New-York tribune., 1921-11-05
LnquiryOrdered
On All A. E. F.
Cruelty Stories
Continued from paps ers)

struction of property to aid profitcers
ard so on.
Senator Lenroot insisted it was the
general understanding the inquiry
would be confined to hangings and
ator Watson, but Senator Reed made il
plain Ne was not committed to any
such understanding. and that the reso-
luton would have to be followed. and
Senator Lodge said the inquiry would
be based on the language of the reso-
luton.
Under the circumstances, it is clear
the inquiry will reach into wide field
as to alleged misconduct of officers
unless it is headed off in some fashion
not now foreseen.
Senator Watson himself is pleased
over the turn of affairs which is ex-
actly to his liking, since it makes pos
sible an airing of many j bases of al
heard to-day that the situation had
taken a turn not contemplated by Sen
ator Wadsworth when he called SEN
ator Watson to account for what he
said about the hanging of men with
out trial and shooting of men by Of
ficers.
The special committee of investiga-
tion, as now constituted. consists of
Senators Brandegee, chairman; Ernst
Of Kentucky, Willis, of Ohio, Repub-
licans, and Overman of North Caro-
lima, and Shields, of Tennessee, Demo
Gratis. Senator Brandegee called a
meeting for Monday. He said the com
mittee would then determine the scope
of the inquiry. He admitted that tech
nically the resolution was of wide
range and that if the committee had to
go into all the matters which might
be brought up under it, it would take
an indefinite time. Senator Brandegee
left no doubt that he desires to confinc
the Investigation to q considerable de-
gree and waste no time in minor mat
ters. Senator Watson will not be in
vited before the committee If the
committee does find it essential to have
his testimony, he Will be subp92naed
Denounces Lafayette
Prior to action OH the resolution TO-
day, there was another long debate
over the Watson charges, during which
Watson denounced Lafayette. Com
mentng upon former Secretary Of War
Bakers denial that the Watson charges
were true and that France was not a
"howling wilderness" where such
things could take place, Watson said:
ooh, yes, France is not a howling
wilderness, but civilized country the
Georgia Senator continued, "from
which Lafayette came upon written
contract made with Silas Dean, pledg-
ing this country to make him ma jor
general before he would leave France
and come to America. And he did not
have sense enough to drill company
of soldiers, besides which he SMILED.
Some of these days, when somebody
gets up here and blows off about La
fayette, l mean to take him down peg
or two.
II know Lafayette, and Washington
knew him, and it was not Washington
who had him released from that Aus
when the French army chased him with
the intent to kill. 1t was Napoleon
Bonaparte. in the Treaty Of Campo
Forlnio. Yes. I know Lafayette. He
betrayed every French government that
trusted him, and the only independent
command he ever had in America came
very near getting bagged by Benedict
Arnold, and it was only the James
River that saved Lafayette and his
command from being captured"
Senator Edge precipitated the debate
by referring to Watson's charges. Sem
ator Edge said the issue before the
Senate was whether men were executed
without trial, and this could mot be
camouf1aged."
Senator Watson read from maga-
zine which he did not name, purporting
to quote an official order to destroy all
records regarding a gallows said to
have been built by the Red Cross for
the A. +. F.
He defied the Senate to do to him
"what the John Adams Congress did to
Rufus Lyon, of Massachusetts
"Expel me if you will" he said "Is
the Republican majority scared? What
is the matter with the General Staff ?