Arizona republican., 1919-03-06
CHAMBERLAIN |S FRANK IN CHARGE AGAINST MAJOR
Criticises Both Baker And Provost Marshal - Mil tary Justice Becomes Big Issue-Gen. Ansell Testi- mony May Result In His Dismissal.
Republican A. p. Leased wirel

WASHINGTON. March 5.-Another chapter in the controversy between congress and the war department over Che general question of military justice, was added today by Senator Chamber lain, chairman of the military commit tee, in the last session, who issued a statement declaring that erroneous and false statements were contained iu Che reply of Major General Crowder. judge advocate general. to the senators address in the senate last December.
 Senator Chamberlain also sharply criticised Secretary Baker. declaring he mad permitted himself Go be guided by the reactoEary, clements or the army" Referring Co the correspondence be- tween Mir. Baker and Representative Gould Of New York, regarding Briga- diCr General Ansell. former actins judge advocate general, who recently testified before congressional commit tees concerning court martial eases, thc senator said the sccretarys next step would "be Co reduce the rank of General Ansell,' and added. "no man who is not wholly impervious to the iu- humanity in the court martial system 'and Co the opinion of the country could not only refuse Co change the conditions. but also punish the man
 
 else. for the conditions being made known. and for such steps as have been taken by the military authorities To thange and correct them"
 Says Baker Misstate
 General CrOwders letter replying to Senator Chamberlain's address was placed in the congressional record last Monday by Representative Lunn oi New York.
 Accompanying it was letter from Mr. Baker, Saying the generals reply had been sent Co Senator Chamberlain several weeks ago
 Admitting that he received the let ter. the oregon senator .said it con tained so many misstatements of fact that l hesitated Co make it public be- cause l did not care 10 embarrass the secretary by having him stand sponsor and be responsible for such erroneous and false statements in an Officiai communication Co the senate of tho United States"
 Senator Chamberlain discussed al length the case of soldier on military duty found in a shop at night. and sentenced to a long term Of imprisou- ment The soldier claimed at the trial that Inc had heard a noise in the shop and had entered. thinking a rObber was In this place. This was one of the many cases referred to by the senatuA in his original speech. and it was treated in General Crowders reply.
 crowdsr Also "lneorreet"
 General Crowder. in his endeavor to furnish me with authentic data i'm this case,' said the senator. says. nothing about the court martial, first acquitting this soldier and then subsequently. at the direction of the commanding offl- ccr who appointed the court. reversing itself and finding the scfdicr guilty and imposing a long prison sentence. lie simply states that the accused soldier story was disbelieved. and he was found guilty This statement is wholly incorrect-I have read the record ana he apparently has not"
 Declaring that on the very day Gen. cral Crowder signed the memoranduu- g. reply submitted to congress. he aisc signed a memorandum recommending that this soldier be released and re. stored to his previous status in the ai - y. Senator Chamberlain said: q have gone at length into the misstatements of General Crowder concerning this ease. SO as to show conclusively how unworthy of acceptance his reply to mC is. In regard to other cases cited ON mo. 1t is sufficient to state that tn, same false anWers are made.
 Ansell Still Safe
 WASHINGTON. March D. Repre. sentative Gould of New York wrot, Secretary Baker today, renewing his request for information as Co the trut' of published reports that Brigadiei General Samuel T. Ansell. former act. ing judge advocate general of the armN was to be discharged from his present temporary rank. thus automatically be coming a lieutenant colonel. the ranl he held before the war.
 General Ansell recently testified be. fore congressional committees regard ing military justice. In replying to Mir Could's first letter. the war secretar7 eaid no officer who had appeared be fore such committees had been dts cipllned for it. nor questioned regardinl his testimony.