Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-29
ARMY FORAGE SCANDAL
Findings Promulgated in Fort
Wayne, Mich, Case.
APPROVED By PRESIDENT
Exception Made in the Case of Capt
Field.
OFFICERS SEVERELY SCORED
Admonished in General Orders Is
sued by Gen. Bell, Chief Of
Staff.
FF1CERs SEVERELY SCORED

Gen. Bell, chief of staff, has issued gen.
eral orders to the army prqmulgating the
results Of the Investigation conducted by
a court of inquiry, of which Col. L. a.
Ward. 18th Cavalry. was president and
Capt. c. r. Rowland. 21st Infantry, was
recorder, into the administration and dis
ciplne of the post Of Fort Wayne. Mich.
These orders show that Contract Surgeon
John L. Burkart loaned money to enlisted
men at high rates Of interest. but with
out pecuniary benefit to himself: that his
acts were subsersive of discipline; that
four horses, the property Of Burkhart or
his brother, were foraged by Capt.
Charles G. French, regimental quarter
master, as being the private horses Of Of
ficers entitled to forage allowances. and
that Col. Daniel .Cornman. commanding.
failed to take proper disciplinary action
to stop the practice referred to.
Opinion of the Court.
The court expressed the opinion that
the following action should be taken:
That the connection of John l.. Bur3
art, contract surgeon, U.S.A., with the
military service be terminated.
That Capt. j. J. Toffey. jr., reEimental
adjutant, 7th Infantry; First Lieut.. Rob
ert G.. Peck, battalion adjutant, 9TH In
fantry. and Second Lieut.. J. c. Moore,
battalion quartermaster and commissary,
9TH Infantry. he informed Of the findings
of the court, and that the transactions IN
which they were concerned regarding
horses and forage therefor were illegal
admonished to be more scrupulous in
their conduct hereafter. and more OBJ
servant of the high standard expected
from officers Of the army. This recon-
mendaton is submitted, as the court is of
the opinion that more beneficial results
both as regards these officers and the
army at large would thus be secured than
il these officers were brought to trial.
That Capt. Charles G. French, regi-
mental quartermaster. 18th Infantry. be
quartermaster. Illegal issues of forage.
That Col. Daniel Cornman, 7th Infan-
try, be brought to trial for neglect of
duty in not taking steps to stop illegal is
sues Of forage when 1t came to his knowl-
edge that such issues were being made in
his command.
THAT Capt. Peter c. Field, medical de-
partment. U.S.A., be informed of the find
ing of this court as regards him and ad
mOnished that his action in continuing an
investigation regarding matters as to
which post commander is primarily re-
sponsible. under an authority which the
post commander informed him he fhe
post commandera could not recognize
W dS Improper ana SuDNefSlNe or ROO0
der and military discipline
The President directed that the specific
recommendations Of the court be carried
into execution with the exception of that
relating to Capt. Field, which was disap-
proved.
War Department Action.
The action Of the War Department is
stated by Gen. Bell as follows:
THE resort to disciplinary measures
which was recommended by the court has
been had. and the results Of the trials
in the cases of Col. Daniel Cornman, 7th
Infantry. and Capt. Charles G. French.
regimental quartermaster. 7th Infantry
have been duly promulgated to the army
The employment of Contract Surgeon
Burkart has been terminated by the an
nulment of his contract. In the cases of
Capt. j. J. Toffey. jr.. regimental adju-
tant. 9TH Infantry: First Lieut. Robert G.
Peck. battalion adiutant eth Infantry,
and Second Lieut.. J. G. Moore. battalion
auartermaster. 7th Infantry. it is sufflci-
emit to say that the department expects
that officers of all grades in the military
establishment will make it their constant
endeavor to secure the protection and
proper application of property and stores
provided for public use I'm the operation of
the annual acts of appropriation for the
support of the army. In the case here
presented that expectation has not been
realized. The officers above named are
therefore admonished that the practices
in which they are shown to have been en-
gagged are subversive of discipline. highly
disregardful Of the laws and regulations
governing the issue Of and accounting
for public property, and evince a willful
indisposition to conform to the reason
able and wholesome standards Of profess
Sional conduct. which cannot be2tolerated
in the military service.
1.-The court of inquiry is dissolved