The sun., 1919-04-08
BAKER ASKS ANSELL
T0PREpARE A BILL
Directs Critic to Embody Re
Y forms Needed in Court
ri Martial System.
SAYS HE FAvORS CHANGES
Declines, However, to Receive
Personal Criticisms From
3 Lieutenant-Colonel.
s,,c,a, Despatoa to TIVE Sun.


Special Despatch to TIVE Sun.
WASHINGTON. April Yielding to
tse demands of Lieut.: Col. Anseii'
former Acting Judge Advocate and one
of the leading adverse critics OF the
present ourt-martial system. Secretary
Baker has ordered the Acknowledgement
TO ask Lieut.. tool. Ansell to draw up
bill embodying changes which he thinks
are essential to correct deficiencies In the
present military justice system THIS
turn In the controversy between Lieut.
Col. Ansell and the War Department
was made known to-day when the text
of the Adjutant-Generals letter, was
made public.
Secretary Baker ordered the letter
prepared before he left washington on
lis trip to Europe, but he declined 10
receive criticisms of a personal nature
from Lieut. Col Ansell. However, the
Secretary is ready to act upon that part
of the former Judge Advocates com
munication dealing with reform in the
present court-martial system.
Text OF Letter to AnseIl.
]: The letter Of the Adjutant-General fol-
lows:
1.-THE Secretary Of War acknowledge
receipt through military channels or the
FIRST paragrap h OF the Enforcement made
by Lieut.-Col Anseli under date Of
April 2, dealing with the subject of pro-
posed changes in the system of military
Justice. The suggestions made BY Lieut.
Col Ansell are entirely appropriate IN
form and substance and merit earnest
consideration, which they will receive
With many of the suggestions the Secre-
tary of War finds himself In hearty ac-
cord IL in fact existing statute law is de-
fective in the particulars suggested by
the proposed changes.
an order that the subject may BE-
fully considered and the views OF Lieut.
Col. Ansell adequately studied It is d.
rected that Lieut. Col. Ansell prepare
and submit to the Secretary OF war at
the earliest possible date a draft OF such
bill as in his opinion would be adapted
to carry into effect the ideas expressed
In the first paragraph of his endorse
ment.
Refuses to Accept Part.
with regard to the second paragraph
Of the Endorsement which calls for this
memorandum the Secretary Of War de-
elines to receive officially the communi-
cation herewith returned. The commit
nication in question has already been
published and there Is therefore, no
point IN seeking to use the Secretary OF
War as a medium OF publicity
THE resort to personal comment IN
regard to this subject matter was not
begun by Gen. Crowder. II plainly
would have been more fitting and appro-
r7iate X never begun by anybody. II
has certainly been carried far enough
by everybody. -t'
THE Secretary OF War assumes
f.ieut Col. Ansell's earnest desire TO con-
centrate public attention and official at.
tention upon the Improvement OF the
system of military Justice and 10 quite
sure that a single minded and unbiased
consideration OF that subject can best
he assured by the abatement Of further
personal discussion and unanimity OF
EFFORT to work out the best results fol
the system which We all desire to i'm.
prove"
The publication Of the letter OF tn,
Acknowledgement, In the form OF a sen
eral order OF the War Department, fol
lows the unauthorized publication Of 4
note written by Secretary Baker, In whici
he returned TO Lieut.-Col. Ansell tn
communication submitted In reply Il
statements OF Gen. Crowder defending
The court martial system. In that not
letter of Lieut.. Col. Ansell. ASSERTING
that 1t was addressed to a discussion o
personal differences between the two Of
fcers, and not to the problem of mill
tary Justice.
Pershing Resains Full Power,
wAsHrNsToN, April 7.--Regulation
limiting Gen. Pershing's authority owe
court-martial proceedings abroad, :
which the General objected. have bee
revoked. An amendment to general or
der 81. OF 1917. published to-day by tn
War Department, shows that the Ian
suage making mandatory on the com
rnander recommendations OF the Actin
Judge Advocate General In France cha
sentences he set aside. disapproved o
modified has been stricken out.
The order amended has played a par
in the military justice controversy. Al
ter providing for the establishment OF
branch Office in Paris of the Judge Ad
vocate Generals Office where all court
martial cases arising abroad should b
reviewed, 1t. contained this provision
drawn up during the incumbency q
Iieut.-Col. Samuel T Arsell as Actin
Judge Advocate Genera
ANY sentence. or amy mart there
Of so found to be illegal, defective ~
void, in whole or in part, shall he 4 -
approved. ratified or set aside in ac-
cordance with the recommended tons
OF the Acting Judge Advocate Gem
eral Gin Parish
49, Gep. Pershing protested to the Wa
Department that this language took oil
or his hands control of the discipllnar
system of the army abroad and lodge
hnai authority In the hands OF the Ac
ing Judge Advocate General
IT was pointed out also that the r,
striction applied only TO the America
Expeditionary Forces and not to depar
mont or division commanders In II
United States. who retained their FIRE,
dom Of action as to court-martial ser
tences.