The Washington times., 1925-12-18
SAYS
| COL. CASSIDY

Col. J. Edward Cassidy, COM
suIting engineer, senior reserve
officer Of the chemical warfare
service in Washington, has ten
Idered his resignation 10 Lieut..
lCol. John Scott, United States
army, executive officer Of the
local reserve headquarters, as
chairman Of the chemical warfare
group Of the reserve unit.
! Since appearing as a witness
in the Mitchell trial, the reserve
colonel has been criticized by the
regular army officers Oh duty in
Washington for his support given
Colonel Mitchell.
Sees Usefulness Ended
Recently Col. Cassidy asked per-
mission OF the local reserve head
quarters to permit the discussion
at an Institutional meeting Of caen-
cal warfare reserve officers OF the
statements, attributed to Brig. Gen.
Hugh Al. Drum, Of the general staff.
concerning the operations OF the
chemical warfare service III wash
in8ton This request was refused.
He was also severely criticised by
Major G., r. George, q regular army
1fficer on duty at reserve headquar
tiers. for a recent criticisms OF the
action OF the War Department In
overlooking the chemical warfare
service III its mobilization plans.
IN his letter OF resignation Col. Cas-
sidy wrote In effect:
Under the criticisms and prohi-
billions laid down In the letter
received from Major G. r. George.
u. s. Al. then senior executive
officer of the reserve headquar.
tiers, fits quite clear that my use-
fulness IN connection with the
instruction Of reserve, officers Of
te chemical warfare service Is at
an end. SO that at the next mHettr
Ing / viii turn over the office as
chairman OF the chemical warfare
group, and the headquarters can
select some other officer Tor the
job.
Officers @MuzxIed"
It Is, Of course. the Theory that
all regular army Officers are se-
curely nnuzzIed and can1 lot think
or speak except as they are told
by higher" authority, but the.
present action or the War De
partment through your office 8
the first attempt I have heard of
being made to apply q nnuzzle 70
reserve sofficers not on active
duty. and 1t Is q theory to which
Il cannot subscribe.
The controversy developed when
Col Cassidy requested Major Al
bert J. Tucker, u. s. A., one II
the instructors with the reserve
headquarters. to have the chemical
warfare reserve officers take up
the arguments advanced by Rvig.
Gen. Hugh Drum before the
Mitchell trial, and to assay 20
prove that he spoke in error
In replying to the request made
by the reserve colonel, Major
George told why It was not accept
able to the headqu quarters and added
1T II believed our duty as officers
Of the. United States Army, to re-
frain from discussions Of this mat
ter until 1t has been definitely
settled and acted on by the court
and higher authority. This heal
quarters Is therefore constrained to
refuse you the authority to deliver
the above mentioned talk.
Criticized Remarks
Major George took occasion to
Offer. further criticism for remarks
made by the colonel 1T Z previous
meeting, in which he took Colonel
Cassidy for daring to criticise the
actionsN Of the War Department
mobilization plans In which the
charge was made that the chemical
warfare service had been neglected.
Colonel Cassidy was witness be-
fore the Mitchell trial, and qualified
as the senior reserve officer In com
bat chemical warfare. Since that
trial, Colonel Cassidy states, the
war Department has made several
lattempts to get him."
Colonel Cassidy had copies Of ail
correspondence between himself and
the reserve headquarters, and lie
proposes to present the matter 10
the War Department Tor action
soon.
i