The Washington herald., 1919-02-27
HOT FEUD RACES
ON ARMY COURT,
HEARING SHOWS
Ansell Scored by Two Fel-
low Officers for His
Humane Stand"
FAVORITISM IN TRIALS
Department Ordered That
Conscientious Directors
Be Not Put on Trial.

A striking contrast between the hu-
name manner in which the War De-
partment treated conscientious OBJ
jectors." who refused to perform any
military duty, and soldiers in the
ranks who committed trivial infrac-
tions OF rigid army discipline was
presented to the Senate Military AZ
fairs Committee by Senator Chamber
lain, chairman. yesterday.
The committee met to hear further
testimony in relation to the Chamber
lain bill TO revise the court martial
procedure so as to wipe out the in
justice inflicted upon military Offend
ers.
1t was shown that while thousands
Of these young men were bel son
tenced to long terms in prison. dis
missed in disgrace from the army,
and their pay forfeited. the generals
In command OF all the military camps
throughout the country were under
orders from the War Department to
handle conscientious objectors with
tact and cons liberation" that they
were not TO be treated as having vio-
lated the military laws and were not
to be subjected 10 penalty.
The order was issued October 10. 1918.
~ AAlt NJ u As1l4l al II - Learn
ed, apparently with the approval OF
Secretary OF War Baker.
Before introducing the document.
Senator Chamberlain advised other
members OF the committee that he
would reserve a place in the record
for any answer which Secretary Baker
might see fit to send 10 the committee
on the subject He added:
Il am quite sure the Secretary OF
War might want 10 deny this order 80
The order. which is marked ",an-
fidential." reads. in part as follows
From: The Adjutant General Of
the Army.
ITO: The Commanding Generals
Of the National Army and National
/ Guard Division Camps.
subject: Conscientious Objectors.
The Secretary Of War directs
that you be instructed to spCregate
conscientious objectors in their df-
visions and to place them under
supervision Of instructors who shall
be specially selected with a view OF
insurinE that these men will be
handled with tact and consideration
and that their questions will be
answered fully and frankly.
with reference to their attitude
Of objecting to military service.
these men are not to be treated as
violating military laws. thereby
suhjeCting themselves to penalties
I Of the articles OF war. but their at
titude in this respect will be quietly
ignored and they will be treated
with kindly consideration
Attention in this connection is in
Vited to case where a number of
conscientious objectors in one Of
our divisions. when treated in this
manner. renounCed their original
/ objections to military service and
voluntarily offered to give their
best efforts to the service OF the
, United States as soldiers.
Under no circumstances are the
instructions contained in the forsco-
ing to be given to the newspapers. 90
1T was under these instructions
that the Jail delivery of tha men
who had refused TO perform any mil
itary duty took place" commentad
Serator Thomas Of Colorado. as.er
Senator Chamberlain had finished
reading the order.
Witnesses Attack AnseII.
The committee heard two witnesses
/ on the bill to revise the court mar
! tjal procedure. both or whom declar-
4 ed no change in the present system is
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.