Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-04
INFLUENCES HIGH
OFFICERS IN ARMY
Mrs. Cornwallis-West Officially
Severely Censured by British
Court of Inquiry.
CONDUCT is DIsCREDITABLE
Investigation Result of Demand
by Friends of Young Irishman,
Whose Honor Was Involved.
IBr Associated Press.

IBr Associated Press
LONDON. January Am army scan
dal. involving the exercise Of inGu-
ence over high officers by Il prominent
society woman. is described in the re-
port of a court Of inquiry issued to-
night, and Mrs. Cornwallis- West. wife
oe Colonel William Cornwailis- West
and mother Of the Princess of I,less
and Of the Duchess of Wcstminster is
officially severely censured
The late Sir Arthur Basil Markham.
Liberal member of Parliament for the
Mansfield division of Nottingiamshire
who died last August. demanded AN
inquiry by the House Of Commons into
this matter. and was seconded by Irish
members. who declared that n Young
. Irish officers honor was involved. 1t
has since developed that the officer was
Lieutenant Patrick Barrett. of the
Welsh Fusiliers.
According 10 statement in the
| House Of Commons before recess be
was completely cNonerated: his com
manding officer. Lieutenant Colonel
Define Radcliffe. was removed from
his command, and General Sir John
cowans was censured. but was re-
turned because Of his good work.
General owen Thomas. who was also
concerned. Was vindicated
Barrett was a serEean, In the Welsh
Fusilicrs. Colonel Define -Radclifre and
other officers recommended him for a
commission late In 1915. and his claims
we're supported by Colonel and Mrs
\ iCornwallis-W West and several prominent
/ civilians.
.Proba bly before this time. and ccr
fnf
Cornwallis- West began 10 take more
than an ordinary interest in Mr.. Bar
r",t. 10 which he consistently failed TO
respond, Eventually he wrote her in
4 February last a letter of rcmonstrancc.
! which she placed in the hands OF his
commanding officers"
BtRHE1'T GIVEN 40 CHANCE
TO STATE HIS CASE
Earret was severely censured by his
/ commander without the opportuuity
!, hc was transferred to another bat
talon on the demands Of Mrs. Corn
/ waliis-W West General Cowans. who
aided the CORVALLIS Vests in securing
/ Earrcts transfer. is ccnsurcd for in
+ terferinG with discipline General W
~. Mackinnon. who was also concerned
IN me correspondence, is criticized for
interfering with tho affairs or tho
western command. after he relinuuishcd
ms command. but is not disciplined he
cause he has since retired
The court OF inquiry which con
sisted of Field Marshal Sir William
/ Nicholson, formerly chief Of general
staff: Major-Gencral Lord Cheylesmore
/ 'hstice SIR James Richard Atkin and
'hc Klsht Honorable Donald MacLcan
member Of Parliament for PEBBLES and
Seikirk. reports regarding Mrs. Corn
wallis-West
We have no doubt that her iuiu-
dlciouS boastinE Of the power she
welded at the War onice--which was
confirmed TO an apprcciahle exten, nv
the wording II some of sir John
( Cowau's lettcrs-was raL.u,,tcd -
bring him and the administration ,t
inc war Once in disrcpute We fool
"ohSed I" record our opinion that this
'"hE ; conduct, as revealed In this case
mas hcen highly discreditable, both in
her behavior towards Second Licutcu-
ant Jarrett before his letter of tho
I4th Of February. in her vindicatiye
! attempts to inJurc him afterward and
IN the nntruthful evidence she race
before us.
" appeared in tho evidence thar this
'adN holds positions Of some import-
| ahcr IN the County OF Dcnbighshirc i'm
various associations Of public char
| acter for assisting in war work. In
our opinion II is 10 he regretted that
sh" should hold such positions"
TRANSFER NOT DUE
no HER IHEI.IENCE
Ihr court also Investigated reports
that General owen Thomas. wh" took
q prominent part IN recruiting in