Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-16


the Army.
A congressional investigation
OF the War Department, probably
by House committee, appeared .
today to be certain outcome of
the, Ainsworth- Wood line and
staff controversy which resulted
yesterday in the relief of Maj.
Gen. Fred C. Ainsworth. adjutant
general Of the army, from Office.
Friends of Gen. Ainsworth in
the House were said today to be-
preparing the resolution of in:
vestigation, and it was said
that an effort would be made
t. have the scope so widened as
to include an inquiry into the ad-'
ministration of affairs in Cuba at
the time Gen. Wood, now chief OF!
staff of the army, was military,
governor of the island.
Judge Advocate General Crow
der was busy today preparing the
charges on which Gen. Ainsworth
will be tried by court-martial.
Meantime the House of Repre-
sentatives took a hand in War
Department affairs by adopting;
an amendment to the army ap-,
preparation bill, consolidating the,
offices of chief of staff, adjutant
general and inspector general into
a single bureau of the general
staff. The chief of staff would be
the supreme and directing head.
with the adjutant general and in
spector general members of the
staff. stt.
The status of Maj. Gen. Fred c. Aims
worth. adjutant general of the army. to-
day was that Of an officer of the army
under suspension from the exercise of his
duties as adjutant general and under
orders to remain i'm Washington pending
the adoption of. disciplinary measures by
the War Department. That is thoroughly
well understood to mean that Gen. Aims
worth is to be, tried by court-martial on a
plain English. ia to the effect that he is.
alleged to, have been guilty. OF disrespect,
to the chief OF staff, his senior in the.
army, and to the Secretary Of War; also,
his official superior.
The War Department officials are busy :.
in selecting the court which will try
Gen Ainsworth and i'm formulating the
charges Necessarily number Of re-
tired officers of high rank must be
placed upon the court and the depart
ment is communicating with some Of
these officers who are not now in Wash
ington to ascertain if they would find
1t feasible and acceptable to serve upon
this court, which. from the Importance
Of the issues, is likely to be one Of the
most memorable in army history. Ii may
be several days before the answers are
received from all of these officers. In
the meantime the department will with
hold the issue of the formal order Gre
ating the court and citing Gen. Aims
worth to appear before II.
Trial Should Be Brief.
Although the issues to be tried are ex-
ceedingly important. involving as they
do the rancorous disputes that have been
waged between the line and the stan, in
the opinion of the legal officers OF the
War Department, the trial itself should
not consume much time. 1t is believed
that the evidence to be presented will
be- principally documentary. including
the various orders and reports that
have issued from the adjutant generals
once within the last four years, and
especially the letter made public yes
terday from Secretary Stimson to Gen.
formally charging him with
disrespectful conduct In view of the
iimited accommodat lions at the War ne
trA snvt y1Fr ,f.<k>
semble In another building, possibly the
War College. or at Fort Myer. across
the river.
Gen. Ainsworth maintains the attitude
Of absolute reticence he has steadfastly
occupied since Secretary Stimson's letter
was made public. 1t is understood he IL
now asranEtng Tor counsel and preparing
There was no surpFiss exp6sssd today
at the War Department ct he prospect