The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-02-08
conscientious Directors" Find
Difficult Time in Their
Army Life.
CRUELTY AMONG CHARGES
Four Non-commissioned officers Are
Tried Before Courtmartiai and
New Light Is Thrown on Man.
ner Of Drilling.

perienced by the British military au-
thorities in the handling of that par
ticular variety of British recruits who
call themselves conscientious objec-
tors" The term itself was originated
by Mr.. Asquith at the time when as
prime minister he introduced into the
house of commons the famous conscrip-
ton bill. 1t will be recalled that in
announcing the fact that all British
subjects between the ages of eighteen
and forty-one would be compelled to
join the colors Mr.. Asquith included
among those who would be exempted
men who could prove that they had a
conscientious objection" to carrying
arms or to taking life.
In the course of the last year large
number of those conscientious objec-
tors" have claimed exemption, and
while very few have been successful In
winning dispensation from military
service the majority have been incor-
porated in special regiments which are
used abroad or in England for special
labor, which, although not involving
the carrying or the use of arms, Is OF
national importance in connection with
the war.
The officers who have been placed in
charge of these special units have been
experiencing considerable amount of
trouble in the handling of these men,
and great number of the insubordi-
mates have been courtmartialed and
sentenced to prison terms.
The latest case to come before the
public is that of four nOn-commissior-
ed officers who were brought before
courtmartial on charges of illtreating
private soldiers of the battalion. The
case is particularly interesting mas
much as II throws new light on the
manner in which the drills for new
recruits take place.
III Treatment Charged.
The cases arose out of allegations of
III treatment made by Charles Dukes
and George Beardsworth, who are
conscientious objectors," at the time
of their trial for disobedience of mill
tary orders. A war office inquiry into
the case of these men followed, with
the result that the non-commissioned
officers implicated were ordered to be
tried by courtmartial. The accused
were Corporal Thomas Cheers, Lance
Corporal ]. w. A. Williams, Lance Cor
poral ]. W. Williams and acting Ser
geant Fred Marshall.
The first to be tried was Marshall,
and he was charged with illtreating
soldier in Birkenhead Park on August
% last by forcibly compelling Private
Charles Dukes to execute certain gym
nastic exercises and that In doing so
he used unnecessary violence, thereby
causing pain and suffering to Private
Dukes.
Captain Rimmer said that In spite
of the refusal of witnesses who had
given evidence at the inquiry to at
tend that court Brlgadier General Ed
wardes had directed that the court
must be held, although 1t was as re-
suit of the statements of these wilt
nesses that the charges against non
commissioned officers were preferred.
On being brought before the command
ing officer in order that he might take
n summary of their evidence Dukes
and Beardsworth refused to give evil
dence. They had been summoned to
that courtmartial and had emphatical-
ly refused to attend.
Witnesses Tell Story.
Eight civilian witnesses had been
subpenaed and from two of these let
ters had been received stating that
they declined to attend. Under these
circumstances he would proceed with
what evidence he had and would call
Corporal Baker, who was the gym
nastic instructor of the regiment and
who would identify the prisoner Mar
hn WI handled Dukes
and Beardsworth on the occasions
named and who must have illtreated
them If such i'll treatment did occur.
Corporal Robert Baker gave evil
dence to the effect that he was in
Birkenhead Park on August % In
charge of the gymnastic party. Private
Charles Dukes was brought to him for
training by the accused and Corporal
]. w. Williams and he was put
through the gymnastic exercises, as
sisted by those two.
Samuel Lindop of Arthur street.
Birkenhead, spoke of being in the park
watching the gymnastic exercises. He
saw four soldiers told off to shove an
other one about, but he could not iden-
tify the man who was being showed
about. The man was rushed up to the |
vaulting pole and then rushed to the
water jump, where he was partly |
thrown in The soldiers were Knock
ing him about, but he could not idenu-
fly any of them.
Arthur c. Berry of Frederick street.
Latchford, Warrington, trade union
branch secretary of the National
Union of General Workers, said he
saw Dukes on August "a ana he was
in a very distressed condition. Indeed,
1t was practically impossible for him