The Washington herald., 1916-06-01

the private opinion that the concentra-
tlon Of the batteries at Douglas Was a
measure adopted by Gen. Funston partly
for its effect upon the Mexican mind and
partly for use in case OF an emergency.
The stories OF a conCentrat ton OF Car
IN a position where II would not be diff
cult to strike at Pershing : communiCa-
tion line. has had its effect upon those in
command Of the American forces.
I In the mountains that lie across the
highway from Sonora to ChIhua hua Is an
important strategic pass, known as Pul-
PIT Pass Should it reach the point where
Carranza 5 troops. in their effort to nd
Mexican soil of American soldiers. strike
n Persning force or at his communica-
tton line. these two batteries Of artillery
could be rushed into position at Pulpit
Pass, officers say. where the guns " ouId
effectually prevent the bringing In Of rr-
endorsements for the Carranza force.
Lieut.. Col Asa Bird Gardiner. I. :. 4.
retired. is the officer the conferees on
the military bill are after through the
operations OF the provision in the army
hill providing for an investigation Of the
congressional medals Of honor At least
this is the latest report that has filtered
out from the military committee
According to this story Col. Gardiner
has been offensive to some Of the men,
bers of the Military Committee on ac-
count Of the attacks he has made upon
the National Guard features Of the bill
Through the New York Times Col
Gardiner made a number Of bitter At.
tacks upon the members of the com
plittee and the bill.
The authors of the provision believe
that they have a case against Col
Gardiner. When the medals were
awarded Col. Gardiner was in the
Adjutant Generals orTice and the charge
will be made that he took advantage Of
his position to secure a medal.
The investigation will take a wide
range and il ie said about three-fourths
I Of the holders OF medals will he called
upon to present evidence that they are
entitled to the honor. One phase Of the
( investiga ton involves the issuing OF
medals TO the Twenty Regiment
of Maine Volunteers. Part Of this rei-
ment, according to statements that have
been submitted to the committee. guard
ed Arlington during the battle Of Gettys-
! burgh, while about two-thirds Of it went
home. Yet the entire regiment was
awarded Congressional medals for dis
tinguished conduct in action involving
actual conflict with an enemy" As the
part Of the regiment which was sta
toned at Arlington did not even partici-
pate in a skirmish. the claim is ma de
that the medals were issued without au-
thority from Congress.
A member Of the Senate Military Com
mittee declares that the provision was
adopted owing to the suggestion that was
made in the Sherwood bill granting the
holders OF Congressional medals q pen
: sion Of SO a month. The act sets forth
that 1T shall be the duty Of the Secre-
tary Of War and the Secretary of the
Navy to carry this act into effect and to
decide whether such applicant is en-
titled to the benefit Of the act" The
committee took the ground that the
heads of the War and Navy depart.
ments would not have the time to invest.
gate the merits Of the claims OF hold.
ers Of the medals and that a board OF
/ general officers from the = retired list
should be assigned TO the duty.