The sun., 1907-11-12
CAPT. NIB STEWARTPUNTSHED
PACKED OFF TO PHILIPPINES
FOR WRITING TO "rHE SUM-"
Ordered From west Point ON Thrso Hours
NOtlce-Reuuost for an Investigation
DenIeI-Asks FOR Beard OF Inquiry
Took HnHantry's slide On Pay RlD,

NOtlce-Reuuost for an Investigation
DenIe1-Asks FOR Board OF Inquiry
Took HnTantry's slide On Pay Bm.
WASHINGTON. Nov. ll.-Capt. M. b.
Stewart Of the Eighth Infantry has been
exiled from the Military Academy at West
Point to Panay in the Philippines and can
get no explanation from the War Depart
ment. His offence is that he wrote letter
to THE SUN taking the infantry side Of the
controversy in the army on the proposed
pay service bill. The letter was in re-
sponse to letter written by Capt. johnson
HagoOd OF the Coast Artillery and printed
in The Sun on October 2i Nothing has
been done TO Capt. HagoOd.
Capt. Stewart has been at West Point
for some time engaged in teaching the
cadets in the department Of tactics. His
work there gave entire satisfaction. When
! Capt Hagood's letter appeared IL gave
what Capt. Stewart said in his reply seemed
to be "a semi-official and unwelcome pub
lcity to a discussion which might better
have been confined to proper military chan
nels." For that reason Capt. Stewart
said Il seemed necessary "in justice to some
part of the army to correct false impressions
which must arise in the lay mind from his
communication"
THE Sun in its heading on Capt. Stewards
letter described it as "a temperate state
ment Of the position and grievances of the
infantry" Capt. Stewart. his friends say.
had no other thought than to set forth the
belief Of the infantry branch Of the service
that it was not getting fair deal in the
proposed new pay schedules and that it
would be unwise to await the vague promise
of a future readjustment. He was specific
in his declarations that the large number
of officers who opposed the proposed bill
did not do 80 on the ground Of dollars and
cents, but on the higher motive of adding
to the efficiency of the infantry. He said
The infantry has no fight with either
cavalry or field artillery. IL ts interested
in an abstract question of possible legisla- |
tion. which would work an injury, real and |
tangible-nOt merely financial-to the bulk |
of the cOuntry's land force; and its interest |
is finding expression in a proper official |
manner"
Capt. Stewart felt that he had observed |
fully the proprieties of the occasion and |
was much surprised two days later to re- |
ceive a telegram from the War Department |
asking IL he wrote the letter printed In The /
sun. He replied promptly that he did. |
Three hours later. without having the /
slightest opportunity TO make an explana-
ton. if one we're necessary. he was ordered |
to leave West Point and start for Pansy |
on the first military transport
Capt Stewart was astonished at this
action and his summary punishment. He |
appealed at once to the Department 20 |
have an inspector investigate the case
and TO determine in what his offence con-
sisted. This was refused promptly. Capt.
Stewart has now asked for a court OF in
Quiry 10 investigate all the circumstances
regarding the matter. The Department
has not passed upon the request sbut IL is
understood is opposed to any such in
vestigation.
Capt. Stewards friends say that il is
difficult to see how the War Department
can construe Capt. Stewards letter TO The
sun as an offence. He criticised no fellow |
officer and cast no reflections on the army
he thought IL wise "to correct some false
Impressions which must arise in the lay I
mind" from Capt. HagoOd's letter. bur
that is not considered an attack on brother
officer. Whether Capt Hagood com
planned or not is not known. But IL he
did the proper action was TO cite Capt.
Stewart before a board and try him in the !
usual manner. Instead bureaucratic
spirit is displayed. according 90 the Captains
friends, worthy of Russia"
IL in not believed that the offence was
primarily in writing 10 THE Sun. Capt. |
HagOOd did that. and nothing has hap
pened TO him. Ii is thought that in Op-
posing a measure which certain War De-
partment officials wish to go through,
despite iniUstices which the infantrymen
arc saying in h.ndreds Of letters to the De-
partment will follow Capt. Stewart has +
offended some one in authority with small
mind. who has sought revenge and has in
hicted punishment in a petty manner as a
warming to all fellow officers to be good
hereafter or take the consequences with
out the slightest opportunity of securing
a hearing.
Secretary Taft, Of course, did not order
Capt. Stewards summary exile. IL is
thought that the acting Secretary Of War |
would scarcely take such a step and would |
refuse 10 give an officer a simple hearing /
unless an authority higher than he had |
80 decreed.
Whether Capt. Stewart gets his court Of |
inquiry or not. il is likely that the episode |
will be heard from in Congress this winter |
and that the alleged injustices to the in |
fantry will be considered. The fact that |
a large part Of the infantry officers are |
willing to go without an increase Of pay,
as they assert. solely to preserve the in |
tegrity and promote the efficiency OF that |
branch Of the service has become known,
and 1t is probable that the military COM |
mittees OF both houses Of Congress- will |
ask to examine the hundreds of letters |
that have been forwarded by various officers l
to the Adiutant-General in proper military |
fashion. That will bring up the question |
OF fair treatment Of the infantry.
Meantime Capt. Stewart may be packed |
of to the Philippines, but what is to be done |
with Capt. Hagood? Army officers here
are asking whether he is to basK in the light |
OF the supreme authority and be favored |
with an easy detail