New-York tribune., 1921-11-04
w atson Offers
Soldiers Tales
| Accusing Army
Renewing Charge Of Execu-
tons in A. E. F., He Reads
! Messages Promising Proof
! on Floor of the Senate
Saws One Was Bayonetcd
Quotes Comrades Of Jersey
Conscientious ObjecforDe-
claring Slayer Was Freed

From The Tfibanes Woshin0to. Buredu
WASHINGTON, Nov.s 3.-Rising to a
question of personal privilege in the
Senate to-day, Senator Watson of
Georgia, renewing his charges that
American soldiers were shot and
hanged in France without trial, put
into the record number of kilograms
from veterans indorsing what he has
said and Offering to furnish evidence.
He presented clippings from the
passaic On. J.) Journal" of July 30,
1912 purporting to give statements Of
comrades Of Private Frank Frye, of
Paterson, of Company d. 309th In
fsntry, to the effect he was hayonetted
70 death by q soldier for refusing to
carry q gun. Frye was conscientious
ohiector The soldier, Mr.. Watson said,
was acquitted.
Senator FreNnghuysen of New Jer-
sew explained later that he had called
on the War Department for the facts
in the case of Private Frye at the time
and that the department had informed
him Frye was bayoneted while at
tempting to run away and that the
guard had testified he had not intended
to kill Frye, but to wound him suffi-
ciently to prevent escape.
After the debate it was announced
that it had been agreed between Demo-
cratic and Republican leaders to drop
the proposed Senate investigation into
Mr. Watson's charges because Mr.. Wat
son preferred to present his evidence
directly to the Senate. Later some of
the Republican leaders denied they
had consented to the plan and said they
would insist on the inquiry.
Turns Guns on Wadsworth
Again turning his batteries on Sem
stor Wadsworth to-day, Senator Wat
son said:
"It has been but few hours
since was put on the rack in
u most insolent, brutal and super
edlious manner by the ex-associ-
ate of William Barnes, of New York,
a crook-a man whom ex-President
Theodore Roosevelt called crook;
who sued Roosevelt for damages,
whereupon Roosevelt went into the
courts and proved Barnes to be a
crook"
After alluding to "the impudence" Of
Senator Wadsworth in "demanding''
that he come before the Military Com
mittee, Senator Watson said Of the
France, which he recently exhibited:
"That picture was kodaked by a
Georgia soldier, who is now fastening
TO Washington" He said he would
appoint him temporarily as one of his
secretaries so that he could "stand
here by my side" and back up his
statements.
Senator Watson then exhibited two
Illustrations from "The Passaic IN. J.)
Daily Herald" one of an American
soldier being prepared for execution
and the other Of soldier dying on the
gallows. He wanted them published in
"The Congressional Record" Senator
Moses objected, whereupon Senator
Watson charged him with having been
"insolent" recently to Senator Heflin.
Senator Watson presented a letter
from J. Dandy Conwell, written from
Alpha Sigma Phi House, 3617 Locust
Street, Philadelphia, saying he had two
pictures of the hanging of an American
negro soldier in June or July, 1918, at
Bazolles- r-Meuse.
"None of us ever found out from re-
liable sources why" said Conwell, add
ing that he had heard the gallows were
used again and would send on the pho
tographs if desired.
Reads Offers of Proof
From Major Turner. 154o Broadway,
New York, date of November 2, Mr..
Watson presented the following tele-
gram:
"Can assist you substantiate charges
read in papers. Registered letter fol-
lows mail tonight"
Another telegram from 3. G. Farmer,
Of Dothan, Ala, indorsed the Watson
charges.
J. J. Fry, Of Morrisburg, Ontario,
sent the following wire, which Senator
Watson put into the record:
~ can furnish volume of additional
evidence to your allegations. What you
charge is no comparison. Wire or let