Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-11-01
2lYANKS
HANGED
ABROAD
ssastor Watson J. De-
sIafss American Sol
SIla S;srs : Overseas Were
Executed W lenou' !
rial -Mistreated

rial Mistreated
washington, Nov. Invest
~, ~ 4 special committee into
charges by senator Watson demo
c.orgia. that American SOL
Is. i france we're hanged with
I, ,0urt-martial or other trial
/ VI, ordered by the senate 'oua'
/ !. .,,pimous vote. The commit
!. vill be appointed by the presl-
4 81 oi the senate, and Senator
watson will be invited before II 10
produce proof. ,,
mall photograph OF an alleged
hanging and insisted that ms
charges we're true. Senator i'orah'
republican. Idaho, said he had ex-
amiped the photograph and had
been told by two former service
men that the charges were true,
but that he was unwilling to FRO
coed on such evidence"
Replying to Senator Watson's
charges that 21 American soldiers
had been hanged on one scaffold in
France, Senator New, republican,
Indiana, presented an official
statement from the Judge advocate
general Of the army, showing that
out oi a total Of 2S sentences OF
death, imposed in the American
EKpeditiOnary Forces, only nine
we're actually carried out.
Shot by Officers.
"How many senators know
Senator Watson had asked, that
ipriVate soldier was frequently
hot by his officers because of
some complaint against officers
insOlence. and that they had gal
lows upon which men were bang
d, day after day, without court
martial or any other form Of trial?
had and have the photograph of
one Of those gallows upon which
u white boys already had been
executed at sunrise when the
Photograph was taken: and there
we're others waiting in The camp
ials to be hanged morning after
morning.
Senator Wadsworth declared
that bis charge eou,d not be light
Y brushed aside, nor could it be
excused on grounds of excitabil-
liy in debate" He demanded thai
Senator Watson produce the proaf
Senator Watson replied that he
resented the demand" and would
tell him foot to foot and shoulder
% shoulder that he was the cqua
q any senator" and assumed full
responsibility for his charges. He
salo be would refuse to go befori
any committee with his evidence
u 70 produce his witnesses unless
'aey we're guaranteed immunity.
Can Produce Picture. .
I mean every word 1 said,'' h,
saaed, "and did not oYerpain
'ae picture. l have a photograph
q the gallows upon which whit,
suffers were hanged. and l cal
t'eauee witnesses who saw it, X /
safe for them to appear.
picture of white men hange,
AAe aogsi can produce men, if /
As'e safe. who saw men shot with
sa' sfial I cannot compel me-
: come to this uncertain dangei
me food was piled up noun
an high in France and virtual
shea to the French whan our no
.sls starving. l can prove tha
~ men were unnecessarily ez
,sa and left to die on the road
AaoW ex-service men who sa,
.ssse things and told me abou
Told me how letters wer
.0red and stereotyped to cor
- % regulations and how so
..s' ~ who would not comply wer
s,,'lseted to barbarous treatmen
I-sss men win not go back .
.'ope again to fight. / hay
-. 80 them state they would a
-. so'e they would go. The me
=. 49, ] Treated inhumanely and tol
ruth Is Challenged.
s,sn..r ,.s.or WadswOrth vigorous
.sen's charges n~s'
is.,s11. is.os SadswOrth assert,
ysss 49,. mat not one man IN q,
eo.r vas executed without
lks-sSor ks.or Watson then prOd..r.
msssI ..s photograph Of an allsg.
ep1sa s.on =. lslon It was pass,
Il earefuny.