The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-23
AIR 117TH RUMPUS
Parsons Members of Ammuni-
ton Train Attack Travis.
State Insurance superintendent
Says He Wants Investigation.

Frank L. Travis, former lieutenant
colonel of the 117th ammunition train
has declared he will not run from the
charges made by men who served in
the organization. Travis has issued
formal statemert in which he asserts
that the cEarses against his military
record were inspired by malice, spite
and Jealousy"
The Travis statement was given
when the attention of the state super
fntendent of insurance was called to
( resolutions passed by members of
Company d of the ammunition train
at Parsons These resolutions ex-
pressed contempt for Travis. declared
he haG been arbitrary. unfair and in
i tolerant" in his conduct and charged
| political motives prompted Travis
! Cowardice ill Lcsion was also charged
The Resolutions.
The resolutions were as follows:
"Resolved That hereby express our
confidence in the integrity, the uniformly
| fair treatment and the exemplary conduct
| of Capt. Carl S Marshall. Lieut.. Ball and
! Lieut. Pierre NJ. Kimball, who organized
the company; and, be it further
Resolved, That we express our Utmost
contempt and disapproval of Frank L..
| Travis. formerly in command of the lIIth
ammunition train, for ms arpltarV affi aFu
! Ger, for his cowardice in action; for the
| political and selfish motives which prompt
/ ed him to enter the service aud which
! influenced his conduct as an officer in a
most unbecoming manner
| The adoption of resolutions by mem
! berS of the ammunition train followed
= the sending of a telegram to General
Martin asking that Travis be not al
/ lowed to aid in reception activities
when the men returned from France:
Travis Answers Charges.
In answer to charges against his
record, Travis said:
My attention has just been called to a
I certain resolution passed by Company d.
| 117th ammunition train. at Parsons, Nan,
in reference to myseir and my acts "a as
! In this connection l desire to state very
! clearly and emphatically that accept
| and assume full responsibility for my acts
! as commanding officer of the train.
/ assume the responsibility Tor sendlnS
seven officers to the efficiency board. for
| preferring charges against four other Of
/ ficers. for transferring to the officers un,
! assigned list other officers and for all
ne an f0r SPa F se the
of officers from other organizations II
! the division. ! want it clearly understoou
that l was the commanding officer OF
! this train from the time it entered the
service August .. 1917. with the eScePti,1n Sc d,S
when 1 was sent to the hospital
Says He Courts Investigation.
"Personally, l court the fullest and
freest investigation of any and all charges
that might be made against me. If was
the kind of an officer ] am alleged to have
! been aud if l was guilty of cowardice, it
| is only right and fair that the facts be
shown. Let the people who, for political
purposes, are trying to mar what has, up
| to this time. been considered a good rec
ord. bring forth their proof.
IF the officers who are back of this
matter want a general housecleaning and
a washing of all the dirty linen in the
train, they can have it.. | did what l pre-
sumed to be my full duty and | am not
| back tracking on what l did. l did not
run from anything over there and am
not going to run here.
There are many things that can be said
! of each and every one of the officers who
are behind this attack. and am inclined
| to believe that it is due the public that
they understand the malice. the spite and
| the jealousy which is behind and which
| prompts these charges"