The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-03-22
NO COMMENT AVAILABLE

BY AssoelSteu TFess
Washington, March Elm the abb
sence Of Secretary Baker and Assistant
Secretary Keppel. no comment was
available at the war department on
statements made in Kansas City today
by Maj Dick b. Foster. charging that
secret orders" issued by Secretary "a
ker covering the treatment OF conscien-
tious DIRECTORS had served to stimulate
/. w w and other radical Propaganda
in the army. II was pointed out. how
ever that the orders of the departme mt
during the war in this regard had heen
inserted in the Congressional RECORD
some weeks ago, including those orders
from which Major Foster read excerpts
to support his contention.
The conscientious obiccror problem
was more trouble at Camp Funston,
where Major Foster was on duty,
than at any other post. it was said, and
Investigations of various kinds were
made during the war b. the military
agencies because Of the situation at
the camp The largest number of men
in the conscientious DIRECTORS class at
any camp was reported from Camp
Funston, and some instances OF al
legged extreme severity in treatment OF
prisoners there were reported. lnves-
LEGATIONS were ordered, but no discipli-
nary httiVil VNo ssAA>~'- &c -
camp authorities.
Tie records of the war department
also contain reports on Investigations
resulting from charges made as to dis
examination by Major Foster in his ad-
ADMINISTRATION of camp concessions NO
warrant for action Of any sort against
him was developed, however. and IN
recommending him for promotion, Maj.
Gen Leonard Wood, commanding, SAID
he had displayed great efficiency In
bringing order out of chaos in the af-
fairs OF the post exchange which had
been placed under his supervision.
OFFICERS NOT SURPRISED
Some Officers informally expressed
the opinion that they were not surprised
that the so-called secret orders of the
department as demonstrations Collectors
had been interpreted in the light put
upon them by Major Foster. The whole
problem OF the Collectors was DIFF
ficult one to handle, it was said. and
many conferences and debates were
held at the department with both mill
tary and civil representatives before
the orders in question were issue !.
The suggestion that the prohibition
against publication of the orders con
tanned in them was intended to conceal
the action OF the war department from
the country at large was not considered
rxeriously by these officers, who said
the actual purpose YVES to prevent a
spread Of conscientious objector dis
affection through advertisement of the
problem these cases presented.
The intima ton Of Major Foster tina:
secret orders had gone to the local draft
boards was said by war department Of
ficiais to be without basis. One officer
said that since there fwere nearly 5000
of theze boards, the secret" would have
had to be shared with probably $4,000
officials and attaches wholly outside
rne war department or the government;
service and to which they were related
for the most part only by voluntary SCI
vice. Tnder those conditions. II was
said, the possibility Of maintaining ,.
crecy as to any OF the functions de-
{Csntinued Or PAGE Two)