The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1919-08-25
ARMY COURT MARTIAL
APPROVED IN REPORT
With the Exception of Fcw Minor
Changes System VIII Remain As
at Present. Baker Declares.
DISCIPLINE is ESSENTIAL
Chamberlain Bili Which Would Re-
wise Present Method Of Punish
mcnt Comes inefor Criticism.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 24-In ap-
proving the report submitted to him
by Major Francs kernan. head
Of the special war department board
on court martial and their proceed
ure. secretary Baker today took the
official stand that the present Eys-
tenn should not be changed except In
minor details. Infcrentially, the
secretary upheld General Herman =
Views mat "Courts-martlal have al
ways been agencies for creating and
maintaining the dis 'ipline OF armies" +"
rather than agencies for the nice
eNemplification OF technical ru,cs OF
law"
The war departments board re
port reflected the opinion Of 225 Of
iicets who were circulatized More
than half OF these gave hearty Rp-
proval To the present system. i3
condemned II as basically wrong and
the remainder. at total OF 81. pointed
out specific weaknesses which they
thought should bo remedied. Tenn
porary officers were about equally
divided Tor and against any changes
The most serious defect In the
existing system, the report asserts,
arises from the lack OF competent
trial Judge advocates and counsel "
and as "A remedy. it IL recommended
that defense counsel be appointed foS
each general and special court mar
tal. and that special inducements he
offered young officers to study law
In order that they may be fitted for
these and other special duties,
IL is noticeable" the report said.
that officers who served wSh fight
ing units are as "a class favorable TO
tho present articles, on the other
hand. officers whsNa duties KEEP:
them remote fspu the scenes OF bat
tie Wow the ANtem with n more
critical eve and NIfSnifcstly compare
u with criminal fravtice In the civil
community to the adyanl@se Of the
latter"
Declaring that the sovereign rem
edy" proposed by the moY" pro-
nounced critics n 20 transtsr hd-
ministration TO those who are law
ycrs first and soldiers by courtesy
only. General Herman expressed the
opinion that this would make II i'm
possible for the commander TO oh
tain am0ng his troops the necessary y
discipline 10 military success which Is
tho FIRST purpose OF an army
The report criticises the pending
Chamberlain bin which would take
from The president and the war de-
poriment heads the power 20 review
courts-martial findings and place
appeal lin civilian hands, pure ana
simple. that Is. the court OF military
appeuIs. or In the QuaslciNilian legal
hands OF the Judge advocates pro
vided for general and special courts
martial -.
Under such a system, the report
holds Tho power 20 discipline et
fcrtiyrly. inseparately bound mp with
ths mower of effective command
would Nc paralyzed
Points out Difference,
referring 10 charges that sen
'encrg imposed upon soldiers Ior
minor offenses have been gro
t.sn,l.ry severe the report takes the
View that although such were me
rossffIe effects OF apparently F'-
gliry misdeeds 40 most cates, other
s,rt1rs justified the findings ASIDE
sr,,, tho loss I'm discipline resulting
s,,T, unpunlshcd acts OF hisohedl-
.rrr tnr report SAYS, there mm ne
r,cod tho unfair proporu,nn OF 49,
y,hish FAN upon the obedien1 solaler
ga resrr't and IN .Jany cases ihe
crave danger 10 the health or the
actual existence Of, the oitenalhN
soldier's organization