The Red Cloud chief., 1898-10-14
PREVENTION WAS TOO LATE.
A Surgeon Testiaes Before the Investiga.
tion Committee

tDn Stu'tnittsc
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1~o.-Through the
earnest efforts Of Judge Advocate Gem
eral Lieber, Congress passed n law
shortly before the adjournment for
the establishment of a summary court,
where enlisted men shall be tried, and
for the abolition of the field officers
court, so.callcd. which was created
during the civil war, and which has
existed ever since. One Of the obiec.
tions TO the field officers court was the
frequent difficulty Of securing the
services OF q field officer, who is a line
officer above the rank of captain, for
duty at the court. The q ct was not
to go into effect till sixty days
after It's approval by tho President,
which was August II, and therefore 1t
was not binding during hostilities
with Spain. Now, however, tho com.
handing officer OF each garrison, fort
or other place, regiment or corps, de-
tached battalion or company, or other
detachment Of the army has power ia
appoint for such place or command, or
In his discretion for each battalion
thereof, n summary court, to consis,
Of n officer to be designated by him
before whom enlisted men may DO
tried for offenses.
Generally speaking, soldiers seem to
be much better behaved during tho
war than in peace. That Is prob
ably due to the moro severe
punishments imposed and to the
feeling Of patriotism that pervades oil
men. Tho regulars have established
for themselves q reputation for ex-
ceptional valor and performance
OF duty, but, nevertheless, in
peace, they commit a multitude Of
small crimes. For the year ending
August 81, 1897, which is tho last year
where records have been prepared,
there were 1897 trials by general
court-martial-all enlisted men. Only
lie of these wero acquitted. The
number Of trials by garrison and sum.
mary courts in the same period was
1920, the different men tried being
S,505, or quite one-third OF tho entire
regular army at that time. There
were only SGT acquittals at all these
.rials.
The present military law In tho
United States was copied bodily from
the English military law, and includes
q large number of offenscs. Losing
clothing, losing government property,
and selling clothing are some Of the
minor offcnscs, but in time of peace
there are hardly more than forty or
Gftu rnnaa .l- Aa hzaI.
What Is known In tho army
MS the twenty-frst article of
war comprises more serious Of
lenses, like assaulting superior officer,
attempting to strike superior officer,
disobcdiencc TO him and lifting q
weapon against him. These ~offenses
may be punished by death, but are
more generally punished by o term Of
several months imprisonment. A pri-
vate at the arsenal a few year z
knocked down an unpopular officer
and wa tent to prison for something
like six years.
OMilitary convicts were formerly
sent to Leavenworth, Kan, but the
abandonment of that prison by the
RoNSAi ihtCbb lSiu bho III 4
out any place for confinement OF con-
victs ave the guardhouses ut different
forts. Desertion, which is the forty.
seventh article of war, ,s punished in
time of peace by CONTINENT, generally
not less than one year, and rarely not
more than four years. Thore were 224
assertions in the regular army last
year, but during the war with Spain,
there were but few II any, in all
branches of the service.
The great and comprehensive article
Of war, against which there are more
offenses than against all the others,
Is the sixty-second. 1t includes certain
absences without leave, abusing public
animals, allowing prisoners to escape,
assault ON sentinel or with n weapon,
attempt to suborn a witness. breach
Of arrest, carrying o concealed weap-
on, disobedienoe Of standing orders
or regulations, disrespect or disobe.
dience to non-commissioned or com.
missioned officers, drunkenness, neg.
lect Of duty, conduct to tho prejudice
Of good order and military discipline,
and numerous other minor offensea
Most Of the criminal ~offenses In the
army, rs distinguished from military
offenses, como under this article.
The causes that lead enlisted mon in
the regular army to desert In time OF
peace are moro or less interesting. In
the cavalryi il not infrequently happens
that soldiers desert On account Of fear
of horses. Some months ago . soldier
deserted from . fort in the department
of Texas to join q base bali club in
Mexico. Many desert on account Of
debts and dissatisfaction with the SER
vice. Fear OF punishment for offenses
committed. escape from consequences
of imprudent marriage, general
worthlessness, rowing disposition, lack
| OF moral strength and fear OF bodily
harm from comrades are other cause
! for descrtion most often found In the
reports to tho War department. 1t
has happened that soldiers desert 60
secure possession of inherited for
tunes
All the proceedings OF conrt- martial