The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-13
Declares Representative
Dallenger in Speech
Before Congress.
READS AFFIDAVIT
Minor Officers use Force,
He Says, in Trivial Of
lenses, and Brutality
Show Their Authority.

Washington. July IA species of
despotism worse than that tor which
~ ars going to punish the kaiser
was charged against the officials of
the provost marshars office OF the
American army In Paris. by Repre-
sentative Baliinger. Of Massachusetts,
In the house today.
He said American boys who went
across the sea imbued with patriotism
the best blood Of our land-are de-
ciAred to have been beaten. dubbed
starved-all in the name Of democ-
racy."
Continuing. he said II IL charged
that men caught in the web Of the
american military police system OF
Paris were placed in vile prison pens
IhAt our soldiers. some Of them
wearing wound stripes. some return
ing to duty after weeks ana months
OF suffering in hospitals were thrown
into prison without trial and without
charges ever being preferred against
them Tor such offenses rs failurs to
have proper military travel orders in
their possession.
Evidences 10 produced showing that
men were hit and dubbed until they
bled and tainted and that one man
even preferred death to the treatment
to which he was subjected and took
his own life"
Mr.. Dallinger quoted from . letter
he had received from James W. Beck.
man. OF New York city. 4 former ser.
geant-major OF the American expedi-
tionary forces He said he had met by
Mr.. Beckman and had read COPIES
OF anidavits suhstantiatinS these
eherss..
IN the army In France" Mr.. Dailinser
continned. and they stAts that the
condittons described were matters q
oonamon knowledge to thA Americas
Soadier n France and have become
convinced that there 10 truth IN th1se
rspofta.
Three paragraphs from Mr., Beck
mans letter were read to the house:
"A most horrible incident was the
case OF soldier who could not speak
English very well. much less under.
stand Il thoroughly. He was struck
ANA beaten for not snapping to Z
terrible
wen show you how terrible II
IL replied those who were beating
him, and he was taken before q per-
sonnel officer and two serSeants. A
lieutenant beat him again and put
MIN IN cell on bread and water.
Evidently they considered this too
good for him, 80 he was placed In 4
pup tent for solitary confinement.
During the afternoon his Quietness
was noticed and when they went over
and tore his tent down he was lying
on his back with his throat cut. It
was about an hour before the ambu-
lance arrived and the silent form
borne on to the hospital. And thou
sands OF miles across the sea and
land. perhaps there awaited a gray
haired mother with = service star Ia
the window Of her humble home. who
received word from the war depart
ment that General Pershing had re-
ported her SON among those who died
from other causss'~
III. DklIfnger resumed: we cannot
ait idle while stories OF torture such
~ these are made.
Il have turned over the informal ton
in my possession to the select COM
mtttes Of the house appointed to In
,vestigate expenditures Of. the war de-
pArtment I shall watch the investi-
cation OF these charges by that COM
mittes and know that every other
member Of this house will do the
oAmA
There win b . unanimous demand
that the facts b ferrsted out I am
oonfadent that this COMMITTEES viii call
witnesses and ask for the records OF
The var department and conduct an
impartial and thorough Investigation
ct the truth Of these charges"