The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-07-18
MILITARY PRISONERS IN
FRANCE BADLY TREATED
FORMER American Soldiers Testify Ia
Harsh Treatment by American
Z Officers

"dSnlngtOn, July 1I.-SiX former
American soldiers testified before a
special house committee investigating
alleged cruelties to military prisoners
In France, declared that merciless as
saults were committed without provo
cation on the prisoners by arrogant
officers in charge of the prison and
camps. Only one Of the witnesses. all
OF whom were charged with being abb
sent without leave, was convicted, the
others having been acquitted or the
charge dismissed.
The bastile." "the stockade. -
prison farm number two" and est.
AIMS hotel" also known as "the
brig" were the places named by the
witnesses as the scenes of alleged
cruelties. which were said to have ex-
tended over several months in 1918.
Some of the officers in charge Of the
prison camps, 1t was said, had been
convicted by court-martial and others
were awaiting trial.
Lieutenant "Hardboiled" Smith,
one of the prison camp officers. was
mentioned frequently, while others
named were Lieutenants Mason and
Sullivan and Sergeants Ball, Wolf
meyer and Bush.
Did they try the general in charge
of the camp" asked Chairman John
son, who left his seat in congress to
serve with the army board.
Not that anyone heard Of" an
swered the witness.
When Lieutenant "Hardboiled'
Smith was tried at Tours early this
year hundred witnesses appeared
against him and he was convicted
testified Sidney Kemp, 479 West
146th street. New York city, who was
a corporal with Company F, 1O2nd
engineers, 9th division.
Fifty witnesses who / can name
will verify everything said here, and
tell more, too" asserted Kemp.
Several Of the soldiers testified that
in addition to being beaten, food In
small amounts and of poor quality
was supplied, and that the bedding
was poor, sometimes the mattress be-
ing in mud under a small tent
"A prisoner was smiling and an of
ficer says, Take that smile off or /
will A. II. Mendleburg, 141O East
Fayette street, Baltimore, who served
with base hospital AZ, testified. THE
officer did by rolling the man in the
mud" Mendleburg added.
Did you get that officers name?"
asked Representative Flood. Demo
crat. OF Virginia.
I'm too sorry I did not take his
name" answered Mendleburg
When telling of poor food. Mendle-
burg said that "if you asked for an
extra piece OF bread you were fiat on
your back" Meals, he and others
said, consisted OF a stew, made from
canned beef, one slice of bread and
part of cup of coffee. Sometimes
only the stew was served, witnesses
said
Charles Goldberg, 800 Central
Park west, New York city, a corporal
in Company G.. 3Stn infantry, third
division, said that while at the brig
he was knocked down by an officer
and one OF his teeth knocked out
when he refused to surrender his
money belt. Drawing a black jack
the officer and Goldberg fought few
minutes, but the witness said he was
forced to surrender because of the
pain he suffered from blows on the
arms.
Once when / was scrubbing a floor
sergeant swung club at my head
every few seconds" testified Gold
berg.
Paul Boggs, Baldwin. n. Y. 31Stn
field signal battalion, said men at the
farm were often SO hungry that they
We're glad to eat dirty potato peel
ings." He said he dipped "A tin cup
in swill barrel so as to get some
grease that he would eat with "A rel
ish"
Instead of giving command, i,
was generally given with a club" as
goo has more limitations than any
other Chill and Iauor Tonic m, a..