The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-05
Criminals Masquerade as Amer
lean Soldiers and Bring I'm
merited Blame on Them.
PARIS CHIEF OF POLICE
MAKES STATEMENT
Riff Raft of All Armies and the
Paris Apaches Jointly Create
Reign of Crime in France

Ear1S, Jan. oU 10y ltlS ASoOC1S@ISN
Press)-That Apaches Of all nation
ali.ies dressed in American uniforms
were mainly responsible for the acts
Of violence which have caused broad
cast publicity to be given to an al
2e.ed American crime wave in Paris,
was shown by an Investigation con-
Quoted by the Associated Press today.
It was further ascertained that as
saults and hold ups are iEfnitesimal
in number as compared with the pub
lished figures Of the crime wave, ex-
listing nearly exclusively in the vivid
imagination of sensational local news
papers
An opportunity was presented to
verify at police headquarters the flg-
ures respecting crime during last De-
cernber. Thirty-four murders charg-
ed to Americans were discredited and
dwirdled to two; 244 hold ups and
assaults were reduced by so per cent.
There have been numerous fstic
encounters, however, but they were
mostly between Americans. old fash
ioned rough and tumble braWls, an
which arrests are rarely made IN
American cities where for the most
part the pugnacious individuals would
De merely requested by the police to
go home, or humorous policeman
would advise: eff you want 10
fight, go to Europe"
Brig. Gen. William W. Harts OF
the United States army. in a state
ment given out today, says:
THE reports concerning the large
number of murders by American SOL
diers in Paris are untrue. They are
greatly exaggerated. TIL. number OF
military police in Paris have been in
creased merely because of the greater
number of soldiers passing through
the city, not because Of unusual dis
orders. The statistics show that the
American soldiers are maintain
ing their high standard Of discipline
in every detail. wherever they may
be-
The Paris chief Of police, NJ. Mou-
ten, said he was greatly pleased at
the cooperation Of the American de-
tecrives who have recently arrived
here.
we have established a liaison be-
tween the officers of the American
provost marshal and police head
quarters" he added. .sThe French
and Amer can police are working in
harmony"
Chief Mouton refused to make a
statement on the extent OF crime, but
said that outside Of some thefts Of
automobiles. to the prejudice Of the
American army, American soldiers did
not deserve the hard reputation
which. had gone abroad through va
rious reports.
A high official at police headquar-
ters referring to the. departments
records previously mentioned and the
street brawls said:
Not all Of these may be charged
to Americans as there have been
many cases in which the similarity Of
the uniforms Of Australians and
Americans has led to the Americans
being blamed for fights and hold-ups
in which the Australians were engag-
ed or committed There have been
some arrests by the British military
police of Australians for misdenaeaH-
ors and crimes, where at first Amer
leans were thought to be guilty.
There are also many men, who are
engaged in labor at the various Amer
ican departments. recruits from
among working men Of all nationali-
ties and who were discharged after
the armistice. They are wearing dis
carded American uniforms and in sew
eral cases they have been found guilty
Of holdups.
"Aiso. our own Apaches, strong in
the belief Of immunity through the
Of the American uniform.
have obtained by hook or crook some
Of these uniforms and have gone
about their worl. in earnest.
Surely there arc some real Amer |
leans guilty but the percentage is
not nearly as great as that publish
ed"
THE DEADLY GAS.