Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-24
GEN. MARCH ADMITS
camps BRUTALITY
Some of Prisoners in France
Were "Hard Characters"
says Gen. Pershing.
CONVICTION OF OFFICERS

Gen. March. chief of staff. testified
that American soldiers were treated
brutality in prison camps in France
victed in court-martial proceedings
resulting from this cruelty, when
. questioned by the special House war
investigation committee.
The prisoners. as far as the records
showed, were held because of absence
without leave late last year from
their military units, and cablegram
from Gen. Pershing sent three days
ago from Paris declared "Some of
these men were among the hardest
characters in the American expedi-
committee.
Gen. Pershing's cablegram, sent in
response to an inquiry of the War
Department after its attention had
been called to alleged mistreatment
of the prisoners, disclosed the con-
viction against four officers at
Prison Farm No. 2 and it's adjoining
stockade. Two of the officers, it was
said, were imprisoned after being
found guilty by court-martial Con-
Tiction of four other officers was dis
closed by reports of Brig. Gen. Ed
ward A. Kreger. acting judge advo-
cate general
"Hardboiled" Smiths Case.
Lieut.. Frank H. Smith, the well
known "hardboiled" officer in charge
of farm No. 2, it was disclosed, is
serving an eighteen month sentence
at Governors Island. because of his
maltreatment of prisoners. Smith, the
chief of staff explained. came from
Kentucky, and was sent to Europe
after he had tried to get a commission
in the Philippine Scouts. Smiths orig
inal sentence of three years was re-
duced by reviewing authorities
The colonel of the 15Sth Infantry,
who was held responsible by Army
inspectors for conditions at the prison
1arm. however, 1t was revealed, es-
capped court-martial, but was sent to
the canning factory" at Blois. Col. T.
o. Donaldson. an inspector general. in
cluded the colonel of the 15Sth among
those responsible for conditions. His
report, submitted by Gen. March, as
serted that "all officers found in any
way responsible for deplorable con-
ditions were recommended for trial by
court marital and all were tried ex-
cept the colonel of the 15Sth Infan-
try, who was brought before an
efficiency board"
The action of the efficiency board
was not disclosed, although Chairman
johnson of South Dakota and Repre-
sentative Bland, Indiana, another COM
mitteeman, sought to take the chief of
staff to task for the system which
they insisted permitted higher officers
to escape punishment, while subordi-
mates suffered convictions. :.
Unable to Give Name.
Gen March, unable to give the
coloneFs name, or record. said he
would submit these later to the COM
mittee. He said he believed the
colonel was a National Guard officer.
because the 4oth Division, of which
his regiment was a part, was Ma
tional Guard unit. The records of
Brig. Gen. Kreger submitted to the
B. Grimstead az the superior officer
of Lieuts. "Hardboiled" Smith and
Helphenstein.
The record showed that Col. Grim
stead, Lieuts. Smith and Mason and
Second Lieut.. William T. Sullivan
each testified to Lieut.. Helphenstein's
good reputation as an officer and
gentleman"
Gen. Kreger's report revealed that
Lieut.. Arthur ]. Gagnon, Medical
Corps. 15sth Infantry. and Lieut.. Will
liam Sullivan of the same command
were under charges of misconduct
toward prisoners in detention camps.
but that no record of their trials had
been received by the judge advocate
general.
80 lar dS the TccOFQS uiScioSoo, Ing
convicted officers and those accused
of misconduct toward prisoners all
were stationed at the prison farm,
but other documents submitted indi-
Gated maltreatment of prisoners at
st. Anne. a former hotel. and at~the
bastile, military prison.
j. Leslie Kincaid, now lawyer at
Syracuse. N. T.. formerly judge ad-
yocate of the 9th New York; Divi-
sion, in a letter to Secretary Baker
which was turned over to the COM
mittee, asserted that 1.-The prison
situation in Paris was first called to
the attention of superior headquar-
ters prior to September 1, 191S.'
. With his letter Kincaid submitted a