Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-02-17
Ugly Scandal in Army Averted
By Action of Officer in Taking
Advantage of Thirty-Seven
Years of Service,
C0NGRESSMEN CHEATED
OF CHANCE FOR ROW
Generals Request to Be Taken
From Active List Said to
Have Been Cause of Keen
Disappointment in House.
rBy Morning Journal special Leased Wire,

INV NofhHE ~Utttti NItsl
Washington, Feb. l6.--Adjutant
General Fred G. Ainsworth. who was
relieved of his office on charges as
lsumed to be those of conduct preju-
diCial TO good order and discipline.
today was placed on the retired list
on his own application. This pre-
cludes the possibility Of a court mar
tial
| President TAFT approved General
Ainsworths application because OF
| the officers thirty-seven years OF
service. The members of the house
| military committee. TO whom II had
| been charged General Ainsworth had
been surreptiously giving information.
iit was said We're planning to insti-
tute a thorough investigation into
the war department.
Chairman HAY of the committee.
said tonight that SO far as he was
concerned the officers decision ended
the agitation In congress.
The house, however disclosed its
interest In the controversy by adopt
ing amendments to the army bill.
which was passed, providing for the
consolidation of the offices of the
adiutunt general and of the inspec-
tor general with that of the chief OF
staff II also consolidated that sup
ply departments of the army under a
general head.
Mutual friends are said To have
prevailed upon General Ainsworth to
take the course he did. His communi-
cation was carried To the war de-
payment by Senator Warren OF wy
oming, chairman OF the senate COM
mlttee on appropriations, but former
| ~ chairman OF the senate military ar
fairs committee II was dated today
and read
The Acting General of the Army.
Sir-Havng served continuously for
more than thirty-seven years as "A
commissioned officer OF the army and
being worn with the heavy burden
of cares and responsibility that
have borne for many OF those years,
do not desire in any circumstances
to retain longer the position that l
now hold on the active list of the
army. Therefore, respectfully ask to
be retired from active list and TO
be placed on the retired list under
section i243 of the revised statutes
Very respectfully.
(Signed.) IF. c. AINSWO RIM.
"Adjutant General"
Thic letter was submitted by Sem
htor Warren to Acting Adjutant Gem
eral Mccain. It passed successfully
through the hands of General Leon
ard Wood, chief of staff, and Secre-
tary Stimson and finally was submit
ted "a the president.
President Taft promptly forward
ed the following note TO MIR. Stimson;
TO the Secretary of War: Upon
his own application, Major General Il.
G. Answorth, the adjutant general, Is
hereby retired under section 1243, re-
vised statutes and the proper order
may be issued.
(signed) WILLIAM H. TAFT"
Secretary Stimson instructed Cen
eral Wood as chief of staff, To issue
the necessary official order This di-
rected that General Ainsworth be re-
tired officially upon his own appli-
cation and instructed him to pro-
ceed To his home.
The order closed with the words,
the travel directed is necessary In
the service"
General Ainsworth will draw an am
nual salary of $4,000. He will lose his
allowance of approximately $4,000,
which he had while on active duty.
The voluntary action OF General
Ainsworth. It is said, quashed any
action against him and put an end to
the war departments preparations
toward a court martial.
There was much surprise and some
among General AIMS
friends when word of his vol
,ntary retirement reached the house.
plans had been made to
inquire into the methods OF the war
de epartment through the medium OF
inquiry and these were
nullified.
Many expressed disappointment at
the officers action.
General Ainsworth tonight woulu
discuss neither his action nor MS
rlans
with the avowed intention Of put
ling an end to friction that for years
has existed between the Officers OF
Inc line and those of the staff. the
house today adopted an amendment
10 the army appropriation bill con-
solidating the divisions OF the chief OF
staff of the adlutant general and OF
he Inspector general under one head.
mat Of the bureau Of the generai
staff. The chief of staff is to be the
directing head Of the proposed bureau
.yItb the other two officers as stair
associates.
As another part of army re-oreani-
,stion the house abolished five OF the
ifteen regiments Of cavalry and ON
, roll call bN a vote OF 1i6 TO l3t.
.ndorsed its action of yesterday In ad-
the term OF enlistment In the
,rmv from three years 10 i've years.
rhe army appropriation bill finally
vas passed by the house after fight
asting several days.