New Britain herald., 1919-04-24

tried are convicted" Col. Anseii added.
but continued: 'scf course, people in
she army arc not going around con-
victing enlisted men because they are
enlisted men and acguitting officers
because they are officers. That is not
true; but we do know that the Off
GERS set better trials
The records of the clelne ncy board,
of which he is the head. Col. Anseli
said, show that 36 per cent OF the
cases reviewed were not well tried and
that 20 per cent, were poorly tried:
William Freeland, OF Jacksonville
Fla, urged that a military appellate
court be created. citing his own e&-
periance as civil counsel for two men
who had been disna Used from the
service some years ago.
Representative Johnson. of South
Dakota, made public last night tel
egram to the bar association commit
tee asking that there be summoned
as witnesses in the inquiry some OF
the mem who are alleged to have sui
fcred injustice beca use Of the present
System and that they be permitted to
testify without fear OF punishps ant of
the War departm ent Unless this was
become a farce
The Intervention Of the Am erican
Bar association in the controversy
vas directly due to the suggestion OF
Lieutenant-Colonel Anseli, S. s. Greg
ory, chairman Of the associations
committee, stated yesterday In deny
ing published report that the COM
nafttee had been organized through
a,q I, IL ,,,4,c
forestaH q congressional inquiry.
Sentences Retiuccd.
Colonel sedgwicl5 Rice, commandment
Fort LeavenweHtl1. said that about 95
per cent of the naen received at the
disciplinary barracks whose sentences
included dishoneraole discharge had
that portion Of the sentence suspend
Cd. From the beginning Of tho war
up to April Il a. tcata4 o. s,4s7 prison
ers had been received, no said, of
whom, on their own application, 1910
had been assigned TO the disciplinary
battalions. to which only men con-
victed Of purely military ofYenses had
been eligible. CT these. ,,1o7 were
restored to duty as q result OF their
work in the battalion.
vi kAp6b fGSlcIcd III u4Ay LIE az
pregate OF their sentences vas s,2gs
years, which had been reduced
through she disciplinary system to
$3.50 months, the average time served
being Ave months and 8 u days
The officer told of the formation by
direction OF Secretary Baker of a
ciemency board at the barracks in
February, adding that 1t had always
been his understanding that the long
sentences imposed during the war
| were intended as a lesson and would
| be adjusted after the war. The Leav-
enworth clemeney board has forward
| ed s,eoe recommendations for elena
ency to the clemenoy board In the
| Judge advocats-generars departn en-
and about SO per cent. Of these have
been acted upon and returned. Hs
| added that approximately 500 ner
were released Immediately as a result
OF this action and that paroles woul6
| be granted In a large number Of cases
| The recent strike at the disciplinar,
barracks. Colonel Rice said, wa!
! brought about by professional agI
| tators and strike leaders, among tn,
| prisoners and the only complain
made was against Inequality OF sen
| fences. When the prisoners com, n, Ut
tee WAS told that the War department
already was considering the Who'll,
matter the, strike camA 70 an end.