The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-16
A|NSWORTH TO
Be DISCIPLINED
Court Martial For Man Who
Was Insubordinate And
Saucy

Washington. Feb. 16.-Majnr Cen
eral Fred G. Ainsworth, adjutant gen
( eral of the army, was stripped of his
rank today by order of President Taft
and will appear before a court mar
tial on charges said to embrace con-
duct prejudicial to good order and dis
cipline and insuhordination. His re-
lief from duty was brought about in
a letter to him from the secretary of
war, which bristled with sharp criti-
cisnn.
| General Ainsworth's removal is con-
ssdered to be the outcome of many
years of struggle for control between
the line and the staff of the army
| Major General Leonard Wood, chief
| Of staff. leads contingent which be-
lieves control should be delegated 70
those officers actually in touch with
the fighting strength. Others. among
whom General Ainsworth was lead
ing figure. had contended that super
vision should vest in the heads of
powerful bureaus.
The suspension of General Aims
worth. the first that ever has occur
red in the office of the adjutant gem
eral. caused a profound sensation in
army and congressional circles. 1t
was made the subject Of heated ex-
change on the floor of the house.
was being debated. Neither General
Ainsworth nor other army or depart
ment officers or officials would dis
cuss it,
The action of the president was TAX
en- after several conferences with Sec
retary Stinson. For come time there
had been friction between the adju-
tant generals office and that of the
chief of staff. Clashes were not un-
common and there was almost a total
lack Of cooperation. The bad feel
ing eliminated when General Aims
worth In reply to Secretary Stinson s
request for some statistical informa-
tion. made such answer that the sec
retary felt constrained to receive 1t
as reflection upon his own integrity
and upon that Of other high officers OF
the department.
Secretary Stimsons letter Of sus-
pension. which was delivered to Cen
eral Ainsworth this morning, took up
incidents as far back as October, 1903,
in which the secretary held the ad-
jutant general had been unduly caus-
tic in dealing with his snperiors and
in criticising them. Beginning with
last December, the secretary refers to
his order to the adjutant general ia
submit to the chief of staff of the
army his opinion on a proposal to
abolish the present muster rol land to
modify certain other rolls
StimsOn's Letter.
I'm reply to this ORDER" says the
secretary. you submitted to the chief
OF staff on February 9 a memoran-
dunn dated February 3. In this paper
you impugn the fairness and intelli-
gence of the secretary Of war, under
whose authority the proposition In
question was submitted to you. You
also criticise and impugn the military
capacity and experience, the intelli-
gence and fairmindedness. and, final.
ly, question the honor and good faith
of the officers Of the general staff and
the war colleges. which you were not
directed to discuss"
Mr.. Stimson then quotes from Gen.
eral Ainsworth's memorandum to
show that the latter had him in mind
in writing:
In compliance with the second
part Of the accompanying call the
following statement is submitted, al
though It is recognized that it will be
difficult If not impossible to formulate
any statement that will carry convic-
ton to any one who is so unmindful
to the needs Of the government and
the public with regard to the matter
In question. as seriously to propose
to abolish one Of the most important.
If not the most important, Of all the
records of the war department.
The secretary then quotes the ad-
jutant as having added that the state
ment was submitted with the conf.
dent expectation that when other, II
not wiser counsels. shall prevail" the
statement would receive the con.
sideratton that may not be given II
now"
In his letter the secretary calls at
tention to an attack made upon the
After referring to q proposal to