The sun., 1908-03-28
EXILE FOR ARMY OFFICER
ROOSEVELT SENDS COL. STEWART
TO 4 POST IN THE DESERT.


Explanation Forthcoming The Case Of
Phillip Nolan, ''The Man without q
Country, again TO Force Retirement
WASHINGTON, March 27.-The supposit-
tious case Of Philip Nolan, 'the man without
a country is recalled In the assignment Of
Col. William +. Stewart Of the Coast Artil-
lery Corps TO the command Of Fort Grant,
Ariz., former army post which has been
abandoned for many years, Actual exile,
such as might have been ordered by kingy
decree hundred years ago, Is Col Stewart's
portion.
1t Is needless TO tell anybody who knows
anything about geography that the coast
artillery has no connection with q desert
and deserted army post hundreds Of miles
from the nearest blue water, But Col
Stewart is there. and the War Department
records credit him with being in command
There is something Of a mystery behind
this official maroohing Of an old soldier
who has served forty-two years in the
army. Investigation to-day developed,
however that he had been sent 10 Fort
Grant, or what once was Fort Grant, by
the personal direction Of President Roose-
welt on the recommendation Of the War
Department.
The records OF the Department show
that Col. Stewart was detached from COM
mand Of Fort Baranoas, Fla, on October 2,
1907, and orders given him, never officially
promulgated, TO assume command Of the
Arizona desert post
An officer Of the military establishment
in a position TO speak with authority said
to-day that Col. Stewards assignment was
'for good and sufficient military reasons
No further details OF an authoritative
character were given, but il was explained
unofficially by officers who knew some
thing Of the case that the Department had
regarded Col. Stewart as a trouble maker
and disturbing element at posts where
he had served. He had had many diff
hculties with officers in the service,
Meanwhile Col. Stewart is marooned at
Fort Grant at command consisting Of a
cook, a oaretaker and perhaps a striker
or two. He is likely to stay there until
somebody in Congress demands the facts
Of his case.
A suggestion Of the reason for the exile
Of COL Stewart is found in the knowledge
obtained to-day that he refused TO take
advantage Of an opportunity to retire under
the thirty years service law, but insisted
on sticking to the army until he reached the
statutory age Of retirement He will not
reach the retirement age Of o. years until
July 10, 1918, but the President has authority
to place him on the retired list on his sixty
second birthday
The President and the War Department
are powerless under the law to compel him
10 retire or be retired sooner unless physical
or mental disability can be proved. But
Col. Stewart appears TO be in the possession
Of a sound mind and body and willing TO
stick II out among the cacti, the jack rab-
bits and the tarantuas for several years TO
come While il is not admitted inso many
words, it is intimated that the action Of the
Department in placing Col, Stewart at Fort
Grant was intended to ooerce him into ap-
plying for retirement.
Col Stewart entered the army just after
the close Of the civil war as a Second Lieu
tenant Of the Fourth Artillery. He was
brevetted a Captain on February a. 1890. |
for gallantry against the Indians at Clear |
water, Idaho, in July. 1877, He is a native |
OF Rhode Island.