The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-11-13
SLANDERING A GREAT ARMY AND A
GREAT CAUSE
(From the Commercial-Appeal.)

Senator Tom Watson made an attack upon the army by
alleging that number OF soldiers IN France were hanged
without courtmartia When these charges denounced
he broadened his indictments.
The record shows that certain negro soldiers and white
soldiers were courtmartiaed and hanged for rape.
The that first started the senator that of
soldier who hanged for outragng and numbering
sevenyeraod child. The senator was in danger OF being
put in heaude Of defending raps then he passed to
the charge that the mstrated by officers and
were forced to become courtesans.
Gen Pershing denounced the charge that men
hanged without court martial false This did not phase
ing line His effort is to draw sharp distinction be-
tween officers and men, He is attempting to show how
listed men were brutaly treated by officers.
The American army in France numbered 100000 men.
all the American citiroro obi, one-haf of those who
were volunteers and regulars The rest
drafted Among the drafted men there were
scientous directors who troublesome not only in this
country but in France.
From the declaration Of until the draft began
amazing how young who before had seldom put
ding blood The district draft board of West Tennessee had
number of these to deal with The members of the
board could never convince themselves of the bona des of
any of these DIRECTORS Some of them the of their
and made good soldiers Most of them dragged along
through the army They were not Quakers because the
policy of the draft board to put Quakers in nonghtng
work. except where voluntarily they accepted duty in the
line.
private young of Just high spirit and culture
as the officers All could not be officers
Between the enlisted men in the volunteer army and
their officers there spirit of good fellowship that is
magnificent even today Many Of the drafted men made
most eXceent SOdlefS Oh neSe would nave volunteer
ed but were prevented because OF mporay ntrrng con-
ditions.
The final year of the volunteers could be accepted
who within the draft age Some of the officers
account just of the enlisted worthless.
The heads of of the officers turned by their
shoulder straps but these did not last long.
Considering the spirit of youth and owing to their
presence in strange land, considering also the difficulties
incident to different language the conduct of the American
soldiers splendid.
The army made glorious record in France.
Men like Tom Watson fought the draft fought the
and now, after the is would delight them to
the American eXpeditonay force dcredted Whatsoever
out of line they parade vndcaton of their position
Watsons tactics the tactics of others of his Sort if
successful would discedt the administration of PRECEDENT Will
whom they hate like poison and they would tanish the
glory of the thing that done and the good of
fine body of men gathered under the flag of
country.
There will be plenty to encourage Watson because there
is small but very vindctive minority, who in their heart
of hearts glad to dshonor imputed to which
they fought against
The sackers, the draft dodgers malcontents, the old
proGemans and the professional pacists will be delighted
at the spectacle that being shot the Senate