The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-05
HANGED
WITHOUT
7 RI Al
Georgia S e Il a t o T
Causes Storm in
Senate Presents
Photograph Of Gal
lows Said to Have
Been Used for Exc
cutions

Washington, Nov. 1. = Fat
charges by Senator Watson, Demo
crat, of Georgia, that many Amer
lean soldiers in the American eX-
peditionary force had been hanged
in France without courtsmartial or
other trials stirred up a storm in
the senate today, which resulted in
the adoption by unanimous vote Of
an order for an investigation. at
which the Georgia senator will be
asked to present proof OF his
charges.
A special committee. headed by
Senator Brandegee, Republican, Of
Connecticut, was appointed to make
the inquiry after Senator Watson
had refused to present his charges
before the senate military commit
tee, because, he said, it vas not
impartial. Other senators appoint
ed on the investigating committee
were: Ernest cf Kentucky, and
Willis. OF Ohio. Republicans. aai
Wv VI 4NDI III N-'si " lISl-i"
ocrat. Senator Pomcrene, Demo-
crat, Of Ohio. also was appointed TO
the committee, but was unable to
serve, and another Democrat in his
place will be selected tomorrow.
None Of the committee. by agree
nent, are members OF the mill
tary committee. The first meeting
viii be held tomorrow, but only TO
decide upon the procedure, and
hearings will so over for several
days.
Bitter exchanges between Sena-
tor Watson and Chairman Wads-
worth. of the military committee,
and other Republicans marked the
debate, which preceded the vote
for an impartial inquiry into the
charges. Senator Wadsworeh de-
MED vigorously that American SOL
diers had been executed without
trial, while Senator Watson reiter-
ated emphatically his charges, ard
when criticized for refusing to pre-
sent his evidence to the military
committee, agreed to submit i. to
some other Investigating body
A photograph of a structure,
which Senator Watson described
as a gallows from which Americans
had been executed, figured promi-
nently during the heated exchange.
Senator Borah, Republican, Idaho,
said he also had been shown that
or similar photograph but that
he did not regard the evidence suf-
fcient to warrant bringing the mat
ter to the attention Of the senate
or country, although two former
service men had vouched for its
authenticity.
Senator New. Republican, Indi-
ana, entered the debate to submit
information which he said he
had received from the war depart
ment to the effect that Of the mem
bers Of the American Expeditions
ary Force who had been condemn
ed by court-martial only nine had
been executed, whereas Senator
Watson had said that at least twen-
ty-one had been hanged. many
without having been tried.
Examination OF the army records
made public today by Secretary
Weeks revealed that none Of the
men executed in France during the
war was charged with a military
oifense, desertion or cowardice or
aiding the enemy. The total num-
Der OF executions by the army, he
said, was ten There was 70 exc
cUtion, tho secretary said, until af-
ter careful and searching inquiry
and a full trial
n each Of the ten cases, it was
declared, the sentence of the court
was carried out Six were on
charges CT rape, three for rape and
murder, and ore for murder and
assault with intent to rape AZ
We're aggravated cases, it was ex-
planned
The secretary asserted that no
inquiry had been received by him.
or to his knowledge by the de-
partment. as to the accuracy OF the
charges before they were made by
Senator Watson.
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