The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-21

 were alSs made by the men question ed on the score of overcrowdlng, un- sanitary conditions, failure to provide 1 time or facilities to wash, and con tinual insults by the guards. These 1 conditions were a subject of previous 1 investigation by the inspector of this | division prior to September l. and | from the statements of these men it appears there was little improvement srl conditions during that time, al though the matter was officially call 1 ed to the attention of superior head quarters.
 '3. The principal object, however, which the Investigating officers desire | to call to the attention of the com | mandinE general so that immediate | remedial action can be had, is the ! condition of Prison Camp No. 2,wh=re | the statements made by these soldiers i indicate a condition exists rivaliug the | Siberian prison camps, and much ! worse than existed in German prisoner | of war cages. It should be borne in | mind that these prisoners are in the l main soldiers from the combat divi- l sions who are men of above average | intelligence, and who are in the main i perhaps technically guilty of absence witout leave. Both of the investigat- ! ing offices believe absolutely and in [ ] these soldiers. That much brutality and inhuman treatment can exist in
 any institution under the control of Americans is unbelievable, but the ev- 1 idence Is overwhelming. A. The manner in which the per
 sonal property of these men was talk 1 en from them and never returned l seems trivial after a recital of the ! more important facts of the case, but [ 1t is a matter of vital importance to | the soldiers concerned. Attention ] Is invited to the fact that not only ! official decorations and property of ] considerable value was practically
 stolen from these soldiers, but articles | of great sentimental value, such as a | soldiers crucihN, the photograph of | his mother, the photograph of his l sweetheart, and articles that could be of no value to the person into i whose hands they finally came were | COnfiscated.
 "5. Many instances brought to the l attention of the Investigating officers | by these soldiers were omitted from the sworn statements, including one tale of an American prisoner of war
 who returned to Paris after eight
 months in the German prison camp
 and was placed under arrest by the l military police because he was not
 supplied with travel orders.
 "6. Another phase of the situation which has been omitted from the rec ord for obvious reasons is the fact that these men are drilled in front of the muzzles of machine guns and automatic rifles, a precaution which might be justified with condemned murderers, but is hardly to be expect ed in the American army as part of ! nf ina nF | detention.
 ''7. The men are also isolated from the outside world and are not allowed
 to communicate with their friends or superior officers. It was stated by
 many of the men that many of their
 comrades, particularly soldiers of the
 Thirtieth Division, which has fought
 side by side with the Twenty-seventh
 Division during the entire war, are
 still incarcerated in this prison farm
 and have sent letters appealing to their company and regimental com manders for assistance. The only way in which they have been able to get , | this mail out was to send it by pris- oners leaving the farm. , "s. The investigating officers arc both men who have been familiar with the penal conditions in New York for many years and are con
 vinced that the statements of all these men are true and that a condi- tion exists on this farm which could not be tolerated for a single instant in any institution under control of . civil authorities"
 In his indorsement of the report, ] forwarded with it to the Adjutant-
 General of the A. E. F., Gen. O'Ryan
 said:
 IotA nf G-GTNt tafDp pTanr-
 1918, I forwarded complaints of sim liar character in relation to the treat ment given some on-commissioned : officers of this division by the military , authorities in Paris. The facts re-
 ported by these non-commissioned of- P ficers were of such character that I a. request the matter be brought to the f | attention of the commander in chief. < No information has been received of . ! any action taken in relation thereto : The foregoing report of the division , l inspector and the Judge Advocate.
 who investigated the complaints
 made by the soldiers named in their | reports, speaks for itself. Two V months have elapsed since the occur a | renee of the abuses first reported n "2, repeat my former recom- y Imendation that vigorous action be n taken in relation to the matters com i plained of, I believe the com l mander in chief would wish to be 6 personally informed of occurrences ot ,, this chara cter. so out of harmony with = the methods which obtain in our army I for the maintenance of discipline.
 request that these papers be shown O to the chief of staff, American Ex- o peditionary Force"
 l. In his letter to Secretary Baker Col IS Kincaid suggests that the original re- L. port and its accompanying affidavits e can doubtless be located in the de- l. pertinent files, either at home ol L. abroad, if careful search is made. L. 'It should be of particular value a y- this time" he say especially the e matter of the prison situation in Parii l. was first called to the attention O! t. superior headquarters prior to Sep
 tember l, 1918."
 r.