The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-16

BrigadlGr-GeuerhI A<io90 "A. DL SILs
commanding the Camp Lee division OF
the national army, has issued gen.
eral order concerning deserters. II
ts directed to all the state and fed
eral officials in the districts from
which the troops were drafted. In
some instances the men save as their
residence some other place than the
one in which they were examined
In the list of virginia1s, charged with
dosertion. the name of the place of
drar is given. The order and list
follows:
Headquarters, Camp Lee.
Petersburg, Va
TO All state and Federal Officials
The soldiers from your state named
on the enclosed list were absent with
out leave or in desertion from Camp
Lee on February l, 1918. This list
is furnished you in the confident nope
that YOU will use all means in your
power to see that any men known
10 be in your locality are either in
duced peaceab1y to return to their
organizations, or else are arrested ana
delivered to the military authorities,
The United tSates will pay $50 to any
civil officer or civilian for the appre-
heneion and delivery to the proper
military authorities at a military post
Of deserter from the military SER
vice. A soldier absent without leave
and without means TO return TO his
prouer station can report az any army
post. station or recruiting ONCE and
receive transportation at government
expense back TO his company, the cost
thereof TO be later deducted from his
pay.
From various sources Information
has been received that. in some In
stances, soldiers absent without leave
/ have been induced to leave their COM
( r1ands by relatives or friends, and
lthat their friends and relatives are
| harboring them at the present time
These are offenses which are punish
4 able under the penal code OF the Uni-
ted states The government has here
Itofore been very tolerant in its treat
/ rnent OF men who have violated their
duty to their country in the present
/ crisis by absenting themselves from
their commands. frequently with in
| tention not to return. 1t cannot in
reason be expected to continue such
/ tolerance indefinitely. and 1t will here
after be the policy OF the command
ling general OF Camp Lee 70 require
| a rigid standard in this respect.
| Desertion in time OF war is pun
I ishable by death, and although CAPT
ttal punishment has not yet been in
1 ficted upon any soldier. il most as
surediv will be in the course of tiTe
when the discipline of our armies De
comes more strict. The last soldier
/ tried and convicted OF desertion al
this camp was sentenced to twents
years confinement IN the United States
tpenitentiary at Atlanta, Ga. This IL
ionly the beginning, and an example
| of what such men may expect in tht
| future. It is the intention hereafter
to use all the power OF the fedora
government In arresting men who are
absent without authority from Their
commands
| Soldiers are required TO wear uni
form at all times, and no soldier |:
permitted to leave his command with
out a proper farlougil or pass signed
by his company commander, so tina
identification of absentees Is very easy
| The government would very much
prefer not to treat It's citizens al
criminals, but It will do so. II neces
sary, to see that they fulfill their oh
legation 10 their government at such
a time as this.
Respectfully.
LLOYD NJ. BRETT.
Brigadier-Generai N A.,
Commanding,
William e Shelton. Company c
| s17th infantry, Stuart
! Robert Garnet. Company A. SLOT
service battalion. Bowling Green.
| William Wade, Company A, 5lotl
service battalion. Norton.
/ LESSEE Hin, Company \, Sloth ser
vice battalion. Norton.
Hodges Nelson, Company ., 5lotl
service battalion, Owenton.
Charles e. Ray. Company e, S1stl
infantry, Pallas.
Andrew ]. knight, Company A
slsth infantry. Mount Clinton.
David Repass. Company c. SfSt
infantry, Honaker.
4 zed. Gilbert. Company II, Sfsth in
J fantry, Cleveland.
Dale McGfothin. Company Fl, ASA
infantry. Honaker.
i John Reedy, Company r, 3fSth In
fantry. Bristow.