The sun., 1919-03-07
ANSELL Is DENOTED
BUT KEEPS OLD JOB
Brig. Gen. r. A. Kreger Desig-
mated as Acting Judge Ad-
vOcate General.
TEN OTHERS IN OLD RANK
Object Of Congressional At
tack to Continue Review of
Court-martial Cases.

WAsHtNGToN, March 6-BriE. Gen
Sam uel T. Ansell. formerly Acting Judge
Acknowledgement and ono of the central
figures in the controversy with regard
20 the administration of military jus
tice. will be returned to his pre-war rank
in the army March 10, along with eleven
other Brigadiers.
At the same time that this announce
inent was made tonight Secretary
Baker disclosed that Brig. Gen. Edward
A. Kreger had been directed to return
from France to act as Judge Advocate
General during the absence in Cuba of
Major-Gen. Enoch II. Crowder. Gen.
Ansell. with his regular rank OF Lieu
tenant-Colonel, will continue by direc-
lion OF Gen. Crowder as chairman of
t5e board reviewing court-marital pro-
,cedirgs with a view to recommending
,ommutation of excessive sentences
Reports that Gen. Ansell who recently
testified before Congressional committees
against excessive court martial sent
ences. was to be discharged from his
war time rank have been current several
days and have been the subject OF two
letters from Representative Gould of New
York to Secretary Baker. Replying to
the first of the letters, Mr.. Baker said
10 officer OF the army had been dis
ciplned or even questioned regarding
testimony before committees Of Congress
Kreger n Temporary Brigadier.
Gen. Kreger holds the rank OF Lieu
tenant-Colonel in the Regular Army, hav-
ing been advanced to that rank on May
Is. 1917. the same day on which Gen.
Ansell was given similar grade. Both
officers later were given temporary COM
missions as acknowledgements Gen.
Kreger was sent to France recently to
review court martial cases in the Amer
lean Expeditionary Forces with a view
10 expediting such reviews and the
granting of such clemency as might be
found warranted.
Gen. Perehing protested against the
order to turn over court-martial records
10 Gen. Kreger. holding that its effect
was to take out of his hands the whole
question of the disciplining OF his forces.
Many officers believed that In recalling
Gen. Kreger the War Department had
determined to accept Gen. Pershing's
view and either withdraw its order or
amend it to make its purpose clear and
avoid any impression that IL was in
tended to curb Gen. Perhshings author
ity as Commander Chief OF the army
in France.
Mr.. Bakers Explanation.
Secretary Bakers statement on the
recall OF Gen. Kreger follows:
Brig. Gen. Edward A. Kreger has
been directed by cable to return to the
United States and in the absence OF Gen.
Crowder in Cuba Gen. Kreger as senior
ofncer of the Judge Advocate Corps. will
he designated as Acting Judge Advocate
General
I'm the ordinary routine OF demobiliz-
ing the army a large number of officers
in various bureaus OF the War Depart
rnent holding temporary rank have been
returned to their Regular Army STATUE
Brig. Gen. Ansell is among this number.
The action thus taken has no relation to
the controversy which has existed with
regard TO the administration OF military
justice and clemency.
by direction of the Judge Advocate
General Gen. Ansell will continue to be
chairman of the clemency board, COM
posed OF officers of the Judge Advocate
Generals Office reviewing court-martial
proceedings with a view TO recommend
ing Communication of excessive sentences
where found necessary"
TIE special order issued under date OF
March for the reduction In grade of
the Rrigad!er- Generals reads as follows
"Ry direction OF the President the fol-
lowing officers are honorably discharged
rs rIgadierGenerals, United States
Army, only, to take effect March 10.
1919: Brig Gems Farrand Sayre, Tyree
II. Rivers. William II. Burt. James
u. Glennan. Golden LII. Ruggles,
charles Mex Saltzman. Herbert o. VIII
iams, John r. Madden, Samuel T. An
sell. John W. Barker. Robert NJ. Dan
ford James J Hornbrook".