New-York tribune., 1911-04-24
'M'COSKRY BUTT DEFIANT
He Avoided 7th Regiment Parade
Because of General Smith.
INVITES A COURT MARTIAL
Brigadier Treats Threats Of Enc.
mics in National Guard with
Sneering Contempt.

Brigadier General McCoskry Butt, since
1901 a supernumerary officer OF the New
York National Guard. gave his reasons
yesterday for refusing to parade in uniform
or horseback with the 7th Regiment last
wednesday. He said it was because he
would not be seen afoot or horseback In |
the neighborhood of General George Moore
Smith, commanding the First Brigade.
Officers Of the National Guard have dis
cussed the probability tnat General Butt
would be court-martialled. having. they
say made himself liable by reason of his
open criticisms of General Smith. In his
apartments in the New York Yacht Club
General Butt announced that he would face
such proceedings, if brought. with as much
! equanimity and more amusement than ne
would experience In looking into can
mons mouth in the line Of duty. He did
not believe his enemies would provide that
much amusement for him, but II they in
tended such action he hoped they would
be quick about it. because he expected TO
go 10 France soon TO see some real
man9uvring.
General Butt would be recognized for a
he wore evening clothes when he delivered
his belligerent message but the shoulders,
the bearing and the bristling mustache.
worn something after the German military
fashion, suggested the man OF action. He
, even gave the impression that he rather
regretted there was so much prevailing
peace
General Butt, former member Of Com
| pany Is, OF the 7th Regiment: former
colonel of the 18th and member of the
| New York Yacht Club and the Union Club
received an invitation from Colonel Daniel
Appleton to parade with the 7th Regiment
/ in the division under command Of General
Smith. which consisted of ex-members Of
/ the 1th entitled 10 wear uniforms Gem
eral Smith is n member of the 1th and was
among those who went to the front with
that command in 1851 General Butt de-
cllned in letter to Colonel Appleton, in
which he gave the details as 10 the reasons
for his course
General Butt has told certain officers of
the national guard Of his letter to Colonel
Appleton, and has not kept under a bushel
criticisms Of General Smith, saying the lat
ter tried to humiliate him. and in his opin-
ion was not competent TO command These
things have started the rumor OF a court
martial General Butt says that as q citi-
zen when not in uniform or on military
duty, he has The right to criticise military
men and matters. and that if they start
to court martial him he will reply with an
injunction.
1T is certainly true" he said last night
that 1 sent letter TO Colonel Appleton
IT. which | declined to take part in the pa
rade in the division under General George
Moore Smith last Wednesday. / have good
reason for this. AS n former member Of
the eth Regiment should have taken part
IN its anniversary parade but I considered
that, under the circumstances. could not
parade under Smith with any degree Of
self-respect.
My reasons for not parading were these.
After ] was rendered supernumerary. in
July. 1901, Colonel Morris OF the eth Resi-
ment, and Colonel Dyer. of the 18th Regi-
ment. some time later both rendered me a
review Of their regiments. In accordance
with the military regulations Of the state
the name of a reviewing officer must be
submitted 10 superior headquarters for ap-
proval. When my name was submitted to
General Smith he promptly seized the in
CIOtit anu >NCopHdHtiC opportunity OF Try
| ing TO humiliate me by disapproving each
review, and gave no reasons. ! have never
been court martialled. nor have any charges
| been preferred against me.
| While ] was on the active list In COM
mand Of the 1st Brigade l contended with
! higher headquarters that brigade COM
manders should be something more than
mere figureheads and that they should
have more responsibility. The contention
| / then made has since been acted upon IA
| vorably. General Smith hypocritically ap-
proved my fight TO be really brigade com
| mander, and pretended admiration OF my
| contention, and then showed his weakness
| by refusing me the two reviews in ques-
! ton. Smith is my Junior in rank, but Is
| long past the retiring age. as he joined the
| 9TH fifty years ago. at the time being about
twenty-five years old. ] would also add
| that ] believe the national guard cf New
York needs younger general officers. If we
are going to live up TO the new national
militia law, which is supposed 10 have the
national guard prepared Tor war and con-
form 10 the organization of the army"
General Smith said last night that he did
not attach any Importance 10 anything
that General Butt might say now or at any
other time. He is always talking" said