The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-18
Observation-Disclosures
SAYS EMPHATICALLY THAT HE
WON'T RETIRE VOLUNTARILY.
Procedure Follows Romarks He IL Said 20
Have Made About'the Service After his
wtfe was Ordered on the Reservation
nc west Point III Own Record.

Wne was Ordered on the Reservation
at West Point Own Record.
Ileut.-Col. Charles q. Ayres. whose
wife was barred from the reservation Mt
West Point, faced at the Army Building
yesterday a retiring board which is to
determine under orders from the Wa
Department whether he In at for further
service. The appointment Of the board
is supposed TO have been due chiefly to
remarks attributed to Col. Ayres after his
wife had criticised the order Of the West
Point Commandment prohibiting cadets
from lending their coats to young women.
Col. Ayres was quoted in defence OF his
wife and was represented as saying things
uDoomplimentary to the service. The
Colonel refused either to affirm or deny
his responsibility for the statements when
called upon by the War Department.
II there had been any hope that Col.
Ayres would bring relief to an embarrsss-
ing situation by retiring without the in
quiry it was dispelled when he answered
the first question.
do you wish to r~etire2" asked the court.
In accordance with the manual governing
such proceedings.
lido not. replied Col. Ayres. with emphasis
on the mot"
The board il made up Of Brig. Gen.
John M. X. Davis. who presides; Col.
Charles A. p. Hatfield. thirteenth Cavalry;
Lieut.. Col. William p. Evans. Eleventh
Infantry; Capt. William T. Johnston. FIJI
teenth Cavalry; Major Guy L. Edie, surgeon.
and Capt. Sanford II. Wadhams. assistant
surgeon. Capt. Johnston is a member
Of the New York bar and IL rep resenting
tho War naartunapf in fra pninn tho nrn.
cedure. Col. Ayres is personally ac-
quainted with two or three members of the
board and he shook hands with them
cordially before yesterdays session began.
he was represented by counsel Col. Ayres
said:
No. I haven't any counsel, and I { don't
know that want one. If l am here to be
examined as to my physical fitness | don't
need counsel. 1 have been examined by
army surgeons twice within the last year
and was found sound both times. IL neces-
sary l am ready again-ready for either
a physical or a mental examination"
The Colonel added, however, that II he
was going to he examined on anything
else he wanted to know it.
L haven't seen any specifications; l
don't know this IL all about. said he.
Col. Ayres asked once or twice more
what the specifications are. but nobody
on the board seemed able to ~enlighten him.
hN@ N&kh ohS W w nv
duced?' he asked.
Gen. Davis finally minated that the
scope OF the inquiry would have to he deter
mined later on and would depend largely
upon the findings OF the medical officers.
The board adjourned until this morning,
when IL Is likely that the surgeons will
have some report 10 make in regard to the
physical examination Of the Colonel.
In 1887 Col. Ayres was charged with con-
duct ~preiudicial to good discipline. Al that
time he was First Lieutenant Of the Tenth
Cavalry, stationed at Fort Bayard. New
Mexico. He was also charged with CON
duct unbecoming an Officer and "A gentle
man in threatening to shoot a brother
officer who had preferred the first charge
against him. He was found guilty Of con-
duct ~prejudicial to good discipline.
In 1892 he was oourt-martialled at Fort
Assiniboine. Montana, for unbecoming
conduct. He was found guilty on some
counts and not guilty on others and SEN
fenced to be reprimanded. In 1891 he was
court msrtislled at Fort Keogh. Montana.
on similar charges and also on the charge
Of having shown isrespeot TO a superior
officer. He was found guilty and SEN
fenced to dismissal from the army, but
President Cleveland ~disapproved Of the
findings.
Col. Ayres. on the other hand, has a fine
army as one OF the heroes of Las Guasimss.
and was recommended for a medal Of honor
by Gen. Young and Col. Roosevelt. Col.
Ayres led q rescue party through a storm
OF bullets and carried Major James NJ.
Bell Of the First Cavalry 10 a place Of safety
after the Major had been shot down leading
hia reoiment