The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-11-19
HIGH PERCENTAGE
IN COURT TRIALS
Fort Shafter Holds Record for
IncreaSe-Figures Show
Differences.

Fort Shafter in a recent report is
ranked as having the highest increase
in percentage for court trials over
other posts, while the Hawaiian Islands
are also marked in the judge-advocate-
general s report, just issued, as having
large increase, the percentages run
ming from % to l25 per cent. The
Army and Navy Journal of November
?, giving a synopsis of the judge advo-
cate'general' report, says:
"Post and regimental commanders
will find in the annual report of the
judge advocate general of the Army,
suggestions that may prove valuable in
still further decreasing the number of
summary court trials. Since 1908, the
report says, there has been a steady re-
duction in such trials, and for two con
secutive years 1911 to 1929 the per-
centage has remained under fifty per
cent, and this, according to the J. A.
G.. indicates that the discipline of the
Army service is relying more upon the
authorized company discipline.
General Crowder has received no in
timation, official or otherwise, that the
discipline of the Army has suffered in
consequence, and his opinion is con-
firmed that the number of such trials
could be still further reduced without
j impairing discipline, his belief being
that if enlarged powers of company dis
cipline were placed in the hands of
company commanders the number of
summary court trials would at once
decidedly diminish.
What the decrease has been in sum.
mary court trials may be judged by
these figures: In 1908 the percentage
of such trials to the total enlisted
strength of the Army was sixty nine; in
1909, sixty-four; 1910, fifty.seven; 1911,
43; 1912, forty-five. The increase last
year over 1911 in number of trials was
1880 for total of 37,7l2. The lowest
percentage was at Fort Casey, Washing
ton, and the highest at Fort Shafter,
Hawaii, and the percentages at the
rosts in the Philippines were but three
per cent. less than for the eastern di-
vision. The percentages for large posts
where more than 700 men are stationed
run from forty-two to eighty.seven, the
average for such posts being decidedly
above the general average, while the
percentage at Fort William Mckinley,
mt which more enlisted men are sta.
toned than at any other post, is sew
enty.six. In Tentsin, China, the per.
centage is thirty-six. In Alaska the
percentages run from eighteen to nine
ty-fye. and in the Hawaiian Islands
from twenty-five TO one hundred and
twenty-five. -
The udge-advoeate- general il i'm.
pressed with the criticism Of the Judge
advocate Of the Western Division as 10
retarded disposition OF eases arising In
remote departments of the division, the
only solution being, in his opinion,
that the reviewing authority IN these
remote departments, such AS The De,
paTiment Of laval, would be 10 have
the commanding general act as the 70,
viewing officer, of 10 authorize the do.
paftnent commanders a. perform these
FUNSTON IN ihelf respective depart
menis This would be- an improvement
over the old system,
Statistic as 10 ihe average time
man n held lH confinement M fnm0le
departments nWHlt'nR q deeiainn from
headquarters Of lhf A lal0n shaN thai
there Is s0mei'mfs nnnf8fssafY con.
nheneni fef fo# lneni aYe d. forty
eight iabf