WAR OFFICE SCANDAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2971, 8 January 1917, Page 8

WAR OFFICE SCANDAL

A LADY AND A LIEUTENANT

.£/.'-.- ■■• '• ■-. ■'■/. "•■■.-'/London, January 5. ;■'■':' A contributor to the "livening Stand- ■'■■ ard" quotes letters- that passed be-tween-Lieutenant Barrett and Mrs. Cornwnllis-West, showing how she pursued Him with attentions. Finally * Barrett wrote, making it clear that ho preferred the path of duty, concluding: "I only want-to live a good life, and serve God and my King." The contributor adds: "Mrs. Cornwallis-\\est informed General Mackinnon that Barrett was pursuing and frightening her, and that ho had broken into her bedroom Sho therefore requested liis removal. Mrs. ■Cornwallis-AVest's alle- - gatiion nroved ■untrue." The "Daily Mail" states that Mrs. Cornwallis-West lias decided to retire from all public life.—Aus.-NX Cable Assn. ■'■'.■■

Tho Barrett case has been causing considerable talk in military and social circles for some time, but cable references to it have been fragmentary and somewhat confusing. The name of Cornwallis-West.has been very prominently before the public at various times, nearly always connected with matrimonial ."mix-ujis. The gallant colonel quite early: in life—when still a. subaltern—developed a penchant for mature widows.' His first essay was Lady Randolph Churchill, who caused a sensation by \ changing,a famous ■name ; fdr an obscure -hyphenated,appellation known only , in society circles. The mesalliance did not last long, and ,in 1914 ended in the' Divorc- Court, where Winston Churchill's mother.refused to stand in tho way of her husband's "desire for a release. Withm a few days of the granting of the decree, Cornwallis-West led widow number tiro to the 'altar , in the person of Mrs. Patrick Campbell, the noted actress, just thirty years after her first_ alliance and after fourteen years of widowhood. The new Mrs. Cornwallis-West —and not.Lord Randolph Churchill's widow, who is now known by her first husband's name—is the central figure in the samewhat sordid War Office tangle which has ;ended so disastrously for her reputation. What is known as the "Petticoat" inquiry was previously referred to in a cable to Australasian papers, when it was' stated that Second-Lieutenant Barrett, an Irish soldier, " had been completely exonerated and the woman in.the case judged to be outside military jurisdiction. , Colonel Delme Radclift, whose conduct was very seriously impugned, had been removed from the command of-his battalion. General Owen Thomas and Sir Henry Mackinnon were also involved in the case, but the Court decided that they were-actu-ated by good intentions. Sir John Cowans was doing such excellent service as quartermaster-general, that •Lord Derby (Secretary for War) considered tho best interests of the Army would be served by intimating the Government's displeasure at his action, while retaining him in his present position. . , Previous references to the inquiry were contained in a cable published on August 9. In this it was stated that during the debate in the House of Commons, on the Army Act Amendment Bill, most of the members studiously avoided the discussion of current rumours, but some openly alluded to "petticoat" influence, and "curtain lectures." Mr. Lloyd George (then Secretary for War) explained that it .was considered desirable to add civilians to court-martials where it was found necessary to summon civilian witnesses. ■■ The Minister added that ho was seeking to protect a'young Irish Catholic soldier against an accusation involving his honour. There were other, cases;, involving civilians. The late Lord' Kitchener had approved of this form of inquiry.