The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-21
FIND COL. AYRES DISABLED
SURGEONS VERDICT DISPUTED
HOTLY BY THE COLONEL.
hut NJ the Verdict In Approved n Means That
He Will tie Retired ON Full Pay, Having
Contracted His Disability In the Service
He says He's q Victim Of Malice.

He VIII he Retired on Full Pay, Having
Contracted HIS Disability In the Service
He Says He's q Victim Of Malice.
The surgeons on The retiring board that
has had the case Of Lieut. Col. Charles @.
Ayres under consideration reported yester-
day that the Colonel is not ft physically
for further service in the army. The Colonel
met the report defantly. intimating In a
warm speech that he was being railroaded
out Of the service while other officers less
At thar he are being retained through
~fsvoritism.
reported that the examination which he
and Capt. Sanford II. Wadhams had made
showed that Col. Ayres is suffering from
chronic kidney disease and hardening OF
the arteries.
lis Col. Ayres's disability permanent"
asked Capt. Johnson. the recorder Of the
board.
1T it," said Major Edie.
Does the disease incapacitate him from
active service2" asked another member Of
the board.
at does replied the Major. 1T would
shorten and ~endanger his life II he con-
tinued in active service. To prolong his
life the Colonel must live very quietly and
a himself absolutely from excitement
and exposure"
Col. Ayres listened to the description Of
his ailments with just the trace Of q smile
around the corners Of his mouth. When
asked IL he had any questions to put to the
surgeons he said:
Yes. / want to ask them why I should be
retired il / am still willing to take chances
In the field?
you should be retired in your condition."
replied Major Edie. because every man
is under obligations TO his family not to ex-
pose himself neoes srily."
-Isn'fthat a risk ] run anyway I might
be shot, " said the Colonel. Then he added
Am l not in just as good condition as the
majority Of officers of my age and rankT"
NO." replied Major Edie. you are not,
Colonel"
The Colonel then asked that he be allowed
to make q statement. Thirty three years
ago next October" said he. Il entered the
army. or those years I have served thirty
with troops west OF the Mississippi River, a
great part Of the time campaigning against
Indians. outlaws and other troublesome
characters. During this time l served In
Texas, New Mexico. Arizona. Indian Ter
ritory, Montana. Cuba and the Philippines.
I rave been in every campaign my regi-
ment was engaged in. have always lived
an active life and have been and am to-day
able to do any serwioe required OF my rank
Col. Ayres had perfeot control OF himself
when he started. but as he went on he grew
warm. He declared that he had been OK
amined repeatedly bv army medical omcers
when he was in the Philippines and each
time declared to be entirely At.
Il did all the hard marching required
over there" said he, land suffered no In
convenience or i'll effects. There are few
men in the army who can endure more
than I. After the Santiago mpa
was the only officer Of my regiment MT Tor
duty, the others being either killed. wounded
-WhyI should suddenly and unexpectedly
be ordered before a retiring board l cannot
understand, while such a large number are
allowed to remain. miles 1t 10 mat they are
protected by those in authority. There
are a large number Of officers in active
service who nave rendered themselves
physically disabled by their vicious habits.
vet they are allowed to remain.
The Colonel said that the President a few
weeks ago ordered field officers on a prao-
tice march at a walk, trot and gallop: He
was certain that he could get on a horse
in such q march to-day or tomorrow or
any other time and ride II until II Tails under
him. Col. Ayres said that the state OF
affairs disclosed by the surgeons was en-
tirely new 10 him. He had never felt any
inc, 'venience or suspected that he was Ill.
The Colonel continued;
As to the statements that have been made
tha 1 rave been court-martialied. that IL
true. Three times charges have been pre-
ferred against me as long as from here to
the wall yonder, for almost every crime in
the calendar-conduct u~nbecoming an officer
and a gentleman. lying. stealing, all In the
hope that they could find some little thing
to catch me up on. But out OF all this AXE
and scrape they have found me guilty Of
challenging a man to fight a duel and OF
having a soldier for a servant. as we had
to do out on the plains.
And all this" said the Colonel, whacking
the table with his fist. that has Q
dragged up to besmirch my career has now
ended in bringing me here suddenly without
the sill htest warning. without an oppor-
tunity TO prepare my case n with hardly
a chance to turn around. do not consider,
gentlemen. that hat il a square deal accord
Ing TO the American way OF looking at it..
Major Edie said hat the condition OF the
Colonel was due to his hardships In army
life. That means that Col. Ayres will be
retired on full pay.
The board will not make its report public