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Last year he made this speech in Pittsburgh : "The opposition candidates [in the Nicaragua elections] were declared bandits when it became necessary to elect our man to office." He explained to Secretary of the Navy Charles Francis Adams that he had spoken only in fun. But it was reported last week that that Nicaragua speech predisposed Secretary Adams against him when a new Marine Commandant was chosen (TIME, Aug. 18) and that their relations were further strained when General Butler laughingly introduced Mr. Adams at a Quantico dinner as "Secretary of the God-damned Navy."
Last week Mr. Adams felt obliged to order General Butler to place himself under arrest awaiting courtmartial. The General obeyed. When a board of officers tries him Feb. 16 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard he will be the first U. S. officer of his rank to be so disciplined since 1862.* He may be discharged from the service, but observers last week did not foresee greater punishment for him than a stern official reprimand.
General Butler refused to divulge the name of the friend who said he had driven with Mussolini and who had first told the story. Last week M. C. Turner of Dallas and P. Maclnnes Neilson of Pittsburgh, booking agents, affirmed that they had been present when Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr., sensational young publicist, boasting of a motor trip with the Italian Prime Minister, had told General Butler an identical tale.
-When Major General Fitz-John Porter was arraigned for disobeying orders at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Last notable courtmartial in all the services was that of Col. William Mitchell in 1925 for criticizing the Air Service. Found guilty, suspended, he resigned.