The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-04

Even members OF the general Sta1r
have become exercised over the al
legged Islander OF Mr.. Scott. who made
his charges during the trial of the Nay
ior divorce case, which sprang from
an army post. Secretary Garrison as
serted that the startling charges Of
The philadelphia attorney We're too alb
surd to deny: but when Informed that
Mr.. Scott is q member-elect of the next
Congress. and therefore. apparently,
not an irresponsible, Mr.. Garrison re-
marked under his breath that he was
sorry for Congress.
Army posts at san Antonio, Atlanta,
Leavenworth. st. Paul Washington,
and other points Joined today in resent
ing the Scott charges. OFFICERS, irres-
pectlve of rank. were indignant and
resentful. and Indignation spread to the
households of these officers.
That the average army post should De
pictured as a spooning park caused
those OF the service to heap maledic-
tons upon the head OF the Philadelphia
attorney. responsible for the general in
dictment.
Denounced As Unwarranted.
Military men, on the whole. assert
that Attorney Scott has made an I'M
warranted ard harmful attack upon the
good name of the service. Spokesman
for the army insist that an army post
is not a drinking rendezvous. as Mr..
Scott indicated, and that officers are
not accustomed to becoming intoxicated
and fondlins one another's wives as
matter OF course"
That the moral code Is as high in the
army post as IL is anywhere else Is the
earnest declaration OF officers who have
rushed today to defend the good name
OF the service and the men and women
who, directly and indirectly, are a part
CT it.
said Col. W. o. Wilder. Of the Fifth
Cavalry, commandant at Fort Myer. in
discussing Attorney Scott's courtroom
reflection upon the army. The charges
are untrue. I have served forty years
in the army and the conduct of the
army and it's officers at the posts COM
pares most favorably with any IN the
world. The military profession In this
country needs no defense from unwar-
ranted attacks of this kind"
Three In Four Teetotalers.
That 10 per cent of the officers at Fort
Hunt are teetotalers was declared by
Captain Wilson. in command at that
fort. He denounced tho Scott charges
as boseless. adding:
II have served at many posts ana
know the charges are unfounded- There
are exceptions. of course, but as a gen.
eral rule that moral and intellectual
standards of army officers are above
the average and above reproach. Only
q person knowing nothing OF the per
sonnet of the army could make state
ments such as those ascrtbed to Mr..
Scott"
Secretary Garrison observed that the
Scott incident would not be dignified by
his official comment and that such
assertions answer themselves" Major
Munroe Mcfarland. OF the general staff,
declared that Scotts allegations of loose
morals at army posts are utterly false
and without basis in the life OF any
army post with which he had been con-
nected.
From posts far removed from Wash
ington there rolled UP a chorus of de-
malls today and Mr.. Scotts charges
evidently have been read with anger
by army officers from coast to coast.
most Foolish Remark"
A dispatch from San Antonio. says
that Col. George V. Van Deusen, COM
mander OF Fort Sam Houston. charac-
terizes the Scott charges about pro-
miscuous kissing at army posts as the
most foolish remark have ever heard
from q man in public life" Colonel
Van Deusen continued:
ut certainly was not the custom at
Fort Logan while I was there, and ]
am sure / have not found i. TO be the
case since I came to Fort Sam Hous-
ton. I admit that 1 have seen off
GERS intoxicated in the ranks OF the
army and IN civil life, but tho state
ment as to their kissing each others
wives is too absurh to need COM
ment"
Mai. Robert II. Rolte. department
1T Fort Sam Houston.
said:
AT Fort sam Houston" he said. cit
is as wholesome as to morals as
have ever found In any locality, and
I have been here four years, and
speak with authority
81 can't understand what would