Evening star., 1907-07-25
ON THE RETIRED LIST
Lieut.. Col. AWes Found Inca
paCitated for Active Service.
DENOUNCES ACTION TAKEN
Regarded as the Result of Alleged In
discreetness.
GOOD RECORD AS A FIGHTER
He Claims That He Is Entitled to the
Rank of Major General-Presi
dent Roosevelts Praise.
GOD RECORD AS A FIGHTER

lieut. Col Charles G. Ayres. 18th Cav
AIRY. has been placed upon the retired list
OF the army on the finding of retiring
board that he is inCapactated Tor active
service on account Of disability incident to
the service. The report of the army sur
geous was that col Ayrcs is suffering from
chronic kidney disease and hardening OF
the arteries and is not fit physically for
further service in the army.
The retirement of Lieut.. Col Ayres was
Indirectly the result OF the publication OF
ar interview in which he reported to
havc criticized army methods of admins
teriEg justice, as an outcome of the diff
Guilty which Mrs. Ayers had had with the
authorities of the Military Academy in con
neCtiun with the famous "overCoat' Incl
dent Lieut.. Col. Ayres was asked by the
War Department whether he had made the
statements contained in the interview. a
question he declined to answer Inspectors
have been at work upon his case for some
time and a result he was ordered be-
fore a retiring board to determine his fit
ness for active military service.
Brave, But Lacking in Tact
Col Ayres has been known in the army
"a brave officer but lacking In tact He
was tried by COurt-martial at Fort Assini-
boine. Mont. in 1892 when he was a first
lieutenant Of the 10th Cavalry and was
reprimanded for writing letters rejecting
upon his fellow-officers. Again. in 1896. at
Fort keogh Mont. Ayres. then a captain,
was tried by Court-martial charged with
writing maliCiou- letters to the military au-
thoritieS. The Court-martial found Ayres
guilty and recommended that he be dis
missed from the army. President Cleve-
land disapproved the findings of the court,
and Capt. Ayres was released
Less than year ago Ayres was accused
by his Superio: officer, Col Henry p Kings
bury. of inSubordnation. Ayres then being
a major in the sth Cavalry, which Kings
bury commanded. But he was not tried.
During the early part of the present year
while in the Philippines Ayres preferred
charges against the officers of the Sth Cav
airy. his own regiment
But with all his troubles Lieut.. Col. Ayres
has always been known man of brav-
cry. He was a noted Indian fighter. and
numerous incidents of his bravery in the
west related
For his services in the Cuban campaign
he was three times recommended for the
medal of honor" and the then colonel of
the Rough Riders. who is now President of
the United States. wrote President Mckin-
ley letter urging the promotion of Ayres
to brigadier general In this letter Mr..
Roosevelt wrote:
Il saw repeated instances OF his coolness
his energy and his conspicuous gallantry.
heartily commend him for the place. If
had a regiment it would give me the great
d
Col. Ayres. for know that he would take
care OF US and fight us 10 a f1nlsh.'
Action Denounced by Ayres.
Col. Ayres. who is now at Deal Beach,
n. j., Is reported to have characterized
his retirement an outrage, and as having
said that he had been railroaded out of
the service while other officers, some Of
them Of high rank, less physically fit than
he, are being retained on the active list
through favoritism.
II consider that I have been most un-
Justly treated in being retired from the
active list" said Col Avres II was
granted six months leave of absence with
four months fun pay. But two months
of that time has elapsed. | certainly think
that the authorities at Washington might
have at least waited for the expiration of
the first four months before taking their ac-
ton.
Il now must positively insist that in be
ing retired / should have been granted the
grade Of major general. l shall make such
demand at the proper time, not as a mat
ter of charity, but on my record as an Off
Had l received the recognition to which
] was entitled after the Spanish-American
war. and to which end President Roose
Welt at the time used his best efforts. 1
would have been made brigadier general,
and at the present time would be the ranking
major general of the army.
Il insist that l am physically fit to re-
main the active list OF the army, and it
IS unjust and manifestly unfair 10 retire me
at the age Of hfty-three years with still
eleven years to serve, | have been forced
ont of the service"
Effect of Action Taken.
The effect of the retirement of Lieut.. Col.
Ayres is to put him on three -fourths pay
IN his present rank for the remainder of his
life with nothing to do. and to prevent his
promotion except by special legislation.
aryt-fg If- gt4t ~
army is not changed, and he is still subject
10 the rules and regulations of the service
and amenable for trial by Court-martial for
violations of them. just the same as an Off
ccr the active list.