The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-12-13
WILL DISMISS
ALL OFFICERS
First Regiment of o. N. G..
to be Freed of an Internal
Struggle.
TWO FACTIONS OF OFFICERS
Investigating Board Recon-
mends That Every officer
be Dismissed.
Most Sensational Military
Report in History of o.
N. G..

ing that every officer both field and
staff, commissioned and noncommis-
stoned, be instantly dismissed with
cut so much as courtmartial, and
that a competent field officer of some
regiment distant from Cincinnati be
placed in charge. the board Of in
ouiry, appointed to investigate the af-
fairs of the First Regiment. O. n. q.
Of Cincinnati this afternoon returned
the most sensational military report
tnat has been made in the annals Of
Chic guard service.
The reason given by the board for
its recommendation is that the regi-
r. ent is hopelessy divided into two
factions over the recent election of
Col. stephens to the colonelcy.
Immediately after the receipt of the
boards redommen0ption ,Adjt Gen.
Weybrecht began the preparation Of
ofIiciea orders that will Dust the en-
tire nineteen officers Of the First Reg;-
ment.
Before the orders go into effect,
they must be passed upon by Cover
nor Harmon, as commander-in-ch chief ot
the state guard, but this, it is admitt-
cd. amounts to n mere formality. the
adjutant generals decision being con-
sidered final.
Wcybrccht Backs Board.
I'VE appointed this board of inves-
legations to investigate and now every
one OF the men in question must leave
the service said Adit. Gen Wcy-
b'echt today. "The board inquired
carefully into every phase Of the Gin
cinnau affair Every man was &C.
orded a hearing. Before the board
was detailed to Cincinnati 1t was un-
dcrstood that whatever I decided up
on would meet with the approval oC
this Office. Each member OF the board
Is n trained man. experienced in the
service and able to adjust any minor
difficulty. My orders. when issued win
approve of their recommendations"
Adjt Gen. Weybrecht had no alter
native otter the report of the special
committee was subRitted to head
quarters today
The trouble I'm the regiment began
last spring when an election of a coll
oncl was necessary. The regiment was
divided into factions over the election
and the factions have drlfted apart as
the months have gone by until It was
necessary to order the election of u
new set of ohcer2
Lieut. Col William NJ. SULTAN was
in line lest spring when the new
colonel was to be chosen and was a
candidate for the position. He was
supported by the organization appar-
emily, but when the votes were count
cd A. l., p. stephens n wen known
Republican politician and county clerk
| Of Hamilton county, was chosen co..
onel Trouble developed at once and
grew. Bitterness was icrohted ana
the longer IL was discussed the more
| trouble there was.
Inquiry Is Ordered.
Months ago, the situation was called
to the attention OF Gen. Weybrecht
| and some weeks ago the need for out
side interference was officially pointed
cut and action urged IL the regiment
was to be saved Col. Edward Voll-
roth of the Eighth regiment. Lieut..
Col. Miletus Garner of Columbus and
Col Charles Y. Zimmerman of the
Fifth regiment were named as MEM
bers of the board Of inquiry They
took up the work of investigation at
once, holding sessions in Cincinnati
land calling in every one of the field
land staff officers available.
| Today, they reported to Gen. Wey-
bIecht the result of their work. They
report that officers divided into two
hostile factions, resulting from the
election of colonel. The line officers
support Col Stephens, the new col
onel, while the field ana staff officers.
with few exceptions, antagonized the
present organization. The report says
these officers were tacitly inert in their
support. The situation was continual
ly aggravated by the feeling of each
side that it was being sighted by the
other this being caused by some past
history in the organization. Neither
faction would yield to the other ana
a condition was found that made IL
Impossible to keep in their position the
present set of officers and make the
Organization effective.