The sun., 1919-09-06
GEN. HARTS'S RULE
IN PARIS DEFENDED
Conner Says Punishments I'M
proved Conditions.

PARIS. Sept. 5.-Testifying to-day be-
fore the Congressional subcommittee
which is investigating army affairs here
Brig Gen. w. d. Conner. Chief of tho
Service of Supply, said ne did not agree
with Col. T. Q. Donaldson of the In
spector- Department in attribut-
ing responsibility FOR abuses In Ameri-
can military prisons in France to Brig
Gen. w. w. Harris and Col. e. p. Grim
stead of the 15Sth Infantry, as Col. Dom
aldson had done in his testimony be-
fore the House of Representatives Com
mittee on Governors Island, N. Y, in
July. Gen. Connor said Gen. Harris, in
occupying the post of commander of
the troops in the Paris district, had had
the most difficult command in the Amer
lean Expeditionary Force. Paris being
full of deserters and offenders Of all
grades.
From the time Gen. Harris took COM
mand, Gen. Connor declared. offenders
were dealt with vigorously and condi-
tons improved.
Testifying with regard to the sale of
American army materials to France Gen.
Conner estimated the total cost value
OF the various installations. material
and supplies disposed of to the French
at $l,4o0, 100000. He thought the sale
at $500, 900 was a good one in the
circumstances.
Gen. Connor said the various installa-
tions, including docks and dock machin-
cry. sold to the French, cost $3.50, 000,-
600. but they represented nothing like
that value to the American Expedition
airy Force the minute the army went
out of the business of making war.
Questioned regarding the charge that
National Guard officers had been re-
moved to give places TO Regulars. Gen.
connor said there never was any dis
elimination in the army against National
Guard officers. There was no oppor-
tunity to play favorltes," he said, be-
cause every man who could do things
was needed so badly he was chung to
when found.
The General said he thought the Amer
lean soldiers buried in France ought to
be left there, as to his mind II would
be narrowing experience rather than
satisfaction TO the people at home to
have the bodies removed. The SOL
diers' graves in France were we'll cared
for, he added, not only by the Ameri-
cans but by the French people.
Representative Bland of Indiana asked
Gen. Connor If the fact that Gen. Harris
accompanied President Wilson many
llHleS on lne IreSluent visits IN France
about the time that the alleged prison
abuses became public did not have in
fiuence on the judgment passed upon
Hartss responsibility. Gen. Connor
gave a negative reply.
Gen. Conner said that approximately
$4,000 claims against the American
Expeditionary Forces had been settled
by the service Of supply. These ranged
from the equivalent of 35 cents upward.
but most of the claims were less than
$40. The General declared that he had
never heard of case in which claims
had been entered for damages due to
the digging of trenches or of any claims
resulting from military operations a.
the front
The Representatives questioned Gen.
Conner regarding the sales of surplus
stocks. They wanted TO know particu-
larly, they said. why 100000 pounds
of bacon had been sold in France, while
Herbert Hoover was buying large guam
titles for tho Food Administration.
Gen. Conner explained that the require
ments of the Food Administration for
delivery was such that the service Of
supply could not fulfill them without
seriously hindering the return of the
American troops homeward.