New-York tribune., 1922-01-06

Veterans Back
Majors Denial
OF Staying Men
Comrades of Shock Sufferer
Dispute His Charges That
Opie Shot Soldier Dead
in Dugout With Captives
Officer Never Used Pistol
Fired Rifle Twice to Rally
Troops, He Says; Tramp
DoughboyAmusesHearing

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.Sweeping
a.nial of charges that he had shot two
of his men while his command, part of
,he Twenty ninth Division, was in the
thick Of the Argcnne fighting, was made
before Senate Investigating commit
TOO to-day by Major Heroine l.. Opie,
q staunton. Va. and nearly dozen
mon serving with him overseas.
At an all-day session only one voice
was lifted against Major Opie--that of
shell-shocked victim of war. nov u
r.t;ent in Virginia hospital for the
;rsane The witness. Lemuel c. Smith.
declared that while in a dugout with
three comrades and -Four German pris-
oncrs. Major Opic entered shot and
,lled soldier, then ordered the body
,amoved. without once uttering a word
Comrades Deny Charge
IN rapid succession the comrades
,sentioned by Smith went on the stand
md swore they saw no such killing,
,bot tbey were not in the dugout, and
that they knew of no evidence what
ever to support the charges. And then,
after half dozen of Major Opie's men
had testified that they never heard OF
his shooting soldier in France or any
where else, the Major himself spoke In
his own defense, declaring there was
no word of truth in the accusations and
that he never shot man in his life"
Breaking down while witnesses were
telling the committee that FOR his
services in the Argonnc offensive, enc
ing in hospital, wounded, be was
awarded the Distinguished Service
Cross. the Legion of Honor ana the
Croix de Guerre, with two palms,
Hajor Opie quickly recovered his com
posure, and calmly, but with great en-
phasis, asserted that he never fired {:
revolver all the time he was in the
amy.
Major Opie explained in detail how
he had attempted to get his men in
line after they mad been demoralized
and were running wildly, some saying
they had been ordered to retreat, while
others were shouting the enemy was
approaching.
denly, found him alone in the effort
to reform the lines. At the moment
he was without side arms, was wear
ing a rancoat. the insignia on which
was covered with mud. and it was with
difficulty that he could make the men
halt.
Fired Twice, but Hit No One
II took a rife and fired twice." he
said, "knowing perfectly we'll what l
was doing. One shot was fired in the
air and one in the ground. Nobody
was hit After | fred the lines stopped
and I got them in shape, putting men
l recognized in command. | sent run
ners to bring all the men up. There
vas not dead soldier on the line and
there had been no firing"
Did you shoot runner with re-
volyer, as charged ?" Chairman Bran
degee asked.
Il never fired a pistol the whole time
I was in the army Major Opie de-
cared with emphasis.
Chairman Brandegee wanted to know
if Major Ope had any theory as to
how the reports about him had started.
None. sir" he said. ut may be that
one circumstance led to it, dislike to
mention names. but it might be the
only thing to do in justice to others.
1t happened that Lieutenant Floyd w.
Cunningham accidentally killed him
self with rife and was the first to
reach him. bent down. opened his
blouse and while there alone in that
position some stragglers may have been
around. | sometimes think this scene
may have started rumors Of which |
was the victim.''
Senator Willis. Republican, of Ohio,
questioned Major Opie regarding the
testimony of Henry l.. Scott, of Ker-
more. Ohio, that he saw the major
shoot a runner.
ut is deliberately untrue" the ma
jor exclaimed.
Senator Willis said he merely desired
to get the majors denial in the record.
Watson Puts No Questions
Senator Watson, Democrat, of Geor-
gla, whose charges in the Senate that
American soldiers had been hanged
without trial in France were the cause
OF the inquiry, took no part in the ex-
animation of Major Opie or his wit
nesses: But at the close of the ses-
SION, Senator Watson, announcing that
nc was not prosecuting any case, pre-
sented list Of witnesses to be sum-
moned to give testimony relating to
me Ople charges.
me committee indicated that they
would be called when the hearing IS
;;esumed next Tuesday. Some of Ma
!s opie's witnesses, expected here to-
gay failed to arrive in time and they
VIII De heard next week.
me only other tcstimcney during
lne DAY was that of Herbert L. Caden-
head,. Of Greenville, Miss. who de-
tciared he saw ten or eleven soldiers
hanged around Is-sur-Tille. France.
wn'ie War Department records showed
0''iy two executions at that place.
A'volunteer witness from San Fran
,r:'sco' coming at his own expense, en-
.sened the proceedings with a de-
sellptlon of what he saw in prison
camps. When it was suggested that