Norwich bulletin., 1918-02-25
Dis|oyaCaptainGets
 25 Year Sentence
CAPT. DAVID A. HENKEs, 1sTH
 U. s. INFANTRY.
IS OF GERMAN DESCENT
Endeavored to Resign to Evade Fight ing Against Relatives and Friends in the German Army.

New York, Feb: 24.-Captain David A. Henkes, Sixteenth 1nfanAry, U. s. A., has been sentenced to dismissal from the service and confied at hard labor for twenty five years by gen eral courtmartial 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.
 Urged Acceptance of Resignation. Captain Henkes, who was stationed at San Antonio, Texas, last May wrote to the secretary of war. urging him to accept the resignation, which he. had already submitted. and giving ceasons 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 Ito Europe. and there bring me in con- fiict with my relatives and friends, al . though for the time being my legal enemies,'' Captain Henkes wrote. 'FMy father came from Germany. My moth CT was born here shortly after the ar rival of her parents. We have many other relatives and friends there. I cannot force myself to the conviction that I am Capable of making war on my kindred upon their soil in man
 ner that would become my duty and station I earnestly request th,t l may not te required to under this or deal. I seriously doubt my ability 1 to withstand it. and would avoid, ir the interest Of my country. family and friends, what at least appears the l prohs.3ie conseguences''
 i Captain Henkes suggested as an al- l formative that he be given service ir some other field. although he express ed the belief that the best course would be the immediate acceptance o his resignation.
 1 Was Ordered to France.
 i Captain Henkes soon after he hat submitted his resignation, was order cd 10 France with the American Elk peditionary forces, and from hi, iquarters there, on June 18th. 1S1, 1 wrote to the adjatant gener al in Washington calling attention t
 the fact that he had resigned, and de claring that his battalion command Ter. sthe department quartermaste and the commanding officer of tn I southern department had approve I his action. In this letter he repeat Ii ed the rGas0Fs given 1t stse .necessit flor war desiring to the service.
 i Asaii. on October 10. while still o
 duty ir France, Captain Henkes wrot
 another letter to the idjutant gener \ al in which he urged acceptance of hi
 resignation, and said he did not fin occasion to add to or alter the view
 he had already expressed "The un . deriving facts are unalterable,'' h
 declared.
 II False to His Oath.
 l Co } 1 to this country and summoned befor r 8 general courtnhartial at Governor 7 Island, where he was formally charge
 with violation of the 95th article {
 war. This charge recited that "hal
 ing taken an oath of office in whicl : among other things, he sWore to sur 3 port and defend the constitution { g the United States against all eiIemie l foreign and domestic,' and that | 0 would bear true faith and alIeg;ant g to the same'" he had written the le . ter concerning his resignation. IT g same charge was made ill conuectic with the other letter.
 Hard Labor For 25 Years. t The eourtmartial found him guilt n and the findings having been reviewe n by the judge advocate general, u . sentence of the court, dismissal fro e the service and confinement at hal n labor for 25 years, were ordered ca n ried out The United States disc d plinary barracks at Fort Leavel n worth, Kansas, was designated as u v, place of imprisonment. and it was d }. clared that Captain David t Henkes, 18th Infantry, ceases to be { r officer of the army from February 2 6 191S."
 The, report was signed by Maj
 EGeneral William A. Mann, commant
 ing the department of the east, al = by Colonel w. A. Simpson. retire e adjutant. s. -..t