Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-07
DISCIPLINE IN BRITISH
ARMY IS VERY STRICT
Punishment Handed Out to Private
Soldiers for Trivial
OHcnseS.
CAPITAL
CRIMES
WARS
Army Knows But Ono Punishment
for Cowardice in Face OF Enemy
and for Sleeping on Guard-De-
tention Barracks Not Agreeable
Place.
ny III. NJ. Forbes.

the other great European armies. in
that OF Great Britain. military law
10 supposed to affect every unit In
precisely the Same way: this is in
some regiments in which certain Of
FENCES are not regarded with nearly
the same seriousness as is the case in
others: while in other units the ad-
minlstration of justice itself is IN
certain details distinctly different from
the majority Of Others; In csr. adn
y. G. Q. gets himself into trouble is
case--if not a serious one-is disposed
Of b. his company commander. in
other regiments every n. Z. O.. no
mater nov insignificant his misde-
meanor. must duly click his heels be-
fore the com nlandins officer.
In certain regiments discipline is
immensely strict; men being put on
report as the phrase is. for short
Gomings Of the most trivial nature.
Perhaps. for instance. a lucklesa pri-
vate comes on parade minus his cap
badge. Is two minutes in falling in on
company parade. or leaves his kit I'M
to one that he will duly appear before
his company officer at orderly room.
For instances of this trumpery nature
man may occasionally escape with
admonition though he is much more
likely to be confined to barracks for
three days. Confinement to barracks
punishment. but when 1t Is pointed out
that this generally entails "A number
OF extra fatigues. that the delinquent
is prohibited the use Of the cantcen.
regimental institute. and even the
reading room. besides having regularly
TO report himself at the orderly room
no matter what the hour Of the day.
1t will be seen that the offender docs
OF his little dercliction
FEW READY TO VOLUNTEER
For DI;TESIION BARRACKS
II soldier Is found guilty OF NOR.
serious oHcnce. he map iu.i heir 10
seven or even tea DAYS O. g. Will.
nature he may be sent To detention
oariackS-i polite term used IN ENG
land Tor INC nniiitary pris'a thousa
one sometimes hears "a not hcadvd
youngsters declaring they would vo!uu-
teer tor the guard-room. II is very
seldom one hears OF volunteers Tor
detention barracks.
The defau.ter whose spirit is not
cuipcd by spell in i5.itish mill
tary prison must be sometnins OF a
phenomenon. y man may 80 10 de-
tcnt!on barracks Tor AS DrIei a period
AS ninety-siA hours. or he may go tor
six months. II ali dep/.dins on cir
u not only sent to prison. bat after
that Is dismissed the service with
iSnominy.
rev crimes arc regarded with more
seriousness in the array tnan inc strik-
ing OF seniors. me individual Who
hdulSes In this iony can absolutely
very least.
Noncon,nlssioned officers are deal,
with rather differently from privates.
II. for instance, an y. &. -. gets MIN
se!t into trouble, PROVIDED !; nature
OF the onense is nothing se ia, more
likeiy than not he wi!i.te rg,,riiia nded.
II his offense Is SraNcr one. he may
possibly be severely reprimandeu:
While other ohenses there are again
tor which an y. T.. -. may he reduced
TO the ranks. Prior To the war, IL was
not in the power Of the command ing
oriccr 10 reduce to the ranks 1uli
corpornl. this requiring court martial;
since the outbreak OF nOsti.iticS, how :
ever, martial law has appreciably al
tered. and provided his decision Is up
held by brigadier;. c. .. can quite
stripes. As matter OF fact, such a a
tribunal can. bring man. II ia the
ne!G, under the SHADOW OF death. On
less ceremony than is the case AT
nome and occasions are not wanting
when even the most serious OF oneuses
are disposed or with precision III.
!uckless dersilqucntS can hardly realize
Tor cowardice In the presence OF the
foe, and for the crime OF sleeping
at ones post. the army admits of only
one punishment.
SUBALTEnN NOT FORMALLY
AWARDED PUNISHMENT
with regard to officers. the bulk OF
these. as Is only to be expected. pass
through their period OF service with
QUO the violation OF any reQuirene n s
whatever of the military act, trivial
shortcom mss on the part OF subai-
terms being punished privately. the
men belonging 10 tfeir. units knowing
nothing Whatever about il. A subai-
tern who has given some slight
grounds for complaint. may be detailed
Tor round or TWO OF extra duty. bur
he Is never placed on report. just ms
he Is never formally awarded punish
ment. II a subaltern is kept in the
butts whole day, for instance with
out anything more appetisinS for
lunch than sandwich and il bottle
OF ginger beer. little though the men
on duty may. suspect it. the luckless
sub Is really being disciplined just
as they themse lSsstssstsould be- should
circumstances w1SGEgt IT,
we have said STSt the bulk OF Of
.hcers pass through their period OF
service without oifense OF any kind
against the military act: but there is
really one execution to this rule. there
being one particular sin OF which n
soodly number of officers are OCCASION
ally guilty. especially in their young
dnys-that Of engaging in a rag. There
IS absolutely no saying what shape
TINS may take. 1t may be case OF
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