New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-31

NIT. (nANUerluln QcClnTcO tUNl uuhpi-
tai facilities were inadequate.
"Whst | am criticsing, he aaid, "iS
7 the same that ! INDUCED IN onto be
fore, of not having hospitals ready.
We know when We as embled these
men in environments tnat they were
going to be sick, but there were nc
hospitals prepared. There we're thou
sands Of deaths that ought to have
been avoided We have not any hospl-
tails prepared now to accommodate all
of these wounded men who are coming
back here, and therefore we are gong
to have great deal Of suffering. II
the War Department would pay one
half the attention 80 preparing to re-
ccive these boys that it does TO getting
legislation through to protect contrac-
tors who have made contracts in VIC
laticn Of law it would not take long
10 get something DONE
Reads Letters Of Complaint
He then read letters of complaint
about failure to receive pay aud allot-
ments.
"It's all right to talk about furnish
ing these men money when every one
knows hettcr.' Senator Chamberlain
said. "They have not furnished 1t, and
they Will only furnis it when they
have been criticised for not doing 1t
and made to understand that they will
be prodded by the Congress of the
United States TO point where they
viii do their duty.
IL realize the very great difficulty
of following these wounded, particu
, larly from one hospital to another, but
some system ought to be devised, either
in France or here. to see that these
men do not come back here penniless.
The War Department does not need
any leGi slaton to do it. All it needs
is to get move on and do the work.
"These boys are going to take hand
in the politics Of this country. They
are going to hold somebody responsible
FOR the neglect here"
Senator Poindexter interrupted to in
sist that The responsibility rests upon
the President personally.
Senator Chamberlain said that the
responsibility did not lie upon Con
grcss, because Congress was doing all
it could to relieve the situation.
congress has never declined TO do
anything" he said. at has gone ahead
and shown initiative and given these
young men uniforms and extra pay, but
that does not reach the young fellows
who are coming back here crippled. So
| suggest, as q word of warming that
I
nuddling when conditions demand
haste and action will be held account
able by the American people and by the
boys who arc directly interested"
Senator Cham berlain said he had re
ceiyed so many letters of complaint
about the failure to receive pay and al
owanccs that it would take a clerical
force almost as big as that Of the War
Department" to handle it,
- L..
ter written by soldier asking outside
aid for his discharge. the soldier hay
ing tuberculosis, ne said. THAT poor
boy, suffering from tuberculosis, was
brought up before a board of inquiry
and his pay was forfeited for fifteen
days. He was punished for having had
thc temerity to write to Senator ask
ing for aid.
The Delayed Casualty Lists
Senator Borah interpolated to re-
mark that he could not understand the
long delay in getting out the casualty
lists since the armistice was signed
ut seems to me that within a short
time after the armistice an accurate
statement Of the casualties could be
made" said Senator Borah at is the
suspense, the agony Of suspense, that
is even worse than the knowledge"
81 am frank 80 say replied Senator
Chamberlain, that from the evidence
taken before our committee there was
no excuse for all Of it; there was some
excuse for part of it,"
Senator Chamberlain criticised the
inequality of sentences meted out TO
private soldiers by court martial. He
told of one case where soldier was
sentenced to % years' Imprisonment
! because he left camp without leave TO
see his sick mother before leaving for
| France.
"Now, Senators, am not blaming
the Secretary of War for this" said
Senator Chamberlain. II blame him
only to this extent-that word from
him would stop that kind of business.
realize the necessity Of maintaining
discipline, but in Gods name could not
a boy like that have been punished q
little less severely than a sentence of
twenty-five years in prison. where his
life must. by the very nature CT things