The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-11-02
SOLDIERS HANGED
SAYS TOM WATSON
GEORGIA SENATOR CAN PRO-
DUCE PROOF OF CHARGES IF
WITNESSES ARE GRANTED
1MMUNITY-MAY BE FULL IN.
VESTIGATION.


tion by a special committee into
charges by Senator Watson, Demo-
crat, Georgia, that American SOL
diers in France were hanged with
out courtmartial or other trial was
ordered today by the senate by un-
animous vote. The committee will be
appointed by the President of the
Senate, and Senator Watson will be
invited before it to produce proof.
The special committee, as named by
Senator Cummins, of Iowa, president
pro tempore of the senate will be
headed by. Senator Brandegee, Re-
publican, Connecticut,s and will con-
sist of Senators Ernest, Republican,
Kentucky; Willis, Republican, Ohio;
Overman, Democrat, North Carolina,
and Pomerene, Democrat, Ohio.
Reply to Senator Watson's charg-
es that twenty-one American SOL
diers had beeA hanged on one scaffold
J.: ---c"::cc, Senator New, Republican,
Indiana, presented an official state
ment from the Judge Advocate Gen.
cral of the Army showing that out
o. a total of % sentences of death
imposed in the. American exppedi-
tionary forces, only nine were actu-
ally carried out.
How many senators know" Sena-
tor Watson had asked, "that pri-
vate soldier was frequently shot by
his officers because of some complaint
against officers insolence; and that
they had gallows upon which men
we're hanged day after day, without
courtmartial or any form of trial? I
had and have the photograph of one
of those gallows upon which 21
white boys had already been execut-
ed at sunrise when the photograph
was taken; and there were others
waiting in the camp jails to be hang
ed morning after morning."
Senator Wadsworth declared that
this charge could not be Eighty
brushed aside," nor Excused on the
ground of excitability in debate" He
demanded that Senator Watson pro-
duce the proof.
Senator Watson replied that he re-
sented the demand" and would "tell
him foot to foot and shoulder to
shoulder" that he was ''the equal of
any SENATOR" and assumed full re-
sponsibility for his charge. He said
he would refuse to go before any
committee with his evidence, or to
produce his witnesses unless they
were guaranteed immunity.
II mean every word I said," he ad-
ded, "and I did not overpaint the pic
ture. I have a photograph Of the
gallows upon which white soldiers
were hanged. and I can produce wit.
nesses who saw it, if it is safe for
them to appear"
ga picture of white men hanged
like dogs! can produce men, if it
we're safe, who saw men shot without
trial. I cannot compel men to come
here and incur the danger.
~ say that food was piled up noun
tain high in France and virtually Civ
en- to the French when our men were
starving. I can prove that our men
were unnecessarily exposed and left
to die on the road. I know ex-ser.
vice men who saw these things and
told me about them. Told me how
letters were censore and sterotypec
to conform to regulations, and how
soldiers who would not comply were
subjected to barbarous treatment
These men will not go back to Europe
again to fight have hear dthem state
they would die before they would dc
so. The men were treated inhu
manly and told me so themselves"
Senator Watson while stating hi!
refusal to produce his evidence be-
fore the senate military committee
said he would before another anc
"impartial'' committee.
Senator Lenroot, Republican, Wis
consin, characterized the Georgia
seantor's charges as "monstrous" and