Arizona republican., 1912-02-16
Adjutant General of the
United States Army Will
Have to Face a Court
Martial.
LONG FIGHT HAS
REACHED CLIMAX
Work of Factions Has Fin
ally Caused an Upheaval
In Washington Army
Circles.
I ASSOcidtcd Press Dispatch |

WASHINGTON, Feb 15-Major
General Fred &. Ainsworth. adjutant
general Of the army. stripped Of his
,ffice by order of President Taft. will
appear before court martial on
charges said To embrace conduct pre-
judicial to good order and discipline
and INSTRUMENTATION. His relief of duty
was brought about in letter To him
from the secretary Of war. which
bristled with sharp criticism. General
AInsworth's removal is considered the
outcome Of many years struggle for
control between the line and staff of
the army. Major General Leonard
Wood. chief Of staff. leads contin-
gent which believes control should be
delegated To those officers actually in
touch with the fighting strength. 9th
ers. among whom was General Aims
worth. was a leading figure, contend
Cd supervision should be vested with
heads of powerful bureaus.
The suspension of General Aims
worth is the first that ever occurred
in the office of adjutant general and
has caused a sensation in army and
congressional circles. II was made
the subject of a heated exchange on
the floor of the house where the
army appropriation bills are being
debated Neither Ainsworth nor 9TH
er department officers would dis
cuss it. The action of the president
was taken after several conferences
with Secretary Stimson. There had
been bad feeling between the ad-
jutints office and the chief of staff
for some time. and il eliminated
when Ainsworth. in reply To- Slim
sons request for some statistical in
formation. made such an answer that
cept il as a reflection on his own in
tegrity or that of high officers of the
department.
The secretary's letter of suspension.
delivered this morning. took up in
cidents as far back as October. 1909.
in which the secretary held the adju-
tant had been unduly caustiC in the
criticism of his superiors Beginning
last December. the secretary refers
to his order TO the adjutant To- sub
nit To the chief of staff of the army
his opinion of proposal To- abolish
the present muster roll and modify
certain other rolls. In his reply, Slim
son holds that Ainsworth impugned
the fairness and intelligence of the
secretary as well as officers of the
general staff
Immediately on receiving the letter,
AinswOrth went to his apartments
and would see only a few intimate
friends Col II. p Mccain. appointed
acting adjutant general. Immediately
began his new duties
Not in many years has an officer
Of such high rank been summoned
before a court-martial The court
will probably meet within the next
thirty days As the active list does
not contain enough officers of suf-
high rank to try Ainsworth,
the retired list will be called upon.
When the news of the suspension
was received at the capitol the army
bill was under debate. II came just
when an amendment extending from
three To- five years the term of en-
Iistment was being debated. The
had the endorsement of
Ainsworth and is strongly opposed by
the general staff.
Il charge that Information supplied
the committee on military affairs has
been misleading" shouted Representa-
tive Hobson of Alabama. shaking his
fist at his democratic cole igUes. that
it emanated from the office of the
adjutant general and that the adju-
tant general expected in return FOR
his services to he made lieutenant
general
Chairman Hay denied the commit
tee had been trafficking with the ad-
jutant general. The amendment car
ried, 1O1 To- 13.