The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-08-01
BLAME MEN AT TOP
FOR PRISON CAMPS
Hiph Officers Attacked in Congress
sional Hearing-Terrible Stories
Told.

:sponsibility for which was placed ny
the witnesses on high army officers,
were related today before the con-
eressional subcommittee which is in
vestigating the disciplinary systems
of the American dictionary
forces.
The committee consisting of Rep
-resentatives Johnson of South --'ako-
ia and Representative Oscar E. Bland
of Indiana, met in the disciplinary
barracks on Governors Island. The
third member of the subcommittee,
Representative Flood of Virginia was
not present. The men "higher up"
who were directly charged by wit
nesses with responsibility for the
prison conditions included Brig.
Gen. W. w. Harts, former command
er of the American troops in the
Paris district; Major Gen. Frederick
Smith Strong of the Fortieth divis-
ion, Col. Edgar Grinstead, command
er of the 158th infantry and Col. j.
S. Maui of the field artillery. A
number of captains and ieutenants
also were named as having taken an
actual part in the brutal treatment
of the prisoners. At the close of the
.day Representative johnson who is
chairman of the subcommittee an
nounced that all cases in which
charges were made would be placed
before the Inspector general OF the
American army and every effort
made to bring the guilty to punish
ment.
After Men Higher Up.
''From the evidence before the
committee" said Mr.. Johnson, lit
seems clear to us that while SER
geants and lieutenants were punish
ed, they were merely the scapegoats
of higher, officers. We want to dis
cover who were the men higher up,
and we will do everything in cur
power to see that they are brought
to trial. It is apparent that this was
not case of brutality in an indiv,d-
ual prisoner, but that similar eonai-,
tions existed in practically all the
prisons of France"
The principal witness at the hear
ing today was Col. T. Q. Donaldson
of the Inspector generals department
who made an official investigation
aof the prisons afteh the first charges
aof brutality were made public. Un-
eder close questioning by Representa-
tive Bland and with obvious re-
luctance, Col. Donaldson admitted
shat responsibility for the conditions
in the Paris prisons concerning which
some of the most sensational charges
of brutality have been made, must
be laid to Gen. Harts. He was then
questioned sharply as to the reasons
why Col. Grinstead, who had been in
charge of farm No. 2, had never
been brought to trial, although Col.
Donaldson in his report had recon-
mended his court-martial for neglect
of duty.
''Is it possible" asked Mr.. Bland
s'that high officers took the position
that they would not convict a man of
the rank of colonel and that they had
a good part in the person Of ''Hard-
Boiled, Smith,"
81 have nothing to say about that"
"'Do you know of any reason" per-
sisted Mr.. Bland, "why Col. Grin
stead should not have been brought
to trial?"
'sI suppose the superior officers
had some good reason" replied the
witness.
SIT is serious reflection OH the
American expeditionary forces"
commented Mr.. Bland. eff sentry
goes to sleep on duty he is shot, but
e an officer goes to sleep on duty
axf hands of boys are beaten up ne
is eywo an honorable discharge"
Cane From Same Town.
Mr.. rBhao then asked the witness
if the fact that Col. Grinstead came
from Phoenix, Ariz., that Hard
boiled,'' Smith came f,>om the same
town and that the two we,>c intimate
did not suggest that Smith hao been
willing to take the blame for things
he might have passed up to- his supe-
rior. s,..ar s,~
ssSItswould COX that way replied
Col. spon..laso
cut. F. H. c'Hard-bolleo !
- .,, IL. voc in direct command