Evening star., 1921-11-01
CHARGE OF HANGING
SOLDIERS |NFRANCE
|AROUSES SENATORS
Investigation Ordered Into
Startling Accusation
by Watson.
REFUSES TO OFFER PROOF
TO SENATE COMMITTEE
Wadsworth Demands Georgian Sub
stantiate Story of 81 Men Exc
cuted at One Time.

cuted at One Time.
Investigation by special committee
into charges by Senator Watson.
democrat. Georgia, that American SOL
diers n France were hanged without
courtmartial or other trial was order
ed today by the Senate by unanimous
vote. The committee will be appoint
ed by the President of the Senate, and
Senator Watson will be invited before
it to produce proof.
How many senators know" Senator
Watson asked, that a private SOL
dier was frequently shot by his o1f-
GERS because of some complaint
against officers insolence; and that
they had gallows upon which men
were hanged, day after day, without
cOurt-martlal or any otter form Gf
trial? l do, and have the photograph
of one of those galiows, upon whica
been executed at sunrise when the
Photograph was taken; al1 there
were others wailing in the camp jails
TO be hanged morning after morning"
WadxwOrth Demands Proof.
Senator Wadsworth declared that
this charge could not be Tightly
brushed aside" nor excused on the
ground of excitability in debate" He
demanded that Senator Watson pro-
duce the proof. Senaor Watson replied
that he resented the demand" and
would tell him foot to foot and
shoulder to shoulder" that he was "the
equal of any senator" and assumed
fun responsibility for his charges.
He said he would refuse to go be-
fore any committee with his evidence
or to produce his witnesses unless
they were guaranteed immunity.
Il mean every word l said" he
added. "and l did not overpaint the
picture. l have a photograph of the
galiows upon which white soldiers
were hanged. and / can produce wit
nesses who saw it, If it is safe for
them to appear.
"A picture Of white men hanged
like dogs! 1 can produce men, II it
were safe, who saw men shot with
out trial. I cannot compel men to
come here and incur the danger.
Charges Soldiers starved.
It say that food Was piled up
mountain high in France and virtually
gLNSs1-"to tker F1Nnch when our men
wtre starving. can prove that our
men were unnecessarily exposed and
slsft to die on the road. / know ex-
.service men who saw these things
,and told mes about them. Told me
how letters were censored and stereo-
typed to conform to regulations, and
how soldiers who would not comply
were subjected to barbarous treat
ment. These men will not go back
to Europe again to fight. 1 have
heard them state they would die
before they would do so. The men
were treated inhumaneiy, and told
me 40 themselves
Senator Watson, while stating his
the Senate military committee. said
he would before another and i'm
partial committee.
Senator IIonrcot. republican. Wis
consin. characterized the Georgia
senator's charges as "monStrous," and
declared that he discredited the i'm
partiality of prominent democrats on
the military committee as well as re-
publicans in refusing to appear before
the military body.
Truth Is Challenged.
Senator Wausworth vigorously
challenged the truth OF Senator Nal~
sons charges.
The inference to be drawn that
numbers were hanged without a
court-martial is utterly aside from
the facts and the TRUTH" said Sena-
executed in France under court-mar-
tial, Senator " ellsworth said, could
be counted on one hand. -
'"The senator from Georgia declines
to produce any testimony to substan-
tiate his charges" Senator Waus-
witnesses might incur some danger.
l need no comment on an excuse of
that kind. If the senator will not
substantiate. his charges, the respon-
sibility is his. 1 leave the Senate and
the country to judge"
Senator WadSworth asserted, heat
ely, that mot one man in our vast
army was executed without court
martial"
Senator Watson then produced his
small photograph of an alleged IL
legal execution. 1t was passed around
among senator's who examined 1t
carefully.
Senator Watson said it had been
sent to him "by somebody" during
the debate.
Borah OpPoses Inquiry.
Senator Borah rose and said he had
sent the photograph, which the
Idaho senator said he obtained from
Senator Watson after publication
several months ago OF the Georgia
in Senator Watson's magazine.
said Senator Borah. "Of course. it
doesn't show where it is. Two ex-
service men have confirmed to me the
statements regarding the picture
without further. substantiation he
was not willing to bring the matter
before the Senate.
Senator watson said that num-
bers" of former service men had .toid
him of the alleged executions, which
we're conducted, the Georgia senator
said. "in a wooded dell behind one
of the camps in France His in-
formants, senator Watson said. as
serted they ,me nad repnbiican sean ns New Ter
.av, said that Senator Watson "owed
If TO the country" to produce his
Sf am not wiling" said Senator Len
.JContinued on Thirteenth Page.) !