The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-03-07
INVESTIGATION
Continued from Page Nine

mate than prevails either in his boy
hood home in Vermont or in this city
in the winter time.
He may be detailed to active duty
with his own consent, but not other.
wise. 1t is possible, in view OF his
known desire for active employment
of some kind and his acknowledged
ability as an administrative officer,
that he may be called back eventually
into the government service for the
execution of some duty for which he
Is specially qualified. But, es stated,
that could be done only with his con.
sent.
Ainsworth's Action Voluntary.
The issue between the Secretary of
War and General Wood, chief of STAFF,
on the one hand, and Adjutant Cen
eral Ainsworth on the other, was
brought to a termination unexpectedly
late yesterday afternoon by the volun.
tary retirement of General Ainsworth,
admittedly to the great relief of all
concerned. Everything was being ar
ranged for the trial of General Aims
worth by court-martial. Telegraphic
inquiries had been sent to half a
dozen retired officers of high rank to
learn If they were prepared to serve
on the court, and a line officer out
side of Washington had been instruct
ed to report to the secretary of war
to prepare the charges and act as
judge advocate. All of these prepare
tions suddenly ceased when General
Ainsworth's application for retirement
was submitted.
The application was brought about
through the good offices of some of
General Ainsworth's congressional
friends, it is said, who not only in
duced him to adopt that course, but
brought the President and Secretary
Stimson to see that by the acceptance
of the application a bitter army scan
dial would be avoided.
Presented by Senator Warren.
1t was Senator Warren of Wyoming,
chairman of the senate committee on
appropriations, but until recently at
the head of the senate military COM
mittee, who personally presented Gen
eral Ainsworth's application for re-
tirement to the war department.
The letter was addressed to the act
ing adjutant general of the army and
said:
Having served continuously for
more than thirty-seven years as a COM
missioned officer of the army, and be-
ing worn with the heavy burden of
care and responsibility that l have
borne for many of those years, do not
desire, in any circumstances, to re-
tain longer the position that I now
hold. on the active list of the army.
therefore respectfully ask to be re-
tired from active service and to be
placed on the retired list, under sec
ton 1913 of the Revised Statues"
Approved by President Taft.
Upon the delivery of General Aims
worths letter to Acting Adjutant Gen.
eral Mccain the mechanism of the
war department moved rapidly. Col.
Mccain Immediately carried the paper
to General Wood, chief of staff, who
at once turned it over to Secretary
Stimson, and the latter forwarded it
to the President.
The result was the issue of the fol,
lowing instruction by the President to
the secretary Of war:
upon his own application, Major
General F. c. Ainswortn, the adjutant
General, is hereby retired under sec
ton 1249, Revised Statutes, and the
proper order may be issued"
Whereupon General Wood, chief Of
staff, by direction of Secretary Slim
son, issued the following order:
"By direction of the President, Maj
Gen. Fred c. Ainsworth, the adjutan
general of the army, is retired from
active service upon his own applica
ton under the provisions of section
1243, Revised Statutes, after NOR,
than thirty-seven years service. H
will proceed to his home. The trave
directed is necessary in the militar
service"
AS a retired officer Maj. Gen. Aims
worth will draw an annual salary O
$4,000, but will lose the allowances
amounting to nearly $4,000 per annun
to which he was entitled while on tn
active list
Gossip Regarding Successor.
The retirement of General Aims
worth has caused considerable gossi
in army circles concerning his proI
able successor as the adjutant genera
( The present law provides upon tn
retirement of Mai Gen. Ainsworth, tn
officer detailed as the adjutant gel
\ eral shall be of the rank of brigade
general, and that there shall be onl