New-York tribune., 1919-09-27
''Steerage'' Passage
Riles HOmecomers
On the Agamemnon
700 First Glass Passengers
Make Trip in Hold OH
Two Meals a Day and
Fresh Water at Premium

The Agamemnon, which arrived last
hlght from Brest on its first trip as
an army transport under the control
of the War Department instead of the
Navy Department, was a trouble shin
from the start, according to disgrun-
tied passengers aboard Although the
boat had accomm odations for ONLY 45O
hrst cabin passengers, 1850 first class
passengers were crowded aboard.
The result was that hundreds of
them were bunked in tiers in the depths
OF the ship. Among those who made
the trip under these conditions were
277 West Point cadets, a number of
Y. M. c. A. and other welfare work
ers and all officers below the rank of
major. First cabin accommodations
were given over to field officers and
to 10 Frenchwomen coming to the
United States as brides.
Mess kits were issued to the passen
gers, who slept four deep below the
Wster line, and twice day they had to
line up at the galley for. their meals.
OF which they got but two in TWENTY
tour hours. One was served at a. m
and one at 4 p. m. Those in line ren-
orally had to wait about an hour be-
tore getting anything. After while
some OF the women Y. NJ. C. A. workers
got hold of some jam and made and
served lunch of sandwiches every
noon. There was a shortage of fresh
water.
Among the passengers were men,
q al =
to France. to investigate army cxpend
tures; They were Representatives
Royal c. Johnson, of South Dakota;
Henry u: Flood, of Virginia, and Oscar
+. Bland, of Indiana. Mr.. Bland de-
clared that startling instances of mis-
use OF government funds in France had
been discovered.
representative Bland said that the
committee had gone thoroughly into
charges of cruelty at American mill
tary prisons in France and found the
commissioned officers had been held
responsible, he said, adding that his
committee had evidence and documents
now which would permit it to get to
the bottom of the affair.
colonel Grinstead and General
Strong are directly responsible for the
unprecedented cruelties perpetrated at
Prison Farm No. 81 he said. "If Cen
eral Strong, who was over Colonel
Grlnstead, did not know of the condi
tons he should have known of them.
Colonel Grinstead was bound to know
OF their existence and acquiescence in
1T. General Hart for months was in
the same building at 10 Rue St. Anne.
where thousands of outrages were
committed. Lack of food heat and
air, and nauseating sanitary conditions
were before his eyes, and the reports
showing their condition were in the
file Of his office
"Conditions could have been rene
died, but they were not During a
large portion of this time he General
Harts) was the military guardian of
the President. and no man in the Judge
advocate generals department or
provost marshal's department has had
the audacity to recommend his trial by
court-martial or efficiency board.
I'm my judgment he is guilty of
causing more pain, suffering, disease,
humiliation and shame of American
soldiers than any man ever in the
United States Army, and it is little
less than outrageous that he should
be permitted to go untouched while the
little fellows are in Jail"