Honolulu star-bulletin., 1917-12-31

testimony given, extended from lem
porary absence TO prolonged alb
senee, and it was not proper for him
to delegate the authority Of the com
mand OF the camp. under the ctrcum
stances. to a staff officer.
The fact that the authority Of the
camp commander was frequently per
mitted to rest in an officer Of recanl
commission and. of necessity. limited
experience. made il humiliating for CT
ficeTs senior 10 him in rank to re
ceive orders from him while he Vas
acting in the capacity OF camp CON
mander.
Tn etesumony OF qualified officers
shows that in no case could the cam1
commander delegate his authority TO
a staff officer. See Article Is. a. r.,
1879.
Th eboard finds that the camp com,
mander did not sufficiently acQuaint
himself with orders issued in his alb
sence, nor did he leave instructions
regarding orders to be issued while lie
was away. There seemed TO be a lack
OF appreciation, on the part OF the
camp commander, regarding his duties
and responsibilities as such. and a
disregard of regulations. This created
an atmosphere of lack of authority
which permeated the entire camp. In
many instances officers looked to the
army instructors for orders, instead
Of their own superior officers.
A glaring irregularity has been
brought to the attention Of the board
from the fact that on two occasions
both the camp commander and the bri
gade adjutant were absent from camp
at the same time, for period Of sev.
eral hours, without authority being
delegated to another officer, or any
notification being given of such alb,
sence.
Schedule
A source Of serious complaint on
the part of officers was deviation from
the prescribed schedule of instruc
tion. This schedule was originally
prepared for an encampment at Scho,
field Barracks, but owing to a change
Of location to KawailOa, there we're
certain features of the same which
could not be complied with. There was
a general feeling among the officers
that for such portions of the schedule
which were not applicable to kawailoa
camp there should have been substi.
tuted some progressive military in,
struction. The general impression ex.
listed that this was not done. owing to
the lack Of proper direction.
IT. appears that the schedule was
first interfered with by the sending
Of a Hawaiian battalion to form a
part of the funeral ceremonies Iof
Queen Liliuokalani, which necessitat,
ed assembling and drilling of details
taken from various companies in prep,
aration therefor By so doing some
companies were reduced to such an
extent that it was necessary to con-
solidate them with others.
Progressive training was next inter,
fered With to prepare for the review
to be held on Thursday, November
p, and three days were practically
entirely devoted to this purpose.
A further serious interference with
military training occurred on the after
noon OF November % and the morn
ing of November "a, which were de-
voted entirely to the purpose of taking
pictures Of the brigade, although as
it happens no pictures were actually
taken on Friday afternoon owing to
the delay in the arrival of the, photo
gr9pher. I It. was considered that II
the taking of pictures was advisable,
they could have been taken at times
other than those hours which should
have been devoted to drill.
..-. II Discipline
The board inquired into the matter
Of discipline at the camp with a view
of deciding whether there we're grave
breaches of the same that would re.
quire investigation under the orders
eonvening the board. This did not ap,
pear to be the case, and such criti.
cism as might be justified would not
be pertinent to this report.
Resignation Of Officers
From the testimony given, the board
finds that owing to dissatisfaction
over irregularities at the camp there
was a spontaneous expression among
the officers of an intention to, tender
their designations, which action, how.
ever, they were advised against
Johnson Considers the Report Unjust
Gen. Johnson was asked by the Star.
Bulletin today if he had any further
statement to make.
Il have little to say at this time"
he said. Il feel that the main thing
is to work for the next inspection. I
will say, however, that the criticism
of my being in training camp and not
at the guard camp continuously is un.
just"
General Johnson intimated that he
believes the report carries evidence #
personal spite. When asked directly If
he wished to make a statement on
this he replied that he does not wish
to do 30 now at any rate.
He was also asked if in view Of tho
Developments he had any thought O.:
resigning..
Absolutely not. WHY should 20