The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-13
TRUCK
DEATH DIVE
REPORT READY
Army Board Expected to Clear
All Concerned in Fatal Col
IiSion Near Alexandria.

Having examined all witnesses con-
nected with the automobile accident
yesterday which resulted in the death
of two OFFICERS, three enlisted men and
a civilian camp employee near Alexan-
dria, Va, the board Of officers named
by Gen. c. z. F. Flagler will submit
a report tomorrow fixing the blame,
If any. The report will be sent to the
adjutant general of the army.
The findings OF the board, 1t is
stated, will not be made public until
after the approval OF General Flagler,
commanding Camp Huniphreys. but II
has been intimated the board viii ar
rive at the conclusion that the acct
dent was unavoidable, and the SOL
diers met their death ain the line of
duty"
Relatives of the dead men have
been heard from, IL was stated today,
and camp authorities have been noti-
fed where the bodies are to be sent.
Friends and relatives are expected to
arrive in Alexandria today to take
charge of the bodies.
Turner IL ReeOVeF1ng.
Private Ernest Turner, who sus-
tanned a fractured hip in the acci-
dent, has been removed from the
Alexandria hospital to the base hos
pitaI at Camp Humphreys. He is re-
ported doing well and is expected to
recover soon.
As a result Of the boards findings
the driver Of the automobile truck in
which the party Of soldiers was re-
turning to the camp from Alexandria
has been exonerated from blame and
was released from prison at the camp.
The military authorities are still
holding the driver of the military
police patrol
The military police patrol passed
the auto truck bearing the oftcers
and enlisted men almost at the END
of the bridge across Greater Hunting
Creek, south of Alexandria, as the
truck. swerved and bounded on the
causeWay. -
Fine M. p. Driver.
Friction which developed between
the military police, under command
Of Lieutenant Pierce at Camp Hum
phreys, and the police OF Alexandria
reached q climax yesterday afternoon
when Sergt. Sydney A. Da She'll,
Lieutenant Pierce's driver, at the res
cue work last night, was fined $50
for firing a pistol in the city limits.
Sergeant Da She'll told the court
that he raced in his officers car for
help as soon as the military police
arrived. He said in the excitement
his pistol was discharged, but II was
in an attempt to clear the road so
he could make speed to get more men
to help overturn the army truck.
How many men were pinned under
the truck at the time il crashed over
the bridge, Sergeant Da Shell said
was not known, and he thought by
making speed he might save the lives
OF the men pinned beneath 1t.
Officers to Protest.
The warrant on which the military
policeman was arrested was sworn out
Yesterday morning. Officers OF the
military police were indignant when
informed OF the mans arrest. The Of
ficers will make a protest against the
arrest OF the enlisted man, Lieutenant
Pierce declared.
Lieutenant Pierce had charge Of the
men who rescued eleven injured SOL
diers from the creek. They went over
with the truck and three were seri-
ously hurt. Autoists who rode down
to the creek to see the spectacle were
taken unawares when the military po-
lice ordered all hands at the point If a
gun to fall to and help in the work CT
rescue. Men waded into the creek and
turned the truck over, uncovering the
victims of the accident,