The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-02-16
General Fred c.
AinSworth 10 Appear Before
Courtmartial for Alleged
Breach of Discipline.
GREAT SENSATION
X IN ARMY CIRCLES
Suspension Is the Outcome OF
Bitter Warfare Between
Line and Staff for Con-
troll of Army:

var rASHINGroN F.h, 15.--Mejoi
NM General Fred G. Ainsvorth ad-
NV jutan, general 81 the army. was
w stripped of his Office today by
order OF President TAFT, and viii
a appesr before court martial OH charges
said 10 embrace conduct prejud.cial tc'
good order AND discipline and insubordl-
nation.
Ills relief rom duty was brought
about IN a letter 10 him from the sec
yctei- OF war. which bristled With sharp
criticism.
General Alnsworih's removal IL con
sidered the outco1ne of many years OF
struggle for control between The limo and
the sian o. the army. Major General
Leonard Wood. chief OF stan, leads
contingent which believes control should
be delegated TO those officers actually In
touch With the lighting strength. Others.
snonC whom General .Ainsworth was
leading figure, had contended that su
pervision should ne vested With the
heads OF powerful bureaus
The suspension o. General Ainsworth
the first that ever has occurred In the
office % the adjUtanr general. caused
sensation in army and congressional cir
cles. II was made the subject OF
heated exchange ca the roor of the
house, where the army appropriation bill
was being debeied Sctl1er General
Ainsuorth nor other army oY depa riment
officers or officials wolld discuss it.
Frequent Clashes.
The action OF tic president vss tsSsn
after several conferences with Secretary
Stimson. For some time there has been
friction between jhe adju5ant generals
Office and that OF the chief OF staff
Clashes were not uncommon and there
was almost a total lack or cooperation
The bsd feeling eliminated when General
Ainsworth. In reply TO Sacrstsry slim
sons request for some statistical infor-
ma tion. made such answer that the sec
retary felt constrained 10 accept il as
| reflection upon MS own integrity and
| upon that OF other high officers OF the
department
Secretary Stimsons letter or suspen.
sion. which was delivered 10 Genera
Ainsworth this morning, took mp Incl
dents as FAR back as October, 1902 ir
which the secretary held the adjutan,
general had been unduly caustic in critl-
cising his superiors.
Beginning with last December the sec
rctary reierS 10 ms 0rder TO the ANU
tanI general 10 submit 10 the chief OF
staff OF the army his opinion on pro-
posal TO abolish the present muster roll
and TO modify certain other rolls.
in reply TO this ORDER sayx the sac
retary, you submitted TO the chief Of
staff on February a memorandum
dated February 3 In this papsr you
impugn the fairness and intelligence OF
the secretary OF war under whose au-
thority tile proposition in question was
submitted to YOU, You also criticse and
iulpugn the military capacity and eT-
perIence, tho intelligence and fair-min6
-dness and hnaily question the honor ard
good faith OF the officers OF the general
staff and the war college. whose Plan
you were directed 10 discuss"
Quotes Memorandum.
Mr.. Stimsop then quotes from Gens-a
Ainsworth's memorandum to show what
the latter had in mind follows:
"a In compliance with the second part
Of the accompanying call the following
anhr,it@a6 aIfbouDh IA