The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-10-19

ten years" all OF which had either
one or both hands amputated at the
wrist the work, not OF German
soldiers but of German officers.
Inquiry at Holyoke found no mu-
tilated Belgian girls there. There
have been no Belgian girls brought
to lIolyoke, either mutilated or 9TH
erwise. This sort OF story has the
added advantage, from the German
point OF view, that by disprovinp
1t one casts a doubt on all the
proved and wcll-authenticated cases
OF German atrocities committed on
Belgian girls during the early days
Of the war.
An Official Statement.
As a result OF the campaign to
deceive and inflame and confuse
the American people with fake at
rocity stories, the Military Intelli-
gence Branch Of our War Depart
ment has sent the following letter
to newspapers that have been inn
posed upon
"Atrocity stories are daily band
led around army camps abroad
they gain credence through cir
culation; and frequently they are
communicated to this country in
news dispatches, or soldiers letters
as fact. Many OF these stories are
extremely difficult, ii not absolutely
impossible TO trace To the source
OF origin. Consequently. we are
asking editors to refrain from pub
fishing atrocity stories, whether
charged against the enemy or
against our allies, until facts en-
braced in them shall have been sub
stantated and officially made pub
lie by our government, or the gov
ernment Of one OF our allies.
This is not inspired by a desire
to suppress criticism OF Hun cruel
ty. That he has been guilty of afro
cities has been clearly proven. The
request is designed to prevent vita
ton OF the unimpeachable case
which has been established against
him by the British Bryce report and
the findings of other official agen-
cies which have investigated in.
stances OF his cruelty. Publication
Of charges OF atrocities that are
not susceptible of proof would en-
able him to make propaganda
attack upon the proven cases.
Furthermore, these atrocity
stories inspire our soldiers to COM
nit acts OF reprisals which enables
he enemy to launch counter
cruelty propaganda. Publication
If atrocities charged against our
lilies affords him a similar oppor-
unity.
General Pershing cognizant of
II the effect of publicity given to
nsubstantial charges of atrocities
ook occasion last July to cable
ubllc messages to the War De-
'artment, denying statements re-
alive to the atrocities charged
gainSt the Garman army. which
'ere being made in speeches de-
'ered by sergeant who had been
eturned from the eXpeditionary
orces to participate in the Liberty
oan Campaign.
Our request is directed par
cularly against atrocity statements
mbraced in soldiers letters, and
e will appreciate it if you will
cooperate with us by observing it"
The Sergeant Cole Story.
In this connection, it is well to
ote that there has been an error
ade in the published story of the
'uciiiXion by Germans of an
merican soldier named Sergeant
. b. Cole, of East Liverpool, Ohio.
circumstantial account OF The
rocity has been printed by the
aviation Army as related by DR..
H. Howard, member of the St.
ouis Chamber OF Commerce, who
sited France to gather first-hand
lpl HldtlOil dpOut tllS wall hl'.i
oward was quoted as giving the
ory on the authority of Private
c.. Cole, brother of the victim
nned with bayonets to a door.
To an inquiry from the War De-
rtment, DR.. Howard has replied
at he has Private A. c. Coles
yned statement OF how he found
5 brother crucified by Uhlans,
tile OF Ypres, July q, 1915 But
the autrocity was, committed in
ly 1915, Sergeant Cole was not a
ember of the American Expedi-
mary Forces but was enlisted
obably in the Canadian Army.
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