Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-03-06
FEW AMERICANS
IN PARIS PRISONS
Only 128 Held Now, and These
Largely for Minor
InfraCtions.
MEN CHAFE UNDER DISCIPLINE
Almost All the Prisoners Trace Their
Trouble to Being Absent Without
Leave-Many Of Them Have
Mighty Good War Records.
By FREDERICK A. SMITH.
Chicago Tribune Correspondent)


Paris.-The ancient Petit Roquette
prison, in the Rue Roquette, Is
gloomy shelter for tn" unconventional
casualties in the skirmishes between
the boys of our army and the temp
tations of Paris. The fact that 12S
American soldiers are incarcerated
there is not such shock to our talth
in the character of our soldiers when
II Is considered that this is only
tiny group out of the 100000 fight
ing men who came over.
The population of the Petit Ro-
uuette represents that restless element
In the army which, through the weak
ness Of excessive conviviIlity or nat
ural instinct for wrongdoinS, mas
clashed with the military police. In
view of the fact that the fighting Is
over and the men are chafing at their
inability to get home, 1t Is probably
q point in the army'S favor that 80
few have fallen into trouble in search
of relaxation and amusement.
Chafe Under Discipline.
Also 1t must be remembered our
boys come from an unmilitary coun-
try and the discipline In this rigid
army Is not yet old enough to have
placed restraining impress on the
soldiers whose work in the trenches
Is over.
Almost all the prisoners trace their
trouble to being absent without leave.
Having overstayed leave or left their
outfit without leave, the boys fear 10
go back. Absence without leave-"A.
w. thus leads charges rang
ing from murder down to forgery OF
passes.
Many of the prisoners have mighty
good war record, some wearing wound
stripes, and several having battled glo-
rlously with sone or another OF
the shock divisions that were always
In the thick of things.
One tall, light haired boy had run
away to Paris for a holiday after be-
ing in hospital several weeks and
unable to speak above a whisper, due
to being gaSsed in the Argonne. lie
enlisted when sixteen, and has rec
ord-any man might be proud OF, but
he got tired of restraint and now Is
In the gloomiest prison he ever saw
because he became involved in the
use of forged passes.
There is n real tragedy, however,
over the dark, chill cell holding James
F. McNicol, who says he Is from New
York and Philadelphia. McNicol. look
ing the sailor all over, Is handsome,
clear-eyed, tall, and not over twenty.
His relatives in Pennsylvania have
held proud name there, but on lit
tle white card on the outside OF
"AIac's" cell door Is the following in
scription, under his name, charge,
murder"
Slain In Fight.
SO far as could learn, 1t wasn't q
crime committed for the purpose OF
robbery or for crimes sake, but the re-
suit of fight between six hothead SOL
diers, in which one was slain. But
that is only part of MACS" tragedy.
His brother, arrested with him, at
tempted to escape with half dozen
other prisoners, including Mac" the
other night Macs" brother was the
first to climb over the window ledge.
clinging to a rope made of blankets,
but the rope broke, and McNicol fell
three stories, dying instantly on the
stone paving of the prison court.
"Mac" looked from the window and
turned away with no heart for fur
ther attempt at flight, he and the other
prisoners going back to their cells and
locking themselves in.
1t is impossible to heat the massive
old pile these winter nights, and the
men are forced TO sleep on mattresses
on the floor, because experience has
shown that the prisoners used the legs
of cots formerly supplied for trying to
dig through the limestone cell walls.
1t Is impossible to make modern
Jail of an ancient dungeon, but the
army is doing the best 1t can.