The New York herald., 1921-10-30
Threatened With Death for
Protesting Against Condl-
tions, They Assert.
FOOD AND PAY LACKING
On Way to America to Lay
Case Before Secretary
Hughes.
soecio, Cable to THE New YolK HERALD.
Cos.rioht. 1921, by THE NEW York HHRALD.
New York Herald. Burcau,
ncrs rsc nat l

specio, Cable to THn New YonK HERALD.
Cosvri0ht, 1921, by THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald. Bureau.
Paris, Oct. 90.
After being threatened with death
for mutiny because he protested
against misrepresentation which re-
suited In his joining the Spanish
Foreign Legion, Barry Smith David
son Of Boston. Mass, has arrived IN
Paris from Barcelona and is sailing for
America, where he will protest to the
washington Government against what
he calls the overzealousness OF the
Spanish Consul in Boston, who. he
says, directed the Spanish recruiting
campaign there.
Davidson served during the war with
the Canadian infantry and since the
armistice with the Sixteenth American
Railway Engineers at Coblenz. Later
he Joined group Of ninety-five Ameri-
cans and Canadians who thought the
miniature war in Morocco would be
under standard conditions. Instead,
when they reached Cadiz they were
told the pay was only four and half
pesetas (about ninety cents) q day, OF
which -four pesetas (about eighty cents)
was to be deducted for food and CLOTH
ing. Later when their clothing was
distributed to them they found 1t was
filthy and many Americans refused 10
wear It. They arrived at Ceuta on the
Moroccan coast wearing the same
clothing they wore when they left the
Unitsd States.
The Spanish commandant In Ceuta re-
oeived delegation headed by David
son which protested agains the INSULT
clent food they received, a box OF
sardines and a. few biscuits being the
travelling rations for q day. but the
delegation was sent back to the bar
racks under an armed guard after be-
ing told tiNA they would be shot at the
commandments Ovders II the terms OF
their enlistment were not complied with,
The Americans than balked. declaring
their enlistment did not carry with II
any oath OF allegiance to the King OF
Spain. and therefore 1t was not an
irrevocable act ON their part.
After three days with nothing but
bread and water, the commandant sent
for them and offered them passage to
the nearest port In Spain II they wanted
to leave the Spanish Foreign Legion.
majority Of them accepted the offer Inn
nlodiately, but q few OF them insisted
on passage back to the United States.
Arriving at Barcelona. aid was asked
OF the American Consul General, who
was said to have refused It. as the Gov
ernment did not provide funds for such
cases. Thereupon the disheartened
Americans agreed to work their passage
home aboard cargo vessels. but free
passage to London was given to the
Canadian members of the party by the
British Consul In Barcelona, who also
ravo q food allowance to them, instruct
irg them to report to the High Commits
sioncr there for further relief.
LONDON, Oct. 20 (Associated Press) -
Great Britain has asked Spain to allow
a British representative to proceed to
Morocco to make an independent and
impartial inquiry into allegations OF Ill
treatment by Spanish officers OF British
subjects who have enlisted in the Span
ash Foreign Legion.
This announcement was made In the
House Of Commons this week by Cecil
Harmsworth, Under Secretary for For
eign Affairs, in answer to q question by
Earl winterton. The latter asked II the
Government was aware of the serious
alterations made against Spanish mill
tary authorities by British subjects.
mostly ex-service men. recently enlisted
in the Foreign Legion, who claim that
conditions of pay and service promised
by Spanish consuls here have not been
carried out. Earl Winterton asked
further II the. Government We're aware
that some of the Britishers who pro-
tested we're ill-treated. robbed and sent
20 Gibraltar. and that others who actu-
sIIy Joined the legion had been kicked
and beaten by Spanish officers.