Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-05
LIEUT.. cooPER's DEFENSE.
Was Too Energetic in Moving His Com
mand to the Rear Under Fire.

Second Lieut.. Walter G.. Cooper Philip
pine Scouts. was recently tried by general
court-martial at Cattabato, Mindanao, on
three charges of violating articles of war.
One charge was that he caused Lieut.. {.
F. Snyder, commanding column of tho
18th Infantry, to break camp and move out
hurriedly to reinforce Capt. Smith. COM
manding column of the 18th Infantry. by
false report that the latter column had
been surrounded near Panicupan in the
Moro province In July last. Lieut.. Cooper
was acquitted of this charge.
Another charge was that Lieut.. Cooper.
while commanding detachment of the 59th
Company, Philippine Scouts. which was the
rear guard of column commanded by
Capt. Smith, induced twenty-four men OF
his detachment to abandon the command
and return to camp at time the command
was being attacked by hostile Moros. The
third charge related to the same occur
renee and charged the officer with deserving
the column.
The court found Lieut. Cooper guilty OF
violating the 62d article of war and sem
fenced him to suspension from rank. pay
and command for six months and to be rep
rimanded. The sentence was approved by
Major General Wood, commanding the de-
partment of Mindanao.
I'm reprimanding Lieutenant Cooper"
said General Wood, "the actual conditions
existing should be considered. A command
of United States troops. consisting of VI
men and officers, had been fired into by
party of Moros, whose numbers were I'M
known, but whose armament was variously
estimated at from twenty to fifty rifles.
No one had been injured, and there was no
evidence whatever to indicate need OF as
sistance, or to foreshadow other than
successful outcome Of any vigorous meas
ures undertaken Lieut. Cooper was in
command Of the rear guard; shortly after
the firing was heard, without authority, and
before he had had man injured, he left
the command. taking with him approxi-
mately 30 per cent Of 1t, and did proc aed
to the rear, thereby seriously weakening
the command. AT the time of his with
drawal from the command communication
between the head and rear of the column
was open and unobstructed. Communica-
ton with his commanding officer would
have been easy, as shown by the fact that
Lieut.. Butler. who was the third file from
the rear, proceeded alone to the head OF
the column without moleStation or difficult
ty, meeting in his advance Lieut. Cooper
on his way to the rear.
1T Is impossible. in a reprimand, to ex-
press adequate disapproval Of an act of
this character, constituting as 1t dces IN
the opinion of the reviewing authority. most
reprehensible conduct, from every stand
point of military instinct and soldierly
honor.
"The direction which Lieut. Cooper should
have taken with his detachment, If he felt
justified in abandoning the position to which
he had been assigned, was to the front,
to receive the orders of his commanding
officer, and to have been on hand to afford
assistance and support in case 1t was need
ed. More keenness to meet the enemy, and
less vigor in going to the rear for reinforce
ments would have been more in the line of
a soldiers duty.
Subject to these remarks and for the
sole purpose of avoiding entire failure Of
justice, the sentence is approved.
Lieut.. Cooper will be released from ar
rest and proceed to Camp Marahui. Min
danao, reporting to the commanding Of
icer."