VOL. 1, NO.1 15 JUNE 1944 f=====-=-=-=-=-=--"'-=:==---=-':=-~==--==--==--===-~:====-'==========;-I lVIAJOR GENERAL MYRON C. CRAi\fER The Judge Advocate Gel/eral ~OP.&RTY gf. Ma ~.. -- . Law Branch "'-., _The Army Library APR 14 l~b3 THE (jenerafo P AGE I AM glad of this opportunity to reach the members of the Judge Advocates Association and to wish sliccess to its Journal. Many of us have long- felt the need of a magazine all our own. As lawyers we are interested in law reviews and bar journals, as soldiers we find pleasure in the service publications, but this Journal is unique in that it serves to combine these two interests. It is hoped that this publication will not only knit more closely the ties that bind together all Judge Advocates-now serving in every quarter of the globe-but that it will be a vehicle for keeping all those who may be interested in military law abreast of developments in that field. With pride we call our corps the greatest law firm ever to appear on the earth (now numbering over 1750 officers) and the association is a medium through which our corps may carryon its tradition of service to the Army and the nation during this emergency and in the peace to follow. MYRON C. CRAMER, Major General The Judge Advocate General The Judge Advocate Journal is pubii'hed quarterly by the Judge Advocates Associa­ tion, 1227 New York Avenue, N.W., Wash· ington 5, D. C. Entry as Second Class Ma;ter applied for at the post office at Washington, ·D. C., under the Act of March 3rd, 1879. Subscriptions $400 a year to members and $6.00 a year to non-members. THE SAYS­ \!\TO conditions must be present to assure a conti­ nuity and justification of existence of any organiza­ tionT formed to give constructive help to its members and to society as a whole. First, there must be adequate cap­ ital and second, there must be enthusiasm for and un­ swerving adherence and loyalty to the purposes for which it was organized. As to the first condition the Board of Directors wisely ligions and racial groups all seeking dominance in the set the yearly dues at an amount which was considered social structure; and irresponsi ble, self-seeking c1iq ues more than sufficient to pay initial and current operation fastcning themselves upon our political system and hop­ expenses during war times with the idea that during the ing to throttle minoritics and thereby perpetuate them­ postwar period, when the most good can be accomplished selves in control of a weakened and distraught people. for the members the Association will have strong cash If any of these COIlle to pass in our countrv our Fed­ reserves which will permit freedom of action unhampered eral CO;lstitution ,,·ill come under attack and 'necessarily by the problems of insufficient capital for carrying to our national defense as \\"C presently understand the term full fruition the hopes and ambitions of its founders. national defense to mean will be made insecure. In con­ \!\Te will all reap the benefits of this far seeing policy if templat'ion of such gloomy forebodings the possibilities we remain diligent and constant in the payment of our for good of such an association as ours can well fire the dues during the early and formative clays of our Asso­ imagination. Our members will be found in high places ciation. in gO\'Crnment, in the halls of Congress, on the bench, Can we have any assurance of the creation of the sec­ in the courts of justice and as leaders of thought in the ond necessary condition in order that success may attend public meeting places of the people in their communities this undertaking? throughout the land. I t is not boastful to predict that the There can be no enthusiasm, willingness to sacrifice power wielded bv the members of our Association may or loyalty to purpose unless the cause is worthy and ac­ \\'ell keep the scales balanced on the question of \\'hethe~' complishment of purpose carries with it a sense of warm or not we should hold fast to the form of government satisfaction to each member in the knowledge that he \\"e ha\'e and for \\'hich we arc now fighting'. has had a part in a program that has brought some It is hoped that we can accomplish through the me­ spiritual or material benetfis to his fellow-man. dium of this Journal our purpose of fostering the de­ Section 3 of our Constitution reads as follows: \'e1opment of military law and the dissemination of legal kncndedge dealing \\"ith military subjects. How well we "The particular business and objects of the society shall elo this is up to each of us individually. vVe will get out be as follows: of it only what we put in. Although we are all fully "To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United engaged with our official duties and have little spare States of America; to secure the national defense: to foster time. nevertheless \\'e can keep uppermost in our minds the development of military law and the dissemination of the thought that \\'e ha\'e an obligation to contribute legal knowltdge dealing with military subjects; to pro­ to the Journal any experience, new technique or theory mote social intercourse and cultivate and perpetuate that will prove informative. stimulating, helpful or in­ friendship, mutual aid anc! good will among its members: teresting to our fellow Judge Advocates. The pllblica­ and to preserve the memories and traditions developing tion of our Journal will necessarily be the main effort of from the service of its members in The Judge Advocate General"s Department of the Army of the United States." the Association \\'hile we arc on military duty [or the education, better efficiency and morale of our members, In the public press we find a wide variety of opinions so \\'e must direct our attention and care to improving and predictions concerning the post-war era. Some paint its format and content with each issue. Your sugges­ a picture of intense activity in reconstruction and supply tions and constructi\'e criticisms \\'ill be welcomed. Too of civilian goods with work and higher living conditions much emphasis cannot be put upon the necessity for the for all, while others see the world nursing a painful head­ whole hearted cooperation of every member in contribut­ ache like a drunk after a bad spree. They say every ing to this effort. \\'e can he of the greatest usefulness nation will have its readjustment troubles and that there to each other at this time by using the Journal as a will be widespread unemployment bringing antagonisms \chicle for passing along helpful hints for better sen'icc. between capital and labor amounting to industrial civil The next purpose set forth is "'to promote social inter­ war; attempts to socialize the nation's resources leading course and culti\'ate all(1 perpetuate friendship, mutual to communism and despotism destructive of our repre­ aid and good will aIllong its members." '''hile much sentative form of government; clashes between races, re­ can be done during our active duty it is hoped that the Paoe,., 3 THE JUDGE. ADVOCATE JOURNAL full benefits from the fulfillment of this object will accrue Lastly, there is the purpose "to preserve the memories during the peaceful years to follow. It is recommended and traditions developing from the service of its members that in commands where any sizeable group of judge in the Judge Advocate General's Department of the Army advocates can be assembled, some one or more officers of the United States." You will note our first attempt take it upon themselves to promote parties and other toward the accomplishment of this object in the article social gatherings where acquaintances can be made and by Major William F. Fratcher, JAGD. The article in the ideas exchanged. It must be understood that all such current issue is a summary of the history of the depart­ local activities must be self-supporting and that no funds ment from 1775 to the beginning of the present war. of the Association will be appropriated for such purpose. Articles in subsequent issues will treat in more detail the In the Washington office the Association sponsors a lives of distinguished judge advocate§ and the history of bowling league, exhibition of motion pictures and oc­ the department in particular crucial periods. It is recom­ casional get-together parties with entertainment and re­ mended that for the purpose of securing a complete freshments. It is always watchful for an opportunity to record of the department and for pleasurable reflection help maintain the good morale of the office and of the in later years, you preserve this and all subsequent copies corps generally. As a result many fine and lasting friend­ of this Journal. ships have been formed. The officers have discovered by It is to be hoped that we shall be able to keep a demo­ these meetings that they are identified with a group of cratic and representative form of management in our men who personify the highest traditions of the legal Association. For the present the officers and directors, profession and they take pride in their corps. Such gath­ due to the limitations of wartime restrictions on travel, erings during war time will cultivate friendships that we must come from the group stationed in Washington hope will be perpetuated by our post-war activities. Out­ otherwise it will be difficult, if not impossible, to hold side of passing along helpful hints through the medium meetings and determine policies.