The sun., 1919-02-15
BRUTALITY IN ARMY
AROUSES CONGRESS
Senators and Representatives
Call for Punishment of
AutOcrats.
SYSTEM rs DENOUNCED
Officers Responsible for Excess
sive COurt-martial Sen
fences to Be Exposed.
Special Despotch TO THE srS.

Special Despdtch 10 THE Sen
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE Senate
took up to-day the question of extraordi"
nary severity in court-martial sentences
disclosed to the Military Committee yes
terday by acting Judge Advocate Cen
eral Ansel. and for almost an hour In
dulged in bitter condemnation not only
OF the faulty military laws which pro
vide inadequate opportunity for the re-
view of court-martial findings and insult
fcient opportunity for appeal to higher
Jurisdiction but OF the type of men who
could infiict such drastic punishrnents
for minor derelictions by the soldiers
Senator Borah (Ida.) led in the debate,
which was Joined in By Senators Knox
CPa), Pomerene (Ohio) and Norris
(Neb).
Early in the discussion Senator Nor
ris asked II the accounts printed in this
mornings papers wore accurate. He was
told by Senator Knox. who had attended
the examination of Gen. Ansell. that Il
the newspapers had erred at all it had
been on the side Of mildness.
THE Names of the officers responsible
for these particular brutal and unreason-
able sentences should be revealed to the
Senate" said Senator Borah.
Names May be Disclosed.
Gen. Ansell will be before the Mill
tary Committee tomorrow" responded
Chairman Chamberlain Of that commit
tee. land we will so into the personality
Of the officers then. One OF the very
great differences Is among lawyers as t.
the construction of a certain provision OF
the law.
Gen. Ansell and those who agree with
him insist that the Judge Advocate Gen.
erals Office has power to review proceed-
ings of the courts-!a2!iiat. while others
in the same branch OF the service holn
that the law does not give that power.
1 am disposed to agree with Gen. An
sells construction of it"
Il am thoroughly in sympathy with
the Senator's idea OF reviewing the en-
tire system OF dealing with conditions
such as are now dealt with under the old
system said Senator Borsh. but there
ia back of this something else. When a
nan assesses "A punishment such as has
been imposed in numerous instances for
the slightest derel!ction OF duty II is not
all due to the default of the law. There
is a default In the man.
Il have In my possession information
coming directly to me from man IA the
War Department who examined the rec
ord A boy was ordered TO peel potatoes,
which he declined to do, and ne was sent
to the pen for twenty years by a court
martial The man who assessed that
punishment ~ dangerous member OF
society He would commit murder II the
place were secret enough 80 that the
miserable coward would not be inter-
copied in his deed. Il is that man that l
want 70 reach. Militarism in the United
<s..f f1,, \. Ia "a
when x Is based upon such Infamous
practices as 1t IL IN Prussia
sharp Comment In House.
The House also INDUCED In soma sharp
comment on the subject ot tho severe
sentences. Representative Moore tPa),
IN the course Of the debate on the Army
Appropriation Bill, said that these con-
ditions called for the Impeachment OF
responsible officers and Representative
Dent (Ala) declared that he agreed
with Mr.. Moore.
After reading the testimony in re.
gard to the barharity OF certain Amer
lean officers who have no regard for the
flesh and blood OF the sons Of America
said MI Moore, II would go So far as
to lmpeach some Of those In power. As
one member OF Congress ! pledge myself
now 10 keen nay eys on this situation So
we NAV saw ~ human hru'es. those " no
are paradirG IN the rS'iform Of the
United States, that we shall take them
by the neck eve mas they have taken
our soldier citizens.
And. II need he We shall nCarCerate
them or give them the same kind Of
punishment they have been dealing out
to these helpless men. whose mouths
have been kept shut because OF military
restrictions and who will have no voice
against inhuman treatment until the
President proclaims peace or until they
are discharged and can tell their mem
bers OF Congress Just what happened to
! them"