The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1919-03-11
CR0WDER EXPLAINS
DIFFERENCES
Between Himself and General
Ansell Regarding the Ad-
ministration of Justice

IOVS" "SSA AAAAAA0SAA 0AAA 00AAOA a
Ansell Regarding the Ad-
| ministration of Justice
INSPECTION OF MATTER
! Washington, March 10.-Differ-
ences between Major General Enoch
H. Crowder, Judge Advocate General
and Brigadier General Samuel T.
Ansell, former acting Judge Advo-
cate General, were explained and
the ordering of thorough investi-
cation by the Inspector General of
the Army into the whole subject of
the administration of military JUS
|tice during the war was disclosed in
"a letter from General Crowder to
Secretary Baker, made public yester-
day at the War Department.
Accompanying General Crowder's
letter was one from Mr.. Baker ask
ing the Judge Advocate General for
a complete statement as to the op-
GRAFTON of military justice. The Sec
retary wrote that his own acquaint-
ance with the facts convinced him
that the conditions implied by re-
cent complaints ''do not exist and
had not existed" but that it was
Essential that the families of all
those young men who had a place
in our magnificent army should be
reassured."
In reply, General Crowder made
a general defense against recent
criticisms in Congress and elsewhere
concerning courts-martial cases and
charged that General Ansell, with
out his knowledge and consent had
submitted brief to Secretary Baker
early in the war urging revolution
in the military justice System.
Gen. Crowder also said that at
about the same time that this brief
was submitted, Gen. Ansell without
consulting the Secretary of War OBJ
tanned an order from the chief of
staff appointing Ansell acting Judge
Advocate General.
This was after General Ansell
had requested General Crowder's
aid in getting such an order and
had been told by the latter to take
the matter up with Mr.. Baker. The
order was revoked by Secretary
Baker before it was published after
General Crowder had called it to
Mr.. Bakers attention.
The Judge Advocate General said
the supposed. controversy" between
himself and General Ansell as to
military justice had been magnifed
since "the real issues and the only
ones" were in differences of opin-
ion as to whether the power to re-
view and overturn executed verdict
of general courts-martial existed and
whether that power should be exer-
cised by the Judge Advocate General
or the President.
l. Turning to criticisms that the SEN
tences of courts-martial during the
war have been atrociously severe,
General Crowder vote that this was
not criticism osthe system of mil
itary justice and not a criticism of
his administration Of that system.
1T is criticism" he said, "of
the officers who imposed, for in
stance, sentences Of death for senti-
|nels convicted of sleeping on post,
for soldiers willfully and contuma-
ciously refusing to obey the direct
orders Of their commanding officers,
and for desertion in time Of war and
It Is a criticism Of the Congress
which authorized death penalty, in
plain statutory terms to be assessed
on convictions for these offenses. II
do not mean to say that, II criti-
cism In this connection is due am
immune. am not, agree with the
statute, and shall defend 1t, but I i
am not responsible for It,"
After referring to the fact that 1t
was on his recommendation after
the resumption Of full charge of the
office Of the Judge Advocate Gem
eral, at the end Of hostilities that
Ia board of clemency was convened
to undertake with the greatest ex-|
pedition the adjustment Of wartime
punishments to peace-time stand
ards, General Crowder said:
II come now, with the utmost re-. !
luctance to a few distatesful para
graphs Of personal vindication. MY
motives and my action hare been at-
tackled and have been advertised
a. having hampsred ehe efforts Of
General Anssli, I hav3 been set OF
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