The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-12-04
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dge Advocate General tx
plains Principles,
trrem Nc Official Bunstin.)


WESTINGHOUSE thousand
hvyers have offered their services to
shs judsr advocate generals depart
ment. Many have volunteered to leave
their homes and their professional bu'i'
ness and serve without office commis-
sion, or pay. Proper military orsaniIa-
tion and proper governmental policy
and the statute law itself all tend 10
prohibit the general acceptance OF these
offers. The, army can avail itself OF
such offers only 10 limited extent and
for spasial service. But the spirit that
prompts them is worthy OF the highest
appreciation OF the department. the
army and the public, About $50 law
yers have been commissioned in the
grade OF msjor and Judge advocate and
are now serving in the AMY.
Increase From Peace Basis,
Tn time Of peace the Judge advocate
generals department consisted ot bm
twelve officers. 1t now consists OF more
than twelve times that number The
dcpartmeni il .ihs official legal adviser
OF tn. entire military establishment
Under and for the secretary OF war, i
Is the Judge ofthe legal correctness
OF al military administration, all dis
ciplinary action, and OF oil matters sf-
iecting the rights and mutual relation
ship OF the personnel. il is its duty
10 advise the secretary Of war and the
commander in-chief as to what the law
a and whether military administration
Is lawfully conducted
Rights Defined BY Law.
The rights and obligations OF every
,nan in the army, from private to gen
cral. are we'll defined and established
by laws enacted by congress and by
the common customary military law.
every offender against the military code
is subject TO trial BY courtmartial ac-
rording TO definite procedure pre-
scrihed BY law All this procedure Is
psfs9uarded by law and no soldier can
be punished except according to the
law, Sentences awarded by courts
r,artial-arf not effective until appSQvcd
bya superior commander who has upon
hS staff Judge advocate \
~ Z ! Court Of Last Resort.
As a court Of last resort, TO which all
general court martial records are re
/. fcfed for examination and revAion, Il
the Judge advocate general a, the hea,
:. o. the entife military judicial machin
ef1. With = trained lawyer upon m
staff OF each division commander exer
cising court martial jurisdiction ant
with the final revision in the office o
Tire Judge advocate general at Wash,
inston, there is little opportunity fo'
the exercise Of military power oppres-
sively or unlswfully. The Judge advo.
cate upon the staff OF the division com
rnander or army commander supervise,
disciplinary action in the first in
stance, and the office Of the Judge ad
vocate general exercises supervisor,
power similar to court Of errors owe,
all general court-martial jurisdiction
throughout the army.
Civil Rights Of Soldiers.
Commenting upon the duties whic'
the lawyers Of this country who hsv
been commissioned as Judge advocate
are performing, the Judge advocate gen
eral pointed out that this service has I
4 DO only with the soldiers relations I
The military establishment II hs
nothing to do with his personal or civ
rights.