New-York tribune., 1919-07-30
Former Military Aid at
White House RESPONSE
BILE for Farm No. ?. Off.
Ger Tells Committee
Many Men Named
AS Prison Victims
'Hard-Boiled' Smith Saws
Others Were Worse: His
Testimony Contradicted

Responsibility for conditions in
American army prisons in and around
Paris was placed yesterday upon Brig
adler General W. w. Harts, of the reg
ular army, by Colonel r. @. Donaldson.
Of the Inspector Generals Department.
Colonel Donaldson, who conducted an
Investigation at Farm No. 2, at Chelles,
testified at Castle Williams on Cover
nor's Island before a subcommittee of
the House Of Representatives concern
ing the brutality to which prisoners at
Farm No. were subjected
Three other witnesses were examined.
They were former Lieutenant ("Hard
Bolled') Smith, now serving an .gh-
teen months sentence in Fort Jaw for
his acts while in command at Farm No.
=; Sergeant Clarence Ball, serving six
months for brutality while serving un-
der Smith, and Private Joseph C. Rysze-
lewski, victim of army prison brutal
lty, who while an ESCAPED prisoner won
commission in the famous Polish 1874
Spad Escadrille, three air victories and
the Croix de Guerre with three palms
and five stars.
Names Commanding General
Asked by Representative Royal c.
Johnson, Of South Dakota, chairman
of the subcommittee. who he thought
vas responsible for the conditions at
Farm NO. = Colonel Donaldson said:
Il think the commanding general of
the district of Paris was responsible
for it,"
"Who was that?"
General w. W. Harris"
General Harts. before he went to
France, was President Wilson'S mill
tary aid at the White House.
Colonel Donaldson said that in his
report to his superiors he had recon-
mended that Colonel E. P: Grinstead, of
the 15Sth Infantry Gan arizona National
Guard regiment), be tried, together
with Lieutenant Smith and other Junior
officers and on-commissioned officers
of Farm No. at Cheiles.
"Why wasn't Colonel Grinstead tried
instead Of being given an honorable
discharged" asked Representative Os-
car Bland, of Indiana, the other mem
Der of the subcommittee
II presume" replied Colonel Don
aldson, that it was because il was
believed he couldn't be convicted. It
was very difficult to obtain convictions.
even for the most outrageous crimes"
Hard Boiled" Smith Appears
Hard Boiled Smith was brought
into the library of the round brick
prison that is Ga lie Williams His
head was shaven, and on his trousers
and the back of his olive -drab shirt
were stencilled in white paint the nu-
merals $685. Smith said he enlisted
i'll the Arizona National Guard in 1918
and was commissioned in February,
1915. He served on the Mexican bor-
der, and while down there was provost
marshal and was nicknamed ola I'd
Boiled" Smith.
Smith blamed another general officer
than Harts for conditions at Farm No.
2. He said that Colonel E. P. Grin
stead had told him that Major General
r. s.. Strong, his division commander,
had issued instructions that the men
confined at Farm No. were to be kept
under RUTHLESS disciplined
did General Strong ever come to
Farm No. %" asked Representative
Johnson.
"No, sir"
"How often did Colonel Grinstead
visit the farm"
Sometimes every day and some
times about twice week"
What we're your orders when put
in charge of the prison?
II was told by Colonel Grinstead to
treat the men as general prisoners, and
that / would be held personally re-
sponsible for escapes"
What He Told Adjutant
"Did you ever. have any conversa-
ton with Colonel Grinstead concern
ing the treatment given the men?"
II told the adjutant somebody would
be in Leavenworth before we were
through"
what was the name Of the adiu-
tant?"
"Adjutant Hansen"
Smith denied that men ever were
beaten at the farm, but under uues-
tonng described the circumstances
leading up to the suicide of a prisoner
who cut his throat with safety razor
blade.
II was making an inspection on a
Saturday morning and this man had
been pulled out of line to have his hair
cut he said. GAS l passed he made
some remark about in justice, and told
him didn't know anything about the
rights of his case. turned away, and
the man rushed at me. l put out nv
that hit him, but don't know whether
| hit him or not He was grabbed by
lieutenant and put in close confine-
ment. while later he was brought
before mo with cuts on his hand and
wrist. | saw that he intended to com.
NIT suicide, and had guard placed
over him. Another prisoner slipped
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