Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-09-18

delaying punishment to make suffi-
cient allowance for special case.
Many offences were committed in
order to escape regimental duty and
fighting by undergoing punishment.
We eventually took to forming pun
ishment companies. which were en-
ployed on work in the front trenches.
That is a sad chapter talked it over
with the war minister. He IS respon-
sible for the administration of justice
in the army; general headquarters had
nothing to do with 1t.
Even in dealing with the army COM
manders all l could do was to point
out and emphasize that the mainten-
ance of discipline was the first es-
sential. The commanding officers had
to be instructed as TO the powers and
means of dispensing jupsrlce at their
disposal All army commanders were
convinced of the iron necessity of ex-
erting their influence accordingly.
With that, all that could be done
from outside was done; it now became
the duty of the troops to display the
strength required to keep their dis
cipline unimpaired. Here again all
depended upon the officer And If the
discipline in units became slack, the
commanders are not without fault.
DtStOnteut FROM f1OIlc.
During this time, on the occasion of
exercises, l had many conversations
with officers of all rank, and they all
complained of the tired and discon-
tented spirit which was being brought
, into the army from home. The leave
men had been exposed to the influ-
ence of agitators, and the new drafts
| had bad influence on discipline. All
this was lowering the fighting value
of the army
Among a number of drafts very
serious Irregularities had occurred,
particularly among those from Ba-
varia and the east. There were also
! strong complaints about the spirit of
the men trained at the Belgian train
| ing camp of Beverloo (open mutinies
at this camp were reported several
I times).
/ The units attached all the more i'm
| portance to getting back to the great
Test possible extent men who had al
ready served in their ranks, and who
belonged to them territorially. AS far
as possible l met their wishes. but
could not always get it done After
| wards | heard that somebody IN an
1 office at home had been Systematically
| opposing these measures. There were
ithose who were working to under
mine the army.
4 I repeatedly spoke about the spirit
of the people at home with the au-
tthorities concerned. In these days
1 was for the first time met with the
reply that men were also returning
from the army discontinued and tired
i of war.
/ They seemed surprised at this; but
tat some time or other the army was
I bound to echo back what was so con-
stantly being shouted into it from
lhome; every part of the army at the
front was bearing heavy burdens
heavier W far than ever the people al
home. did. Aks.
Mass of Army Still Loyal.
The man who joined the army after
being embittered and worked on By
i agitators at home. and then had tc
suffer great hardships, could not hell
causing more ill-feeling when he goI
home again. But, in spite of these
disintegrating influences, and in spite
Of the decay of discipline. the mass Of
i the army was enthusiastically conf.
,ldent of victory. .s,sl (
i 1t has always been an article Of