Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-21
WAR OFFICE ASKED
TO OPROBE DIX BAN
Prosecutor Kelsey Says Com
imander Summerall Is Using
German Tactics
BARS SOLDIERS FROM TOWN

Prosecutor Kelsey. Of burlington
county, y. J., has written Adjutant
General Harris. Of the War Depart
ment, demanding an investigation of
the 'outlawing" of pcmbPrton, \. j..
by the military authorities at Camp
DIX.
That Is the latest development in the
controversy between the borough and
Major General Edward s. Summorall,
cornmandant Of Camp Dix and world
war hero. who led the Second Division
In France.
Prosecutor Kelsey threatened today
10 'order the M. l.. s'-thp general s
military police-off tho roads in the
vicinity Of PcmbCrton. 1t is charged
they have thrown an armed Gordon
around the town, permitting no one
from the camp to enter. and in many
Instances summarily removing soldiers
who had entered the town on business.
1--WE will see who is boss around
here" said the prosecutor.
.'The generals military police have
no authority over civilians, yet they
have subjected the citizens of this hor-
ough and surrounding territory TO num-
erous indgnitics.
"NOt Occupied Germany
''I shall see TO 1t that the military
police are taken of the roads. This is
not occupied Germany. and the mill
tary authorities are not going TO get
away with what amounts TO violations
Of constitutional rights
The letter written to the War Do
partment acts forth clearly the causes
OF difficulties between the town and
camp authorities as folIOws
p. c. Harris. Esq. adiutant general.
adjutant generals Office. Washing
ton.
Dear Sir Replying to your favor
Of the 9th instant. relative to orders
issued By commanding general. Camp
Dix, that enlisted men of his COM
mand shall not enter the borough Of
Pemberton.
The orders issued by him. on their
face. may appear 10 b" in line with
military policy but after an invPSti-
CATION by myself and interviewing Il
number Of enlisted men OF his com
mhnd. find 40 passes are permitted
TO be- issued to any enlisted man to
enter the borough Of pcmbrrtOn. and
that the borough Of pcmb"rton stands
alone in this respect compared To all
other muniripaitirS in III" county.
Other passes issued enlisted men do
not prohibit their entering any place
except the borough Of Pomhcrton.
= Town Placed Under Odium''
why this ban Is placed on IN" Dor
o,igh Of p"mhcrtou in line uf military
policy | cnnnct understand. unless for
some ulrerior reason no, appearing
on the face Of the truc facts.
Enlisted men have stated when
asked for a pass 10 enter PcmbrrtOn.
that they can not obtain such passes
and the reason given is IN" alleged
vicious character Of the town. This
places the borough Of PNmberton un-
der an Odium that needs nvcstiga
tion.
] am q resident Of tho borough Of
Pemberton and tho solicitor nf N"
said borough. rs we'll ns tho prose
cutor Of TN" UloHs Of tho county.
The borough has been hoyrntt"d nv
the orders of IN" commanding general
When asked his reasons for So doing
the general ovadrs III" question. as
was done in his communication 70
you He has given mo other reasons
which are not n" facts. However,
srmpd guards have been placed al tho
edge Of tho borough and N rairoad
stations. and every enlisted man j.
prohibited from entering tho borough.
Military police A." stationed within
the borough. ordering every enlisted
man on foot "r in vehicles ont VI IA"
streets and tho business places. under
orders.
The citizen, nt ,Hr borough have
Just causp for complaint. and an in.
ycstigatioN should be- granted them
Misunderstanding Over school
Some misunderstanding hn~ nAl>rrd
between the Board VI Edu"atinn and