The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-08
Tried by Military Court for
DisobedIenCe Of Orders.
IN THE BLUE AND RED WAR
Enemy Reached Bridge Before Him and
Mission Failed Court Was School Of
instruction for R. l. Militia.

militia circles as Maurice IA. Cooke, hrst
signal officer. was tried for disobedl-
ence OF orders with detrlment to the dis
clpline and tho service in violation Of
section SO OF the articles OF war. by a
court martial Of IL officers. with all the
ceremony and solemnity usual on such
occasions. that the militia officers might
learn more about the military court of
Justice.
II was held pursuant to Gov. Utters
orders In the Machine Gun Battery ar
mory and Maj. Abbott. T. S. A. was in
charge OF the technical points.
The setting for the trial was a military
one in every sense OF the word. The
upper end OF the armory was set with
pine and fir trees through which a tent
with flaps thrown back could be seen
and the glow OF a campfire could be seen
TO one side. An arm rack full Of sabres.
stood I'm front of the tent and the guidon
of the Machine Gun Battery drooped
from its stan In the foreground
The four machine guns with muZZles
depressed stood packed I'm a grove OF
pines and Il was with this background
that the militia officers constituting the
court were ranged around the long flag
draped table with pads and record books.
THE COURTS PERSONNEL.
a field map showing the lay out OF the
blue and red countries which are at war
occupied a prominent place. The court
was made up as follows: Judge advo-
cate. Capt Archibald Matteson, First
Cavalry (Blue army: Col. Frank w.
Matteson. First Infantry OBlue); Col.
James H.. McGann. Second Infantry;
Lieut.. Col. Arthur V. Warfield. Asst.
Adjt Gen. (Blue army; Lieut.. Col. Geo.
A Forsyth, First Infantry; Lieut.. Col.
Inf frts faf
Charles II. Ledward. First Infantry; Mai.
Peter A. Sweeney. Second Infantry and
Maj. Thomas f. McGill, Second Infantry:
Maj. Alexander II. Johnson, First Infan-
try; Capt Charles VI. Weaver. Battery
A Field Artillery; Capt +. Merle Bixby,
First Machine Gun Battery and Capt.
John j. Richards. First Cavalry.
The seats ia the hall were speedily filed
with other officers not assigned on the
court. and Maj. Abbott late T.. =. army
retired. explained the problem which was
listened 10 with interest, pointing out
the spots OF Importance
TOLD THE PROBLEM
He said the Blue and Red countries
were at war and the operations centred
in the fertile Blue country which was rich
with ungathered crops. Gen Tanner I'm
command OF the first separate brigade
comprising all arms Of service was sent
ny the commander-in-chief TO occupy the
land to keep the red raiders. Major Doe
got into trouble during this campaign and
es he was present he was hailed before
HIS brother officers and named Capt
Charles f.. Mulhearn TO defend him.
Major Abbott explained that n court
was made up OF from five 10 1S. this
court was IL. The place OF the court mar
tial was "Ytown" the headquarters OF tho
lst separate brigade, Blue army.
The accused challenged Col Matteson as
~.
prejudice toward the prisoner. Tho col
onel acknowledged the truth OF the state
ment and by vote OF the court retired
Adjutant General Warfeld was next
challenged as one closely connected with
the commander and I'm his defense he said
he had the facts but had no prejudice and
had formed no opinion. The challenge was
withdrawn and Adj. Gen. Warfleld re-
NAMED
Col. McGann took the chair at the head
Of the table and the officers were seated
according TO rank first TO the right and
then the left
The court was sworn by the Judge ad-
vocate and the Judge by Col McGann,
right hands being barred.
PLEADED NOT GUILTY.
The charges and specifications were read
and the prisoner Major Doe. pleaded not
guilty to having reelected To move ana
occupy bridge "P" so that II fell into the
hands OF the Red army.
Col. Matteson was the first witness and
after being sworn he told OF ordering the
major TO occupy the bridge to prevent the
Reds crossing the river. He said that Ma
Jor Doe changed his orders TO move and
bvouacked all night. He detached two
companies TO support n troop Of cavalry
and delayed so long at bridge @. that he
was not able TO secure bridge p and the
whole plan was brought to naught.
The reds were then I'm force
II was brought out that the counsel did
not question the witness but the Judge
advocate made the queries
Lieut. Arthur n. Nash. acting adjutant
ot the First infantry. Lieut.. Croshaw Of
the first platoon Of cavalry which held tho
bridge and whose loss Of n patrol of three
men and report of occupation of the hills
hy the Reds influenced Mai Doe 10 send
two companies OF infantry 10 support him.
were heard.
'OTHER WITNESSES
other witnesses were Orderly Trooper
= 10 4