The Washington times., 1907-05-24
ARREST 5 OFFICERS
OF EIGHTH CAVALRY
Only Three and Major
Free at Camp Wal
lace P. |.
Mysterious Case That Sets
War Department Ask
ing Questions.

my SuSSllOilS,
What's the matter with the Eighth
Cavalry, just in from the Philippines?
This question is being asked by War
Department officials ana other army OF
hcers here. following the receipt Of UNI
official reports OF trouble among the
officers OF that command at Camp Wal
lace, Union, Department Of Luzon.
Lieut.. Coz. Charles G. Ayres, OF the
Fourteenth Infantry, then a major in
the Eighth, was in command OF Camp
Wallace. and at one time he had under
arrest at that post five captains and
neutenants. None were convicted, how
ever. and now the question arises. How
did Colonel Ayres come 10 make five
such serious mistakes?
Uncongenial Shipmates.
The entire Eighth is now in the States.
In accordance with a program mapped
out by the War Department two months
ago, before the trouble came up, the
Eighth sailed from Manila on the trans
port Thomas, April Il. arriving at san
Francisco May Is. Colonel Ayres and
the five officers against whom he nad
brought charges, We're passengers on the
who have reached Washington. say it
was a chilly atmosphere. and scarcely
any two Of the officers OF the Eighth
sat side by side at mess.
Colonel Ayres is now at the Preside.
awaiting orders from the War Depart
ment. Secretary Taft and General Bell
are making personal and informal in
Quiry into the case, endeaVorng to de-
eide what course shall be taken. The
papers have not yet reached Washing
and there No rprr-fpffnna
they will come slowly, I'm the regular
mail channels. II was a matter en-
tirely IN the hands of General Wood,
as commander Of the Philippine Division.
0vercoat Incident
II may be announced as certain. how
ever. that Colonel Ayres will be called
upon by the Washington authorities. II
the officials here decide not to inquire
into this affair, they desire to hear from
Colonel Ayres, anyway. concerning the
alleged criticisms recently made by Mrs.
Ayres, well known in washington.
against Colonel Howe and other mill
tary officers at the Military Academy at
West Point The department has her
case under. consideration. and as an
army officer is held responsible for his
wife's conduct. Colonel Ayres will be *
pected to explain It is stated today
that no definite action had yet been
taken in this matter.
Col. n. p Kingsburv. commander Of
the Eighth. also may be directed to
come to Washington to tell what the
trouble in the Philippines was all about
Colonel kings6ury has gone to Fort
Robinson. Neb., with a part of his
command, while the remainder has been
sent TO Fort d. 4. Bushnell Wyo All
five OF the officers against whom
charges were brought have accompanied
their THgnegtfNn NJ nd na
charges against them were dropped in
the Philippines there is at present no
apparent likelihood that they will be
further molested.
Friction of Chiefs.
On the other hand. it is probable that
they may bring counter charges against
Colonel Ayres for having brought false
charges against them. II is not likely
that these officers will be brought to
Washington. but an inspector general
Of the department in which they are
now serving may be detailed TO inter
view them, seeking light on why and
how Colonel Ayres brought up the
charges
According to reports Of the officers
who have just come from Manila. and
To unofficial correspondence received at
the War Department. harmony of the
most peaceful type had not been known
IS said there are documents on file in
the War Department showing that Col
onei hingsbury and Col. Ayres have not
agreed in the most satisfactory manner
Tor some time, but whether the friction
between them led 10 the arrest Of the
hve other officers. is not known.
THESE reports are not exactly clear as
10 what supposed offenseS Of military
regulations led 10 the arrests. Certain
IL rs, however, that "a one time during
the hrst week in April. five officers were
charged with conduct "Wnbecoming an
officer and a gentleman" conduct to
the prejudice of good order and discip-
line and 'disrespect TO a commanding
officer 1t is also reported that even
mutiny figured in the charges. but none
were proved guilty on any OF the counts.
Five of Eight Arrested.
The officers against whom the charges
were preferred were Captains Reginald
z. McNally and Edgar a. Sirmyer: First
Lieut.. George H. Baird and Second
LIeuts. Alber II. Mueller and william
a. Mccain. all of the Eighth Cavalry.
Colonel Ayres was at that time a
major Of the Eighth and commanded
the post. The situation was eXtraordi-
nary, in that Of the eight troop officers
on the station. five were under arrest
This attracted the attention OF Major
General Weston, in command of the
department Of LuZOn. and of Major
deheral wood, commanding the Philip
pines Division. Colonel Ayres was or
qered 10 Manila to explain the situation.
Purely personal differences. il is al
lesed, We're suspected, and Mai Charles
I. morton, Inspector general OF the al
VISION; was sent to Camp Wallace 10
investigate On the strength of his re-
pOrI, General Weston ordered that :te
charges against all the Officers EXCEPT
Captain McNally and Lieutenant NIuel-
Ter be cropped. II appearing that these
officers had deliberately failed To obey
certain orders. strong court-martial
board. OF which Col Joseph II. Dorst,
commanding the Third Cavalry. was
president. was picked up from among
the Officers at Manila and at the differ
ent posts, there not being enough dis
interested officers at Union for "a boaIi.
A peculiar thing, which is not under
stood by the War Department and
which may be the subject of "a Solicited
report. is that the court adjourned
without having taken up the cases Tor
hcient evidence.
THE BLINDNESS OF LOVE.