The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-02-25
GERMAN OFFICER
Baked AT WAR;;
Gets Is YEARS
Captain Of German Blood,
Did Not Want to Fight
Friends.

NEW YORK, Feb. 25.--Capt. David
A. Henkes. Sixteenth Infantry. United
States Army, has been sentenced to
dismissal from the service and con-
tnement at hard labor for twenty-five
years by general court-martial held
at Governors Island.
Henkes, who is Of German descent,
endeavored to resign his commission,
saying he did not care to fight against
relatives and friends.
Capt. Henkes, who was stationed at
San Antonio. Tex, last May wrote to
the secretary of war urging him to ac-
cept the resignation, which he had al.
ready submitted. and giving reasons
which, he declared, would no longer
allow him to serve as an officer OF
the American Army.
Further service as a commissioned
officer must sooner or later take me
to Europe. and there bring me in
conflict with my relatives and friends.
although for the time being my legal
enemies" Capt. Henkes wrote. MY
father came from Germany. My moth
er was born here shortly after the ar.
rival Of her parents. We have many
OlD' e!dtlFeS ana lTleuQS tneTe.
Asks to Be Excused
Il can not force myself to the con-
viction that I am capable of making
war on my kindred upon their soil in a
manner that would become my duty
and station. I earnestly request that l
may not be required to undergo this
ordeal. | seriously doubt my ability
to withstand 1t. and would avoid, in the
interest of my country, family and
friends, what at least appears the prob
able consequences.
Capt. Henkes suggested as an alter
native that he be given service in some
other field, although he expressed the
belief that the best course would be
the immediate acceptance of his resig-
nation.
Capt Henkes, soon after he submit
ted his resignation. was ordered to
France with the American expedition
airy forces, and from his quarters
there. June 20. 1917. wrote to the ad
jutant general in Washington calling
attention to the fact that he had re-
signed, and declaring that his battalion
commander, the department quarter
master and the commanding officer OF
the southern department had approved
his action In this letter he repeated
the reasons given to the secretary OF
war for desiring to quit the service.
Again, on Oct. 10, while on duty in
France. Capt. Henkes wrote another
letter to the adjutant general in which
he urged acceptance of his resignation,
and said he did not find occasion to
add to or alter the views he had al
ready expressed. The underlying facts
are unalterable,'S She declared
Summoned for Trial.
Capt Henkes was then ordered to
this country and summoned before
general court-martial at Governors Is
land, where he was formally charged
with violation of the ninety-fifth arti-
Gle of war. This charge recited' that
having taken an oath of office in
which. among other things, he swore
to support and defend the consttu-
ton OF the United States against all
enemies, foreign and domestic and
that he would bear true faith and al
legiance to the same. had written
the letter concerning his resignation.
The same charge was made in connec-
ton with the other letter.
The court-martial found him guilty
and the findings having been review
ed by the judge advocate general, the
sentence of the court of dismissal
from the service and confinement at
hard labor for twenty-five years were
ordered carried out The United
States disciplinary barracks to Fort
Leavenworth, Kas., was designated as
the place of Imprisonment, and it was
declared that Capt. David A. Henkes,
Sixteenth Infantry, ceases to be an of
ficer of the army from Feb. %. 1915"
The report signed by Maj Gen.
William A. Mann, commanding the de-
partment of the East, and by Col. w.
A. Simpson, retired, adjutant.