The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1921-11-09
WILL INVESTIGATE
WATSON'S CHARGES
Senator Watson Alleges That
Soldiers Were Hanged
Without Trial.


tion by special Senate committee
of the charges of Senator Watson,
Democrat, Georgia, that American
soldiers in France were hanged with
out trial and shot by officers orders,
was assured today when the Senate
after three hours discussion unani-
mously recorded the inquiry.
The special committee, headed by
Senator Brandegee, Republican, Con-
necticut, will meet Monday to deter
mie upon procedure, but it is eX-
pected several days will then elapse
before hearings are begun while
Senator Watson is gathering his evil
dence.
Another speech by the Georgia
senator in support of his charges,
Wrangling between senators over the
! wording of the inquiry resolutions
and parliamentary mix-ups preceded
the hnal order for the investigation
to proceed.
The Senate finally and unanimous
Iy adopted a new and amended res
olutlon directing the inquiry and an
other empowering the special COM
mittee to subpoena persons and pa
pers.
The program for a motion to dis
charge the committee did not mate
rla4lze. Instead, Senator Simmons,
democrat North Carolina, proposed
the new resolution which was adopt
ed with an amendment declaring
that the inquiry should be into Sen
ator Watson's charges and not an in
Vestlgat1on Of the senator himself.
From the resolution giving the
committee power to act in the case
another amendment struck out a
statement relative to inviting Sena-
TOR Watson to appear before the COM
mlttee. The committees course in
thls respect, members said, would be
determined later.
Senator Simmons at the conclu-
sion OF the debate said that Senator
watson was satisfied with the a.
mended resolutions and would no
doubt submit his evidence to the spe-
claI committee.
Mr. Watson had challenged Re-
puDlcans to expel him, declared for
oeoate in the open Senate and asked
Why an effort should be made to
entrap' and silence" him before a.
committee. He denounced "white-
washing committee reports" and said
they were not read.
Inc War Department is nrenarino
10 give its fullest support to the SEN
ate investigation, taking the position
that the accusations of the Georgia
senator constitute blot on the good
Eame OF the army unless a full in
Vestigation is held.
secretary Weeks has said that he
hopes the inquiry is carried out un-
III all the facts have been establish
I eo' and is undefstood' to have Of
lered TO put at the disposal of the
committee the facilities of the army
IN arriving at the truth.
The fight over the senator's
charges opened today when the SEN
ate met at 10 o'clock, an hour earlv
10 take up the affair. Senator
hoge' Republican, New JERSEY. he
gan the debate with a criticism of
Sen' Watson for presenting photo
graphs of a gaIIows where a soldier
naa peen executed after a court-mar-
tlaI the New Jersey senator said
LOT a brutal attack upon a 7-vear,
old girl" o''i
senator Edge declared the incl
uent mad not been camoufaeed ond
that the issue was as to tbe tr,,+b -
'ne charges of illegal hangings.
III spirited reply, Senator Wat
sun SAID his information regarding
t"enty-one alleged hangings of SOL
olers without trial came from a for
ller solder who said he had seen tba
gaIloWs and had been told bv ooI.
lows guard that this number was
hanged. His informant, Senator
watson said, would face the Senate
ana answer all questions.
Inc French government and Con
eraI Lafayette were criticised bv the
Georgia senator in commenting IN
statement by Newton D. Baker for
ler secretary of war, that the sena-
!ot > cnarges were ''preposterous and
incredible" N' 'A4"
heterrlng to Mr.. Bakers state
ment that France was a Civilized
country" and that word of illegal
executions would have spread quick
~ senator Watson said that France
hao charged America for trenches
ana Fairgrounds used by American
troops. -'''-
Oh yes, France is not a bowling
wilderness but a civilized country"
the Georgia senator continued
from which Lafayette came upon a
written contract made with Silas
Dean' pIedging this country to make
MN a major general before he would
leaVe France and come to America.
ana ne did not have sense enough
" orlIl a company of soldiers. be-
sides which he sniffled.
YES l know Lafayette. He he
tFayed every French government
tnat trusted him and the only inde-
pendent command he ever had in
America came near getting bagged
py benedict Arnold, and it was only
the James river thta saved Lafayette
ana MS command from being CAP.