The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-05
The Honor of the Army v

During the past ten years over $1,000 enlist
ed men deserted from the United States army,
according to Charles Johnson Post in series OF
articles entitled 1.-THE Honor of the Army" now
appearing serally in "Harper's Weekly Mr.
Post attributes a larger part of these assertions
to the regulations under which the serve in
our army. He contends that these rules are
archaic and unjust and that when the men find
this out after they have enlisted many of them
desert rather than put up with existing condi-
tons. Considering that an army deserter is
looked upon criminal under the civil as we'll
military laws, and if caught, forfeits his citi
zenship and suffers a long term in federal pen
itentiary, it would look as though Mr.. Post were
right in his contention that out-of- date rules ad-
ministered in partial and unjust manner have
great deal to do with this important army ques-
ton.
Out Of the many examples Mr.. Post gives to
tortfy his argument the following are typical
and calculating. Soldiers are tried before court
martials composed solely of officers for infrac-
tons OF rules, not Crimes and if found guilty, in
many cases, deprived of their citizenship and
sent to federal penitentiaries For instance a
private convicted of being drunk was sentenced to
six months at hard labor in federal peniten-
tiary, forfeited all pay and allowances and
dishonorably discharged. In this case, the Off
composing the court martial were disgrace
fully or gnorantly unjust as the maximum legal
sentence under the army rules and regulations
tor this offense is six months at hard labor at
the army post and $50 fine. In another case, a
private was charged with having wasted twenty
rounds of pistol ammunition. At the trial he
pleaded guilty. but explained that he had left the
ammunition in his saddle bags over night and
49, e
ing, discovered it had been stolen. He was SEN
fenced to year at hard labor in federal peni-
tertiary, forfeited all pay and allowances and was
dishonOrably discharged
Illustrative of the different situation when
officers are trial before a court MARTIAL a lieu
tenant of the Coast Artillery who was found gull
ty of having been drunk, simply reprmand-
ed. A captain, who retained in his possession $50
in pay due a soldier who had deserted, when found
out and tried was acquitted.
Such illustrations as these, as we'll as the
many others which Mr.. Post gives in his articles
certainly show that injustice and Partially are
rife in our army.
No sensible person doubts that under exist
ing world conditions the United States must have
army of size commensurate with the wealth
and Importance of the nation. Inasmuch as it has
been our national policy to maintain a relatively
small standing army, every sensible citizen viii
realize the absolute necessity of maintaining
what army we have the highest attainable
standard Of efficiency. This cannot be done IN
less officers and actuated by fine
spirit OF loyalty. Since 10000 assertions in ter
years show plainly that loyalty and in Justice anC
la1tiality do not go hand in hand we believe that
complete reorganization Of the army rules anC
regulations and a read juStment of the relation.
- = q officers to enlisted men is in order.