Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-11
TEST Of ACT Of '45 MARINE CORPS Row
Retrocesson of Alexandria Question of Successor to e.
County to Virginia. lott May Be involved.
ISSUE is WITH CONGRESS TO RETIRE IN NOVEMBER
Proceedings By the Line and Staff Each Candidates
Dependent Upon That Body for the Place
CALLERS AT WHITE HOUSE NOW IN PROGRESS
for Raising Wreck General and olonel
Question of Successor to e.
lott May Be Involved.
TO RETIRE IN NOVEMBER
Line and Staff Each Has Candidates
for the Place.
INQUIRY IS NOW IN PROGRESS
Strong Array of Counsel at Investi-
cation Into Controversy Between
General and Colonel.

\ quarrel between the line and stan
Of the United States Marine Corps -
said TO be involved in the Investigation
now in progress at the Navy Depart
ment As result of a series of mis-
understanding between Mai. Gen. George
r. Elliott. commandant of the corps.
and Col Charles II. Lauchheimer adJu-
tant and Inspector. the latter was sus-
pended by his military superior last
December for period OF FIVE days. Col.
Lauchheimer considered that he had
been unfairly traeted and secured the
appointment of a court of inquiry %
pass on the merits of the controversy
between himself and Gen. Elliott
The court is composed OF Rear Ad-
mirals Barker, Davis and Bradford. re-
tired, with Commander John Hood as
Judge advocate. The Importance of the
issues is shown by the strong array Of
counsel Gen. Elliott is represented b.
A. A. Birney Of the local bar and Maj.
Henry Leonard. L. s. NJ c. The coun-
sci for Col. Lauchheimer are Col.
and Lieut. Commander Ridley Mclean
of the navy.
To Retire in November.
Gen. Elliott will retire from the head
of the corps November 80 next on ac-
count of age, and the fight for ,the sue
cession already has begun. There is
legion of candidates, and their friends
are showing great activity. Ii is said
there are two factions in the corps. one
made up mainly of officers of the line.
and the other made up mainly of officers
of the staff corps Although not advo-
eating the selection of any particular
officer Gen. Elliott. it is said. on general
principles. holds that the prospective va
cancy should be filled by promotion from
the line of the corps. There are eight
colonels and seven lieutenant colonels Of
the line from whom the selection might
be made.
The staff officers, on the other hand it
is asserted, contend that the best ma
terial for the next commandant is in
the staff. Ii is reported that they prac-
tically are united in support of Col.
Frank L. Denny. quartermaster. and that
Col. Lauchheimer is one of the most ac-
tive workers in his behalf 1t is stated,
Furthermore. that IL was the alleged ac-
tivity of Col. Lauchheimer in this mat
ter that led 70 his recent break with
Gen Elliott The specific allegation
on which Gen. Elliott based the suspen-
sion of Col. Lauchheimer was that he
had been keeping tab on the conduct.
official and private. of himself and other
officers, with the alleged purpose of using
the information in the matter of the
selection of the next commandant. Col.
Lauchheimer has Indignantly denied that
he has done anything Of the kind and
NdS ~ GIcdI his record OF any Slcn
imputation that he asked for the investi-
cation now in progress.
Proceedings Kept Secret.
By specific direction of Secretary Never
the proceedings of the court are carefully
yelled from the public and all the parties
TO the controversy have been cautioned
against public discussion of the matter
in any phase Each side Of the contro-
versy is making a vigorous fight and the
opposing counsel have frequent arg1I-
ments regarding the admissibility OF tes-
timony.
The inquiry has been in daily progress
since last Monday and probably will con-
tinue next week. The result is awaited
with considerable interest in military
and naval circles, especially in the Marine
Corps.