The Ways Of The War Department.
August 10, 1907
Summary
The Planet describes the corruptness it feels exists in the War Department, while it punishes soldiers without giving them a chance to defend themselves.
Transcription
The Ways Of The War Department.
The arbitrary retirement of Lieut. Col. Charles G. Ayres by means of a Board of Examiners and the indirect ways of punishing him for indiscreet utterances in connection with the treatment of his wife at West Point is closely akin to the despotic expulsion from the service of the members of Companies B, C, and D, of the Twenty-fifth Infantry. It shows plainly the methods of the War Department. In this case as in the other President Roosevelt made himself a party of to this indirect way of punishing soldiers, without giving them an opportunity to defend themselves. It is antagonistic in every way to the doctrine of a square deal.
It may be well to review this case. It seems that Mrs. Ayres became involved in a controversy with the commandant of West Point Military Academy, where her son is a cadet. Upon Lieut. Ayres arrival in this country from the Philippines, he permitted himself to be interviewed and used language reflecting upon some of his superior officers. The War Department took notice of his indiscretion and sent an enquiry as to the correctness of the interview. He failed to give satisfaction, and as his wife had threatened to air the matter in the courts and bring out some information which would have been detrimental it was deemed best to railroad him out of the army by way of the retirement board. How this was accomplished is soon told.
The following report explains itself:
“Lieut. Col. Charles G. Ayres, whose wife was barred from the reservation at West Point, faced at the army building to-day a retiring board which is to determine, under orders from the War Department, whether he is fit for further service.
The appointment of the board is supposed to have been due chiefly to remarks attributed to Col. Ayres after his wife had criticized the order of the West Point commandant prohibiting cadets from lending their coats to young women. Col. Ayres was quoted in defense of his wife, and represented as saying things uncomplimentary to the service. The colonel refused either to affirm or deny his responsibility for the statements when called upon by the War Department.
“If there had been any hope that Col. Ayres would bring relief to an embarrassing situation by retiring without inquiry, it was dispelled when he answered the first question.
“Do you wish to retire?” asked the court, in accordance with the manual governing such proceedings, “‘I do not,’ replied Col. Ayres, with the emphasis on the not.’
“In reply to a question as to whether he was represented by counsel, Col Ayres said:
“‘No: I have not any counsel, and I do not know that I want one. If I am here to be examined as to my physical fitness, I do not need counsel. I have been examined by army surgeons twice within the last year, and was found sound both times. If necessary, I am ready again- ready for either a physical or mental examination.’
“The colonel added, however, that if he was going to be examined on anything else he wanted to know it. ‘I haven’t seen any specifications; I don’t know what this is all about,’ said he.
Col. Ayres asked once or twice more what the specifications are, but nobody on the board seemed to be able to enlighten him.
“‘What extraneous matters are to be introduced?’ he asked.
Gen. Davis finally intimated that the scope of the inquiry would have to be determined later on and would depend largely upon the findings of the medical officers. The board adjourned until to-morrow morning, when it is likely that the surgeons will have some report to make in regard to the physical examination of the counsel.”
It is needless to state that Lieut. Col. Ayres was retired even though he made the emphatic declaration that so fit was he for service that he “could ride a horse to death.” President Roosevelt approved of the findings of the retiring board and the distinguished officer is retired forever more.
Here then was a case for a court martial that was settled by the medical fraternity. If Col. Ayres statement is to be believed, they got the hint and acted accordingly. President Roosevelt was a party to this underhanded method of ridding the service of an officer. We are of the opinion that Mrs. Ayres was indiscreet and that in giving out the interview, her husband was more so, but it is not in accordance with the principle of a square deal to permit such methods as are now in vogue in the army.
The colored soldiers were treated in a similar manner and the masses of our people are still chafing under this kind of treatment. The resulting protest will react upon someone and as Secretary Taft is the head of the War Department, he must necessarily be responsible for its foibles and follies.
The arbitrary retirement of Lieut. Col. Charles G. Ayres by means of a Board of Examiners and the indirect ways of punishing him for indiscreet utterances in connection with the treatment of his wife at West Point is closely akin to the despotic expulsion from the service of the members of Companies B, C, and D, of the Twenty-fifth Infantry. It shows plainly the methods of the War Department. In this case as in the other President Roosevelt made himself a party of to this indirect way of punishing soldiers, without giving them an opportunity to defend themselves. It is antagonistic in every way to the doctrine of a square deal.
It may be well to review this case. It seems that Mrs. Ayres became involved in a controversy with the commandant of West Point Military Academy, where her son is a cadet. Upon Lieut. Ayres arrival in this country from the Philippines, he permitted himself to be interviewed and used language reflecting upon some of his superior officers. The War Department took notice of his indiscretion and sent an enquiry as to the correctness of the interview. He failed to give satisfaction, and as his wife had threatened to air the matter in the courts and bring out some information which would have been detrimental it was deemed best to railroad him out of the army by way of the retirement board. How this was accomplished is soon told.
The following report explains itself:
“Lieut. Col. Charles G. Ayres, whose wife was barred from the reservation at West Point, faced at the army building to-day a retiring board which is to determine, under orders from the War Department, whether he is fit for further service.
The appointment of the board is supposed to have been due chiefly to remarks attributed to Col. Ayres after his wife had criticized the order of the West Point commandant prohibiting cadets from lending their coats to young women. Col. Ayres was quoted in defense of his wife, and represented as saying things uncomplimentary to the service. The colonel refused either to affirm or deny his responsibility for the statements when called upon by the War Department.
“If there had been any hope that Col. Ayres would bring relief to an embarrassing situation by retiring without inquiry, it was dispelled when he answered the first question.
“Do you wish to retire?” asked the court, in accordance with the manual governing such proceedings, “‘I do not,’ replied Col. Ayres, with the emphasis on the not.’
“In reply to a question as to whether he was represented by counsel, Col Ayres said:
“‘No: I have not any counsel, and I do not know that I want one. If I am here to be examined as to my physical fitness, I do not need counsel. I have been examined by army surgeons twice within the last year, and was found sound both times. If necessary, I am ready again- ready for either a physical or mental examination.’
“The colonel added, however, that if he was going to be examined on anything else he wanted to know it. ‘I haven’t seen any specifications; I don’t know what this is all about,’ said he.
Col. Ayres asked once or twice more what the specifications are, but nobody on the board seemed to be able to enlighten him.
“‘What extraneous matters are to be introduced?’ he asked.
Gen. Davis finally intimated that the scope of the inquiry would have to be determined later on and would depend largely upon the findings of the medical officers. The board adjourned until to-morrow morning, when it is likely that the surgeons will have some report to make in regard to the physical examination of the counsel.”
It is needless to state that Lieut. Col. Ayres was retired even though he made the emphatic declaration that so fit was he for service that he “could ride a horse to death.” President Roosevelt approved of the findings of the retiring board and the distinguished officer is retired forever more.
Here then was a case for a court martial that was settled by the medical fraternity. If Col. Ayres statement is to be believed, they got the hint and acted accordingly. President Roosevelt was a party to this underhanded method of ridding the service of an officer. We are of the opinion that Mrs. Ayres was indiscreet and that in giving out the interview, her husband was more so, but it is not in accordance with the principle of a square deal to permit such methods as are now in vogue in the army.
The colored soldiers were treated in a similar manner and the masses of our people are still chafing under this kind of treatment. The resulting protest will react upon someone and as Secretary Taft is the head of the War Department, he must necessarily be responsible for its foibles and follies.
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Lower Right Quadrant
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Contributed By
Benton Camper
Citation
“The Ways Of The War Department.,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed February 19, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/872.