Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-11-05
OPEN HEARING
IS DEMANDED
BY GEORGIAN
Solon Objects to robe
Behind Closed Doors;
Flags Frenchman.
Pershing Says Charges
Are Untrue; Weeks
Pledges His Support.

Washington. Nov. Investigation
by a special senate committee of the
charges Of Senator Watson, Democrat,
Georgia, that American soldiers in
France were hanged without trial and
shot by officers orders. was assured
Friday, when the senate. after three
hours discussion. unanimously re-en-
dorsed the inquiry.
The special committee. headed by
Senator Brandegee. Republican. Con-
necticut, will meet next Monday to de-
termine upon procedure, but it is ex-
pected that several days will then
elapse before hearings are begun while
Senator Watson is gathering his evi
dence.
Another speech by Senator Watson
in support of his charges. wranglng
between senator's over wording of the
inquiry resolutions and parliamentary
mixups. preceded the final order for
the investigation to proceed. The SEN
ate finally ind unanimously adopted
new and amended resolution, directing
the inquiry and another empowering
sons and papers.
The program announced Thursday
for motion to discharge the commit
tee did not materialize. Instead, Sen
ator Simmons, Democrat. North Caro-
lima, proposed the new resolution. which
was adopted. with an amendment de-
claring that the inquiry should be made
into Senator Watson's charges and not
an investigation of the senator him.
self From the resolution giving the
committee power to act in the case. an
other amendment struck out n state
mcnt relative to inviting Senator Wat
son to appear before the committee.
The committees course in this respect.
members said, would be determined
later.
Watson Satisfied
Senator Simmons at the conclusion
of the debate said that Senator Watson
was satisfied with the amendments and
would not doubt submit his evidence to
the special committee.
Earlier, Mr.. Watson had challenged
Republicans to expel him. declared for
debate in the open senate and asked
why an effort should be made to ZEN
trap and ''silence" him before a COM
mittec. He denounced "whitewashng
committee reports and said they were
not read
The war department is preparing TO
give its fullest support to the senate
investigation, taking the position that
the accusations of the Georgia senator
constitute a blot on the good name of
the army unless full investigation is
held. Secretary Weeks has said that
he hopes the inquiry is carried out
until all the facts have been established
and is understood to have offered to
put at the disposal of the committee
the facilities Of the army in arriving
at the truth.
Edge Starts Debate
Senator Edge. Republican, New Jer-
sey, began the debate with a criticism
of Senator Watson for presenting |!
photographs of gallows where a |
soldier had been executed after court
martial, the New Jersey senator said. !
for brutal attack upon a seven !
year-old French girl. Senator Edge t
declared the incident could not be
camsuflaged, and that the issue was as |
to the truth Of the charges of illegal /
hangings.
In spirited reply, Senator Watson /
said his information regarding 21 al I
legged hangings of soldiers without trial.
came from a former soldier who said
he had seen the gallows and had been /
told by galows guard that this num-
ber was hanged. His informant SEN
ator Watson said. would face the SEN
ate and answer all questions.
The French government and General
Lafayette were criticised by the
Georgia senator in commenting on q
statement by Newton D. Baker, former
secretary of war; that the senate's
charges were "preposterous and incred-
ible." Referring to Mr.. Bakers state
ment that France was a Civilized
country" and that word Of any illegal
executions would have spread quickly.
Senator Watson said that France had
charged America for trenches and play
grounds used by American troops.
Take Shot at Lafayette I
"Oh yes, France is not q bowling
wilderness but civilized country" the
Georgia senator continued. from which
Lafayette came upon a written con-
tract made with Bilas Dean, pledging
this country to make him major gem
eral before he would leave France and
come to America. And he did not have
sense enough to drill company of
soldiers. Some of these days, when
somebody gets up here and blows off
down peg or two. know Lafayette
and Washington knew him. and it was
not Washington who had him released
from that Austrian prison into which
he was put when the French army
chased him with the intent to kill
'.It was Napoleon Bonaparte in the
treaty of Campo Formo. Yes. / knowl
He betrayed every French
government that trusted him and the
only independent command he ever had !
in America came very near getting
bagged by Benedict Arnold and it was ,
only the James river that saved LaFay- [
cite and his command from being cap I
tured." Ii