Evening journal., 1914-02-13
PROTECTING SOLDIERS sELF.RrspECT.

A MEXICAN soldiers who have been found guilty OF
a purely military ofenses will be made objects
OF reformatory discipline rather than penitentiary
convicts if legislation now its way through Con-
gress becomes law. It is proposed to revise the art
ces Of war that the Federal prison in Fort Leaven
worth, Kan, shall be known as the United States Mill
tary Detention Barracks and to for the reforma
ton OF offending soldiers of the class mentioned above
That is in line with the British disciplinary system
in force at Adersho No soldier or civilian convicted
OF an ofense punishable by penal seryitude will be
confined In the Fort Leavenworth disciplinary insttu-
ton If the legislation proposed made effective The
favor in which the proposed change is held is shown
by the fact that the bill passed the Senate without
dissenting vote That indicates clearly that the
old system of making convict Of a man who has
committed purely military offense has worn itself
out in public opinion
Further action looking to the welfare of the com.
mon soldier also has been taken in Washington. Sec
retary Of War Garrison directed that a circular
be sent out to the military service suggesting that the
officers treat their better and permit them to pre
serve their sefrespect The Secretary makes it clear
that he does not think there should be any relaxation
IN discipline, or in the thorough and prompt per
formance OF military duty He insists however that
all officers in dealing with enlisted men, always should
have in mind the absolute necessity OF so treatins
them as to preserve their sefrespect Secretary Gar
rson insists that that is important if we are to
have cheerful, willing and highly efficient army
III Is believed that much of the discomfort in the
service today is incident to the method Of dealing
with enlisted men, that the results Of this method
are not satisfactory from the standpoint of dis
cpline, and that better results could be accomplished
If each officer in his relations with the men under his
command should always have In mind the control of
the men without the destruction Of their self-respect
for once this Is lost soldiers usefulness in the ser
vice is largely destroyed he returns to civil life
uscontented and often an enemy of the army says Ma
orGeneral Wood chief stan in the circular sent ont
by direction Of Secretary Garrison. MANY young Off
had absolutely previous experience and have not
been sufficiently imbued with the tremendous import.
ance OF the portion of their duties which concerns their
relations with enlisted they ignorant Of the
method Of handling subordnates and often feel
that 1t is necessary TO adopt tone voice or man
ner in dealing with them which is quite different from
that which they usually employ; and only too fire.
quently they seek to accomplish through public re-
buke what could be efficiently effectc through
a private talk with the subordinate himself This
fault is not entirely limited officers new to the ser.
vice. but is unfortunately found at times in others OF
more experience and it Is directed that every effort
be made to eradicate it. Officers should keep in as
close touch possible with the men under their COM
mand and strive to build up such relations of conf
dence and sympathy viii insure men coming 70
them freely for counsel and assistance This can be
done without any relaxation OF the needed dscipliue
and with great benefit to the service as whole"
That Is a circular that should make a strong an
peal to public sentiment and also result in removing
one Of the influences which now deters many self
respecting men from enistinS in the army.