Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1912-02-16
M|L|TAR|SM
TO Be PROBED
Congressional Investigation
of War Department Seems
to Be Certainty
WOOD IS TO Be ATTACKED
Congressman Berger Wants to
Do Away With Standing
Army Altogether.

Washington, D. c., Feb ia con.
gressional investigation Of the Wal
Department probably by a House COM
mittee, appeared today to be a Ger.
tain outcome of the AinsWorth-W Wood
line and staff controversy which re-
sultedNgesterday in the relief of Ad-
jutant General Fred c. Ainsworth
from office.
Friends of General Ainsworh in the
House were said to be preparing the
resolution of investigation and that an
effort would be made to have the
scope of the inquiry so widened as to
include the administration of affairs
III Cuba at the time General Leonard
Wood, now chief of staff of the army,
was military governor.
Judge Advocate General Crowder
was busy hearing the charges on
which General Ainsworth will be tried
by court martial.
Meantime the House Of Representa-
tives took a hand in War Department
affairs by adopting an amendment to
the army appropriation bill consoli-
dating the officers of chief of staff, ad-
iutant general and inspector general
into single bureau OF the general
staff. The chief of staff would be the
supreme and directing head, with the
adjutant general and inspector gen
eral members of the staff While no
order Of military arrest has been is
sued the statu of Major General Aims
worth is that of an officer under sus-
penslon and under orders 10 remain
in Washington pending the adoptioa
of disciplinary measures by the de-
partment.
The war department officials are
selecting the court and are formulat-
ing the charges. Necessarily sev-
eral retired officers of high rank must
be used, and the department is COM
municating with some of those who
are not now in Washington to ascer-
tain if they would find it feasible to
serve. The court probably will be
one of the most notable in army his
tory. 1t may be several days before
the issue of the formal order Great.
ing the court ana cicing General
Ainsworth before it.
Although the issues are exceedingly
important involving the old rancor-
Gus disputes that have been waged
between the line and the staff for %
years, officers of the department do
not believe the trial will consume
much time. It is believed the evi-
dence will be principally document
ary, including the orders and reports
issued from the adjutant generals of
flee within the last four years and
especially the letter made public from
Secretary Stimson to General Aims
worth, formally charging him with
disrespectful conduct.
IL view of the limited accommoda,
tions at the department., the court
probably will assemble at the war
college or at Fort Myer, across the
Potomac.
General Ainsworth maintains the
reticence he has steadfastly occupied
since Secretary Stinson's letter was
made public. It is understood he
row is arranging for counsel and pre-
pairing his defense.
Ainswortn Asks to Retire.
Washington, D. c.. Feb. 1G,-The
Ainsworth case took a sudden turn
late today when President Taft ap-
proved the former adiutant generals
application for retirement. This
means there will be no court martial,
it is said.
Retirement Takes Effect Today.
Washington, D. c., Feb. 16.-The
action of the President, it is believed,
finally closes the case against General
Ainsworth and there will be no furth-
er military proceedings. The gener
ais application was based upon 81
years service in the army and was
purely voluntary. So far as official
records show there are now no
charges standing against him. Ihe
application for retirement takes effect
today.
Additional Torpedo Fleet.
Washington, D. c., Feb. 16.-The
construction of an additional sub
marine torpedo fleet for the protection
Of the Pacific coast, was urged before
the naval affairs committee of the
House by Representative Hayes, of
California.