The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-01
RECALCITRANT ATTITUDE

'"To illustrate their recalcitrant at 1 titude, if the meals which were pro- | vided for them and other prisoners did 1 not suit them they would engage in
 throwing the dishes, camp stools and l their mess kits around the mess hall acting in the most mutinous and disor- | derly manner. This was done on one occasion because they were not given i grapefruit and eggs for breakfast i When ordered to stand at attention by | officers engaged in inspection duty, | they would refuse to assume a proper | position; in order to provoke these officers they would defiantly put their feet as far apart as possible and make grimaces at them. asking them what they were going to do about it. N Tn every way they manifested the most contemptuous hostility to every thing connected with the military es- tablishment. While these conditions | prevailed, on October IS was re- 1 quested by the commanding general to investigate complaint as to the treat
 ment by the officers in charge of these pretending objeetors.s This was entirely aside from my regular duties ] as camp judge advocate, and it's per- formance was optional with me- But being desirous of rendering the fullest service possible, I undertook the per Iormance of it. I examined the camp SS, ! tains Whitman and Buckley of the reg ular army, commander of the guards and officer of the day on the date of the alleged ill-treatment and also two enlisted men of the guard. I learned
 from these officers and men the de- liant attitude and open disobedience of
 these prisoners and was assured bv every one of them that no punitive hardships were being imposed upon
 them and that they were being prop- erly treated. I then suggested to Col onel Barnes that I interrogate. these
 prisoners whereupon Colonel Barnes urged me not to do so, saying that
 they were becoming more amenable 70
 prison discipline and that for me to take it up with them would have the
 effect to inflame them and encourage
 them to further disobedience Colonel
 Barnes is veteran of the Spanish American war, of the Philippine and
 Mexican campaigns, with 30 years ex- perlence and honorable service as a cavalry officer. I thereupon made the
 following report to General Wood the camp commander:
 October IA, 1918. From; The Camp Judge Advocate To: The Executive Officer
 Subject: Investigation of report of treatment of conscientious obiectors In provost guard house, made by Mrs. J. Breger
 l. have carefully investigated the
 complaint of the above named Mrs. I
 Breger. Her son, Private Beniamin Bre
 ger or Berger, is confined in the provost
 guard house awaiting trial for violation,
 or orders given him by superior of-
 hcer to perform duty that was in no sense actual military service, and which
 under the executive order, G. 70. 2S. of March B, 1s1s even if he is sincere in
 n1s alleged conscientious opposition to war, he should have performed Tbese
 alleged conscientious objectors, made un or socialists, I. w. w, pro-Germans. and people of that ilk, seem to lose sight
 Of the fact they are soldiers in the mill tary service of the United States. and while they are extended some considera. tion by the executive order mentioned.