President R~oosevelts action and upon
reading it General Smith retired over
come with emotion.
General Smith was not seen again
until the United States custom house
tender, Hartley. was ready 10 take the
general and his party ashore. He de-
MED himself TO all interviewers who
were met by Lieutenant Shields. To-
| sether with his wife and aide General
Smith preceded 10 the Occidental hotel.
repairing thence 10 army headquarters
In the Phelan building, where he re-
manned during the morning.
General Smith has absolutely MOTH
ing TO say for publication" said Lieu
tenant Shields TO a representative of
the Associated Press.
He is not at liberty TO talk und fur
thermore has nothing to say. He has
been hopeful that the president would
not take action against him, and OF
course. feels keenly the force OF the
blow he has received. The general ad-
mitted to the court-martial trying him
that he had issued orders which In eff
feet expressed his desire that the
enemy, IL obdurate and unconquerabfe
be not spared-in fact that the country
he laid waste and no prisoners be
taken. The literal construction OF these
orders and their xac Interpretation
made up the bulwaik OF evidence
against the general at the court-mar-
tial. There is no doubt that General
Smith did not meal all he said. He
certainly did rot expect the action
which the president has taken.
General Smith. who Is wearing civil
ian attire, appeared exceedingly nerv-
Gus and worn. HIS 60 years are plainly
read in his every action and his init
mate friends fear he is breaking down
under the severe strain to which he
has been subjected in recent months.
1t is not yet known when General
Smith will proceed east.
His sealed orders required him TO re-
port to the adjutant general at Wash
ington and ii Is likely he will lose no
time in starting for the national CAPT
tai.