Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-11
BLOWS FROM AMBUSH
MRS. AYREs' FOES ARE UNMANLY,
SAY HER LAWYERS.
"Invincible in Peace and Invisible in
War; the Phase Used to De-
scribe Their Action.

NEW YORK, June 11.-"These invisible
warriors, colonies and SUCH" said Mann
Trice, ex-attorney general of Texas. yes
terday. He was referring to the officers
az West Point who caused the exclusion
of his client, the wife OF Lieut.. Col Chas.
G. Ayres from the academy reservation.
Perhaps you have heard OF certain
class of warriors spoken of as 'nvincible
In peace and invisible in war / would SO
describe, from what know OF them. these
warriors at West Point who have attacked
a woman. the wife of brother officer,
from ambush, accusing her of unladyliko
conduct in letters marked confidential
These letters, which form the basis OF
Mrs. Ayres' action, were all headed con-
fidential.'. They were unmanly reflections
upon a woman's conduct. likely to injure
her position, and hence / have alluded to
them as an attack from ambush 10y invis-
ible warriors. Ia that now clear
This the first public intima'ion that
the reports to Adtt. Gen. Answorth, signed
by Capt. l.. w. Oliver instructor N tactics
at the Military Academy; Lieut.. Col. Rob-
ert L. Howe commandant OF cadets. ana
II. l.. Scott, superintendent of the acad-
envy, were other than open official reports.
On the strength of these reports Secretary
Taft last week sent Col Ayres. who had
just returned from the Philippines. an or
der or letter of instructions requiring him
to prevent his wife from "trespasslns
upon the military reservation at West
Point, where her son is cadet
Thinks Hearing Would Clear Her.
1T seems to me-" Mr.. Trice continued,
that the President and Secretary Taft are
fair and practical men, not likely to take
action on ex-parte statements such as L
consider these confidential reports from in
visible sources against Mrs. Ayrrs TO be.
They are used to giving all persons falr
hearing Such action as has been taken
against Mrs. Ayres might be esSlnded upon
remonstrance and reasonable showing on
her behalf that she is not justly accused
Mr. Trice said the letters rejecting upon
Mrs Ayres were placed in his hands and
he had been instructed by her to take ac-
ton for her protection. He regards the
letters as containing actonable language,
but to what extent these reports were privi-
legged he could not give an ofhand opinion.
He had not yet come to a conclusion as 10
what form an action should take. No pa
pers had been served nor complaint
drawn.
AS to Col Ayres and his liability to court
martial Mr.. Trice would only say thar
Col Ayres had not made any public state
ments with his advice and approval, ana
he did not know that he had made any
public statement. Mr.. Trice added that he
was not aware of any law, military or
otherwise under which Col. Ayres could DO
held responsible for any statements made
by his wife or any civil action taken by her.
Most of her acts reported to the depart
ment took place If at all, in Col. Ayres'
absence from the country
Ayres Twice Court-Martialed.
Col Ayres has been promoted to his lieu
tenant colonelcy since the complaint of his
wife was made. He is a son of the late Col
r. B. Ayres and entered the army as a Sec
ond lieutenant in 1915. He served for many
years in the Indian country, and was
wounded in tussle with a desperate in
which he saved brother officers life. He
served under Cen Joe" Wheeler in the
Cuban campaign and was recommended for
| a medal for galantry in that campaign.
During his recent service In the Philippines
! 1t was reported that he was charged with
characterization by Col H. p. kingsbury,
his commanding officer, and that Ayres,
who was then a major, accused Col. Kings
bury of misconduct. but the controversy
never came to a court-martial.
Col. Ayres was court-martialed in 1892
at Fort Assinbone on charges Of conduct
prejudicial to good order and discipline, and
was reprimanded. In 1896 a court-martial
at Fort keogh sentenced him to dismissal
| from the army charge that he had
! written malicious letters to military au-
| thorities but President Cleveland dsap-
proved the findings.