The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-02-16
conscientious Directors" Find
Difficult Time In Their
Army Life.
CRUELTY AMONG CHARGES
-Four Non-commlssIoned Officers Are
Tried Before courtmartlal and
New Light Is Thrown on Man.
ner Of Drilling.

London.-Much trouble is being ex-
perlenced by the British military au-
thoritles In the handling Of that par
tlcular variety OF British recruits who
call themselves conscientious objec-
tors" The term itself was originated
by Mr.. Asqulth at the time when as
prime minister he introduced into the
house Of commons the famous conscrip-
tion bill. II 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.. Asqulth 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 a considerable amount Of
trouble in the handling of these men,
and a 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-cOmmission-
ed officers who were brought before a
courtmartiai on charges of illtreating
private soldiers of the battalion. The
case is particularly interesting mas
much as 1t throws new light on the
manner in which the drills for new
recruits take place.
IN Treatment Charged.
The cases arose out of allegations OF
Ill treatment made by Charles Dukes
and George Beardsworth, who are 1
conscientious objectors," at the time 4
of their trial for disobedience of mill A
tary orders. A war office inquiry into H
the case of these men followed, with
the result that the nOn-commissiOnedI !
officers implicated we're ordered to be
tried by courtmartal. 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 WIS charged with illtreatlng a
soldier in Birkenhead Park on August !
% last by forcibly compelling Private
Charles Dukes to execute certain gym
nast1c 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 Brigadier General Ed
wardes had directed that the court
must be held although it was as a re-
suit of the statements of these wit
nesses that the charges against nom
officers were preferred.
On being brought before the command
Ing officer In order that he might take
a summary of their evidence Dukes
and Beardsworth refused to give evil
1enee. They had been summoned to
that courtmartial and had emphatical-
y refused to attend.
Witnesses Tell Story.
Eight civilian witnesses had been
;ubpenaed and from two of these let
ers had been received stating that
hey declined to attend. Under these
he would proceed with
what evidence he had and would call
CORPORAL Baker, who was the gym
Iastic instructor of the regiment and
Vho would identify the prisoner Mar
hall as the man, who handled Dukes i
nd Beardsworth on the OCCASIONS
AIMED and who must have illtreated 4
hem If such i'll treatment did occur.
Corporal Robert Baker gave evil
ence to the effect that he was in
'irkenhead Park on August % Ia /
barge of the gymnastic party. Private
harles Dukes was brought to him for
mining by the accused and Corporal
w. Williams and he was put
trough the gymnastic exercises, as
sted by those TWO.
Samuel Lindop of Arthur street, IL
spoke of being in the park II
atchfng the gymna tic exercises. He
wv four soldiers told off to shove an
her one about, but he could not iden-
fy the man who was being showed
)out. The man was rushed up to the
lulting pole and then rushed to the
ater jump, where he was partly IL
rown I'm. The soldiers were knock
g him about, bat he could not identi-
any of them. tn
Arthur G. Berry of Frederick street, all
ltchford, Warrington, trade union mi
anch secretary of the National m,
liOn Of General Workers. said he de
W Dukes on August "a and he was TO
a very distressed condition. Indeed, co
was practically impossible for him ge
express himself. Three days later ce
saw the injuries on the lower part cOi
the legs and ankles as well as sew is
IL bruises on the arms. The injuries
ygested that he had been thrown he
nm n ~.