Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-31
S. G. FRENCH, IN
| SIGNED AFFIDAVIT,
ACCUSES COLONEL
injured Doughboy Ignored
Officers Command to
Halt, He Says.
SHOT AT MANS BACK.
LOCAL BOY ASSERTS
acknowledgements of Company
b. 10th Infantry. 20lh
Division.
ON WAY TO DRESSING STATION
opic Was Standing Just OutSidr or
HEADQUARTERS Whrn lie Fired
French StntcS. =

That Colonel H. l.. opie, OF Staun-
ton, who. during the world war. COM
nanded battalion of tho one Hun
drod and Sixteenth Infantry. n Vir-
4 iua regiment. shot ut a wounded
soldier as the man was on his way
back from the battle line to receive
Arst-aid treatment, is this most re
cent charge lodged BY veterans
against tho former battalion chief in
the American cxpcditionary forces.
Colonel Opic, who was decorated
for distinguished service in France
and who is now commander OF the
Second Regiment, Virginia National
Guard, has been accused ty several
former soldiers with killing men OF
his own army at the front lie has
vehcmenly denied these charges.
oharactcrizinG those who brought
them as "skulkcrs" and ''deserters,.
aud has demanded that the accusn-
SONS be made the subject of tho most
rtgid investigation by the Senate
committee in Washington This will
bo done.
Makes Sworn Affidavit.
:. g. French, a Richmond boy. last
night, in u sworn affidavit. added
himself To the number OF Colonel
opic's accuscrs. While French does
not claim he ever saw the former
battalion commander XIII any OF tho
m"n alleged to have fallen ut his
hands. he does say that he was pres
,i!t when Colonel Opic, then II major.
sro; at wounded soldier as the
man passed battalion headquarters
hi a
French was a private in Company
H. which was one OF the units OF the
old Gravs' battalion in the one Hun
dred and Sixteenth Infantry. part
OF the Twenty-ninth Division. lie was
so badly gasscd that he lost one OF
his lungs ami nov receives $50 :,
morth from the government as COM
pensation. lie lives 1T Go5 NORTH
Twenty first Street. Two OF his
brothers were in the armed forces OF
the United States in the world war.
Ordered Man to Halt.
French, according TO his story last
night. was on his way back from the
lines. after being Rassed. when he
saw the alleged shooting. Tho
wounded man. he said, was Walking
few feet in front Of him. Major
Opic. French asserted. was standing
just outside his headquarters when
the two disabled men reached that
point. He ordered the wounded SOL
der 10 halt.
why the man did not stop
French said last night. Il do not
know. but he did not. 1t may have
bccn because OF the pain he was
suffering. Anyhow, Major opie. nfte.'
II became evident that his order was
not being obcyed. pulled out his auto
matte and shot at the man's hack.
The bullet missed It's mark. When We
had reached the ambulance. the
wounded man who WAS n member OF /
my company. hut whose right name
cannot recall, asked me ii | saw
Opic shoot at him. l told him that
| did"
Heard or Alleged killing.
y l.. Gornun. 2il6-A West Main
Street, who served for It time as FIRST
sergeant Of Company q. and who
later received his commission, as sec
ond lieutenant said he was in an Of
iccrS training camp part OF the time
and knew nothing at first hand Or
the alleged Killings. lie said, how
ever nc hNt nearu ShCl reports from
men in his company. who have re-
Gently brought charges against Major
opic. None OF ;:,eao men. he declared
has Flemish on his record,
Corporal FoN," Mr. German said,
had plenty OF nerve and had dis
played i; on several occasions"
Mr.. German dcuiad vchementiy
that Company Il had ever retreated
IN the face Of thu enemy. once, 10
said. the company f"ll Jack 20 ,L..
line, When IL was found the unit had
gone beyond It's objective.
Denies Grays Rctreated.
L., i. Buchanan, 2lo6 East Marshall
street. formerly first sergeant Of
&C mptny II. said he hnd neara res
ports of Woolwinc being Killed. b,.
knew nothing personally about ,t.8
lie denied the Grays had eyer re.
treated Under FIRE.
William Il. 81. John who was ~,
private first class, il, Company l.. u
One Hundred and fifteenth Infantry
made affidavit ScsteFday In I,ynch,5
icontinued on Page 4, colt,2'y 7gT