Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-20

Escape from the necessity Of court
martial for Mai. Gen. Smedley Butler
is found to be very satisfactory to the
country. His apology for a verbal at
tack on Premier Mussolini Of Italy, the
American apology to Rome and Navy
reprimand are declared sufficient to end
the case. It Is suggested that a trial
would have added to the prestige Of the
officer.
withdrawal Of court-martial pro-
ceedings and the closing Of the incident
with a severe reprimand at the hands
Of the Secretary Of the Navy" in the
opinion Of the Roanoke World-News,
will no doubt be satisfactory to the
country as well as to the friends Of an
indiscreet and laxative off1cer, who,
Notwithstanding his indiscretions in
peace-time, has a brilliant record OF
war service"
"Just when the country was getting
ready for heavy firing, with no quarter
burgh Post-GaZette, 1.-The high-explosive
shells and shrapnel turn out to be mere
smoke bombs" That paper holds that
If the case had been tried ut would
have been impossible to avoid an atmoS-
phere of sensationalism which could
only have aggravated whatever feeling
may exist over the incident"
Gen. Butler again proves himself an
excellent soldier" says the Morgantown
Dominion-N News. His retreat was
good strategical move, considering the
overwhelming strength Of the attacking
forces. The general may still wear his
medals with good grace" The Rock
Island Argus testifies that at Is recog-
nized generally that Gen. Butler is a
patriotic American, and there IS feel
ing that 1t is best in every way that the
court-martia1 was Cancelled" The San
Bernardino Sun concludes: Gen. But
Ter energies from the situation with the
sympathy of the majority. Had the
court-martial continued, he would have
become new national hero"
"Any further penalty" advises the
Raleigh News and Observer, would
have made Butler, in the eyes Of most
people, a popular martyr. He Is al
ready a hero and nothing could take
from him the distinction he has won by
courage and ability. Gen. Buffers
letter explains the circumstances under
which he spoke and he properly ex-
pressed regrets that his indiscreet re-
marks have caused embarrassment to
the Government That is manly dec
laration and worthy of an honored and
patriotic officer. In like wisdom is the
statement Of Secretary Adams in dis
solving the court-martial in view OF
your letter expressing regret taken in
connection with your record OF brilliant
service and administering a repr1mand."
1.-THE Navy Department finds con-
venient out" as observed by the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer, Sin a letter from
Butler in which he says that before the
offending Philadelphia speech he was
assured that his remarks would not go
beyond the four walls Of the room in
which he was to speak. The general
ought to know that no four walls were
ever built capable of concealing sensa-
tional remarks made by distinguished
speaker. Such words &C out through
space like the secrets women tell their
best friends with the adInonition that
no one must know 1t but you"
THE court-martial was a senseless
and harmful thing" contends the
Charleston IS. c. Evening Post, with
The further comment: 1.-THE Secretary
Of the Navy expresses the hope that the
experience will have salutary effect
upon Gen. Buffers future conduct in
such matters. That is rather more
than is to be expected, seeing what
publicity this has yielded,
but it Is the conventional thing, in the
Such foolishness!"
while Butler was certainly indis-
Greet, his statement that he supposed |
be was speaking privately to group |
Of friends, with no reporters present, Is |
probably accepted by the Navy Depart |
ment with genuine relief" says the |
Rutland Herald. The Fort Wayne News |
Sentinel records that many believe |
hat the department went much further |
than was necessary in ordering q court |
martial" The Jackson Citizen Patriot |
lvers that there surely would have been
great resentment had a soldier Of Gen. |
Buffers standing been severely penalized |
Tor slip of the tongue in an address
before harmless dinner club; that |
the people expect Shiedley to blow of |
steam every SO often" and that they |
Know he is a great and fearless COM
nander and expect him to be out
spoken" The Columbia Is. c. State |
8 nnyince6 bat "ths RRtl8 neaeh !