New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-10
ARMY and Navy Journal
Calls Generals Action
"Reprchensible'
AUTHORITY GIVEN
OFFICERS A TRUST
pShould Not BE Used to
Crafty Any Personal
Motive

c.g.-,l ORysa's ignorance Of his
,,,ua commanding officer and his
',,t o, professional training were alone
,.,,onsibls for She insult offered to the
-, New York Regiment and the en-
..,,s resignation Of is colonel, Cap
-, Gordon Johnston, U. S. A., says
-. eBrrert issue OF "The Army and
Navy Journal 49,
San essential point in the training
=. ,,rnan6." The Journal" states,
-, 10 teach an officer that the author
-, bestowed upon him is a trust the
IRIS, Of which 20 crafty a personal
-,,iv, Of any KIND is as reprehensioie
/, n, way as the appropriation OF pri-
"a. funds by aduciary officer
hi, principle. the publication goes
"a state. has not been sufficiently
,.,ognized in tho dealings Of the New
Vail headquarters with the 18th. It
,l,o eritic.ses hsrshly the unjust and
,,,,cesssry hum liation OF an expert
rod officer in the midst Of e public
CEREMONY and before a Senator Of the
s.,,e o. New York and az offcsr Of the
Mexican amy.
10 make the regiment 50 through
-. ,evisv a second time IS delin-
,s.5," it says. "was an unhesrd Of
proceeding.
Text Of the Opinion
n. text Of The Army and Navy
Journals" opinion follows:
aTbe discourtesy shown by Major
General O'Ryan il his treatment Of the
eolopel commanding the 18th Infantry,
VG.N. y, on tHe occasion OF public
rsview az McA.cn, Tex, is to be
,sc-bed 10 8 want Of proper considera-
ion for the courtesies Of the service
bv an officer lacking professional train
M. Article 27l. a. r.. which should be
Known 20 all officers, regular, volunteer
or militia. requires officers 10 be eau
nous in reproving non-commlssioned
oHeers in the presence or hearing of
rriva,e soldiers. If this rule holds good
in the case Of a 1on-commlssloned Off
cor. now much more in the case of q
commissioned officer. and especially IN
the case Of one o. such long and oisun-
suished service as Captain Gordon
Johnston. Of the army.
THAT this requirement in the case Of
commissioned officers is not formulated
ins regulation is because Of its OBJ
y.ous propriety. II military law i'm
poses The obligation Of uuquestloning
obedience on the subordinate officer, il
equally imposes uDou the superior the
obligation Of absolute courtesy in the
exercise of authority. That this last
obligation s not always observed does
not lessen the force OF the require
nent which IS one so difficult TO form
u.sis in specific regulations that much
must be left 90 the good feeling and the
sed-respect Of the superior under the
general requirement of Article 8. A. r.
AN essential point in the training
or command SIS 20 teach an officer that
the authority bestowed upon him Is a
trust the exercise Of which 10 crafty
Apersonal motive OF any kind rs as rep
rehenslble m its way as the appropria-
uon OF private funds by q fducisry Of
ncsr The facts coming 10 our knowl-
edge indicate that this principle has not
been sufficiently recoCu ized in the case
the 18th Regiment az the headqusr-
'trt o. the New York division on the
border not only ON the present occa-
t.on, but on other occasions.