New Britain herald., 1921-11-01
Special Committee To Be Named By Vice Presi- dent Will Conduct h. vestigation Into Report ed Murderous Regime
Georgia Senator Claims to Have Proof of Assertion But Will Demand Im,nun- ity For Any Witnesses He May Call.


 by special committee into charges by Senator Watson, democrat, Georgia, that American soldiers in France were hanged without courtmartal or other trldl was ordered today by the senate by unanimous vote. The committee will De appointed by the president of the senate, and Senator Watson will be in vted before it to produce proof.
 The charges by Senator Watson, that American soldiers serving in France were hanged without courtmartial or other form of trial precipitated heat ed debate in the senate. Chairman Wadsworth of the military committee invited the Georgia senator to appear before his committee = produce eyid- ence in support of his charges.
 Senator Watson produced a small photograph of an alleged hanging and Insisted that his charges were true. Senator Borah, republican, Idaho, sae. he had examined the photograph and had been. told by two former service men that the charges were true but that he was unwilling to proceed on such evidence"
 "dtSOn s CI1afgeS.
 "How many senators know" Senator Watson had asked, "that private SOL dier was frequently shot by his officers because of some complaint against of f1cer's insolence; and that they had gal lows upon which men were hangei day after day, without court martial or any o;her form of trial? l had and have the photograph of one of those gallows, upon which 21 white boys had already been executed at sunrise when the photograph was {, ken; and there were others waiting in the camp jails to be hGrged morning after m,~ri ,~.
 Senator Wadsworth declared that this charge could not be Tightly brushed asido'' nor "eXcused on the gcoued of excitabiity in debate." He demanded that Senator Watson produce the proof.
 Demands Immunity.
 Senator Watson replied that he re- sented the demand" and would tell him "foot to foot and shoulder 10 shoulder that he was the ''equal of any senator" and assumed full responsibility for his charges. He ssaid he would refuse to go before any committee with his cvid- once or to produce his witnesses until trey were guaranteed immunity.
 T mean every word l said," he added, "and I did not overpaint the picture. l have a photograph of the gallows upon which white soldiers were hanged and I can produce wit nesses who saw it if it is safe for them to appear.
 Hanged Like Dogs.
 "A picture of white men hanged like dogs. l can produce men if it were safe who saw men shot without trial. I cannot compel men to come here and incur the danger.
 T say that food was piled up mountain high in France and vir- tually given to the French when our men were starving. I can prove that our men were unnecessarily exposed and left to die on the road; I know ex-service men who saw these things and told me about them. They told me how letters were censored and stereotyped to conform with regula- tions and how soldiers who could not comply were subjected to bar barous treatment. These men will not go back to Europe again to fight. I have heard them state they would die before they would do so. The men were inhumanely treated and told me so themselves
 Committee Named.
 The special committee as named by Senator Cummings of Iowa, presi- dent pro tempore of the senate will be headed by Senators Brandegee, re- publican, Connecticut, and will con- sist of Senators Ernst, republican, Kentucky; Willis, republican, Ohio; Overman, democrat, North Carolina, and Pomerene, democrat, Ohio.
 C0ntradicts Charges.
 Replying to Senator Watson's charges that 21 American soldiers had been hanged on one scaffold in France, Sem ator New, republican, Indiana, present. ed an official statement from the judge advocate general of the army showing thaat out of total of 2S sentences of death imposed in the American expeGl tionary forces only 9 were actually car- riea cut. The statement as presented by Sena- tor New showed that of the nine seven were for statutory crimes against wom- bined charge of murder and statutory crime. Twelve of the remaining l9 were modified, Senator New said and the others were disapproved.