Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-25

took part The following year he was
inspector general of the Department OF
the Philippines.
Twice since then he has gone to the
Philippines in that capacity. but mas
terful man that he is. there is one thing
he cannot beat and that is the Philip
pine climate. Three times he has gone
to the island and three times has he
come back. sick almost unto death. The
Philippines are not for him.
How do the inspectors general work
Well, In a number of ways. The
matter of special Investigations is one
that, aside from the stated inspections
of troops and quarters and equipment,
occupies considerable time. For ex-
ample, the Secretary of War hears that
plans are being laid by group of
army contractors to defraud the gov
eminent in some way. He calls on the
inspector generals department for an
investigation and report. And the re-
port he gets is thorough and complete.
One such report is famous in the
army. Years ago, when the sending of
troops overseas to the Philippines by
chartered transports was a new thing
a suspicion arose that the government
was being defra uded. Col. John J..
Chamberlain was assigned to the work
In this country and in the Philippines
he pursued his Investigations. assem-
bled A mass OF evidence with the skill
of a trained lawyer and presented
volumnous report that completely ex
posed what later became known a the
army transport frauds.
That. however. is but one class OF
Investigations. Another class is in
vestigating reports involving the char
acter or acts of officers under charges.
Such investigation always precedes
court-martial of any note and some
times avoids the necessity of a court
martial.
The inspector making the investiga-
ton has the authority to summon wit
nesses and to administer oaths. He is
required to notify the officer or man
under charges and to permit him to
make statement. under oath or not.
in the discretion of the accused. 1t is
delicate and responsible duty that
devolves on the inspector.
One of the few reports of an inspect
ing officer ever made public was that
of Mai. Augustus p. Blossom of the
inspector generals department on the
Brownsville affair. where negro troops
were charged with shooting up the
town of Brownsville, Tex. This was
during the Roosevelt administration
and was an incident famous In its day
The inspecting officer. by the way.
having completed his tour of duty as
an inspector. is back in the line and
is now figuring in the dispatches as
the colonel commanding the Sd Caval-
ry, now on duty at the same town OF
Brownsville. on the Mexican border.
The stated inspections of posts. camps
and the like cover multitude of sub
iects. Where the inspecting officer
finds anything subject to criticism he
must offer with his criticism the cita-
tion of the paragraph of general or
ders, or army regulations. or the law
which he thinks has been transgresed.
Here are sample extracts from A typ
ical report:
Under the heading of commanding
officer and referring to the matters
for which the commanding officer is
directly responsible: Troops \ and 3,
18th Cayalry-Not well drilled in
Workmanship: such movements pas
sa ging and turning on the forehand
were very poor"