New-York tribune., 1919-08-27
The M. z. Problem
By Wilbur Forrest
Special Correspondent of The Tribune

DARIS, July 70 (By maiD.-~Some day,
possibly in the near future, Uncle
Sans army will again be called upon
to do little necessary work for humanity
this time nearer home. When this time
comesif it does--Uncle Sans army will
know the secret of military police control,
one of the vital factor, contributing toward
law and order either in an army or in an
occupied zone.
military police lesson has come out of
the war in~Europe.
1t is frankly stated in at least three
quarters Of the army to-day that our mill
tary police experiment early in the war was
a miserable failure. 1t is almost whole
heartedly stated every hand now that
the system is, and has been for some time.
bowling ess:
During the early stages of the American
army abroad it was the opinion of many
army men and some high up on the General
Staff that military policeman was a nee
essary evil and that most any one could fill
the job. Consequently most anybody was
selected to fill the position, just so he hap
pened to be a man whose presence could be
spared from the vital job of whipping the
enemy. Possibly 30 per cent Of the men so
chosen mlslnterpreted the power delegated
to them and possibly half of this number
shamefuly abused that power The mill
tary policeman carved ridiculous niche
for himself and became the butt of ridicule
among fighting troops who were constantly
asking whenever they saw him "Who won
the war;" or some other facetious interro-
notin ! Il. IL
and demonstrated his power with equally
insulting language, and even club or
gun.
The NJ r. problem began to get serious.
One day some one at General Headquarters
gave the question little, serious consdera-
ton and the appointment of general of
ficer followed. The general officer, Briga-
der General II. H. Bandholtz, veteran of
the Philippine Constabuary, Mexican Bor-
der and quite portion Of the European
War, was told that henceforth he would be
provost marshal general of the American
Expeditonary Force and that his duty was
to reorganize the military police
The full story of the reorganization of
the military police is too voluminous for
any newspaper, but the fact remains to-day,
at the twilight Of the departure of General
Bandholtz for America, that his work should
be mentioned outside the mute records of
the American army. In brief, the American
military policeman OF yesterday in Europe
is not the American military policeman Of
to-day.
The secret of reorganization was, in
sense, "horse sense"
The most anybody" NJ. P who wore
gun or carried club, and, as many brands
Of American civil 2cop,' wanted every one
to realize that fact, was quickly yanked
from his pedestal. He was rapidly replaced
by young men, preferably from combat
units who could prove claim to "horse
sense some amount of tact, level-headed-
ness and perspective. Then the military
police stock began TO avate. The SLOUGH
ing minion Of military law who went out Of
his way 10 dodge salutng an officer. ached
to use his club and authority on the first
fresh doughboy and exercised his own
freshness Oh each and every occasion, be-
gan to disappear. His place was taken by
the erect. intelligent, snappy young mill