Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-30
HELM ASSA|LS
DUCE IN SENATE
Asks Probe of Hit-and-R Run
Charge Before DiscipIin-
ing Butler.
Continued From First Page.)

| ACOnClnued from First Page.)
| than five nor more than Is will COM
| prise the court-martial. Rear Admiral
John I. Halligan, said there would be
nearer Is than 5.
whether the sessions are to be open
or closed is determined by the court
| at the time of convening," Halligan
explained. However, it is the custom
| to hold open court
Resignation RumOrs Heard.
Meanwhile Washington TODAY Won
| dered If Gen. Buffers career in the
| corps had been ended by resignation.
RumorS to this effect crept persist
emily into the Capitals discussions of
Buffers present difficulties, caused by
| a speech in which he made remarks
considered derogatory to Premier Mus
Solini.
Meanwhile, the veteran campaigner
was confined to the Marine post await
ing a general court-martial. It's date
! had not been set and, until specific
| charges are filed, corps officials were re-
luctant to speculate on the possible
penalty.
In Atlanta, S. Russell Bridges, South
ern manager of Lyceum Bureau, in
| sisted Butler had signed a lecture con-
tract effective February 1, and, pre-
paratory to going on tour, had sub
mitted his resignation.
Secretary Adams said no resignation
had yet reached his Office. Butler him.
self could not be reached, but his aide,
Lieut.. Bucian c. Whitaker, said he was
certain no resignation had been sub
mitted.
The court-martial was ordered yes
terday, after Butler had submitted to
Secretary Adams an explanation of a
recent Philadelphia speech in which he
was quoted as retelling a story by a
friend about Premier Mussolini run
ming over a child and paying no at
tention to the accident. An apology to
the italian premier was made yesterday
as a result.
Since retiring from the Marines in
1911, Maj. Leonard has practiced law
in Washington. At one time he was
assistant judge advocate general of
the Navy.
He and Butler served together in the
Boxer rebellion in China. The general
once was saved from possible death by
Leonard during a campaign at Tientsien.
Leonard'S left arm was shattered by gun
fire as he effected the rescue of Butler,
himself badly wounded.
While the matter seemed at an end
so far as the State Department was
concerned, Marine and naval officials
were busy today selecting officers for
the court-martial.
All rear admirals of the Navy out
rank major generals of the Marine
Corps. Only Maj. Gen. Fuller, Marine
commandant, outranks Gen. Butler in
the corps. To obtain the desired one
third Marine officers for the court OFF,
Gals were prepared to search ranking
officers on the retired list.
Risked Life for Briton.
Gen. Butler has done spectacular
things. He likes to lead the cheers at
a Marine foot ball game. but he did not
get two Congressional Medals of Honor
for that. He likes fast motor car, but
skillful driving did not bring him an
Army Distinguished Service Medal, a
Navy Distinguished Service Medal and
a BreVet Medal.
As a young Marine officer he risked
his life to rescue wounded British
soldier in China. He also dared death
to go to Mexico City as a spy when
| the war with that country seemed GER
| tain during Wilson's administration.
He charged a bandit fort in Haiti and
he carried duckboardS with the rank
| and file at Brest, France. He is known
as a student of military strategy and
a skillful handler of men.
Butler married Miss Ethel Conway
Peters of Philadelphia in 1905. They
had two sons and daughter, and his
family had gone with the general
wherever his varied career has taken
him.
Like so many distinguished Amer
lean fighters, he is of Quaker stock.
His father was the late Thomas S. But
Ter, a Representative from the Della
ware-Chester district of Pennsylvania
and for many years chairman of the
House Naval Committee. The general
has many friends in Congress, and re-
verberations from his pending trial
may be heard on Capitol Hill.
1t was said at the White House today
that President Hoover had taken no
part in the developments concerning
the note of apology sent to Italy by
the United States Government on &C
count of Buffers remarks
The Butler case was said to have
entered the record at the White House
in no way.
TALK DESCRIBED AS OCULAR.