Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-01
SILENT ONCHARGE
Of REPR|MAND
TOGEN. CROWDER
Gen. March Silent on State
ment Brought Out in Har-
vey's Weekly.
DISCUSSION Renewed
ON OTHER CONTROVERSY
Matters Relating to Draft and Al
legged Reprimand of Gen. Crowder
Told by Harvey Publication.

Aoiu ny ndrVey Fubilcatlon.
Gen. Peyton C. March. chief of stan
today declined to comment upon
charges that Maj. Gen. Enoch Fl. Crow
der, provost marshal general. had been
1eprimanded by Gen. Marcel for ONT
lining to a Senate committee features
OF the comprehensive draft plan which
later was adopted and is credited to
rave been major factor in Americas
victory in the war.
Charges Made in Harvey's Weekly
The charges were made ir IN.
weekly, under date of today. editxd
and written by George Harvey.
publication of these charges led To
renewed discussion today of another
phase of the relations of Gen. Crow
der and Gen. March. which has been,
widely talked about in Washington
Dut never officially disclosed
AT the height of the operation of the
selective draft plan. when Gen. croxs
DER and his aids We're working night
ana day to meet the demands for men
mat mobilization plans called for.
zen. Crowder suddenly was offerev3
Mnat was termed at the War DEPART
ment overseas duty"
Other Phases Brought Up.
Gen. Crowder had been anxious for
active service abroad. in the fighting
zone, and publication of reports that
he had asked that he be not removed
from his position as provost marshal
general at that time caused wide
comment. But it later was learned.
though Gen. Crowder steadfas4ly de-
clined to discuss the matter. that
the overseas duty" referred 70 was
on a diplomatic mission in neutral
country. s.
1t is understood that Gen. Crowdef
pointed out that such service could
De performed by many men. whereas
his knowledge of the operation OF tine
draft law made him 5f unique value
in Washington so long as he was not
to have his wish for assignment In
the zone of action.
Gen. McCain's Removal.
Anotherisubject of wide comment In
Army circles at the same time was
the removal of Maj. Gen Henry p.
Mccain from the Office of adjutant
general to take command at Camp
Devens, Mass. 1t was held by critics
of the general staff that Gen. Me-
Cain had made a remarkable record
in handling the immense amount OF
work devolving upon his Office. had
organized If to a high state of efficiz
ency, was thoroughly familiar with
its working and that his removal re-
suited in many of the alleged faults
If n Vff 20
he departed
In the charges made i'm The Week.
iy IT is asserted that Gen March
ordered Gen. Crowder to his Office and
severely reprimanded him for having
encroached on the precincts of the
general staff" following Gen. Crow
der's suggestions made at the request
of the Senate committee.
The provost marshal general in
the opinion of Gen. March, had COM
mitted a most severe offense against
any discipline. OF course. the provost
marshal general and none other was
responsible for the men until they
were actually>sworn into the service
Reprimand Commented On
This reprimand, it is stated, was
stamped on Gen. Crowder's record.
Gen. Crowder accepted the reprimand
like the good soldier that he is. But
few of his intimates heard the facts.
and they were horrifiei that at the END
of forty years of honorable service this
officer, who had prepared, perfectea
and executed the mechanism for
draft which had done more than any
other single thing in our history 70
make great army possible, had been
so treated
Events leading up to this reprimand
are recited by Col Harvey, in his
magazine, as follows:
Events Leading to Reprimand.
"A year ago. when the war machine
was wabbling from bad to worse,
Gen. Crowder realized that the coun-
try would be impotent in the war
until the nations man power w&x
mobilized to the limit for industrial
and militia ~ pLrpcS.S. r.hereu>on fA
prepared and submitted to the WAR
Department the most comprehensive
military and industrial draft plan
that was ever outlined in this or any
other country.
The plan has never been publishad.
II probably never will be published
unless Congress demands il. The
American Federation of Labor exerted
tremendous power to stop its execu-
ton and the War Department re-
fused to approve it Labor was
against il because il would destroy
labor's license 10 maintain exorbitznt
wages. The War Department op-
posed it because the mismanaEe6
tumble which Mr.. Baker called a war
machine, at that time. could not
digest It
Gen. Crowder Before COMMITTEES.
But the demand for q universal
draft became So great that Gen. Crow
der was called before the Senate COM
mittee, and he then exposed the mex
orable and immediate need for en-
larged man power. although Mr.
Baker and Gen. March. as their tes-
timony showed, took an opposite view
of the situation. But Gen. Crowder's
advice was followed eventually, and
the great Army which shattered the
Huns morale became a reality. The
men were called months and months
after Gen. Crowder urged that they
be called and in not nearly SO great
number, but nevertheless his fore
sight availed, at least TO degreA
None who has the slightest conception
of military affairs now doubts that
the spectacle of millions abont TO be
trained in America, already listed for
service, exerted a tremendous fnda-
ence on the German yellow streak.
Gen. Crowder's patriotism was his
ri ma nj