Evening star., 1922-02-27
ADMITS GIVING OUT
ATTACK UPON ARMY
Maj. Wheeler-N Nicholson Says
He Made Eleven Efforts to
See Military Heads. =

In response to an official inquiry
from the Secretary of War. Maj. NAL
colin Wheeler-Nickolson. L. 8. cav
airy, a patient at Walter Reed Gen.
eral Hospital. this city. has acknowl-
edged that he gave o the press
copies Of his letter to the President.
charging an alleged controlling clique
in the Army, with Prussianism
and unfairness in promotions In the
service. At the same time he took
occasion to reiterate and emphasize
his criticisms of Army conditions and
methods of promotions.
fee. Secretary Weeks asked Maj.
Wheeler-Nicholson r. he was the
author of the published letter to the
President "arraigning the admins
tration of the War Department and
the Army" and If he had given copies
Of It to the press.
Regretted by Secretary.
Upon principle and without partic-
ular reference to the regulations or
the customs of the SERVICE" said the
adjutant general in his letter, the
Secretary of War regrets and disap-
proves of any action on the part of
the personnel of the military estab-
in the first instance. in the public
press or by means of public speeches.
alleged grievances of any individuals
or any class of individuals included in
the personnel under his authority.
Such action would not be tolerated in
any >well-managed and successful
business institution, and would not be
seriously considered by responsible
1nCIviduals belonging to such insti-
tutlons as means of redresslng al
the proper authorities have been af-
forded opportunity to concider and
deal with the situation or condition
specifically described and clearly pre-
sented."
In his Endorsement upon the letter
from the adjutant generals office.
Maj. Wheeler-Nicholson stated that
he made his letter to the President
public only after eleven failures to
see the proper authorities" namely
the President, the Secretary of War
and Maj. Gen. Harbord, deputy chief Of
staff. His communication to the Presis
dent, the major replied, charged that
the regular army was neither well
managed nor successful, and that its
only resemblance to a private bust
ness institution was the fact that it
was run for the private benefit of the
few rather than for the good of the
nation. which pays the bills"
Summary of His Charges.
After admitting that he transmit
ted the letter in question to the
President and gave copies to the
press, Maj. Nicholson said
his purpose was to secure action to-
ward the removal of evils in the Reg
ular Army that imperil the national
defense"
That there is some deep-seated
evil in the Regular Army is proved
by the following facts" the reply
continued.
THAT it was unready at the out
THAT it did not even have a plan
of operations ready.
'1t failed lamentably during the
war in functioning as military ma
chine. National disaster would have
resulted had the German army been
unwearied and had there been no
trained leadership from allied gen.
eral STATS.
AN excessive number Of Regular
Army officers were relieved in battle
when the wasted blood of their men
proved their r$inefhciency.
Vast numbers of regular officers
earned the ill-will of the citizen SOL
diers by attempting to cover igno-
rance with arrogance.
Injustice and ineficiency were dis.
closed by the Army court-martial
scandals, the .Hard-boiled' Smith and
Chelles Farm horrors, the scandals
at Brest, and the Watson charges
Injustice and inefficiency still ex-
list, as will be proved by investiga-
tion of the class B injustices.
1.-The Regular Army is thoroughly
demoralized today. the better type Of
officers seeking retirement or resign
ing. and soldiers making a concerted
rush for discharge"
Every organized or unorganized
element Of the nation necessary in
the national defense program has
been antagonized by the arrogant
selfishness of the Regular Army" con-
tinued the reply. This includes the
National Guard and reserves and the
vast body of ex-officers and soldiers
The Regular Army is being constant
ly 1obbAd against in Congress by
representatives of some of these ele-
ments. Congress has been made hos
tile and suspicious of the Regular
Army, due to this fact, and that con-
slant complaints of injustice are be-
ing received from personnel now n
the Army. that the general staff has
lost the good will of Congress and
that the nation as a whole is either
Indifferent or hostile to the Army"
What further action, II any, will
be taken by the War Department
will be determined in the next few
days.