The sun., 1919-07-27
KINCAID WANTS
ARMY CRUELTY
Barred In FULL
Pershing Report on Hard
Characters in Prison No.
Does Not Satisfy.
END ALL ABUSES URGED
Clear U. s. Forces of Incom-
petents, Congressional
Probers Told.
END ALL ABUSES URGED


hardest characters Of the American
Expediuonary Force" has by no means
satisfied Lieut.-Col. j. Leslie Kincaid,
formerly Judge Advocate Of the Twen-
ty-seventh Division, who with others
Is trying to see that justice is done
and recurrence Of brutality prevented.
Replying to a letter from Represen-
tetive Fred w. Dallinger, Col. Kincaid
has placed himself at the disposal of
the special committee of the House
which is investigating charges made
by Sergeant Major James w. Beck
Inap and others and will testify before
IL whenever called.
at is my honest belief" he said yes
terday, that the desired result OF the
special committees investigation, the
desire to prevent a recurrence of just
such cases in our army, can best b.
achieved by the bringing out into the
light of day every fact connected with
the matter irrespective Of who may be
involved.
This unfortunate occurrence at these
prison institutions In France, the appa1-
ling and unjust administration OF mill
tary justice in some jurisdictions during
the war. which has now led to the resig-
nation Of Col Ansell the pitifully weak
case OF the conscientious directors. the
Brest scandal. the present situation in
the AIR Service, are all small indications
that a condition exists in the Army Of
tine United States that the American
people will never tolerate II informed as
TO facts. II the United States Is to
profit by our experience and mistakes
in the great war the time has now ccene
FOR a careful. searching and merciless
investigation"
Cable Sent by Pershing.
The observation Of Gen. Pershing as
to the presence OF hard characters in
American prison camps In France was
made in a cablegram to Secretary Baker
and read by Gen. March to the special
committee of the House on Wednesday.
At the same time there was presented
a report of Col. T. Q. Donaldson. Inspec-
tor-General to the Acknowledgement of
the army, saying that "all was done by
the proper military authorities that
could be done and that no good can be
accomplished by now publishing in the
press the details of what has happened
at the places referred to-"
Col Kincaid's statement Of yesterday
follows:
ut is regretable that the inference
can be justly and fairly drawn from an
official report and statement of high
ranking general officer that there is the
slightest intention On the part of our
army to In any degree justify the bar
barouS acts of any officer or to stifie an
investigation of the nature undertaken
by Congressman Johnston's committee
before 1t has exhausted its field of re-
search.
"oen. Pershing's statement. Some of
thosJ men were among the hardest char
ecte<s in the American Expeditionary
Force while undoubtedly true. is hardly
fair TO the many gallant young soldiers
who were confined in these institutions.
guiltless OF any offence. or at the most OF
tho heinous offence of overstaying leave
q few days in Paris aztec the armistice
VAC signed. I sincerely trust that the
American people will not be mislead into
thinking that the majority IF prisoners
confined in the Paris prijons and al
Prison Farm No. 2 were hardened GRIM
inals or old offenders.
THE Donaldson report. an emergency
affair sIotted out on July 10, can hardly
be considered as timely answer or re-
ply to Col Wainwrights first report,
which l. as well as Gen. March cannot
locate. This report, however, was dated
along in the early part of September.
The more than noticeable absence In
the Donaldson report of any mention as
to the date on which this matter was
brought to the attention of the Inspector
General of the American Expeditionary
Forces or to the General Staff, is only
surpassed in cleverness by Col Donald
sons opinion, paragraph 10, that "all
was done by the proper military author
tiles thxt could be done. and that no
good cal be accomplished by now pub
fishing In the press the details of what
has happened at the places referred to-
Remedy for EVIL Sought.
"If is my honest belief that the de-
sired result OF the special committee
Investigation, the desire to prevent a
recurrence OF Just such cases in our
Rrmy. can best be prevented by bringing
out into the light of day every fact con-
nected with the matter irrespective OF
who may be involved. ,ol Donaldson
carefully states that Prison Farm No. 2
was not under the Jurisdiction of the
commanding general, district of Paris
nor the ocEumanding general, service OF
supnSs.
THE Colonel unfortunately has failed
TO report on the important matter OF
who the commanding general was who
exercised jurisdiction over Prison Farm
No. at the time OF the unfortunate oc.
currence under the investigation. I be-
HeNe lndI tne AIDeTlCdn peOplo nave the
right TO know the name Of the general
officer who occupied this position as vel
rs the name of the other general Officer
who exercised general court-martial
jurisdiction over Lieut.. Smith, alias
lizard Boiled Smith," who, in his discre.
tion. nugatated the sentence in Smiths
case from confinement at hard labor for
three years and dismissal from the ser,
vice to simple confinement for eighteen
months. ~
at may be that the person responsible
for this action had in mind the trial OF
do not understand there would be any
bar to his trial for other offences than
those for which he was first convicted.
1.-THE Congressional Committee should
be able 10 furnish the names of many
witnesses to other offences which could
be made the subject OF trial which might
not result in such a grotesque miscar.
riaee OF justice.
ain my opinion the Special Houss
Committee can perform a most vaiua biz
service 10 the people Of the United
States and 20 our army In going bach
10 the very inception of the prison farms
camps and establishments In France and
tsking up the matter Of reduction ir
rank OF the First Provost Marshal-Gen
eral OF The A. E. r., who for some rea.
son. unknown 70 me. was reduced In
rank from Brigadier-seneral TO a Coo
mel and placed on duty In the city Of
Paris for the duration OF the war. The
posItion Of Provost Marshall General wal
Ultimately held by Brig,-Gen. II. n
Bandkoltz, former commanding officel
~ the PhiliDplne COnsfabuIary and one