Evening star., 1942-09-05
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

mat-and sometimes a scholar.
He must know how to fight with
fists, club or gun. He must know
better how to accomplish his pur-
pose without fighting.
Such is the M. P. of 1912, now
being graduated by the thousands
from the military police training
center at Fort Riley, Kans.
= He is far call from the braWny,
and not always so brainy, M. P. of
the last World War, who often was
Extremely unpopular with the
troops. His job is as much to pre-
vent trouble from starting as to stop
it once it has started A fundamental
part of his training is to do a serv-
ice for fellow soldier, or to help
him out when he is in a mess.
One military police officer al
ways goes through the same routine
when interviewing a prospective
member of his company.
Would Help Bunkmate.
First he asks: Who is your bunk
mate "
The man answers, for example:
Joe Murphy"
"All right, suppose you saw your
bunkmate, Joe Murphy, in town
with a little too much liquor under
his belt"
I'D arrest him, sir"
Now, honestly, wouldn't you try
to get him back to barracks without
getting him in trouble"
"Yes, sir, think I would"
Good. Remember this always.
Every man you meet in town with a
little too much aboard, or otherwise
getting himself in trouble, is your
bunkmate and I want you to do for
him just what you told me you would
do for Joe Murphy.
Officers of the provost marshal
office explain that the job of M. P.
inside an Army post where he deals
almost altogether with soldiers, is
not essentially different from that
of a city policeman. He controls
traffic, regulates the ingress and
egress of soldiers, deals with cases
OF actual crime as distinguished
from violations of military regula-
tions, and makes all criminal and
traffic accident Investigations.
More Difficult Outside.
Outside camp he has a job which
is likely to be much more difficult
than that of any city policeman.
There, soldiers mix with civilians.
They may get drunk together. They
may get into fights. The M. P. has
no authority whatsoever over civil
ians and may get into serious trouble
If he tries to exercise any. Here he
often must be diplomat of a high
order.
Only men of relatively high intel
llgence are selected for the M. P.
companies. An average I. O.. of
ll5-l5 points above the average of
the American population - is re-
quired before a man is accepted for
this service.
Some of the greatest difficulties
are encountered in policing prosti-
tuition around camps and in re-
stricted areas. Local or Federal po-
lice must be depended on to dea
with the prostitutes themselves The
M. P.s can only stand in front of an
establishment, or throw a Gordon
around an off-bounds area, anG
prevent soldiers from entering.
Can Operate Indirectly.
Various ways around this hav,
been found. Prostitutes tend, TO
example, to masquerade as waitresse
in cheap restaurants. The militar,
police authorities, without enterin,
such a restaurant, can demand tina
all the personnel be certified by I
competent physician as free from
contagious disease or else proven
the entrance of any soldiers.
For military police who come il
contact with civilians, high stand
ards of physique and personality ar
essential. They must be at least
feet 8 inches tall and weigh at leas
l65 pounds. There are whole com
panies of 6-footers. They are trained
in all the techniques of handling
men, from plain pugilism to ju jitsu
| But they also are trained to kee]