ARMY CANTEENS SURPRISE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144309, 26 January 1914, Page 8

ARMY CANTEENS SURPRISE

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FIVE OFFLCEKS. The special investigation which the War Office has conducted recently with a view to testing the accuracy of allegations made in various quarters as to the existence of a system of bribery and corruption in regard to the conduct of canteens in the Army has Jed to a remarkable situation. Late in November ii was announced that as a result of the investigation a courtmartial would be convened at Wellington Barracks on December 1, before which charges would bo preferred against:— Major E. Walker, quartermaster, Guards' depot. Captain J. Eow'cs, quartermaster, Ist Irish Guards. Lieutenant G. R. Burton, quartermaster, 4th Hussars. Lieutenant W. J. Armstrong, quartermaster, Ist Norfolk Regiment. Lieutenant T. Rotter, quartermaster, vird Argyll and Sutherland Kegi-Maior-Geuprnl R. C. Maxwell. C. 8.. commanding Lastern Coast Defences. Chatham, was appointed president of the conn-martial. On December 4, however, the following was issued from the War Ollice; Tim Army Council, having been advised hy the Legal Authorities that the jurisdiction possessed by a courtmartial h too limited for the action which further inquiry now shows to be necessary, have suspended the proceedings of the court-martial convened for December 8. I9IH. A court-martial in time of peace lias, of course, no power to force a civilian to give evidence. Of the men against whom charges are made Captain Cowles. Lieutenant Potter, and Lieutenant Armstrong have served in war.

Major Frederick Walker, aged fortynine. served in the ranks for 81 years, was a warrant officer for years, went to the Guards’ Depot in January 1807, and was raid'd to his present, rank of honorary major in January, JOl2. Captain Fowles, fifty-four years nf age, is one of tin* best-known sporling men in the Army. Active in all branches of allToties. and particularly in boxing, he was one of the most popular men at Aldershot during his service there with the Irish Guards. Mo is one of the judges for the Army and Navy boxing championships. He served for 111 years in the ranks, was a warrant officer for ( JJ years, joined the Irish Guards in May 1900 ns quartermaster. and was gazetted honorary captain in May 1910. Lieutenant George Regan Burton, forty years of age. served in the ranks for 121 years and became quartermaster of the 4th Hussars, whit the rank of lieutenant, in October 1004. Lieutenant Thomas Boiler is fortytwo. For 161 years ho served in tho ranks, and after less than two years as a warrant officer fie became, in March 1908, quartermaster nf the 3rd Argvll and Sutherland Highlanders, with the honorary rank of lieutenant. Lieutenant William James Armstrong is forty-nine. Ho served for nearly 24 years in tho ranks, was pensioned in ifHJI, became quartermaster in tho Royal Garrison Reserve, with the honorary rank of lieutenant, in December 1904. and eight years later was transferred to the Ist Norfolk Regiment. A genera) inquiry into tho whole subject of tho canteen system in tho Army has been ordered. Sir Charles N. Nicholson. Bart.. M.P., has boon appointed chairman of tho committee which U to conduct tho inquiry.

It is understood that the committee will not begin its investigations until the decision of tho court-martial has been promulgated.