The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-07
SOLDIERS HERDED
IN PARIS PRISONS
Further Light Is Shed on Con-
ditions Of U. s. Army
During War.
FORCE UNwIsELY USED
Major Bennett Says, However,
That Officers Did Best
They Could.

PARIS, Sept. 6.-The Congressional
subcommittee continued its sittings to-
day in its investigation Of the affairs OF
the American Army. Major Bennett,
Inspector- General of the Paris district,
replying to questions regarding the ad-
ministration of the Provost Marshars Of
fee and soldier prisons in Paris, de-
clared that the conduct of the Provost
Marshals office was unsatisfactory ana
ineffieient prior TO February of this
year But he defended the officers Oh
the Paris command generally on the
ground that they had to contend with
the most difficult conditions that were
the outgrowth of the war
Arrests were made of soldiers and
Officers of the American Expeditionary
Forces in Paris at the rate of 500 weekly
during August, September and OCTOBER
1918. Many of them were deserters,
but some of them were accidentally ap-
sent without leave" but all were mud
died together in four rooms in the Hue
Sainte Anne, in the same building Wnere
Brig. Gen. Harris had his headquarters
the "A. w. o. LIS mingled with crnni-
nails.
CONGRESSMAN Bland asked the witness
why the A. e. F., which had built bar
racks in France that would reach 50V
miles II set end to end, could not have
provided more than four rooms Tor the
prisoners picked up in Paris. Major
Benmette replied that efforts had peeh
made to secure other quarters, put WIFI
out success. He also attempted TO eX-
cuse the conditions on the ground OF a
shortage of personnel and because in
experienced officers had been assigned
to duty in Paris. most OF whom came
from the Redistribution camp BIOS al
ter proving unfit for service at the 'front.'
The witness said that a great many
prisoners were brought to the Rue Sainte
Anne in an intoxicated condition AID
fighting mood and 1t was necessary TO
use force He admitted, however that
force had not always been wisely used.
Gen. Harris, he continued, Inspected
the quarters once a week and knew OF
the conditions He tried to get more
room and obtain more blankets.
Congressman Bland asked the witness
why, IL privates were condemned to De
shot for going to sleep on duty, as of-
Cured in two instances in the A II. f.
Gen. Harris and Col. Grinstead, who
went to sleep at their posts, should not
also be court-martialled.
Major Bennett replied that he did not
think the officers in the Paris districts
should be court-martialled, because he
thought they did the best they could
under the conditions Asked II Gen
Harris, by using all his influence. could
not have got space so as to separate
drunks and criminals from accidental
A. w. O. LIS the witness replied that
he thought Gen. Harris did all he could
Representative Johnson asked the wit
ness if American soldiers were not
better treated in Germany than in the
prisons of the 4. L. +. in Paris and
Crelles, to which he replied: perhaps
they were in some cases"
Major \Bennett declared that most OF
| the complaints came from men WHOSE
business was not in Paris but at the
| front, and that so far as he was aware
all officers guilty of punishable conduct
| had been tried.