The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-02-27
PERSHING DENIES
BUEST STORIES
Says investigator Finds Con-
di!ions Good al embarka.
ton Camp
UPHELD BY NEWSPAPER MEN
Mud Only In Rainy Season: 20 Miles
Of Board Walks Being Laid
20 Overcome That
Condition

Washington,--A denial OF rcp0rtn'
that conditions at the embarkAtioa
camp at Brest. France. are such ~
to endanscr the lives OF soldiers and
that soldiers and Red Cross nurscs
have been held there virtually ~,
prisoners after the time when they
expected to sail for the United
States, il made In cable received
by the war department from Cen
Pershing
The conditions were investigated.
Gen. Pershing aserts, by MAI. Gen.
Helmick OF the Inspector generals
department following the receipt OF
cable which was received by Presi-
dent Wilson from New York news
papes:.
Text OF Message
The publication OF the cable mos
sage from Gen. Pcrshing was author
lied by Gen. March, chief OF stan.
The text follows In part:
THE charge that soldiers from tho
front and Red Cross nurses practi-
cally held as prisoners absolutely
groundless. No individual has been
put at the bottom OF the sailing list.
One organization was held rs days
on account OF bad state OF discipline
and neglect of duty and was released
before expiration OF time set on ac-
count of honest efforts made to cor
rect deficiencies. No man OF the
garrison OF more than 10000 lis re-
auired 10 remain In line over 10 min
utes. Troops are marched to meals
by time schedules and the entirc
garrison is fed within one hour and
Is minutes
Relative to officers overbearfnE
and harsh and give casnals no con-
all commanding officers
Of troops and casual officers passing
through here have almost without
exception voluntarily and without
visited my Office before
leaving. and have expressed their
appreciation both verbally and In
writing for the uniform courtesy and
great consideration shown them BY
al officers on duty at this base sec
lion. n
with the exception OF a news
paper reporter by the name OF Brown,
If Washington. d. ca paper, every
newspaper man that has visited
Brest has become an ardent advocate
u the organization, efficiency and
human kindness In common at tho
abroad station, at camp. at the EN-
)arkation Office, at the pier and In
III Offices in the base section No. s.
OF buildings are made
Tally, and only in rare instances are
eaks discovered during the hardest
Wind and rain storms.
40 Miles Of Walks.
AS to mud everywhere. this is the
Amy season. Footpaths and roads
we're muddy for a time, due TO con-
itions over which no man had con-
roll Even this has been met by lay
ne approximately 40 miles OF board
,alks along the roadside throughout
he camp to storehouses. to inciner-.
tors. TO laundries, to delousing plants
D mess halls and along highways.
thousands of cubic yards OF crushed
tatA M
hat one may walk over the camp
'ithout stepping in the mud. Sheds
nd messes have been built at the
abroad station to serve $4,000 mon,
'ithin an hour after arrival. both
ay and night"
Ma. Gen. Hemlick quotes the foll
wing newspaper men a. having NO
riticism to make. but much to praise
slative to conditions 1t Brest: Mr.,
Iellete OF the United Press, David
awrence. Tiffany Blake, Mr.. Almond
I Chicago Tribune. Raymond Carroll
I the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
NJ. Schawb went over the
ntire camp at Pontanazen and made
,e statement that II 10 one Of the
sst examples Of good Organization
I'D efficient operation that he hsH
yer observed"
The Warrington newspaper man
,ferred to IL George Rothwell Brown
the Washington Post. who upon
ID return form France several veskS
70. wrote . story for his newspaper
Aking serious charges against the
amer in which the embaykatioa
mp at Brest was being conducted.
Taft's Aunt Della" Dead.