The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-07
Guard Officers and
Regulars To Scrap 1t Out!
That Is Indicated by RumOrs,
Talk and Actions.
TOpEKARS ARE IN SCRAP
Discharges of Going and Ham,
mel Reported Held Up.
Colonel Ristine Believed To
Have sTalked Too Soon"

Camp Funston. Kan, May lis
Col. Carl Ristine of the 139th infantry,
35th division, being held at Camp
Funston until the regular army ele-
ment of the army has a chance to
punish him for frank statements Col
onel Ristine made in the East?
Official verification of the assertion
he is being held cannot be had from
any source here in camp. but indica-
lions back up that belief, which is not
denied. alth0 not affirmed.
The customary army wall of secrecy
is being thrown around the proceeding
thus far, the same secrecy and disre-
gard for public opinion which always
has characterized operations of the
regular army element in dealing with
the National Guard. Colonel Ristine,l
it will be remembered, was an officer
in the old Fourth Missouri when that
regiment was combined with the Third
Kansas to form the 18th. He COM
| manded the regiment in the Argonne
battle. making a brilliant record for
his individual bravery and considera
ton for his regiment.
When he landed in the east a short
| time ago. Colonel Ristine made the
| tactical error of expressing his opin-
| ions regarding the manner of opera
ton of the regular army clique in
holding down National Guard officers.
| Other National Guard officers have
| declared they also would talk when
| out of the service. and that Ristine
| made his mistake by not waiting.
Hold Up His Discharge.
An order was sent to Newport News
for .Ristine to be held in service, &C
cording to the story in circulation
| here in official camp circles. Ristine
| left the camp before the order could
be served. While he was on the way
to Camp Funston a second order was
| received here, directing his discharge
be held up. Whether an explanation
of why that order was issued accom-
| panied the order cannot be learned.
Then the secrecy wall was raised.
Col. r. J. McCleave. executive Of
| ficer of the 35th division, who re-
turned with Maj. Gen. w. NJ. Wright,
fused to discuss the matter, declaring
it was official business and\not for the
public.
Colonel Ristine told friends today
| that Colonel Donnelly and Col Ben
nett Clark were coming from st. Louis
| to assist him in defending himself
| should a courtmartial follow.
The commander of the 10th was
| reticent in talking for publication. cor
| rectly so, having learned the methods
of regular army officers in Furnishing
those who attempt to discredit the reg
ular army clique.
Orders have been received here to
hold up the release of five other Of
ficers, but no reason for holding them
| was given. They are Col. Willie Nc
Drowan, Maj. James f. Going, Mai
Seth A. Hamme1, First Lieut. George
]. Woodward, and Capt. John ]. Has
| kell.
Smash Regular Army.
st. Louis, Mo, May THE first ac-
tual break between the National Guard
and the regular army, when the guard
decided to stand upon it's record and
| fight the regulars, came at the meet
ing of the convention at the Missouri
Athletic club, when Col. Bennett Clark
accepted his election as president.
II can tell in a very few words what
my platform will be-. Colonel Clark
said MY position in this is to build
up the National Guard and smash the
regular army. There may be some
differences on the details; these car
be worked out in the future; but thai
expresses my sentiments in a NUTSHELL