The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-04
MEN nv UNIFORM
ARE NOT IMMUNE
Major General c. r. Edwards Declares
That They Should Be Arrested When
Considered Guilty Of Law
Violation.

Major General C. r. Edwards, com
handing the northeastern section of the
United States army, has written the
following letter to Governor Graham on
the treatment 10 be accorded soldiers BY
civilian authorities;
My dear Governor: / learned upon my
return to the United States that an en-
listed man who is honorably discharged
from the service is permitted to wear one
suit Of outer uniform clothing from the
place Of the termination Of his actual
service to his home, and / now under
stand that he may retain his uniform.
When a soldier is discharged from the
army, it goes without saying he reverts
to the status Of civilian and the army
has no jurisdiction over him even though
he wears his uniform Again, should
these men become guilty Of intoxication,
disorderly conduct, or other violations Of
the Law, the disposition of their cases
falls to the civilian authorities, as the
army has no jurisdiction in the matter
II ia reported TO me that there have
been cases Of discharged soldiers, who
were still wearing the uniform Of the
United States army, obtaining liquor in
New England, and have been seen in
public places in an intoxicated condition.
| know that, as a rule, civilian author
tiles are inclined to be kind and tolerant
to o soldier and are loathe to arrest a
man in uniform on account Of the serv-
ice that the uniform indicates, and would
be glad to show him every consideration,
The federal law prohibits the selling Of
Intoxicating liquors to soldiers in uni
form, and as you readily understand, any
such acts tend to bring discredt on the
uniform OF the service because few can
differentiate between the soldier in active
service and the one discharged, both clad
alike as they will be under the cireum.
stances,
All these things warrant my writing
you to make the suggestion that all men
in uniform who are guilty of intoxica-
| ton, disorderly conduct, or other viola
lions of the law, be Immediately arrested
/ by the civil authorities. If the nina so
arrested claims that he has been dis
( charged from the service, his case can
| then be disposed of by the civil author
tiles. If he is still soldier would re.
quest the civilian authorities to turn him
over Immediately TO the military.
/ will issue orders that provost guards
and others in authority cooperate in
every way with the civil authorities, and
( if such military authorities have no jur-
| isdiction they will inform the civil au-
/ thorities, that nothing untoward may
! happen to impair the good record that
understand has been made throughout
/ New England as we'll as in France,
You will appreciate it is wise to an
/ ticipate this matter and make provision
as far as possible, as there will be a
great many discharged soldiers in New
/ England and the numbers will constantly
increase as rehabilitation progresses,
and unless energetic steps are taken at
once TO meet this situation, and definite
policy in regard to it outlined and en-
forced and complete cooperation be con
tinued between the civil and military
authorities, perhaps unfortunate things
may happen.
1 / trust that this view Of the case will
meet yours, and ! take the liberty Of
sending 100 mimeographed copies of this
letter with the suggestion that they be
distributed to the proper officials Of your
state as an inclosure, if you think wise,
to any directions or appeal that you de-
sire to make Very sincerely yours,
c. r. Edwards, Major General,
u. S. Army, Commanding.