Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-31
IS. Military Prisoners IN
rance Fastened to Wall and
eaten Senseless, Declares
fitness to Committee
SEVERAL TESTIFY
hdfcr-Grncrai W. w. Harris, in
'nmand of Paris District, Chief
Song Those Held Responsible for
eyed Brutnlitics

prison camps of France, described
lme cases as amounting to sys-
of torture responsibility for which
placed by the witnesses on high army
RS, were related to-day before the
essional sub committee which Is In
eating the disciplinary system of the
f.
committee, consisting of Repre-
tive Royal c. Johnson of South
ia and Representative Oscar f.
Il of Indiana, met on Governors
d. The third member Representa-
Henry Flood of Virginia. was not
int.
men directly charged by witnesses
responsibility for the prison condi
included Brig. Gen w. w. Harris,
cr commander of the American
bs in the Paris district, Major-Gen.
erick Smith Strong of the 4oth
ion, Col. Edgar Grimstead, COM
Ter of the 15Sth Infantry, and Col.
Maui of the field artillery. A num-
be captains and lieutenants also were
I'D as having taken an actual part
[e brutal treatment of the prisoners.
the close Of the hearing Representa-
johnson. who is chairman of the
committee, announced that all cases
hich charges were made would be
id before the inspector-general of
American army and every effort
to punish the guilty men.
rom the evidence before the commit
said Mr.. Johnson. lit seems clear
Is that while sergeants and lieu
nts were punished, they were merely
scapeSoats of higher officers. We
TO discover who were the mon
Ter up and we will do everything
Ir power to see that they are brought
rial. II is apparent that similar
itions existed in practically all the
Pns of France"
principal witness at the hearing
by was Col. 7. @. Donaldson of the
hctcr-gcncral's department, who made
official Investigation Of the prisons
the first charges Of brutality were
public.
lionel Donaldson admitted that re-
sibility for tho conditions IN the
prisons, concerning which some of
most sensational charges of brutal
have been made. must be laid ia
eral Harris. He was then questioned
the reasons why Colono! Grimstead
had been in charge OF farm No. .
never been brought to trial, although
nal Donaldson in his report had
nrended his court-martial for neg
of duty.
it possible" asked Mr.. Bland, thai
officers took the position that they
Id not convict a man of the rank Of
bel"
h no."
nd that they had good goat in the
on Of Hard boiled Smith,"
have nothing to say about that"
you know of any reason persisted
Bland, "wh- Colonel GrimsteaS
Id not have been brought to trial'"
suppose tine superior officers ha(
good reason" replied the witness,
"HARDBOILED" TESTIFIES
eutenant F.. II. "Hardboiled" Smith
was in direct command of farm No
omitted on the stand that terrible
alities" were practiced in the Frencl
bn camps, but insisted that his CAM
pleasure compared " III
RS. He said he had not long to liv
wanted to tell the truth while he wa
2. Smith was sentenced to IS month
risonment on charges of beating
pners and stealing their property.
nitn in his testimony asserted he ha
told by Colonel Grimstead tina
eral Strong had ordered prisoners t
treated with the most "ruthlcs
rity." He had said it was his under
ding that these men were to b
ted in such way that they neve
farms again"
nith's reference to his expecte
tn was interpreted as an indicatio
his belief that some Of the othe
oners would attempt his life.
he description by Smith of Farm
h pleasure resort" was fatty cor
licted by Sergt. Clarence e. Bal
nerly the lieutenants subordinat
the prison and now serving 81
hths on charges of brutality. Sci
mt Ball swore that he and oth'
teants had been forced to beat scor,
prisoners on the direct orders
tn.
all asserted that some of the me
ten were just out of hospitals. tn,
bne occasion he was ordered to bel
nan in the presence of Smith al
other officers and that an offic,
generally present when a man w;
hshed. When men were beaten
ly they were covered with bloc
said, they were taken out into IL
h and the hose played on them.
ergeant Ball claimed that Smi'
eatened that IL he did not obey o
B. he himself would be turned ov
the prisoners and that he kne
would kill him.
Did the colonel know about the
hgs? he was asked.
The colonel was in it as much
one else. If he didn't see thint
must have had bad eyesight"
ne most sensational testimony of 4
ring was given by Jos C. Ryszelewsl
bphomore Of he University Of Penns,
la, who enlisted in the aviation corr
yzelewskl got into some trouble ov
lbling which was not specified in I
imony and was sentenced to thr
rs' Imprisonment. He escaped a
ed the Polish army in France. w
sed, wounded, decorated with the Gre
Guerre for gallantry and given a col
sion. Finally he was identified by t
erican army authorities and claim
them as a fugitive. He was sent to t
ekade prison at Gievres, where he 6
ted "veritable reign of terror" c
ID.
saw men tortured to make them 81
hence against their comrades" he sa
hey were handcuffed and chained to
lis and then beaten senseless w
ckjacks by sergeants."
yzelcwsli described ono case of c
4 roldlcr. who was caught entering
then ut night to try and get some TO-
prisoners were no hungry. he {
red, that they begged food from
nese coolies working on the roads. 7
70 was beaten unconscious with blat
Ss by three ncrgeanta, Aftcrward
,,,t a., aniifo,v eoy Il pe,aat1t 1vhere