Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-25
CAPT. RE1cHMANN's CASE.
His Explanation Satisfactory; the
Matter Dropped.

Tie articles recently published In the pub
liz press quoting from private letter
which Lad been written from Capt Carl
Reichmann of the army to a personal
friend i'm New York complaining that he
had been barred from the general stan by
reason of his foreign birth were referred
to capt Reichmann for remark. ana ne
reformed them, explaining that they were
made In a letter which wds private IN it3
nature and not intended for puDlicatfon'
that he was not consulted about the publ
cation of his letter or about the &c tiifon
mentioned in the newspaper article. ana
that he disapproyed of 10th: that ne had
b, en- placed in a wrong liSnt ana ha1 50
Informed his friend BY letter ana eaoie.
WHOSE. mistaken zeal to advance his inter-
=. : he thought had done nobody any Good,
but ad done harm, to him.
lie explained tina, the statements made
in his letter were based upon converse
ti,a with one officer and statements he
hea:d had been made by another oHcer'
both of whom are now dead, ana upon in-
ference drawn from the watch-loD episoue
mentioned in his letter.
In his explanation Capt Rechmann slid:
The fact of my not being detailed to the
general staff never was. and, Oh course
could never be, ground for complaint In
fact. l never introduced 1t as subject OF
conversation, though others did So IRE,
quently. The government had Recognized
my services and given me important posts
mert TO myself.
He further stated in substance that the
idea of being classed as a suspect, as IL
were tormented him, and under the innu-
euce of his Impressions of the statements
hr had heard and all they conveyed he had
ventilated his feelings to his friend, TO
whom he believed he could write without
reserve and that the letter was intended
for his eyes only.
In an effort to persuade himself that the
state merits he had heard expressed the
ri rath .r n
offic al policy he had written to an officer
OF the general staff upon the subject with
out mentioning having heard the statement,
and had received a reply which was reas-
surGg in tone, but not quite as positive as
he should have liked to have had II. With
this he had let the matter drop in the hope
that in the end things would turn out all
right.
This paper was returned from Cuba to
the War DepaI tment. and Gen. Bell. chief
of staff who was in Cuba at the time,
placed the following Endorsement thereon:
Respectfully returned to the military
secretary, War Department Washington.
d. c., inviting attention to Capt. Reich
mann's explanation as, gwen in the third
Endorsement hereon of the matter contained
In the iaclosed newspaper clipping.
While Capt. Reichmann doubtless knew
that officers are selected for the general
stan not by this body itself, but by special
boards of general officers, he. to a certain
extent. erred in giving privately to his
friend. as he apparently did. "a wrong I'M
presson as to the method of selection of
general staff officers.
This explanation showing that his let
ter was based statements of Individual
officers. that the letter was not iE;el1ed
for publication ami that he Is sure il was
Understood by the friend to whom it
was written. Is considered sat sfactory, and
1t is therefore recommended that lie be SO
infoi nrpd.
the Secretary of War. and Capt ReiChm Inn
has been Informed recommended therein.