The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-10
SENATOR WATSON THREATENS TO
SLAP FACE OF AN ARMY OFFICER
Georgia Senator Becomes Peeved
at Meeting of Senate Investi-
eating Committee.
q The AssOeIatsd Press

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Threats by
Senator Watson. democrat, Georgia, to
slap the face of an army officer sit
ting within touch of his elbow threw
the meeting of the senate committee
investigating charges that American
soldiers had been illegally hanged in
France into an uproar today and
brought quick demand from Chair
man Brandegee for a sergeant at arms
/ to prevent any physical clash.
/ For a mov lent the utmost confusion
prevailed. Above the direction of
sergeant at arms to prevent any ply
sical clash.
| For a moment the utmost confusion
prevailed. Above the direction of
shuffling feet as some women hurried
| toward the door, the voice of the chair
man, in strident tones, commanded the
Georgia senator to sit down or retire
| from the room. Banging the table with
| bare knucldes the chairman soon re-
stored a semblance of order, but there
were many heated exchanges before
the meeting broke up until tomorrow
afternoon.
Major George w. Cocheu, attached
to the general staff, was the officer
on whom Senator Watson launched his
verbal attack. 1t happened near the
close of a brief, but turbulent meet
| ing at which Senator Watson's charge
that the committee "at a secret ses-
sion had preiudged' the case was
characterized by Senator Shields, DEM
ocrat, Tennessee, a member of the
committee. as untrue and wholly with- !
out foundation.
The senator's attack on Major Co |
cheu hit the committee like a crack
Of lightning There had been no in
timation that anything of the kind was
impending Major Cocheu, sitting next
to Colonel Walter Bethel, General
/ IPershings judge advocate general in
France, had not testified and his
friends said later was present in his
official capacity as chief of the legis- |
lative branch of the general staff.
Suddenly swinging on his feet and |
shaking his right hand within two feet |
of the majors face, the senator, his
voice pitched high exclaimed that
"for two pennies I'd slap our jaws :
The officer did not bat an eye.
Instantly Chairman Brandagee was
on his feet, calling for a sergeant at |
arms to protect the officer from IAN |
insult Then declaring that he him
self had been insulted, Senator Watt |
son announced that he would retire /
from the meeting.
Taking hold of the situation, Sena- !
tor Shields declared the committee de- I
sired to proceed in order and sug-
gested to Senator Watson that he had t
not been insulted.
1--WE expect you to conduct yourself |
here in the same manner you want
others to conduct themselves toward 1
YOU" said Senator Shields.
"An Insult can be given by looks,
Senator Watson shot back, wheeling |
quickly again to face the officer. II
he looks at me again that way I'll /
slap his face / won't sit here and be
bulldozed by these officers, by this
bull jawed brute
Major Cocheu looked straight ahead
at the senator as Chairman Brandagee
endeavored to get the proceedings
within orderly senate bound. After /
repeating his command that the sena-
tor sit down or leave, Chairman Bran
dagee and Senator Watson had fiery
exchange as to just what had been
promised in keeping officers out Of the
room while any Of the latter's wit
nesses were testifying.
Finally the chairman shouted to the
Georgia senator, asking If he wanted
the officers sent away, and on being
informed that he did, they We're told
to get out.
After that things settled down bit.
Smiles came back to Senator Watson's
face as he explained that he wanted
to beg the pardon of the committee,
if he had acted in an unseemly man
ner. He added. however, that the Of
ficers, sitting there and gazing at him
sin an insolent manner" had aroused
his southern blood"
The committee later decided to hear
some army officers tomorrow and then
adjourned the open sessions for a
week, so as to examine the mass Of
documents presented by Senator Wat
son. The senator announced that he
had no witnesses on hand today, but
the committee agreed to summon any
body he felt could give evidence as to
the illegal hangings.
A furry followed a protest by Sem
ator Watson over the action Of the i
committee in confining the inquiry to h
illegal hangings The senator in Z
sisted that his charges covered broad &
er ground and that the committee was ]
(contnued on Page % !,