Arizona republican., 1919-03-07
REDUCE ANSELL TOF0RMERRANK
 |S BAKER ORDER
Secretary States Reduction Has No Relation To Rec ent Controversy - Will Still Review Cases Of Military Injustice -Kreg- CT Supplants Crowder During Latter's Absence In Cuba.
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON, March 6.-Brigadier General Samuel T. Ansell, former act ing judge advocate general, and one of the central figures in the controversy with regard to the administration of military justice, will be returned to his rrewar rank in the army, March 10. along with eleven other brigadiers.
 At the same time Secretary Baker disclosed that Brigadier General Ed ward A. kreger had been directed to return from France to act as judge ad- vocate general during the absence in Cuba of Major General Enoch II. Crow der. General Ansell, with his regular rank of lieutenant colonel, will con- tinue by direction of General Crowder as chairman of the board reviewing court martial proceedings, with view to recommending communication of ex- cessive sentences.
 Secretary Baker said the discharging of the twelve brigadiers from their temporary rank was in the ordinary routine of demobilizing the war army. and that the fact th-t General Ansell was among the number had mo rela- tion with the controversy which has existed with regard to the administra- ton of military justice and clemency."
 1OhNA 0A NAt6Ol iiOloS NAiC diih OL lieutenant colonel in the regular army having been advised to that rank on May 15, 1917. the same day on which General Ansell was given similar grade Both officers later were given tempor- ary commissions as brigadier generals General kreger was sent to France re- gently to review court martial cases in the American expeditionary forces, with view to expediting such reviews and the granting of such clemency as might be found warranted.
 General Pershins protested against the order to turn over court martial records to General Kreger holding that its effect was to take out of his hands the whole question of the disciplining of his forces. Many officers believe that in recalling General Kreger the war department had decided to accept Gen eral Pershing's views.
 Secretary Bakers statement on the recall of General Kreger follows: Secretary Baker announced tonight that Brigadier General Edward A. Kre- ger now in charge of a branch in i France of the office of the judge adyo- cate general had been ordered home to act as judge advocate general during | the absence in Cuba of Major General ! Enoch II. Crowder.
 I At the same time announcement was made that nearly a score of general of ficers had been ordered back to their rank in the regular army. among them 1 being Brigadier General Samuel T. An sell. formerly acting judge advocate general. With his rank of lieutenant colonel of the regular army, General Ansell has been designated by General Crowder to continue as chairman in the 1 clemency board in the office of the ad 1 vocate general
 | Secretary Baker issued this, state ment:
 "Brigadier General Edward A. 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 desig- mated as acting judge advocate general
 Ansell is Reduced
 "In the ordinary routine of demobil- ! izing the army. a large number of of- 1 ficers in various bureaus of the war de partment, holding temporary rank have been returned to their regular army status. Brigadier General Ansel ] is among this number. The action thus | taken has no relation to the contro- \ NcrSy WnlCl HdS tAlSleu NIlu TeSdIu tt | he administration of military justice and clemency.
 By direction of the judge advocate | general, General Ansell will continue tC
 be chairman of the clemency board l composed of officers of the judge advo-
 cate generals office, reviewing court martial proceedings, with a view tC recommending communication of eXces- ! sive sentences where found necessary.
 The special order issued under dat of March . for the reduction in grade O
 the brigadier generals reads as follows s'By direction of the president, th' following officers are honorably dis charged as brigadier generals, L. s. A. only. to take effect March 10. 1919 Brigadier Generals Farrand Sayre Tyre R. Rivers. William H. Burt, Jame D. Glennan, Golden H. Ruggles. Charle
 Staltzman, Herbert O. Williams, Johi F. Madden, Samuel T. Ansell, John W Barker. Robert M. Danforth, James J Hornbrook.'
 Tn addition, the honorable discharg
 into the army from civil life to talk
 charge of the spruce production worb was announced.