The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-02-20
risN the. Associated PrcSS.)

Washington, Feb. l3.-Najor Gen
RAJ Fred. &. Ainsworth. Adjutant
General Of the Army. was ~suu11naiily
rru.oted from his position today by
Ur,ipr Of President Taft. and will APP
pear before Il court martial on
charges said to embrace conduc pre-
JGdl.iai to good order and discipline
and INSTRUMENTATION. His relief from
dLjt VAS brought about in a letter
to n!m from the Secretary OF War
Nh.ca hristled with sharp criticism.
Struggle Between Him and Staff.
General AinSWOrth's remOya is con-
sic tad to be the outcome of many
yrare uf struggle for control between
thr 'inr and the staff of the army.
MUior-Gcncral Leonard WoOd. Chier
of ;%ttf. leads a contingent which be
lirs control should be delegated 10
those officers actually in touch with
The lShting strength.
ne suspension Of General Aims
worth, the first that ever has occur
red in the office Of the Adjutant Gem
era. caused a profound sensation in
army and congressional circles. 1t
was made the subject of a heated eX-
change on the floor of the House
where the army appropriation bill
q pCtHS hcj)dLCd. ANCltIlN >iNhi-A "a
A~insworth nor other army or depart
ment officers or officials would dis
CuSS il.
Been friction FOr Some Time.
Tho action Of the President was
taken after several conferences with
Secretary Stimson. For some time
there had been friction between the
Adjutant Generals office and that of
The chief Of Staff. Clashes were not
NnFatnynnp and thnrn wa almost =
total lack of cooperation. The bad
feeling eliminated when General
A~inSworth, in reply to Secretary Slim
son ; request for some statistical In
formation. made IN answer that the
secretary accepted as a reflection
upon his own integrity and upon thai
OF other high officers Of the depart.
mtnt.
Secretary Stimson's letter Of sus
tension. Which he delivered to Gen
"rtl A~insWUrth this morning, took III
II'ldrntS as far back as ctobe 1908
III which the Secretary held the Adju
liant General had been unduly causti
~ dealing with his SuperiorS and il
"rlticising them. Beginning with las
december, the Secretary refers to hi
"rder 10 the Adjutant General TO sub
1Hlj 70 the Chief of Staff of the Arm
us opinion on a proposal to abolls'
~" present muster roll and to modif
~''fi5iu other rolls.
Charges Of INSTRUMENTATION.
"a reply to this order" says tn
Rotary. "yOu submitted to tn
mel Of staff on February 9. a mem
'l1udtn dated February ). In tn
t"Aer You i1npugn the fairness an
t~1Sti"e of the Secretary Of War IN
uef whose authority the ~propositio
II question was submitted to YOU
'oI also criticise and impugn tn
Hilltry capacity and experience, til
rtt'IlSrnce and fair-mindednesS, an,
uhdlIE, question the honor and goo
I'm OF the officers of the Geners
Nldi and the var college, who's pla
'ou We're directed to discuss"
Nf. SunSon then quotes from Ger
AnSWorth'S memorandum
snow that the letter had him in min
4n writing:
~ compliance with the secon
r"'3 OF the accompanying call the 70
WING statement is submitted, a
,HpiSh Il Is recognized that it Will !
,4Mrult, II not impossible, to form,
"tc' any statement that will car,
1ohSiCtlon TO anyOne who is so III
.Ihulul OF Consequences or so uni
A'l"leu as To the needs OF the 90