New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-02
War Department Indig-
nant at "Unsoldierly"
designations
FRICTION WITH
O'RYAN IS SEEN
One Official Urges Spank
ing RecalcitrantS and
Sending Them Back

Washington. Dec. War Depart
rent officials expressed high indigna-
ton to-day at the "unsoldierly" con-
8pet Of the officers OF the 18th New
York Regiment in resigning their com
msnds because they were compelled by
Major General Organ 20 pass twice in
review before Senator Wadsworth and
Mexican officer Although Secretary
Baker said he would not comment pub
relv until official reports had been re-
ecived. IL wss apparent that unless the
official account should develop new
facts severe discipline would be ad-
rnistered.
According 20 reports here, Colonel
Gordon Johnston, regular army cap
.sin and former aid TO General Leonard
Wood: Major George +. Roosevelt, a
cousin OF the ex-President. and other
oacers Of the regiment became in
e,nsed 81 what they regarded as a hu-
initiation and handed in their resigns-
tons These designations must be for
varded 10 the War Department by the
Governor Of New York, but after thai.
The affair Is IN the hands Of the Federal
government exclusively until success
ors arc appointed. when the nom.na-
lions must come from Governor Whit
man.
Army officers S~rprised
Regular army officers were surprised
particularly that Colonel Johnston, as
d regular army officer, should be guilty
Of an action that they say might be re-
gardel as childish IN the militia ON
GERS 10 was the consensus OF opinion
among officers here that. although the
revocation was probably more severe
han appears on the surface Of the
account there can be no excavation
FOR Colonel Johnston, who must be
deal. with according 10 the strict let
Ter Of army discipline.
The militia officers, however, prob
ably will be let of easier because OF
their lack or training IN army stand
ards As one officer expressed It,
they ought to be spanked and sent
back 20 their jobs"
officers Inundated
The humiliation Of which the officers
complained was deepened. they
charged. By the fact that Senator
ffom their state was present, as wei!
as an officer Of q foreign government
General O'Ryan. who had invited these
and other prominent persons TO review
the 18th. was dissatisfied with their
showing and ordered them TO pass a
second time. He criticised the fact
that their flag was furled and that they
were drawn up in two battalions in
stes.i OF three.
officers here say il is not unusual lor
an officer reviewing troops to ask them
TO repeat the mannuvres, and, there
fore. they cannot sympathize with the
reasons alleged by the disaffected Of
ncers for their resignation. Il Is sup
posed here that the incident grew out
OF a state Of feeling between General
O'Ryan personally and the officers OF
the regiment, in which the incident
yesterday was only the elimination OF
series Of disagreements.
Brownsville, Tex. Dec. Major
General John +. Organ, commanding
the New York Guard division in the
Brownsville district, and officers OF the
18th New York Infantry, to-day re-
fused 20 discuss a report that the res
ignations OF Colonel Gordon Johnston
sld all other officers OF the 18th had
been sent 10 the War Department at
Washington. General Organ declared
It matter 10 be handled within The
army.