The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-04-13
COLONEL DUANE IS Willing TO ACCEPT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE round ROBIN
Prominent Officer In the Second Regiment Made
Statement Today Relative to Court
- Martial Proceedings

Fairmont, April 10-The Sentinel
published the following story:
"OfficerS of Fairmonts militia COM
pany received directions from regi-
mental headquarters Monday to recog-
nize no orders from Lieut. Col. o. j.
| Duane of St. Peter, as he is relieved
of command and under military ar
rest, pending trial by court martial,
the charges being preferred by Col.
w. T. Mollison of Faribault, COM
mander of the regiment.
! "The incident means a big sensation
in military circles and a wholesale
tear-up in the Second regiment
The charges against Colonel
| Duane, who is editor of The ST. Peter
Herald, are purely of a military
character and allege INSTRUMENTATION
| to a superior ofi,21r.
Petition MclIison to Resign.
"The circumst .'cos are alleged to
be something as II lows: While the
regiment was still in the military
! service petition was drawn, fathered
by Colonel Duane, asking Colonel
Mollison to resign. This has been
signed by fifteen officers of the regi-
ment and forwarded to Colonel Mol
| lison Accompanying the petition is a
letter from Colonel Duane, said to be
seditious in. it's contents. and upon
which the principal charges are made.
| Contrary to the expectations of
| Colonel Duane and the other officers
| joining in the round robin, Colonel
Mollison was not in the least moved
to resign. On the contrary he at once
proceeded in drastic manner against
| Colonel Duane. Military charges will
/ be drawn by the judge advocate gen.
eral of the state, Major William c.
Smiley of st. Paul. The trial will take
place before a court martial consist
| ing of seven officers Of the Minnesota
National Guard TO be appointed by
the brigade commander, Gen. F. E.
Resche, of Duluth. The officers of the
court are required to be at least equal
in rank with the accused, who is list
ed as a major, not yet having been
commissioned lieutenant colonel. If
found guilty the charges carry seri-
Gus consequences.
Trouble Long Standing.
."The trouble leads back to the in
Slut pOllllCdl VI IilS oSSphO
regiment over long period of years.
Colonel Duane was. defeated in an
election last spring, to select a new
commanding officer by Colonel Molli-
son.
"The accused officer is very popular
among Fairmont guaidsmen. He was
one of the principal speakers at the
banquet given Company f on their
return from border service last Janu-
airy. He has always been regarded as
highly efficient officer. Both of the
officers involved have a large follow
ing of friends in military circles and
the outcome of the affair will be
watched with interest.
"T- is likely that there will be many
changes among the personnel Of the
officers in the Second. whichever fac
ton is sustained Should Colonel Duane
be convicted, it is possible that the
officers who signed the round robin
will be asked to resign The names of
, two officers of Company E appear
among those who signed the request
for the resignation of the command
ing officer. The petition states that
should Colonel Mollison not see fit to
resign all the officers signing the re-
quest will do So" ..... .... .a..