davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-13
.2O0LETTERS|N
. EVIDENCE FOR
WATSON CASE
Among Revelations" Are Doc
uments From Ex-officers
Charging Killings.


II have presented to the commit
tee more than 200 letters or affi-
davits charging the killing of Ameri.
can soldiers in France by their Off
GERS or at the command of those
officers. When the committee meets
again will have that many more
to offer"
So declared Senator tom" Watson
(DemD of Georgia today. He was
referring to the Senate investigation
OF his charges that soldiers were
illegally executed or otherwise killed
in France.
When Watson literally slammed
into the Record Saturday more than
zoo letters many of them were lost
In the shuttle" for the time being.
Killings In u. S.
A number of the letters make
charges Of indiscriminate killings in
the United States army corps, as
well as in France.
In the maze Of letters there crops
up now and then one from a former
army officer. One Of this kind is
from Capt. A. ID. Nicholson, 268
II hung white American soldier
who denied his guilt to the last, -
wrote Captain Nicholson. II made q
report OF my views to Washington
and am now waiting to go to Wash
ington to give Information to the
department concerning the case.
II am willing to testify that a
soldier in my company was shot
dead without trial of any kind"
wrote Champene Martin. Seneca.
3, G..
A. c. below. Box 211, Poplar Bluff.
Mo-. wrote that he saw a man killed
In the United States disciplinary bar.
racks at Poplar Bluff.
II can testify to many illegal exc
cutions Of soldiers in France" was
the statement Of c. ID. Hall, Route
2, Rochelle, Ga.
declared he would swear a soldier
was hanged in France without trial
in April, 1920, 'and the victim did
not know he was to be hanged until
the morning Of the hanging"
81 have evidence that Pvt. Dan
Greenway. Company +. Eight Hun
dred and Second infantry. was killed
without trial" was a statement from
n. Ford, 1925 Wiley avenue, Pitts
burgh, Pa.
Died Of Brutality.
j. s. Linder. a travelling salesman
for the Louisville Ky) Speciality
Company. declared that during the
period of his services overseas he
knew Of many soldiers to die Of
brutal treatment.
II saw a soldiers brains knocked
out by a marine at Bordeaux" was
the statement of Harry j. Burnett,
of Louisville. Ky.
Walter s. Robins, 1044 Pennsyl-
vania avenue. Joplin, Mo, declared
he would swear the gallows at
Gievres was extensively used" Ac.
cording to War Department records,
only one man was hung on this
gallows.
That a soldier who was hung in
France was compelled to stand in
front Of the gallows for one hour
before the hanging. and was dropped
from the gallows three times and
tortured intensely for thirty minutes.
was a statement from Henry f.
Dunn, 623 Northwest. street, India
napolis, Ind.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-13
Hunting Rabbit, Gets Buck.

HARRISBURG, Dec. 13-Whie
hunting rabbits with a small rifle,
George Bollinger, civil war veteran,
Of Lockport. came across four bucks
in Mifflin county. He killed one.
other hunters got two.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-13
By EARLE c. REEVES,
International News Service.


LONDON, Dec. 13.-The three
cornered fight in London, Ulster and
Dublin over the Irish peace treaty
swung swiftly toward its climax
today.
A meeting of the highest prelates
Of the Roman Catholic Church in
Ireland was held in Dublin. In view
Of Cardinal Logue's public defense
Of the peace settlement, it was ex-
pected a resolution would be adopted
recommending its ratification by Dali
Eireann.
Fiery Oratory Expected.
Both Dali Eireann and the British
Parliament will assemble tomorrow
for action on the treaty. Fiery
bursts OF oratory on both sides are
expected.
Premier Lloyd George. who will
make G. personal appeal to the House
Of Commons to approve the pact. has
completed what his friends believe
will be the greatest speech Of his
long and spectacular political career.
While the Premier Is leading the
fight for ratification In the British
Parliament, Arthur Griffith will be
making 4 similar appeal to Dali
Eireann at Dublin.
While II 10 admitted that canon
de Valera, leader Of the opposition
in Dali Eireann, has a large personal
following. advices from Dublin said
there was apparently no reason to
change the original prediction that
the treaty would be ratified by a
safe majority.
Ulster Nor to Participate.
Ulster will have no direct part in
III. fight tomorrow, except as the
Ulster Unionists in the British
House of Commons speak against
ratification The Ulster cabinet,
headed by Sir James Craig, has de-
cided 70 al ow the Unionists In the
British Parliament to carry on
listers fight against the pact.
The statement issued by de Valera,
pointing out that Dali Eireann could
hOnorably re- ect the treaty despite
tho fact I, had l.een signed by the
Sim Fem pleIipt tentiaries. did not
cause much anxiety to British Of
ficials. They said such action ty
de Valera had been expected.
II some quarters the belief has
prevailed for long time that de
Valera wou'1 oppose any pact that
might be sgined here. 1t was pre-
sumed that he had purposely re-
nnained away from London so that
ne could have a free hand in oppos-
ing any pact that did not come up
to his expectations. .-.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-13
.JAPSW|NMOST
BY AGREEMENTS
MADE AT FARLEY
Senators Here See Versailles
Treaty Text Mirrored in
Four-Power Pact.
BY J. BART CAMPBELL,
Internal ionsI News Service.


In the Four-Power Pacific Treaty,
and in her agreement with the
United States relative to the Pacific
Island Of zap, Japan has secured
far more out Of the armament con-
ference than any other nation par
ticipating in it.
This was the view taken today by
Senator's Robinson of Arkansas,
Overman Of North Carolina, and
other Democratic spokesman, who
declare that they see Versailles re-
flicted in the present conference, and
the League of Nations mirrored in
its decisions.
Three Great Powers Join Japs.
Japan gains by the four-powcr
treaty far more than she loses by the
abrogation of the Anglo.Japanese
pact" said Senator Overman. I'm the
Few agreement, three powerful ma.
iions-the United States, Great Brit.
ain and Frarce-join in recognizing
her right to retain her insular posses.
Sions in the Pacific. and in promising
10 join with her In resisting any ag-
gression, armed or otherwise, against
any Of her insular territory there"
I'm the Anglo Japanese pact, japan
lad only one nation, although q very
powerful one, to back her up, instead
of three" Senator Overman CONTINUED
Surely. Japan ought to feel some
what elated over the greatly increased
strength of her position as a world
rover which is furnished her by the
substitution Of the new treaty for the
old one.
Backed by Huge Moral Weight.
THE new one unquestionably places
At her disposal the immense moral
weight. AZ least. of the combined
military and naval forces Of the United
States. Great Britain, and France
which, coupled with her own, ought
to prove most encouraging to her in
her already strongly enUrenched
position In the Pacific and Far East "
By the zap treaty. 1t was pointed
out by both Republican and Demo
cratic Senators. Japan not only re,
tains possession OF Yap and all other
former German insular possessions
south OF the equator in the Pacific
by the expressed consent Of the
United States in a separate pact, but
is to be protected from aggression
against them by the four power agree.
ment.
Force" Is Written In Texts.
Senator Robinson expressed the opin.
ion, shared by other Wilson Demo
Gratis with the 'tirreconcilables' OF
both parties. that the use of force Is
directly and Enthusiastically implied In
the provision Of the four power pact
that the high contracting parties
shall arrive at the most efficient
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-13
MOROCCAN CHIEF AGREES
TO RELEASE PRISONERS

PARIS, Dec. 13.--Mohammed AbdeI
I'm. leader OF the Moroccan rebels,
- offered to release all Spanish civil
'isoners before Christmas II Pope
l"nedict requests II. said a dispatch to
l. Intransigeant today. zoe 3.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-13
P0PEDES|REs
ERIN To 0. K.
PEACE TREATY
Benedict Declares Ratification
Would Give Him Great Joy.
Action Tomorrow.
BY InternatienaI News Service.

LONDON. Dec. l3.-Pope Benz
dict favors ratification Of the Irish
peace treaty in ITS present form.
according to a Rome dispatch to
the Daily Express today. The dis
patch added that the pontiff had
authorized the Vatican to announce
that ratification would cause gu.
preme Joy to His Holiness"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-13
Admiral Bassett Transferred

Rear Admiral Frederick B.. Bassett
has been detached as commander Of
the base detachment of the destroyer
squadron OF the Atlantic fleet to be.
come president OF a general courts.
martial In New York, the Navy De-
partment announced today.
The New York herald., 1921-07-17
He Prefers Playing Whist
To Killing Perfect Strangers

Then he became Paul Kruger's States
Attorney. an Office which corresponded to
cur own Secretary of State. and in that
position he was able to tell the British
statesmen what he thought about them,
except that he put his sentiments into
diplomatic language. His letters to Lon
don were splendid in sentiment and most
distressing in results. for they had good
deal to do with bringing on the war of
1S99-1902 In the meantime SHUTS had
gone out and had shot couple of Jane
sons men. On the whole, he was quite
anti-British again.
Then came the end of note writing, and
SHUTS going into the campaign as a pri
vate emerged as a general and a peace
commissioner. He also became the best
whist player in the Boer army He was
good fighter, too, but he preferred whist
because he thought II was more exciting
than killing perfect strangers.
The old Beers thought he was very
wicked because he played cards, and, in
fact, there are qualities about SHUTS
The New York herald., 1921-07-17
Deplores Tendency in Politics
To Cling to Archaic Traditions

"The world has been brought together"
he said "by wireless, indeed, by all COM
munication which represents the last word
in scientific development. Yet political in
stitutions cling to old and archaic tradi-
tions. Take. for in '1nce the Presidency Of
the United States. A man waits for four
months before he is inaugurated. The in
cumbent may work untold mischief in the
meantApe
$50 with political parties and peoples.
tie British Empire included. The old pre-
war British Empire is gone in the sense
of colonies or subordinate nations cluster
ing around one master nation. The Brit
ish Empire itself is developing into real
peoples"
The New York herald., 1921-07-17
His Quick Rise From Private
To Leader in the Boer Army

He is an all-round man. so-called, of firm
will, determined character, great expert
ence, broad vision. immense tact and hard
common sense. Withal he is personally
a very simple person, and one meeting him
for the first time might not visualize these
large qualities i'm his personality AL.
though scarcely thirty years of age when
the Beers rebeIled against the British rule,
and although he entered the army as a
private soldier he developed in the later
phases of the war into one of the most
brilliant generals on the Boer side.
When the leaders of the shattered Boer
The New York herald., 1921-07-17
He Might Easily Be Taken
For Typical American Lawyer


II General SHUTS were to be observed in
the streets of New York. he might be taken
for a typical American lawyer or busi-
ness man, one that had kept himself in
unusually good physical trim.
Ten years after his father had assisted
in trouncing the British at Majuba Hill,
SHUTS first saw the light Of day. He re-
ceived his early education in the Trans
vaal where he was born, and then went to
England for a university education in
law. He was rather pro-British when he
went back home, but he did not advertise
this proclivity very strongly because he
was practising politics as we'll as law and
British sympathizers did not prosper well
in those days. This was about the time
that DR.. Jameson and our own John
Hays Hammond made their raid across
the border for the purpose of annexing the
Boer republics to the British Empire.
The New York herald., 1921-07-17
Sounds Note of Structural
Change in the Empire

In many of Smutss speeches in Eng
land itself is found this note of struc-
tural change and OF a liberalization in
the empire. He said on one occasion:
I'VE are not going to force common
government. federal or otherwise. but we
are going to extend liberty, freedom and
nationhood more and more in every part
of the empire"
II may be that in such expressions as
these the Irish people find their confidence
in General Smuts. Take one more of his
ideas:
IL think that the very expression EN-
pire' is misleading. because IL makes peo-
pie think that we are one single entity.
We are not an empire. We are system
OF nations, a community of states-all
sorts Of communities under one flag. How
are you gong to provide for the future
government of this group of nations we
should call the British Commonwealth?
What seems to be essential is subordinate
government for the subordinate parts, but
one national Parliament for the whole"
The calling in of SHUTS seems to many
people to mean that the Irish problem,
grown too big for English solution alone.
has been laid before what SHUTS likes to
call "The British Commonwealth" IL Is
as the spokesman of this far flung COM
monwealth of liberal mind that Smpts
now appears. C/
The New York herald., 1921-07-17
Essentially an Out of Door Man,
He Lives Up to Boer Traditions

Prince Metternich, Mensdorff's ancestor
in diplomacy, said of Canning, when that
British statesman broke the old rules Of
diplomatic falsebood, that he was "a
malevolent meteor hurled by Divine Provi-
dence upon Europe" 1t may be that some
dramatic phrase will be coined about
Smuts, as the South African attacks the
Irish problem. He was born little more
than fifty years ago, on farm in what is
known as the western province, in the
Karroo country. His father and his grand
father were farmers. He did his share of
the chores about the place until 1t was
time for him to go to school. Inbred In
him, as in most Beers, Is an ardent love
OF country life, and especially an affection
for the mountains
In the old Boer household, such as Smuts
came FROM the coffee pot is always boiling
with cup OF coffee and piece of biltong
(dried meat) the Boer can fight or trek
all day long Smuts,s only bad habit, IL It
can be called bad habit. is addiction to
coffee. He neither drinks liquor Of any
kipd nor smokes, and he eats sparingly.
He is essentially an out OF doors man
and his body is wiry and rangy. He has
the stride of a man familiar with long
marches, and the natural swing OF one
who is at home in the saddle. He speaks
with vigor and sometimes with emotion
The Boer is not demonstrative or emo
tional person and Smuts has much of the
racial reserve
At times he is an inspired orator and
something of his place in the world is
due to his eloquent tongue He seems to
lack the tricks Of the spelbinders trade
He is forceful, convincing and persuasive
After hearing or even reading his speeches
his phrases, or at least his meaning, are
apt to stick in the mind. Smuts would
The New York herald., 1921-07-17
Helping the Union Rise
Out of the Ashes of War

1.-The future Is dark indeed, but we will
not give up courage nor hope and trust in
God. No one shall convince me that this
unparalleled sacrifice which the African
nation has laid upon the altar of free
dom will be in vain. 1t has been war
for freedom-and not only for the freedom
of the Beers, but for the freedom of all
the nations of South Africa. It's results
we leave in Gods hands. Perhaps II is
His will to lead our nation through defeat,
through abasement, yes. and even through
the valley of the shadow Of death, to the
glory of nobler future, to the light of
brighter day"
The brighter day was not long in COM
ing. Within few years, under the leader
ship of Botha and SHUTS, the Union of
South Africa rose out of the ashes of war.
1t comprises vast territory.
While the Boer republics are out of ex-
istence the Boer nation has risen in its
place, for the Beers are in the majority
throughout the country, and, consequently,
they make the countrys laws. 1t has
been Smuts's great task to hold together
these confederated colonies under Par.
lament and a liberal constitution, and to
restrain the old narrow, still resentful
Beers, who cling to the dream Of the old
days
II was in this task that General SHUTS
was engaged when the Great War began
and German aggressions in Africa took
him into the field once more at the head
of an army. In conquering German East
Africa, Germanys last colonial possession,
Smuts engaged in the strangest man hunt
of all time, over a territory of 100000
square miles in deadly, inaccessible tan
gle OF rivers, swamps, jungle and noun
tains.
From the outset British soldiers called
H. Jan Smuts's ragtime army" for II
comprised, in addition to white troops.
British and Beers regiments from India
and Jamaica. and units of native Africans.
who, often shoeless and hatless. and at
all stages of the chase in rags: hungry.
thirsty shaking with fever sick unto death
with dysentery. We'd with one another in
bravery and endurance; manifestng an
extraordinary brotherhood that knew no
line OF race or color in adventures that
would seem wildly improbable, even in
the most imaginative of story books for
boys.
The New York herald., 1921-07-17
He Is a Great Reader
And Knows Our Literature

He is a great reader, they say. His lit
erary journeys have carried him into the
prose and the poetry of several nations
at many times. History, fiction, travel
and biography have been well plumbed by
him, and he knows as few foreigners
know the literature of America even to
George AIDES Fables in Slang" Peter Fin
ley Dunn's Mister Dooley" and Joel Chan
dler Harris's "B'rer Rabbit" He is also
an accomplished linguist, though it has
been said of him that he can be silent in
more languages than any man in South
Africa.
His forehead is lofty, his nose arched,
his mouth large. His close clipped, blond
beard does not conceal the strong jaw OF
a positive character. His eyes very keen,
are a deep blue. They offer gazes which
can be very frank or extremely forbid
ding. They can soften with friendliness
or blaze with anger.
There is a strong religious trend in the
character OF General Smuts. He comes Of
a strain of men who went into battle with
supplications to God upon their lips, a
stock that held in ridicule and contempt
the goddess ways Of other people He is
much broader, possibly, because OF the
greater opportunity he has had for study
and development in other lands, but he
knows his people well and how not to
offend their somewhat narrow notions. For
example. SHUTS is fond of card playing
old-fashioned withstand at times INDUCES
this quite innocent proclivity. Yet when
a photographer requested permission to
photograph quartet at whist at which he
was one he held up his hands in horror.
IF that picture ever got around among
my Boer constituents" he said, ut would
ruin me politically"
The New York herald., 1921-07-17
His Judgment Swiftly Confirmed
BY Events Since Treaty Was Signed

Smuts helped build the treaty, although
much was forced into 1t that he disap-
proved Of He signed 1t, saying frankly
that he did not like it and filed memo
randum of protest and explanation. He
believed the terms were uneconomic and,
therefore, unsound. He risked 1t because
he believed that some sort of peace had
to be made and it was worth taking
chance on how the treaty would be in
terpreted and lived up to. He became
weary of the endless talk of the peace
conference.
With remarkable vision he foresaw
trouble ahead. He perceived surly and
unrepentant Germany, unwilling to pay
the price of folly; broken and disap-
pointed Austria, gasping for economic
breath. He visualized the situation that
long endured after the treaty was signed.
His judgment was swiftly confirmed by
the numerous wars that threw their fires
along the horizon.
SHUTS is an internationalst who be-
lieves that nationalism has committed
suicide and that the safety of civilization
depends upon association of nations de-
veloping along economic and not purely
sentimental lines. He wants to see, for
example an international currency. He
believes that the world is really one; that
humanity is one and must be so.
The New York herald., 1921-07-17
In the Councils of War
And the Peace Conference

Then the necessities Of the British En-
pire called SHUTS to England to partici.
pate in great councils of war planning
and to send his encouraging words out to
all regions of the empire And finally he
assumed a major place at the peace con-
ference. There he was distinguished not
The New York herald., 1921-07-17

forces gathered at vereeniging to discuss
the peace terms with Kitchener in 1902,
Smuts who commanded a flying guerilla
column, was besieging the little mining
town of Ookiep. He received SUMMONS
from Botha to attend the conference. 1t
was accompanied by safe conduct pass,
signed ID Haig, Colonel" Later Field
Marshal Sir Douglas Haig and Lieutenant
General J. c. SHUTS, no longer enemies
but comrades in the common cause of
civilization, were to stand shoulder to
shoulder
The New York herald., 1921-07-17

which, while quite well known and under
stood in other lands and among other
peoples-among them, that easy tact which
smoothes over disagreeable situations and
makes for amiability-were quite abhor-
rent to the narrow, hard shell ideas of
the old trekkers. This view of Smuts is
illustrated by the nickname he has in his
own country, "Slim Jamie" for in the
Dutch expression of it "Slim" means
tricky, slick, evasive.
Smuts as Peace Commissioner
Rises to Rank of Statesman
1t was as one of the Boer peace commits
sioners who met General Kitchener and
Sir Alfred Milner that SHUTS rose to the
rank of a statesman. The commissioners
had been unable to agree and the Beers re-
turned to their convention of national dele
gates to obtain new instructions about
surrendering Internationally. For days
the convention was at loggerheads. The
delegates refused to legislate the republics
out Of existence. At length SHUTS gained
a hearing He told them the truth about
the situation. He said that it was i'm
possible to fight longer, that they could
expect no help from Europe or America,
and that further resistance meant use
less bloodshed
Brethren" he declared, in what is re-
garded among South Africans as one of
the most eloquent and certainly one of the
most momentous speeches ever made in
that country, I'VE have vowed to stand
fast to the bitter end Let us be men and
acknowledge that that end has now come
and that 1t is more bitter than ever we
thought it could be- For death itself would
be sweet compared with the step which
we must now take But let us bow before
the will of God.
The New York herald., 1921-07-17
Sound Sense, Brlliancy, Tact and Courage
Mark Career That Has Been One Long Sue
cession of Triumphs in Arms and States
manship and a Life in Keeping With
Best Traditions of His Forebears

so much for what he did-though that was
considerable-but for what he opposed
Smuts was the true and sincere spokesman
for the liberties of small nations. Here,
again, we glimpse reason for his being
summoned to settle the Irish quarrel.
In the gallery Of treaty makers Lloyd
George, Clemenceau and Wilson were the
seeming great figures. But 1t was SHUTS
in the background who contributed largely
to the drive of the work. 1t was he who
really originated the conception of
league of nations, and 1t was he who
presented the first outline of the scheme.
Thereafter, he advocated the league and
hoped America would enter it.
There have been signs recently that
S1nuts has lost confidence in the work
ability of the scheme. He has said that
the league cannot function without the
United States as a member.