The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-12-22
NO CASTE In ARMY,
SAYS BAKER LETTER
Oh Enlisted Men, He Tells Senate
---Discii,line il Necessary.

--kFiSStItSiHt' IL ).
Washington, Dec. lin response
TO Il Senate resolution asking wheth-
CT there ale War Department rules
and regulations 10 prevent social in
tercuurse between officers and men of
he Army, Secretary of War Baker
has written TO Nice-President Mar
shall that distinctions of rank in the
Army imply no special distinction
and are solely in the interest of mill
tary discipline.
Il have the homer to acknowledge
receipt OF resolution in the Senate
of the United States under date of
December IL, 1917, directing me to
inform the United States Senate
what, if any, rules or regulations
there are of the War Department
which prevent officers from having
intercourse with privates and ming
ling with them IN social intercourse,
or which tend to cast distinction be-
tween enlisted men and commission
ed officers when they are off duty
In response thereto l submit for
the information of the Senate of
the United States the following para
graph of Army regulations in regard
to the relationship between officers
and enlisted men as the only rule or
regulation now existing relative to
this matter:
Supporters are forbidden to in
jure those under their authority by
tyrannical or capricious conduct or
by abusive language. While main
tanning discipline and the thorough
and prompt performance Of military
duty all officers. in dealing with en-
listed men, will bear in mind the alb
solute necessity of so treating them
so as to preserve their self-respect.
Officers will keep in as close
touch as possible with the men I'M
der their command, will strive to
build up such relations of confidence
and sympathy as will insure the free
approach of their men to them for
counsel and assistance. This rela
tionship may be gained and main
tanned without relaxation on the
bonds of discipline and with great
benefit to the service as. whole
I'm this paragraph will be seen an
endeavOr to arrive at true balance
in the proper relationship between
officers and enlisted men on the one
hand to encourage and exchange con-
fidence and cooperation between the
officer and the soldier, and on the
other to avoid personal intimacieS
between an officer and any particular
soldier or soldiers, which might have
tendency to lead to favoritism or
the suspicion of favoritism in as
signments for duties or cause dis
content on the part of those not Sc
lected for special intimacy by the Of
ficer in question.
''All officers are expected so to ex-
ercise their judgment under this reg
ulation as at all times to enjoy the
sympathy, confidence and respect of
the soldiers, and it has always been
a part of the instructions given
young officers by their superiors to
exert themselves to promote this
relationship.
Distinctions of rank in the army
are solely in the interests of military
discipline. They imply no social dis
tinction; indeed, in a country like
ours the advantage of education and
culture very frequently will be found
in favor of the soldier, and yet it is
necessary that the soldier should &C
quire by continuous and unvarying
VI oStiSO thC hoO1I vi 1hoIdhl ooCol-
ence to his superior This is as true
of officers as it is of men.
In the emergency Of battle, which
every condition tends to distract
mems attention and peril is on every
side safety Tor command frequent
ly lies only in its organized and CO.
ordinated activity, and this can pro-
ceed from one inspiration alone-the
instant unquestioning compliance by
all with the voice of authority.
There is no time to debate, no OPP
portunity to consider; the men must
have acquired their rule of action
attention and obedience to command.
This habit cannot be created in
emergency and forgotten under other
circumstances. but must result from
practice which tolerates no excep-
tions either of persons or occasions.
THE relationship between officers
and men. therefore, must be so ar
ranged as to lead to this indispen-
sable result; but this is entirely con-
sistent with respect, sympathy and
mutual consideration, and the best
officers are those who have most
completely won the affection of their
men. Military annals are filled with
splendid incidents of men imperilling
their lives outside of the necessities
of military action in order to save
the life of beloved captain.
while here and there instances
undoubtedly occur of thoughtless
and inconsiderate conduct on the
part of officers and of unreasoning
complaints on the part of the men
who have failed to understand the
just obligations of this disciplinary
relationship, 1 am still persuaded
that in the great army We now have
in the field and in training there is
growing realization that it is both
possible and useful to be faithful to
military discipline and at the same
line to the democratic ideals of our
ountry.'