Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-07-16
PERSONAL STRIFE OF
CORPS REACHES CLIMAX
Court Inquiry Finds General Difficult
ties Are Radical Differences Of
Policy Between General Elliott and
the Suspended CoIoneI-Dissention
Arises Over Question of Successor
CBy Associated rressp

" A1Ikt-NNf t-N. - -. Nis ~
;ersonal strife among the officers Of
the United States marine corps today
reached a climax when the navy de
partment. as the result OF court OF
inquiry. sent letters of censure to-
nearly all the officers concerned. No
further judicial proceedings are con
templated.
The censured officers are Major
General George + Elliott, command
cnt Of the corps; Colonel Charles Ii.
Lauchcimer. adjutant and inspector;
Colonel Frank l.. Denny. the quarter
master. at Washington; Colonel
Charles A DOyen. commanding the
marine barracks at the naval acade
my at Annapolis; Lieutenant Colonel
Thomas c. Prince, assistant quarter
master at Washington; Lieutenant
Colonel Henry c. Haines. assistant
sdjutant and inspector at Washing
ten, and Majors Louis J. Masill and
David ID. Porter. assistant adjutants
and inspectors at Philadelphia and
Washington. respectively.
Objectionable hdbItS.
The court held that General Elliott
lad been profane. irritable and ir-
.ascible, at times, indulging moderate
ly in INTOXICATING liquor, but never in
toxicated on duty. and sometimes
failed to treat surbordinates with
courtesy. but was usually polite, gen
erous. truthful and a plain blunt
soldier. open and frank. Genera!
Elliott was paid a tribute by the court
for telling the truth. even u his
Whole detriment if he thought the
facts had the least bearing upon the
question"
HE was suspicious. added the
court. 'Of the adjGtant and inspector.
his assistants and some others and
Enjustly believed they were trying to
drive him from Office What added
greatly to his irritahility was 4
disease of the right ear. which in
trinity does not appear to have been
generally known to his subOrdinat-s.
He worked for the good OF the ser
vice and accomplished. much, but
tailed to maintain discipline at head
Quarters and to enforce proper re
spect FOR himself in office"
Is OisrespectfuI.
Colonel Laugheimer. according 10
the court. had violated the spirit. bu.
not the letter of the regulations. re-
quiring suboTdinatiOn and loyalty, had
been unmilitary. disrespectful and in
subordinate and had made general.
instead of specific reports against his
AZ. ptrs L.. oil 4.e
hand. G10nel Laucheimer was declar-
ed. to be capable and an efficient Of
ficer and one who was frequently con
suited by General Elliott. Colonel
I.acheimer has been on his present
duty since December 1904
Among other things. he was charg-
ed with cvincing no desire TO assist
the court in ascertaining the facts. ex-
cept in his own interests. though he
answered specific questions.
Colonel Denny was held to have
purpoSely and intentionally evadcd
answering questions on a subject OF
which he had full knowledge. As TO
Colonel boy u. the court found that
he showed remarkable failure -
display the proper respect and subOr
Cinafion due 20 his commandment
Lack Of FirmnsSs-
The court found generally that the
citicultics had arisen from a radical
difference Of POLICY between General
Elliott aud Colonel Laucheimcr
through the formers lack Of firm
ness. consist sncy in language and
experiment and a 100 long tenure Of
Office az officers IN the adjrtants.
INSPECTORS and quartermsstcrs' de-
partmenis. resulting IN lax ideas o.
subordinaiion. and military ethics.
end lark Of profcs sionsl and military
acc epfancc.
The Inquiry. Of which fhis whole.
sale action was the outcome. was
ordered a. the result % the susgsn-
ZION By General Elliott Of Colonel
I.auchcircr for fse DAYS on a charge
that be had been keeping tab" on
Iliioffs personal conduct. Colonel
fauchcimer tlcn sought the court II
inquiry. which sal for TX months
issrinc testimony.
A. the bottom Of The disscuiion On
the CORPS b. said - have been tn
question II the succcssorship 90 Gen
cfai Elliott. ne fghf between officers
e. the line and staG.