Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-16
REBUKE TO MARINES
Gen. Elliott and Sub0rdinateS
Are Severely Censured.
DISSENSI0N IN THE CORPS
Court Finds There Was No Plot to
Gust General Commanding.
TEMPER AND DISCIPLINE BAD
Subordinates Disrespectful and I'm
military in Conduct-Too
Long in Places. %
TEMPER AND DISCIPLINE BAD


shown in a statement issued by the Navy
Department as a result of the investiga-
| ton by court of inquiry of the contro-
versy between Maj. Gen. George F. FL
| lott, commandant of the corps, and Col
Charles H. Lauchheimer, adjutant and in
spector.
The discipline and esprit de corps at
headquarters and among some officers
outside of Washington were found to be in
| a demoralized condition. AS a result of
this the acting secretary of the navy
has addressed letters of severe reprimand
to Gen. Elliott Col. Lauchheimer, Col
| Frank l.. Denny. chief quartermaster
Col Charles A. Doyen, commandant of the
marine barracks at Annapolis, and Lieut..
Col. Thomas c. Prince. Letters of cen
sure, slightly milder than the formal rep
| rimand. were addressed to Lieut.. Col.
Henry E. Haines. Maj Louis j. Magill
| and Maj. David D. Porter.
No Further Proceedings.
No further proceedings will be insti-
tuted against these officers, although
| there is a probability that the system of
permanent details in the staff corps of
the Marine Corps may be modified.
The trouble at the headquarters of the
corps eliminated last December in a
wordy dispute between Gen. Elliott and
Col. Lauchheimer. Bad blood had existed
between the two officers for several years.
although there had been no open out
break. Gen. Elliott regarded Col. LAUGH
heimers conduct as insubordinate, and
he suspended him for five days.
Col. Lauchheimer regarded the suspen-
sion as unwarranted and appealed to the
Navy Department to overrule Gen. Ell
liotts action and clear the suspension
from his record
broad, and it authorized the members of
the court to inquire into the general con-
dition 0faffairs at the Marine Corps
headquarters. The finding of the court,
the department yesterday, arraigned the
ranking officers of the corps for their con-
duct end attitude toward Gen. Elliott.
Lacked Dignity and Firmness.
The official statement is, in part, as fol-
lows:
Gen. Elliott on occasions showed a
lack Of dignity and firmness in his official
intercourse with his subordinates and
was at times profane, irritable and iras-
chile. Although at times he INDUCED
moderately in intoxicating liquor, which
may have aggravated his irritabllity, ne
was never intoxicated when on or on
duty. At times he violated article 2o6
and article 1jO6 of the Naval Regulations
in failing to treat his subordinates with
the proper consideration and courtesy
due them.
ION the other hand, Gen. Elliott was
usually polite and generous. preferrlng
peace to controversy, and was PLAIN,
blunt soldier, open and frank. In giving
his testimony. he did not hesitate to tell
the whole truth, even to his own detri-
ment, If he thought the facts had the
least bearing on the question He was
suspicious of the adjutant and inspector.
his assistants, and some others, and I'M
justly believed they were trying to drive
him from Office. What added greatly to
his irritability was a disease of the right
ear, which infirmity does not appear o
have been generally known to his sub
ordinates. He worked for the good or
the service and accomplished much, but
failed to maintain discipline at mead
quarters and to enforce proper respect
for himself in Ofhce.
Made Unfounded Statement.
Col Lauchheimer, the report states, was
in the habit Of discussing with friends"
a number OF whom were officers in the
Marine Corps and the Navy and his own
associates, and at least one civilian the
official acts of the commandant that he
considered a grievance and the advisa-
bility Of reporting the same. On one oc-
casion a meeting was held in the office of
the adjutant and inspector, it is stated, at
which were present civilian, Col. LAUGH
heimer, Lieut.. Col. Haines and Col. Den
ny. During the course of this conversa-
ton Col Denny made certain statement
which was understood by the other three
persons present to be to the effect that on
certain occasion Gen. Elliott had in
dulged excessively in intoxicating liquors.
\, yn6 70 he
Col Lauchheimer, the court found, had
violated the spirit of the regulations re-
quiring subordination and loyalty, though
he kept within the letter of the law, in
carrying matters to the Secretary of the
Navy that he knew were opposed by the
commandant. He also erred in permitting
and participating in conversations and
discussions in his own office regarding the
commanding generals personal peculiari-
ties and official actions.
Disrespectful to Superior.
The court found that on occasions
Col. Lauchheimer had been unmilitary,
disrespectful and insubOrdinate toward
his commanding officer" says the re-
port. land expressed the belief that the
only possible explanation of such conduct
that could be conceived was his long tour
of duty in Washington, which has kept
him out of touch with military etiquette
and discipline The court further found
that Col. Lauchheimer violated article
2O7 of the Navy Regulations in making
general instead of specific reports against
his superior officer. On the witness stand
the court stated that Col. Lauchheimer
answered specific questions asked. but
evinced no desire to go beyond and as
sist the court in ascertaining all the
facts except in his own interests.
''On the other hand, the court found
that Col. Lauchheimer worked diligently
for the interests of his own department
and for the good of the service as he
saw it, and showed himself a capable
and efficient officer in many ways, and
was frequently consulted and employed
making reports, In drawing up legal
papers and in other matters
The court found that Lieut.. Col. Prince
had made statements derogatory to the
commandant on insufficient grounds, and
he was rebuked by the court for his con-
duct on the witness stand.
Too Long in Office.
The court found generally that the diff
liculties had arisen through a radical diff
ference of policy between the major-gen-
eral commandant and the adjutant and
inspector by lack of firmness, consistency
and dignity in language and department
on the part of the commandant and
too long tenure of office of officers in the
adjutant's and inspectors and quarter
masters department. resulting In lax
ideas of subordination and military ethics,
IN In NJ CT q ND