The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-09
TROUBLE IS | AM WOOD s FRIEND
 SAYS COL, AYRES Army Officer Supports Wife's Suit for Sl00,o00 Against West Point Commandant MRS. AIRES EXCLUDED FROM ACADEMY GROUNDS Cadet Son Rounded, Too, Says Officer, Who Declares Military Courts De-
 stroy Reputations-Was
 Warned by Wood.

West Point, N. Y, June s.-Warnings that his friendship for Gen. Leonard Wood would cost him his commission in the United States army have been received repeatedly by Lieut.. Col. Charles G. Ayres, according to & statement which he made public today. In defending his wire, Mrs. Elizabeth F. Ayres, from criticism by officers of the military academy and supporting her suit to recover $loo,ooo ln damages from those officers, Lieutenant Colonel Ayres said that he had been tried on many charges and that he has been told many times that part or the ani- mostly toward him has been caused by the friendship for General Wood. Ihat officer himself Lieutenant Colonel Ayres said. has for years, warned him frequent ly to be careful. The lieutenant colonei said that he regarded General Wood as one of the ablest men in the country and that he was one of the lew oHlceIs who went to General Woods camp to congratulate him when he was promoted from colonel to brigadier general Ayres was one of the officers on General Wood firing line at Santiago
 The controversy at West Point first at tracted public attention at the Easter parade of the cadets, when Lieut.. Col. Robert L. Howse, commandant Of the academy, sent a sergeant to take away the cadets overcoats which they had loaned to girl spectators during shower. Officers of the academy blamed Mrs. Ayres for criticism of the commandants s action and for some public notice taken of it. Mrs. Ayres, who then lived on the government reservation, resented this and she left West Point to reside in High- land Falls, nearby.
 Tlssue of Falsehood.
 Lieutenant Colonel Ayres declared today that the charge that the influence of women at West Point Is detrimental to the cadets or academy is due to the jealousy and the criticism of Mrs Ayres is a tissue of falsehoods by officers of the army anxious to hurt Mrs. Ayres. He added that to attempt to settle the matter by appeal to a military court would be sui- cidal, as his experience has convinced him that military investigations are farce and have been used for yeats as a means to destroy an officers record.
 In the course of his statement Ldepten- ant Colonel Ayres alluded to the action taken by the secretary of war as the re- suit of the conflict between Mrs. Ayres and the officers of the academy which action he said excluded Mrs. Ayres from the academy.
 In making his statement Lieutenant Colonel Ayres said he deeply regretted the present situation, as he is greatly attached to the academy.
 As to the treatment of his son. Henry F. Ayres, a cadet at the academy. by the commanding officer, he said that Mrs Ayres was first told more than year ago by officers and cadets that her son was being singled out for persecution. The son, he said, has never mentioned this subject to his parents, but has ac- cepted his punishment but other cadets were not punished as he had been for the same offenses The boy. he said. has al- ready been recommended three times to be given medal for saving lives and one of his instructors had informed Lieuten- ant Colonel Ayres of his sons gallantry and calmness.
 Lieutenant Colonel Ayres declared that his wife appealed to the authorities for protection and tried In the absence of her husband to defend herself as any high-spirited woman might. The result was, he said, a cowardly attack upon her and her husband. the result of years of