Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-16
elimination of Long Strife.

The practical suspension of Gen. AIMS
worth as a result of bitter personal
controversy with Maj. Gen. Wood. chief
of staff and incidentally with Secretary
Stimson is an event of much deeper and
broader significance tnan the issue be-
tween those officials. In reality, it IS
the elimination of a great battle that has
been waged for a quarter of century
between the line and the staff of the
army. such a fierce, vendetta-like strife
as Slapped the best energies and ability
of the most prominent officers in the
army for many years, until il was terml-
mated 10y the enactment of the existing
personnel act. 1t was the basic difference
of opinion between the line and the stan
that drove Gen. William T. Sherman to
remove army headquarters from WASH
ington to St Louis many years ago. All
through the succeeding administrations
The spirit of contention has continued,
sometimes latent as under the admins
1ration of Gen. Schoheld as head of the
army and again bursting out cXpioslVely
during the incumbency of Gen. Miles and
Adjt. Gen. Corbin and continued with
much acrimony during the incumbency
of Maj. Gen. Bell as chief OF staff and
-Adjt. Gen. Ainsworth. and attaining
white heat on the accession OF Gen.
Leonard Wood, who curiously enough,
like Gen. -Ainsworth himself, was once
attached to the medical branch of the
army. before attaining to high place.
But always. when the characters
changed, and new men took up the
fight is was apparent that the real issue
was not entirely personal. but that the
difference arose merely from the clash
ing interests of line versus staff, each
seeking to obtain more power and to con-
troll the other. So probably it is an
organic fault in the present military sys-
TEN which stands revealed by todays
development. If it shall happen that
Congress in it's wisdom shall make COM
plete change In the 'present organiza-
ton of the army, the great legal battle
now about to begin before a court-mar-
tial of the highest ranking officers of the
army, may have good results, In the
Judgment of many army officers.
Ainsworth Remains Silent.
AS the result of yesterdays action on
the part of the~Secretary of War, which,
by the way. was the result of a direct IN
,structon from the President. Cen Aims
worth left his Office In the War Depart
ment before noon and sought the seclu-
lsion of his apartments, where he has
tsince denied himself to all but very few
personal friends. In answer to an in
squiry as to his intentions. he stated he
unjust decline to discuss the Secretary's
sOrder in any phase or. indeed, to talk
la bout the case at all. Technically, he Is
sunder suspension, and will SO remain In
definitely. When the cOurt-martial which
lis to try him on charges OF insubordina-
}tion or conduct to the prejudice Of good
forCer and military discipline is ordered,
(which probably will be within a day or
two. Gen. Ainsworth will be technically
tunder arrest He will be served with a
fcopy of the charges preferred against
him. which are being prepared by Judge
advocate General Crowder. and will be
given full opportunity ston obtata5 counsel
and prepare his own defense before or
81 rn6 20 tyr z
AS 1t is not possible to assemble suit
able number Of officers of sufficiently
high rank on the active list to serve as
members. recourse will be had to num-
Der of distinguished officers On the re-
tired list. Names under consideration are
; those of Lieut.. Gen. Miles, Lieut. Gen.
Arthur Macarthur, Lieut.. Gen. Bates,
Lieut.. Gen Chaffee, Lieut.. Gen. s. NJ. B.
Young and Maj. Gems. Greedy and
quire that all the members of the court
shall be of equal or higher rank than
the accused, so long as they are not
/: juniors in his corps or branch Of the
service. Hence number Of officers of
the rank of brigadier general may be
added to the court.
Wood Declines to Talk.
Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, like Gen.
-Ainsworth absolutely refused to discuss
the Secretary's order. In fact, finding
that he himself was involved in the case.
some days ago he. by the Secretary's per-
mission, declined to take any part in ham
ding the papers, which in the usual rou-
tine would pass through the hands OF the
chief of staff.
Col. Henry =. Mccain, who is acting as
adjutant general during Gen. Ainsworth's
suspension. has for several years past
been his principal assistant in the Office.
Recently he was ordered to the
philippines in consequence of the
adoption of the general policy of re-
Geving officers who had been for more
than four years in the War Depart
ment. He is not the senior. officer of
the adjutant generals corps. That
place is held by Brig. Gen. William P.
Hall That officer is now making a
tour Of the world engaged in evangel-
ical work. Next in line is Col. H. o.
8 Heistand. at present adjutant gen.
eral of the Philippines Division, but now
under orders to report for duty as as
sistant to the ;adjutant general in
Washington. to relieve Col Mccain