Arizona republican., 1919-08-09
I AGREE
 WITH DEFENSE /. OF PRISON AIM
Lieut.. Harold Baxter, Just
 Back from France, Tells
 Many Interesting Things of Hard Boiled" Smith

Lieut. Harold Baxter of the 23rd En- 1 gineers returned to Phoenix yesterday morning after an absence of almost | two years, the greater part of which was spent in France. He was dis charged not long ago and, joining Mrs. Baxter in the east, where she had been engaged in war work, they returned to Iron Springs a day or two ago. Mrs. Baxter remained at the Springs. sI Lieutenant Baxter enlisted a year ago last October and before leaving the country he had been promoted to sergeantcy. His promotion to the rank of second lieutenant occurred in France, where later he was invested with the insignia of first lieutenant.
 After his arrival in France he was detailed for work in the office of judge advocate, where though he later had a more dangerous job, he found his hard est task. Later he was given his chance at the big show when the 23rd was detailed to keep the road to the front open for the great drive. That was something of a task for trucks were crowding upon the heels of one another During that hurrying period trucks passed along that way at the rate of one every II seconds.
 Set Watch by Hun Shells
 There was some excitement there with shells and gas" said Lieutenant Baxter yesterday. We had high ex- plosive shells every morning. German hate shells in the afternoon; and Beche avions at night, sometimes in the daytime. One could regulate his watch by the appearance of the Ger mans, 1t was so regular. If, according to your watch, you did not get a high explosive at S:20 a. m., you might know that your watch needed attention, and also something was wrong with your timepiece if it did not register 10:30 when the Boche returned. Then there were the avions. The Germans merely kicked out the tailgate and let a can of G. I. roll out
 Nearly every member of Lieutenant Baxters' company was gassed, many were wounded, but only one was killed by a direct hit He himself had a touch of gas.
 Lieutenant Baxter is very much in terested in the controversy over the prison farms. He does not agree with the statements that have been mad9 by officers in defense of the farms and Hard Boiled" Smith. Nor does he state that the acts of cruelty practiced upon the inmates were of purposeless brutality, though they were brutal enough. He also corrects the impress sion that the men confined there were for the most part actual deserters from the front, for he says that the things done there were done after the war was over. Said Lieutenant Bax- ter:
 Missed Trains Purposely
 After the armistice was signed men to whom leaves were coming and who had been unable to get them were granted leave for 24 hours to visit Paris. A majority of those men missed their trains, mostly by intention. Then when they tried to get out they fell into the hands of the M. P.s. Then they went before the A. P. NJ, whence they were landed at a prison farm.
 At Christmas time we had six mer held in Paris. When we discovered where they were our regimental com mander made a demand and got then out. They went on leave with tar shoes, mackinaws and serge suits When they came back they had no de cent clothing. They had been stripped ftheir money, tooth brushes, pocket books that had contained photographs and all the souvenirs they happened tt have with them.
 Some few of the men from Arizon; making that fact known at the prisor farm. got off without punishment ol abuse. But every other man caugh there got his full share of Hare Boiled Smiths methods, which wa double time for everything they dit and a knockdown if his replies wer not prompt when his number wa called. Smith will not be safe any where in the country when his tim has expired. He will find in almos every section of this country some on who met him at Prison Farm No. and has not forgotten it.
 Did Not Discriminate
 Ut is true that Paris was filled wit fakirs, most of them wearing the uni form of officers or aviators. But ther were many who were only technical A. W. O. L. because they had made u their minds to see Paris and could ge there no other way. The ard-boil et prison outfit failed to discriminate be tween the real GeseTters and the tech nical A. W. O. L. Their purpose wa 10 make Paris place where ne would not go without special leav and would not stay beyond their leav;
 
 picion that he had stolen it. That why the men from my contingent wer taken up. They were the first to hay tan shoes and mackinaws, and wer known wherever they went abot France as the 'Mackinaw Tourists.
 In the opinion of Lieutenant Bax ter. Hard Boiled" Smith and the othe under officers at the prison farl were acting strictly under orders an they were chosen for that position be cause they were known to be the kin of men they were. Lieutenant Baxtt said it was commonly reported, thoug he knows nothing of the matter, ths some of the officers of these priso farms were men who had been convict in the Arizona. penitentiary, ''honc men," or men who had been parole and had been chosen for these place because of their experience in ''ma6 house" penitentiary methods.
 A Great Show
 Tt was a great show" said Iieuter ant Baxter, "and we who saw most 1t had the best time. It is somethir that we would not have missed. Tho. who suffered the most were those WI were sentenced to drudgery back of u lines. and I may speak of the sacrifi' of the women who were engaged war work im this country
 At the time of the enlistment Lieutenant Baxter he was a member the legislature from this county r missed the special session. the ", session, held in May following his d. parture. Soon after that Mrs. Baxt went east and engaged in Red Gro work, where, until last February. sl was dollar a year" woman, engag' in inspecting and establishing cam in various parts of the country. Lat she entered the home service
 Lieutenant Baxter will resume tl