New-York tribune., 1921-12-10
army Officer at Hearing ON
Cruelty Charges Offend
ed Him s'by Mean Looks
lie Declares in Rage
Waves His Fist at Cocheu
stirs Such an Uproar That
Military Witnesses Are
Dismissed by Senators

,rb;eh is investigating the charges of
army hangings. shootings and brutali-
,;ss we're thrown into turmoil to-day
when Senator Tom Watson, of Georgia,
,u,hcr of the charges, threatened to
eslau the face" of Major G. ". Cocheu,
~ the General Staff.
Senator Watson. waving his arms,
shouting, with his long hair tossing,
his face rale, walked up close to the
o;flesr. thrust his fist toward his face
snd. calling Major Cocheu a "bull-
,awed brute" declared he (Watson) was
being "insulted with looks"
Only the coolness and discipline of
the officer, I veteran of twenty-three
Years experience, prevented a personal
encounter and scene OF violence. As
# was. Major Cocheu looked Senator
Watson quietly in the eye. but did not
move muscle or say q word, while the
wrath of the Georgia Senator found ex-
nression in bitter abuse of the officer
and denunciasion of the committee for
alleged un1alrness.
Excitement was caused in the COM
mittse room by Senator Watson's out
burst. Spectators were thrown into q
nesr panic, and the members of the
committee, who were deeply chagrined
and uerturbed at the scene, did their
nest to restore order and calm the
heated Georgian. Chairman Bran
dsgee because Of Senator Watson's OBJ
lection to the presence Of army officers
%ta T, nd
get out Of the room.
Senators Praise Officer
Members of the committee said later
there seemed no practicable way of
calling Senator Watson to account,
and while they resented his ou+burst
as not in keeping with the dignity of
the Senate, they purposed to see the
inquiry through on its merits. Sen
ators Overman. Democrat, of North
Carolina, and Willis, of Ohio, Repub-
lican, after the session ended shook
hands with Major Cocheu and COM
mended him highly for keeping his
SELF control.
At no stage OF the proceedings in the
committee room had any of the army
officers spoken. The reiterated com
plant II Senator Watson was they had
ainsulted with looks
Senator Shields. of Tennessee, Demo
crat. former judge of many years ex-
perience, was IN the chair when the
session opened. Senator Brandegee
was late in arriving. Senator Watson
had laid before the committee another
mass OF letters and otter matter from
former soldiers calculated to back up
his charges. lie had also furnished the
committee a list of sixty three names
Of persons he wanted summoned. Major
Cocheu was seated by the side Of
Colonel Walter T. Bethel at d table
ten feet or more from Senator Watson,
With Colonel Bethel, who was legal
adviser Of General Pershirg in France.
was Major John D. Densmore, also of
the Judge advocate generals depart
ment.
Without warning Senator Watson
shouted that he was being "insulted
With looks" Waving his arms he
walled toward Major Cocheu.
I've been insuited. Make that arn1y
bulldozer tase his eyes off me or ri
slap him IN the face,' yelled Watson.
Walking back and forth between the
committee table and Cocheu. Watson
repeatedly shouted he was being Gin
suited with looks"
I'm not afraid Of you or any other
sian oflcerl' he shouted. going to with
10 about three feet of the major and
'hrustlng his fist toward his face.
Don't lock ct ME, you bull-jawed
ofu,e. Fer two pennies I'd slap YOU
IN the face"
tocneu Returns Gaze
Major Cocheu. who is q New York
man and a coast artillery officer with
an athletic build and a long, square
Jaw, Redeemed slightly, but looked the
senator squarely in the eve.
Senator Brandegee had bv this time
s.aSen the chair. He pounded for order.
val senator Watson was hard to pacify.
Ae yeliec and shouted and hurled in
Vective at Cocheu.
lou are not in France now, You
aae not oul.dozing or tyrannizing over
claimed. ne eA-
Senator Brandegee called for the
%poaseant-ar-arms to restore order
Dspaty John J. McGrai.4 stepped for
"srd, Plainly at a loss what to do.
was promised by Senator Brande-
g. ST., mat these bulldozing officers
;Savuldnt SIT here and fix their insult
a. .s iooAs on me- angrily declared SEN
sa watson Looks can be insulting
ss we'll as words"
Henr OAaNuegeS directed the of
- ''s 70 leave the room and they did
the door. '"'' oo'o '0c
uAt one stage of the drama Senator
a.alson charged the committee with
,sme3uaglng" the case. For this, Sem
~. Shields took him to task. Senator
sshssson SAID he had been insulted by
'asse aw inseient bull~jawed officers
sssaou lou haven't been insulted," said
ssaa'or Ss;s Shields. These officers haven't
nv nv a word. You have been treated
'asa u every courtesy"
.s,.. nave not. have been grossly in
'AsseQ' SAID Senator Watson.
AN senator Willis, trying to calm Wat
to him. ''-N' ''@o uo"e i0'"ihs
Watson insisted they insulted him
',sa snerr glowering looks"
s.ssust as the officers left the room
asrd, said: 90 ''-'''s %
~. II was about time they were ordered
ts.. ~ was mighty good for them that
az. lor.eiS IeiS before they insulted NE any
~asef with their mean looks
Watson Asked for Proof
@nator BEaadegee assured him the
a%vmittee avtte wanted to be fair.
Sssator Watson. A'
4. sshator Brandegee said the commit
proposed TO perform it's duty.
g...M no. afraid of you," snapped
sssssson to Brandegee.
Aor | o. you" observed Senator
srsaaegee in a judicial tone.
sas reminded Senator Watson there
sgse ladies' present.
sssnator Shields, who was deeply sis-
'ncu BY the affair and who shnrt d