UNCLE SAM'S WAR METHODS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1919, Page 6

UNCLE SAM'S WAR METHODS.

MISLEADING THE PUBLIC. By Telcfraph—Press Assn.— Copyright. Washington, August 26. Acting Judge-Advocate General Ansell, giving evidence before the Senate Military Committee, said that Mr Baker and other members of the War Council established a propaganda bureau during the war for the purpose of misleading the press and Congress regarding the injustices perpetrated by- the system of military justice in the America Army. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SAVAGE CRITICISM OF MILITARISM

- AN UGLY INDICTMENT. Conscientious objectors, numbering 133, were given honorable discharges from the Army by order of Secretary of War Baker, and allowed to go free from the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where they were confined. In addition, they were given free mileage to the various points of their induction in,to the service, and were also handed out new suits of civilian clothes and money amounting in some cases to between £BO and £IOO as their back pay. Two of the objectors even then: refused to leave the prison, declaring that it "would not be for the glory of God." None refused the money, however. Kansas authorities are much incensed over the action of the Government in giving these objectors their freedom, and a resolution demanding a congressional investigation of the delinquency of the War Department has been passed by the Lower House of the State Legislature. Shortly before adjourning for the summer recess Congress passed a Bill amending the Articles of War, so as to authorise commanding officers to mitigate or remit sentences imposed by courtsmartial. Hitherto this power has been exclusively exercised by the President. Testifying before the Senate's Military Affairs Committee, General Ansell, then acting judge-advoeate-gcneral of the army, declared that, by adhering to an obsolete and faulty red tape system, the military authorities had dealt with American soldiers in the most "shocking and intolerable manner." Among the instances of extreme penalties that he cited was the following:—A soldier who pleaded guilty to a charge of refusing to drill, but insisted that he was sick and physically unable to obey, was sentenced to death by a court martial. His life was saved only by executive clemency. Another soldier left a military camp in America without leave to visit his father, who was dying. He returned to camp immediately after his father died, and a court martial ordered that he be punished by death. Only an order from Washington saved him from death. A soldier who absented himself without leave was sentenced to be dishonorably discharged, to forfeit his pay, and spend 40 years in prison! The prison term was later reduced to 10 years. Another was given a 10-year prison term and sentenced to dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of pay bemuse he had a fan in his possession! This sentence was afterwards shortened to three years. A private who left camp without leave in order to see his wife and sick baby was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, but this was later reduced to three years. A who had been detailed for kitchen duty smoked a cigarette, which is forbidden while performing such work. The second lientenant, who caught him smoking, ordered him to surrender his entire pack of cigarettes, and for refusing to do so a court martial sentenced him to 40 years in prison. On the recital of the last-mentioned case Senator Thomas (Colorado), who was a member of the investigating committee, denounced a system that would permit such a thing as that as absolutely un-American, and well calculated to make Bolsheviks of the soldiers' relatives- He declared that the officer concerned was "a fool." It was such cases that explained why it was so hard to keep the army up to its proper strength in peace time. General Ansell also told the committee about two men in France who had been on duty all night for five consecutive nights. They were unable to sleep in tha daytime, because wood was being chopped in the dug-out for the commanding officer, and as a result they fell asleep at the post of duty. A court martial sentenced them to death. Instructions sent from Washington saved them by the narrowest of margins, because the military authorities in France insisted on the sentence being carried out, In some cases, General Ansell declared, men were executed without being given any chance of an appeal for clemency. Senator Borah (Idaho) cited a case of a soldier who was ordered to peel potatoes, and for his refusal to do so was sentenced to 20 years ia the penitentiary. He declared that the man who 'would impose such a sentence was a menace to society, for he would commit murder if given half a chance.