The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-11-04
WATSON WINS HIS
POINT FOR A PROBE
OF HANGING CHARGES
Senate Orders Inquiry
After a Two Hours
Wrangle

WASHINGTON. Nov. "a new
resolution ordering n special commit
tee TO vestigatc charges OF senator
Watson. democrat Geofgia. regarding
treatment Of privates IN the American
eapeditionary forces was adopted
unanimously today by the senate,
after a two hours wranEle.
The senate also adopted unanim-
ousy another resolution by Senator
Rrandcgoe, republican. Connecticut,
chairman OF the special committee,
authorizing the committee TO sub
poena witnesses and documents but
left unsettled the question as to the
exact charges OF Senator Watson.
which were to be investigated.
Bases For Charge.
The Georgia senator presented the
bases 10. his charge during another
period of heated debate ON tho sub
ject He rond "A telegram from this
soldier. whose name was not disclosed
saying that the galiows was at Gievres.
France. aud that the guard had told
him that other men were 10 be hanged
on II.
Senator Brandegee announced later
that the committee would hold It's
first meeting next Monday To de-
termine the date for opening the
hearings.
senator Watson told tho senate
that his charge that 81 American sol
diers had been hanged In France
without trial had been based on the
statement OF SOLDIER who said he
had seen the galiOws and had been
told by the acaffoid guard that this
number OF men had been hanged,
senator Watson then proceeded to
read letters and other documents
dealing with alleged hnnEings Of
American soldiers.
Senator Watson said he had fur
thor evidence fresh from the mails
this morning" and read from "a maga-
Siue quoting an unnamed officer as
saying that he was informed that the
lted C-oss had built gallows for
the a. r.. Il. on which to hang men
and asking that all records OF the
transaction be removed from the files
and burned"
That's the number I said" de-
clared Senator Watson, referring 10
the number mentioned IN the telo-
gram. That Is the Information on
which ! based my statements"
The Georgia senator declared that
this soldier who, he said had served
.our months In the army. would face
he senate and answer any questions
G. braycly as he faced the Germans"
senator Watson asked II tho war
department would give the namo OF
the "Tallows guard" and others in
volved In the Giovres execution.
senator MndswO.th, republican,
Sew York. chairman OF thu military
committee. said that was what was
proposed by the senate Investigation,
ordered he added. because the Georgia
senator refused to go before the milf
iary committee.
Asks open Hearing.
senator Watson replied that he had
const tutiuual right to present his
case In the open senate and Intended
to do 80.
why not debate this here In the
open and meet me face to facei'
Senate Watson said In reply why
try 60 entrap me and cage me and
silence me In "a committee ROOM II
there's anything cheaper In this c9un-
Try than human iifr its white wash
| ing committee report"
Docs the general staff want "a
/ hide in the committee roomW Sena'
/ tor Watson continued
Senator Watson said he was fight
1 ing the military clique" the 'PTus'
I sinnized system" and that I'VE have
/ now reached the point OF miiitariEm
whore u b. crime 70 criticize tbs
army" which he said was the stage
! that "Germnny had reached before
| .hc breaking out Of the war