New-York tribune., 1910-07-16
lWARR|NG MARINE
OFFICERS CENSURED
Vaior General George F. Elliott
Heads List of Those
Rebuked.
SEVEN OTHERS OF HIGH RANK
Court of Inquiry Reports on
Trouble Which Started
Between Commandant
and Adjutant.
from The Tribune Bureau

washington July Io-An accordance
With the recommendations of the naval
court OF inquiry which spent several
weeks Investigating trouble in the ma
-7-ine corps the Navy Department to-day
addressed letters Of censure TO Major
e General George T. Elliott, Colonel
charles z. Lauchheiner, Colonel Frank
/ Denny. Colonel Charles A Doyen,
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas c Prince,
Lieutenant Colonel Henry C Haines,
Major Louis J. Magill and Major David
7. Porter. all high ranking officers Of the
corps
This is the only action that viii be
taken as result of the finding Of the
court which. II was expected, would rec
-oulmend 4 general overhauling Of the
marine corps For weeks officers OF the
corps have been anxiously awaiting the
-eport Of the court, which sat in secret
session. sumnoning scores Of witnesses
and taking several thousand pages OF
testimony. The trouble began between
Major General Elliott. commandaut OF
-he CORDS. and Colonel Lauchhetmer, ad-
5u-aat and inspector, but the invesdga-
conditions in the corps. Nothing less
than the court martial Of some Of The
officers was expected because Of the dis
closures which, it was rumored, had
been made.
The inquiry was ordered as the result
O. the suspension by General Elliott OF
Colonel Lauchheimer for five days on a
charge that he had been keeping tab"
on General Elliott's personal conduct
Colonel Lauchheimer then sought the
court of INQUIRY. At the bottom OF the
dissension IN the corps is said TO have
been the question OF the successorship
10 General Elliott when he retires in
October, tie fight being between officers
of the liae and the staff
The court began its investigation on
March B. The members were Rear Ad-
rliraI A. S Barker, president, and Rear
Adui-als c. H. Davis and r. B. Bradford,
with Commander John Hood as judge
advocate After long and serious dellb-
Grafton the court found that everybody
had behaved badly. but no one was
guilty Of anything in particular. II is
rossfbIe that some changes VIII be made
bv the Secretary Of the Navy as result
Of the inquiry whereby the long tenure
OF Office Of some officers Of the corps IN
Washington viii be modified.
FINDINGS OF the Court
The findings OF the court are substan-
tally as follows:
General Elliott on occasions showed a
lack Of dignity and frmness in his Off
ciaI intercourse with his subordinates,
and was al times profane, irritable and
irasciblel Although he sometimes in
dulged moderately In intoxicating liquor,
which may have aggravated his irrita-
hiItrv. the court found he was never in
1oxicaced when on or of duty On the
other hand, General Elliott was usually
polite and generous preferrins peace 10
controversy, and was 4 plain. blunt
soldier. open and frank He was sus-
picious OF the adjutant and inspector,
his assistants, and some others, and IN
Justly believed they were trying to drive
him from Office. What added greatly 10
his irritabiliry was q disease Of the right
ear which infirraity does not appear 70
have been generally known TO his subor-
5inares. He worked for the good Of
the service and accomplished much" the
court SAYS. but failed 70 maintain dis
cipline at headquarters and TO enforce
proper respect for himself in Office -
The court paid a tribute TO General FL
lott for telling the whole truth, -'even 10
his detriment. if he thought the facts
had the least bearing Oh the question"
Colonel Lauchheimer the court found,
hsS Violated the spirit Of the regula-
tons requiring subordination and 10y
-sltv although he kept within the letter
q 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 taking part
n conversations and discussions in his
own Office regarding the comnandant'
personal pecuIiarities and official ac-
Mons
The court found that on occasions
Colonel L.auchheirner had been unrnili
tary. disrespectful and fnsubordinat'
toward his commanding officer, and ex
pressed the belief that the only possible
exp anarion Of such conduct was hi
long crur Of duty in Washington. which
kept him out Of touch with nllitar!
etiquette and discipline
On the other hand. the court foun'
thar Colonel Lauchheimer had worke'
diligently for the interests Of his owl
department and for the good Of the ser
vice as he saw il. and showed himself I
capable and efficient officer IN man
r--r .r5 ono -rbo WAS consulted fre
ouently by General Elliott
The court found that Lieutenant Colo
ne Prince had made statements deroga
tory 70 the comnandant on insufnclen
grounds, and he was rebUked for III
conduct on the witness stand
The court found that Colonel Denny
conduct in making an erroneous state
rent in the presence Of Colonel Laucn
heimer, Lieutenant Colonel Halnes an
a civilian. 10 the effect that on one occa
sian General Elliott was under the II
huenoe Of intoxicating liquors, was froi