The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-10-07
ARMY OFFICER Brutal |
QUESTIONING or vERAciTY REAL
CAUSE OF "siLENcE.n
Captain Lonsan Also Accused Of In.
flictins Numerous ana Unnsoss-
cary Hardshlps.

Baltimore, Oct. i. The. exact
statement Of the cadets side Of the
existing trouble ct West Point as q
consequence Of which the entire corps
fs under restrictions WAS given In q
confidential letter from one Of the
cadets to q friend in this city who
said: G
"The cadets allege that Capt. Lon
gan started out at West Point by say:
ing: This corps has gone 70 hell,
I'll make 'em buck up
The trouble was cumulative.
First, on the target range, though
It is by order that cadets as a pro-
lection against the conclusion Of the
guns, put cotton in their ears, Capt.
Longan accused them Of stuning their
ears with cotton SO that they would
not hear his commands. The young
men were surprised, but said moth
ing.
Second, the cadets say that he
'cussed out one of the finest men in
the first class.
Third. when Cadet Burt, first class
man. returned from his brothers fun.
eral, he himself having appendicitis
at the time. he went twice to Capt.
Longan's Office to report. Each time
Capt. Longan was absent at the off,
GERS club. Accordingly Cadet Captain
Bradley Of the corps, officer of the
day and next in command, inspected
Burt's baggage, took his money and
contraband and sent him to the hos.
pital. Next day. Burt was operated
upon and was also reported three
times by Longan. Bradley told Capt.
Longan the circumstances but the cap
tain would not believe him and started
In on TRADE against Burt.
Questioned Their We racity.
Fourth, one of the cadets visited
across the hall in the barracks. Capt.
Longan thought enormously that it
was a first class man, whereupon he
reported the wrong man. The first
class man explained in writing that
the report was mistake. Capt. Lon.
gan, calling him up, said, I don't be,
lieve what you say in your explana.
ton. You've got to prove your state.
ments.' One inviolable rule of West
Point is that when a cadet gives his
word of honor it is always taken with
out question. No greater affront can
be put upon cadet than to question
his veracity.
The final grievance was when Capt
Longan made area birds walk In the
rain. Under this form Of punishment
cadets have to walk with their guns
two hours on Wednesday afternoon
and four hours on Saturday afternoon,
It is the. immemorable custom that
they can walk on the stoop Of the
barracks when it rains. But Capt.
Longan lined them out in the down.
pour, he staying under cover. dry,
and smoking pipe, and said: You
men have got to walk in the rain,
for I'll show you who is boss around
here
Moreover, he refused to let the
men oil their guns and made the cor.
porals take the rags out of the bores,
SO that the cadets lad to clean OF rust
for days afterwards.
'The first silence was spontaneous
and fairly without the element of pre-.
mediated conspiracy. The men simply
refused to eat or to speak word
while Longan was in the room. 1t
was wrong, insubordinate,-but hui
man. It was a tacit rebellion against
what the cadets felt to be tyranny.
The men do not regret their action.
Their attitude is that their code has
been broken and their word ques-
toned.
IF every cadet is called before the
court of inquiry and asked IL the
above statements are true, he will an
swer affirmatively, though not q man
Of them has yet consented to say
more to the court than I'VE have
formed a dislike for this ohlcer.'"