Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-01
Court.Martial Defects

To the Editor Of the EUening Public Ledger:
Sir-From present discussions and agita-
tion, 1t Is apparent we about to witness
some radical changes in that part of our
army administration code known as Articles
of War, violations of which are tried by
courts-martial.
The present dissatisfaction with recent
sentences bears heavily upon the shoulders OF
officers commissioned for the present emer-
gency" and. to a less degree. National Guard
officers. For this reason l hope whatever
changes Congress makes In the Articles of
War will not entirely reflect the present tenn
perature of public feeling. because recent ar
ticles and discussions have not fairly covered
the situation. which is a war-with-Germany
situation. / frankly admit that whatever
foundation In fact there is in recent magni-
fled accusations of miscarried justice 1t lies
largely with us new officers and National
Guard officers. BY new officers ! mean
civilians treated to a three months training
camp course-an institution demanded by
stupendous undertaking requiring speed, and
where, in perhaps zoe, 900 cases. the incubator
eggs to be Matched into officers expected to
be the equals of West Pointers and the su-
periors of Prussian Guard officers but were
far reg,oved by nature, experience and ambi-
tion from what ideal officer should be !;
certainly not trained for wise and broadmind-
ed judges. The training camp course COM
pleted, we were decorated with silver or gold
bars, officers of the United States army.
This is picture of myself If of no one else,
who served six months as a private and
then went through h itself to win a COM
mission In the Coast Artillery.
But just as the airplane program fell be-
hind schedule the shipbuilding plans became
badly involved; Just as the machine guns,
small arms cannon, clothes and some other
things were slow in being turned out--so some
of use new officers made mistakes. Some of us
are back in civil life again. and the present
charges are for us to answer. Like a new
ship that needs shaking down, and recauk-
ing. we needed experience to balance our de-
cisions to make us remember that the men
trial were also new to their tasks, and
should have been forgiven much. And while
some of US might have been drunk with our
authority. blinded by the glare of our new
bars, thing the highest spirit of patriotism
and fairness was behind our decisions.
The flame of criticism is burning danger
ously In high and low places, fed upon num-
erous questions, in this great country today.
But we should not forget the scorn with
which we held "slackers" that we were but
recently asking the question, Can this war
last three more years?" that we were facing a
very struggle for national life only a few
months ago.
Might Il not be wise, without impairing
military discipline or efficiency, to appoint
army judges, officers such as colonel or higher
rank. to pass sentence on all persons con-
victed before a general or special courts
martial. leaving summary courts-martial un-
changed? Such rank, with careful choice
would assure judges Of wide experience. and
IL would eliminate a situation whe 111n
younger eoacsrs sitting In ooustA vote &los