The sun., 1919-02-08
CALLS U.S.. CAMP IN
FRANCE A DISGRACE
Lodge Stirs Senate With Re-
port Of Insanitary COndi-
lions at st. Afghan.
DEMANDS INVESTIGATION
Soldiers Said to Working as
Laborers-Baker Severe
Nv Criticised.
Special Desrdsch 10 TEE suS.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.--Insanitary and
uncomfortable conditions under which
American troops are living at debarka-
ton camps Of France and the unjust
retention In service Of enlisted men who
are compelled to work at road building
and other ordinary labor despite the fact
they have been enlisted for wholly differ-
ent purposes, furnished the topic for
bitter discussion in the Senate to-day, In
the course Of which It was asserted that
Secretary Bakers promises Of fullest In
vestigation were practically meaningless
and devoid Of the least element in GER
tainty Of fulflment
The discussion was precipitated by
Senator Lodge (AIass.). who read into
the Record a telegram from President
Bush Of the Michigan Society OF New
York, in which he said that according to
his information the conditions at st
Afghan, France, were sufficiently bad to
justify a Senatorial Investigation. Mr..
Bush's despatch read:
Hundreds OF wounded soldiers return
ing complain OF inssnitary and living
conditions and of disciplinary measures
at the American Army classification
camp at st, Afghan. France.
Calls 1t Disxrace to U. =.
Boys say they have TO stand in mess
lines for hours in mud and water over
boottops. Some report wounded dropped
dead in line. Latrnes ten feet from
tents. Camp built for 5000 has $4,000.
Guardhouse full of men who violated
minor rules. II one-tenth of what re-
turned men say is true, place Is hell hole
and disgrace to army and to the United
States. Boys call IL Camp Agony Urge
investigation at once that will assure
country something more than a white
wash"
After reading the despatch Senator
Lodge asked that II be sent to the Mill
tary Affairs Committee with a request
for action.
May ! not ask that a copy also be
sent to the Secretary OF War so that he
may investigate" asked Senator Lewis
ull), rising to defend TIE rights OF the
Administration.
To this Senator Lodge assented. but
| with the comment that 1t wouldn't do
any good"
Crittctses Camp at Brest.
The conditions at ST Afghan were
, paralleled at Brest, according to Senator
New Und). who interposed at this June
ture to read a newspaper article CRITICS.
ing conditions at the camp near that
port
! within forty-eight hours ] have
talked with military officers who left
Brest as late az January II and they
fully confirm these Stories said Senator
New. what has become OF the Secre-
tary OF Wars investigation OF conditions
at that campo"
Senator La Toilette then introduced a
resolution asking the Military Affairs
Committee TO investigate report on
conditions AZ the camp at Gum Springs.
Va. where company of the Motor
Transport Corps. recruited az Trio Uni
versity Of Wisconsin. is now stationed.
The resolution asks these questions:
! rs there any military necessity for re-
| tanning these organizations in the service
! any longer?
Have officers OF these companies dis
couraged the fling OF applications for
discharges without any just reason or for
the purpose OF maintaining their own
positions?
Have the men been required 70 per-
form services other than n the line OF
military duty"'
The committee Is directed 10 mako
similar Investigation as to Motor Trans
port Corps a Camp Humphrey and other
camps near Washington.