The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-16
DISCHARGED SOLDIERS
TELL OF CRUELTIES
PRISON CAMP OFFICERS
ACCUSED OF VIOLENCE.
Boys Back From France Be-
fore House Committee In
vestigating Charges.

Washington, July 16.-Six former
American soldiers, testifying on
Wednesday before special house
committee investigating alleged
cruelties to military prisoners in
France, declared that merciless as
saults were committed without prov
ocation on the prisoners by arrogant
officers in charge of the prison 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 No. 2" and "St. AIMS
hotel" also known as "the brig" were
the places named by the witnesses as
the scene of the alleged cruelties,
which were said to have extended
over several months in 1918. Some of
the officers in charge of the prison
camps, 1t was said. had been con-
victed by courts martial and others
were awaiting trial,
Lieut.. 'Hard Boiled" Smith, one of
the prison camp officers. was men,
toned frequently, while others named
were Licuts. Mason and Sullivan and
Sergts. Ball, Wolfmeyer and Bush.
did they try the general in charge
OF the camp" asked Chairman Royal
Johnson, who left his seat in congress
to serve with the army board.
mot that anyone heard Of" replied
the witness.
When Lieut. lizard Boiled" Smith |
was tried at Tours early this year a |
hundred witnesses appeared against |
him, and he was convicted. testified |
Sidney Kemp. New York City. who |
was corporal with Company F, 1929 |
engineers, Twenty seenth division.
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 Ioor, sometimes the mattresses |
being in mud under a small tent.
Ban Put on Smiling.
"a prisoner was smiling and an Of
icer said, Take that smile off or l
WILL" A. H. Mendleburg, 1910 East
Fayette street, Baltimore, who served
with base hospital No. AZ, testified.
The officer did so by rolling the man
n the mud" Mendleburg added.
did you get that officers name?"
asked Representative Flood, demo-
,rat, Virginia.
I'm too sorry I did not take his
lame," answered Mendleburg.
When telling of poor food, Mendle-
burg said that "if you asked for an
Extra piece of bread you were fat
IN your back"
Meals, he and others said, con-
sisted of 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, New York City,
corporal in Company G, Thirty
eighth infantry, Third division, said
hat while at the brig he was
knocked down by an officer and one
" his teeth knocked out when he
'efused to surrender his money belt.
Drawing blackjack. the officer and
Goldberg fought a few minutes, but
he witness said he was forced to
surrender because of the pain he suf-
cred from blows on the arms.
Once when was scrubbing a
read every five seconds" testified
Goldberg
Paul Boggs, Baldwin, N. Y, s1sth
ield signal battalion, said men at the
arm were often so hungry that theyl
we're glad to eat dirty potato peel
ngs." He said that he dipped a tin
up In a swill barrel so as to get
ONE grease that he would eat with
RELISH"
Instead OF giving a command, It
vas generally given with club" as
erted Boggs, who said he saw at
east fifty men beaten.
Alvin Bates, Brooklyn, who was
Nth the headquarters troop, Second
rmy, said whenever there was
ormation man was beaten up
very FIVE minutes" at the prison
arm. He and Boggs said that a
ole serving in the American army
vas brutally beaten, and soon after
Tard the prisoner cut his throat with
razor.
Medical Inspection a Farce"
Medical inspection was a farce
aid Bates, referring to the farm. :
You went in one door and was
licked out another"
George L. Pallitto, Newark, N, J.,
rivate in Company NJ. 11sth infan-
". Twenty-ninth division, testified
nat he became known as a nut pa
ent after he had said that he did
OF like a nurse"
Pallitto also told Of many cruelties
/ the prisons in France, and admit
ID that he was absent without
ave, for which he was sentenced.
he others said similar charges
gainst them resulted when they
ere trying TO reach their units, and
ley were acquitted or the charges
lsmissed.
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