The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-25

By direction OF the President. formal
order was issued by the War Department
yesterday placing Lieut.. Col. Charles @.
.Ayres. Fourteenth Cavalry, on the retired
list from this date. on the finding of the
retiring board that he is incapacitated for
active duty on account of disability Incl
dent to the service. This step practically
ends the much-talked-of Ayres case, as
The action is final
The record Of Col. Ayres is that Of a
brave officer at all times. but tactless in
50 far as his associations with his fellow
officers are concerned. With them he has
been extremely unpopular. lie has been
tried by court-martial several times, and
once he was sentenced 10 dismissal from
the army. but President Cleveland came
10 his rescue in reviewing the case and
saved him from that disgrace.
He served with distinction in the Cuban
campaign. and when he came up for pro-
motion was strongly recommended by
President Roosevelt, then governor Of
New York. who had had occasion to OBJ
serve his gallantry on the field.
Recommendation by Roosevelt.
At that time Gov. Roosevelt wrote of
Ayres:
IF I had a regiment 1t would give me
the greatest pleasure TO serve in a brigade
under Capt. Ayres, for know he would
take care Of US and fight Us 10 the end"
on several occasions that letter has
been brought 10 the attention Of the Pres
ident when Ayres was in trouble with the
department. Several months ago Col
Ayres, while serving with the Eighth Cav
airy at Camp Wallace. in the Philippines.
had a disagreeable controversy with the
officers of his regiment, and preferred
various charges against them. In some
instances the charges were dismissed abso-
lutely, and in one or two cases. where
there were trials by cOurt-martial, the ac-
cused were promptly acquitted.
Ayres. VINO was then major, was pro-
noted TO lieutenant colonel, ordered home,
and then transferred TO the Fourteenth
Clvalry. Shortly following this, Mrs
Ayres. who had been living on the West
Point reservation. became involved in a
controversy with the officials there. grow
ing out of the so-called overcoat incident.
Col Howe. commandant of the cadets.
preferred charges against some OF the
embryo officers at the Academy because
they had allowed young women 20 wear
their Overcoats one cold day while they
were Witnessing a dress parade.
Mrs. Ayres STARTS II.
Mrs. Ayres criticised Col Howe and
several other officers severely, and is al
legged 10 have written the War Depart
ment and to individuals, roundIy denounc-
ing the West Point officials
Upon his return home. Col. Ayres took
position in defense of his wife, and was
quoted in newspaper interview which
reflected upon the military authorities.
The War Department asked him for al
explanation. but he declined TO give it.
He would neither affirm nor deny that he
had made the statements attributed "a
him.
The department thereupon found itself
IN an ugly position, as It did not wish t.
order him before a court-martial. a solu-
ton was found in a decision to have hin
ordered before a medical board for exam
ination for retirement. The court wa,
convened in New York on the 18th of this
month. Col Ayres protested that he was
In good health, and objected TO retire
ment, but the board found that he wa.
suffering from disease which would
shorten MS life If he remained in the
service