PETTICOAT INFLUENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3278, 10 January 1917, Page 14

PETTICOAT INFLUENCE.

A WAR OFFICE SCANDAL

<By Cable.)

| _ The report of the Military Court inquiry into the case of Lieutenant Barrett reports that when Barrett was recommended for a commission his claim was supported by Sir John Cowans, Colonel and Mrs Cornwallis West. The last-named took more than ordinary interest in Barrett, who failed to ■ respond, and eventually wrote Mrs West a letter of remonstrance, which the latter sent to Sir John Cowans, with tiie result that Barrett was censured and transferred. The report characterises Mrs West's conduct as highly discreditable and vindictive, and her evidence given in court as untruthful. It appears that Mrs West complained of Barrett's ungentlemanly conduct. The report states that Barrett entirely merited the com- | mission granted to him in December, 1915, : since when he had done nothing unbecoming j an officer and a gentleman. The report concludes: "Whatever influence ! Mrs West had over Sir John Cowans, she I exaggerated it. Her injudicious boast of the power she wielded over the War Office is calculated to bring Sir John Cowans and the War Office into disrepute. It is rcgreti table that she holds important positions connected with war work in Denbighshire. Besides (lie Barrett case, the court also inquired into the question of the retirement of Brigadier-general Owen Thomas, whose valuable work in connection with recruiting in Wales the court considered should be publicly acknowledged. Tho court declared General Thomas's allegations that he was removed from his command in order to meet Mrs Cornwallis West's wishes to be quite unfounded, but General Thomas had good reason for thinking that his military reputaI tion had been disparaged by Mrs West's i intervention. The court regretted that a letter sent by i Lord French to the War Office, regarding an adverse report upon General Owen Thomas, was so ambiguously worded as to be capable of misconstruction. It was also i unfortunate that Lord French concurred in in a letter which the War Office sent to General Owen Thomas, which must have j confirmed the hitter's suspicion of some sinister influence being at 'work.

Tho newspapers are devoting many columns to the War Office scandal—far beyond its intrinsic merits —because so many well-known people are implicated through Mrs Cormvallis West's connection. A contributor to tho Evening Standard quotes letters passing between Lieutenant Barrett and Mrs Cornwallis West, showing how she pin-sued him with her attentions, until finally Lieutenant Barrett wrote making it clear that he preferred the path of duty, his letter concluding: "I only want to live a good: life and servo God and the King." The contributor adds that Mrs Cornwallis West informed General MacKinnon that Lieutenant Barrett had pursued her. frightening her, and that he broke into her bedroom; therefore sfie requested his removal from the Army List. Mrs Cornwallis West's allegations were proved to be untrue. The Da'lv Mail states that Mrs Cornwallis West has decided io retire from all public life. Sir Charles Russell. K.C.. protests against the procedure in the Barrett inquiry. He states that h" represented some of the parties involved. When the Act authorising the inquiry was passed an assurance was given that everything would be secret, but this assurance w:i« broken. Tho evidence had not been published, but the findings dealing with selected items of evidence had been published broadcast, and the parties accused were deprived of their constitutional rights of trial by jury. Lieutenant Barrett va~ complotolv exonerated. Colonel Delme Rsdeliff. whose oopdnet had been imonfrned. was removed from the command of his hnttaliort. General Owen Thomas and Sir ITonrv the court decided, were actuated bv rrood Intentions. The court decided that Sir John rowans is doing such excellent service as that T.ord Dorhv . 5 „.., vH .,,. v for yy„ r ) considers the best interests of the army wPI be served by intimaripo; the Government's displeasure at his actiop. while detaining him in his present nositon. ' t, A'-- Cornwall?* Wes* referred to is evident- the T |rW of Lord Randolph r*hnrcl'>i 1 l fnce T - ,IT "' Jerome mi American), and nf V,- VVimton Churchill. Five rnr= ~r+,,. fori !?andolnh's death she mar- ',.;,'': ATi- r ' < '-T n fVivnv-alV* Wept, who •was v-vv mvh her junior but divorced him . l,out + venrs nco. Pflie published a hnoTc of reminiscences not lonpr ago. There has been a rrene-al imnressiop for a considerable Hmo that she yielded an influence at the War Ofpee v.-hich w- = not for the pood n f f no service crcnc-all".