The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-11-04
Pershing Declares Charges
OF Georgia Senator Untrue
And "Without Foundation"
New Resolution Ordering a
Special Investigating
Committee Was
Adopted.

NASHVILLE. Tenn, Nov. A.
General Pershing declared here
today TINT charges brought in
the senate by Senator Watson,
democrat, Georgia. were the
most outrageous and untrue ac-
cusations that could possibly be
made and absolutely withou, fun
d1tion.'
WASHINGTON, Nov. "A new
resolution ordering a special commit
tee to investigate charges Of Senator
Watson. democrat Georgia, regarding
treatment OF priyates in the American
Expcditionary forces was adopted
unanimously today by the senate af
ter two hours wranglc.
When tho senate convened an houl
earlier than usual to take up the
Watson charges, Senator Edge. re-
publican, y. j.. opened with severe
criticisms OF the Georgia senator for
attempting 10 place in the congress
ional record yesterday a photograph
the army in France. Senator Edge
said that Mr. Watson had not re
qucsted publication Of the article
printed with the photograph in O
Passaic newspaper. The article showed
Mr.. Edge said that Il was used for q
legal execution after court martial
for an attack on a seven year old
French girl, who died from the ei-
fccts Of the assault.
Senator Edge asked whether senator
Watson sought to justify his charges
of Illegal executions without trial
by presenting the photograph OF a
gallows used in a court martial exc
cution.
"The issue In this ease cannot be-
camouflagcd.' said Senator Edge ne
one claimed that men wetc not tried
and executed. The picture of n gal
lows used for punishment OF n brute
is no justification OF the charges ol
the senator from Georgia. llr cannot
cover them over with tho Photographic
and reproductions ne Offered Yesterday
The American people want 10 know
the facts to have tho senator's charg
Us proven or disproycu by uncoa
trovcrtcd evidence"
Replying to the New Jersey sena
tor, senator Watson referred to th,
picture. showing the hanging OF tn,
negro for an attacl, Oh little French
yirl ana demanded;
"S,ncc when has 10 h,.ouv lcsa
10 disgrace tho uniform of the Nmcn
ran army by hanging it a. tho enc
Of a haitor"
Tho Georgia senator called ottcn'
ton that IN the clYu0lty l!sts .ssuct
during the war appear tho phias"
dead nom other causes" aud ask
I'd whit were those causcs.
Bases Of Charges Presented
The Georgia scn1ior presented the
bases FOR his charges during anoth
cr period of heated debate on tn,
subject. He read a telegram from
this soldier. whose name was not dis
closed. saving that the gallows was al
Glevtcs. France. and that the guar,
had told him that other men wcr
to be hanged on It,
That's the number said" de
clarcd Senator Watson, referring {,
tho number mentioned in the tcle
gram THAT is the Information OF
which l based 10Y statements"
ThS Georgia senator declared ,hai
this soldier who. he snid had seyrc,
four years In the army, would fac
tho senate aud answer any questions
ns biayelv as he faced tho Germans
Senator Watson asked u the wal
department would give the name o
the gallows guard and Others In
volved In the Cicvrcs executions.
Senator vaisworth. republican. New
York. chairman OF the military rom
mlttee. said that was what was pur
rosed by the senate Investigation, OF
icrcd. he said. because the Geo,
sia senator indicated lack " conf
drncc In th. chairman and p,her mem
bers OF the military committee by ~
fusing TO come before It.