Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-02-16
|AINSW0RTH IN
ARMY SCANDAL
Feud With General Wood
Comes TO Head.

Washington, Feb. l6-The Wood
Ainswofth feud has come to q head In
the form Of an order by Secretary Slim
son relieving the adjutanf general OF
the army Of duty and directing him to
await disciplinary action.
Orders for the court martial Of Cen
eral Ainsworth, who as adjutant gen
erai is the second ranking officer In
the army, are expected to be issued
within a few days. The charge will
be characterization based on derogatory
references to the secretary OF wal. the
chief of staff and officers Of the gem
eral staff, which General Ainsworth in
corporated into many Of his official re-
ports.
Hebsen psnouncss Ainsworth.
The announcement created q sensa-
ton in official Washington. 1t Is con-
sidered certain that the Ainsworth case
will develop into the biggest military
scandal since the Sampson-Sehley at
fair in the navy.
Almost simultaneously with the an
nouncement OF the dismissal Of General
Ainsworth, who has been In the army
for thirty years, Representative Hobson
of Alabams denounced that official In
q speech on the foor of the house dur
ing the consideration Of the army bill.
Representative Hobson declared that
General Ainsworth was guilty OF con-
spiracy in taking part In the framing
Of the Hay bills for the reorganization
Of the military establishment and In
sorting a provision whereby he vas
enabled to retire with the rank of lieu
tenant general.
Just previously the house by a party
vote had passed the second of the Hay
bills providing for a change In the en-
listment term In the army from three
to Ave years. The discussion over this
proposal while it was before the mill
tary affairs committee was marked by
the opposition OF President Taft, Sec
rotary Stimson and General Wood to
the measure, while General Ainsworth
stood practically alone In advocating
the plan. 1t has been repeatedly charg-
ed that General Afnsworth lis the nov
ing spirit behind the entire Hay mill
tary program, which has been stub
bornly opposed by the administration.
The situation In the war department
was apparently brought to q head by q
memorandum written by General Aims
worth On Feb. 5, though called for last
December, on the proposal of the gen
eral starn to make changes In the form
of muster rolls. In this memorandum.
called for by the chief OF staff at the
direction Of the secretary OF war, Gen
eral Ainsworth makes statements chat
are construed by Secretary Sfimson as
attack on himself and the chief of
staff and the officers of the general
staff.
Stirnson Cites Reasons.
Whereupon Secretary Stimson went
to the White House with the matter
md made 1t an issue with President
Taft. The president was told that
either General Answorth must go or q
new secretary Of war must be found.
The president Immediately directed
that General Ainsworth be relieved and
held on waiting orders until discip |
linary measures could be decided upon. |
II was also decided that the adjutant
generals office be turned over to Colo
mel III. P. Mccain.
In a letter addressed to General Aims
worth Mr.. Stimson cites the passages
of the adjutant generals memorandum
deemed insulting to the secretary, Gen
eral Wood and other officers. In these
remarks Mr.. Stimson declares:
lyon impugn the fairness and intel
iigence of the secretary of war. under
whose authority the proposition In ques-
ton was submitted to you. You also
criticise and impugn the military ca
pacity and experience"
When the order had been made pub
lie General Ainsworth, who was In his
Office. declined to make any statement
whatsoever. He denied himself to all |
callers. Secretary Stimson and Gem
eral Wood decline to speak OF the case
in any way.
Entering b army as a doctor Nov.
III. 1874. General Ainsworth has risen
TO the second highest Office in the war
department.