Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-06

u, BENNETT !. IlOTl.

RI BENNETT !. IpOTN.
Written Exclusively Tor The Star AMI Nnrth
Aa}t ftc.sn New Spapr Alliance.
Life had been crammed so full of
action since our break from Moussei.
FIRE that had had little time to think
nj the probable outcome of our going
over the hiH." as we l.cgionnaires
called DESERVING. | had no fear Of the
III . squad. hut as we stayed on in
the Damascus citadel and | heard
| more and more of the horrors Of
| French prison life the situation grew
serious.
| Eu; knew from the American con-
| sui and from letters from my father
| that they were doing everything they
c, III to help. At worst, / thought.
would get two or three years.
| was visited by French artillery
/ lieutenant. appointed my attorney.
! II consul had attempted to get a
civilian attorney, but found il impoS
/ 81 H. All Europeans .Ald Americans
! had left Damascus because al the
| fighting There were only few
! Syrian lawyers left.
-Four Others ON Trial.
/ July Ii. Io@G. ! WAS summoned to
| the court martial With me were the
En-slishman who had deserted and the
two Germans who had skipped with
us-WeisS.r aud Lass. There was
another Ie-ionnaire before the court
also. an Austrian who had gone
! over the hill He was. the hrst
called.
When my turn came | was led into
n long room. At one end sat the oti,'
GERS eomposin. the couneii~-;i colonel
two ma i1rs. lNo captains and Two
lieutenants At the right sat the ON
Ger prosecuting me: at the lett my
artillery officer attorney.
The prosecutor detailed our offense.
then the colonel and the other Officers
Questioned me- They seemed mostly
concerned about my motive.
! told them ] liked the Legion as
military unit. but that when u was
nut 10 building citadels and used as
labor corps | was through. | said !
didn't think the government mao a'tea
Justly in promising US transfer W
rest most after the hard campaigning
Twin I'm TO it's promise. The councii
listened attcntsyely and questioned
mo about my service during the World
War.
Sergeant Aids Defense.
Nv attorney brought UP character
witness. the sergeant VINO had com
manded my section. lie was REQ.
headed Turk. Rechad Pcy. He told
that | had never given the Legion
any trouble: that | was liked by my
osFicers. and that / had never failed
in NV duty. He rave them my ngni'
ing record. Il couldn't have had
better witness.
Nv attorney then introduced let
tor from Lieut.. Vernon Of my squad.
corroboratlng Rechad Bey.
| felt the situation WAS getting bet
ter. but | was astounded when the
prosecuting officer demanded that !
he punished 10 the limit. This could
have meant the firing squad.
Nv attorney pleaded that deserfion
und.. fire and desertion while In re-
serve were very different. He said IT
was a case Il determining not the
nature of the crime hut the motive.
This preciptated a hot argument
between prosecutor and defender.
Finally my attorney rested. lie threw
me upon the mercy of the court, ask
ing the minimum sentence with sur
ceaTe'' This IN a suspended sentence.
Expected Light Sentences.
I was aysed IL had anything final
10 say. knew the end was fmini
neni 1 said | wanted IL established
that | was not being punished for de
6.1.x IN hn nf hss
e. n nied off and ! was led away.
We were all edgy Whiting for the
decision. Harvey thought he would
get off free. The gendarme guarding
us said We would get light sentence.
had decided ~ months would be
mine.
A haIfhour LATER we were sum
| noned The secretary of the court
| beg IN reading the findings. First. the
court had given the Austrian six
| years. We looked at one another.
| That vas n shock III W.. Neisssr and
| Lass got five yearw each. Then |
! heard my name. followed by a sen.
1 tence 10 eight years. Harvey got the
same.
Taken Ia Cells In Dare.
We we're eth. In % daze when We
/ were driven hack 10 The citadel, You
/ t34BB HIVE IuA AHE Htf1fN etab ~
/ shovel
I wig" Harvey and ! asked the
| Germans. did you two get only i've
| years and We eight
They thought that possibly Harvey
| was soaked beeaure he had had rife,
| There Was one bright ray onit. We
| had not been tried for tn. death Of The
! i,edoulra shot during the break. The
] eoIonei held that they were entirely
! III the wrong IN attacking French sol
diefs in uniform,
A. W. entered the iiAon fhe men
/ ftnfEsed about us. slane were there
for the saDe offense. Theg were MI
eager 10 know how We had farcd.
Thet were dnnlbfounded when they
heard This WAS The rtiffesi sentence
for dnsefilou. under the circumstances
that had been gwen by the council ~
! war,
stnpyf3e,s tasH In ali enuhtfiee ~ North