Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-03-07

from his war time rank have been cur rent several days and have been the subject of two letters from Repre- sentative Gould, of New Yourk, to sec retary Baker. Replying to the first of the letters, Mir. Baker said no of- ficer of the army had been disciplined or even questioned regarding testi- mony before committees of congress. Kreger It. Colonel
 General Kreger holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the regular army, having been advanced on May 10th, 1917, the same day on which General Ansell was given similar grade. Both officers later were given Generals. General Kreger was sent temporary commission as Brigadier to France recently to review court martial cases in the American Expe- ditionary Forces with a view to ex- pediting such reviews and the grant ing of such clemency as might be found warranted.
 i General Pershing protested against the order to turn over court martial records to General Kreger, holding that it's effect was to take out of his hands the whole question of discipline of his forces. Many officers believe that in recalling General Kreger, the war department has determined to &C., cept General Pershing's view and either would withdraw it's order or amend it to make it's purpose clear and avoid any impression that it was intended to curb General Pershing's authority as commander in chief of the army in France.
 Bakers Statement. $, Secretary Bakers statement on the recall of General Kreger follows:
 "Brigadier General Edward K. Kre- ger has been directed by cable to re- turn to the United States and in the absence of General Crowder in Cuba General Kreger, as senior officer of the Judge-Advocate corps will be de signated as acting Judge-Advocate General.
 /; Tn the ordinary routine of demob- ilizing the army large number oi officers in various bureaus of the War Department holding temporarily rank. have been returned to their regular army status. Brisadier Gen. sd-moASHviaiiiiiiitoiieieiie
 eral Ansell is among this number This action thus taken has no rela- tion to the controversy which has existed with regard to the admins tration of military justice and elem. ency. . By direction of the judge-advocate : general. General Anseu will con tinue to be chairman of the elem. ency board composed of officers o1 the clemency board composed of of ficers of the judge advocate generals office reviewing court martial pro- ceedings with a view to- recommend ing communication of excessive sen- tences where found necessary"
 The special order issued under date of March 5th, for the reduction in grade of the Brigadier Generals reads as follows':, ::
 By direction of the President, the following officers are honorablv dis charged as Briagdier Generals United States army, only :..tn take effect March 10; 1919. Brigadier Generals Tarand Sayre, Tyree R. Rivers. Will liam H. Burt, James D. Glennan Golden l.. H. ,Ruggles. Charles; Nick. Saltzman, Herbert o. Williams John F. Madden, Samuel T. Ansell. John w. Barker, Robert NJ. Danford, James J. Hornbrook. "
 In addition, the honorable dis. : charge of Briagdier General Brice F Bisque, who came into the army from civil life to take charge of the spruce production work, was announced.