SENSATION IN U.S.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18672, 22 April 1926, Page 9

SENSATION IN U.S.

COLONEL CONVICTED ON DRUNKENNESS CHABOB. (BY CUU-ntU iMOCUTKW—oorairar.) ( (Sxskct "Sirs' Suncs.) NEW YORK, April 30. A naval court-martini connoted Colonel Williams, commander of the Marino Corps at San Diego, on a 1 charge of drunkenness. His punish- ' ment will be loes of promotion. The case is remarkable because it involved the question of professional etiquette ■ and common decency in the conduct of a guest to a host. Williams was found guilty of being ' drunk in his own house at a so-called "cocktail party," given by himself. > His guest of honour was General Smedley Butler, who last year cleaned up Philadelphia, and had just arrived in San Diego as commandant of the navKl base. General Butler enjoyed himself with the other guests, but the next day laid charges against Williams. The letter's frionds rallied to his aid, declaring thitt the only liquor used was grape juice, and the Colonel's physician swore that his staggering «ta caused by the reflex action of too orach castor oil. General Butler declared that Williams was drunk, and he bad to do his duty. He said he waa going to clean up this San Diego base. Hie country had a dry law, and every officer must respect the Constitution. • GUEST AND HOST. U.S. MILITARY SENSATION. (raon ora ova coaasatonaar.) SAN FRANGIBCO, March 1«. • One of the biggest sensations in American military circles broke when Brig-adier-General Smedley D. Butler, who topped off his war record aa a "devil dog" to fight vice and liquor la Philadelphia as head of the police department there for two years, initiated a orusade in San Diego in Southern California when ho filed charges of drunkenness and conduct unbecoming an officer against Colonel Alexander Williams, of the San Diogo marine base. Colonel Williams was placed under technical arrest at the hotel, and waa summarily removed from command of the 4th Begiment of Marines, to which command he reverted when General Butler relieved him as commander of the marine base early in March. General Butler's action followed a dinner at Colonol Williams' home in fashionable Coronado in General Butler's honour. Ooektails, it was said, were served at the dinner, whieh waa attended by a number of officers of the Marine Qorps and v their wives. It was stated that General Butler made some comment regarding the cocktails. The charges against Colonel Williams were based on a party whieh was held later at a hotel In Coronado, all of those at the dinner having been invited. The' accusations were telegraphed to official Washington for action by the Navy Department, and they created a great sensation throughout the nation. Washington "Aghaat." Social Washington was, literally aghast over the "cocktail Vrfurfufr that Brigadier-General Butler had ah#ed on the Pacific Coast. Hil unprecedented' action against his host waa toe subjoct of discusison at every dinner and tea table in the capital's tildal and smart set, and some of versation would have made il» floral's ears burn had he heard it Tha opinion was quite, general among Washington hostesses that if General Butter were stationed in Washington he wotdd have few invitations thereafter. One high naval officer expreeted the opinion that "if we start eourfeoMurti ailing every officer who drinks * cocktail, wo won't have apy .navy, any marine corps, or any army either, for that matter." That the case would be aire4 on the floor of Congress and Add fuel to the incessant warfare between wets ana drys, seemed nisured from varions comments made by members. Representative Black, Democrat of New York, a wet, said: "You may quote me, as saying that this incident shoijs what a fool prohibition will, make of & man." Bopresentative Sill, Bepubttean of Maryland, the wet leader of the House, said: "I don't think anything that I can say would help matters. I'm Apposed to Botler on general principles."' Bopresentative Coller, Democrat of Now York, an avowed wet, said: . "It is a distressing affair. Botler should be taught some manners ind instructed in the ordinary amenities between men. Any man who accepts the hospitality of another man, and then bites the hand that feeds him, is an ingrate and a fooL I think Butler should be drummed out of the service. The marine corps does not want men of hie type." Commandant Interviewed., Under a fire of criticism from many quarters, and approval from some, General Butler Btuck to his guns, Md stoutly defended his action in placing the charge, of intoxication against Colonel Williamß, his host at a p&rtyln the General's honour. In hn interview; General Butler'said that the matter of hospitality and ita possible breach, bad never entered the question. "It was according to naval regulations. I singly followed naval regulations," 1m assorted. "The case is similar to hqndreds that have occurred in the pastl" In on address before the Daughters of the American Be volution, the ©ffle«r made a vigorous attack upon law viewtors. Among other things he said: "The liquor law is the biggest piece of clasß legislation ever p&swd, and it can be cured only by rough stuff. Men of money and influence have come to regard laws as a joke, and the only way they can be cured is for people like you and me to see that these laws are enforced." The statement that Colonel Williams was intoxicated, was roundly contradicted by members of the party on sworn testimony. The witnesses included several women of high standing in American soeiety, who danced with the colonel just prior to his technical arrest for "appearing in a public place in an intoxicated condition." At the San Diego Chamber of.Commerce gathering after the memorable event, following which Colonel Williams was placed under arrest, General Butler said: "I came here to command the Marine base, and I intend to do it my way, with the aid of my_understanding of military laws, and with, or without the assistance of others. As a result of the stormy episode, the Butlers have been blacklisted by Coronado society folk, and by the "eat direct" in retaliation for the aeeusabon against Colonel Williams. General Butlor subsequently. went into seclusion.