Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-01-08
GALLANT NAVAL OFFICER
Continued from page ~

|
ent phase of the conditions than
some of the high men in ONCE who
were concerned in forcing the IRE
tirement" would like to have &C
knowledgsd; but, official testimony
in the shape of living witnesses, and
of unimpeachable documentary EVIL
dence has so convinced the congress
SIGNAL committee that it's findings is
unanimous in favor of the reinstate'
ment of the victim of one OF the
most contemplate and unjustifiable
cabals that has ever disgraced the
records of the United States Marine
Corps.
According to the testimony, Col.
Perkins is one of the many consplcu-
ously brave officers of the service,
participant in numerous engage
ments and the living American OIL
Ger in modern times who has CON-
mended both American and British
troops in action For over 80 years
he served his country. and never any
time in that long period has he ever
been even reprimanded of censured
for any fault of military or other
offense until he was marked by ca
bal for it's prey-because his number
was wanted, because it was neces-
sary for the success of its plans that
he should step down and out to make
way for another officer his subordi'
nate in rank or number.
Offered $1,000 in cash, with hand
some retiring allowance, if he would
quit the service so that another OIL
Ger, since deceased, could step into
his shoes, he Indignantly yet courte-
| ously refused; and was then given to
understand that he would be here
after in official disfavor Petty pros
ecutions harrassed him on every side.
his subordinate officers were induced
by Headquarters" to defy his un-
questionable authority, his official
/ acts were time and time again need
lessly and maliciously questioned al
though they were strictly within the
line and according to the spirit OF
"the regulations" his public and pri--
| vate actions were made the subjects
of outof.the:way discussion in afficial
correspondence, and his life made
miserable and unhappy by continu
GUS and unjustifiable accusations.
For instance, when he issued orders
according to the usual custom for
quinine to be served to the men un-
der his command at the Panama Ca
nal, so as to save them from attacks
of fever, etc. his orders were coun.
fernandez by headquarters" with
the result that until the counter.
mands were rescinded the number OF
victims of tropical fevers increased
at an alarming extent and the medi-
cal men found lots of work cut out
for them. Considerate of his men,
he held a conference with the Assist
ant Quartermaster-Ge General regarding
the advisability of having them sup
Piled with books, magazines, news
papers and other good reading mat
ter, and the latter heartily coinciding
In his views advertised the fact that
such reading matter would be re
ceived and given to the men in the
ranks; but, Headquarters repri-
manded Col Perkins for the ad-
vertisement issued by the Assistant
artermaster-General and called
the advertising "mendicancy." At
the same time, it cordially and pub.
.lcly approved an exactly similar act
of another officer in similar condi-
tons. Subordinate officers guilty of
wilful attractions of the regulations
and of military discipline were en-
cOuraged by letters and otherwise
from headquarters" to continue
their discourtesy, etc. To cap the
climax, high officer who had been
sent home from the tropics under
guard, suffering from alcoholic de-
mentia, suddenly declared that Col.
Perkins was mentally incompetent"
and he was ordered to report to head
quarters at Washington forthwith.
Immediately on receipt of his "or-
ders," Col. Perkins took steamship
from Panama for this country and
hurried to the National Capitol, where
he at once reported for duty" On
presenting himself, he was promptly
ordered to go before a court-martial,
of Court of Inquiry then and there
named by headquarters to try him
on the charge Of mental incompe-
tency." He had not been in Wash
ington for sixteen years, he knew
nothing about politics or the ways of
politicians, for he had all his life at
tended solely to his military duties
and nothing else; he did not even
know the name of the congressman
for his state Absolutely alone and
friendless and suddenly confronted
with a monstrous and untenable
charge, he was amazed, and frankly
said so, at the same time intimatini
that in all justice he, should be at
forded time to engage counsel and to
prepare evidence to repel the accu-
sation.
The board of inquiry was packed,
for the officer at its head said so
publicly in the presence of other mil
itary and naval officers in club, and
one, at least. of these officers was
so disguised that he notified Col. Per
kins and leading lawyer Of the
facts. The board did the work for
which it was named, and, despite the