Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 178, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1919 — PRISON TORTURE IN FRANCE LAID TO “HIGHER UPS.” [ARTICLE]

PRISON TORTURE IN FRANCE LAID TO “HIGHER UPS.”

New York, July 29.—Scores of instances of brutal treatment of American soldiers in the prison ramps in France, described in some rases as amounting to a system of torture, responsibility for 'which was placed by the witnesses on high army officers, were related today befor the congressional sub-committee which is investigating the disciplinary systems of the A. E. F. The committee, consisting of Representative Royal C. Johnson, of South Dakota, and Representative Oscar E. Bland, of Indiana, met in (the disciplinary barracks on Governors island. The third member of the sub-committee, Representative Henry Flood, of Virginia, was not present. The men “higher up,” who were, directly charged by witnesses with responsibility for the prison conditions, included Brig. Gen. W. W. Hatts, former commander of the American troops in the Paris district; Major Gen. Frederick Smith Strong, of the 40ith division; Col. Edgar Grimstead, commander of the 158th infantry, and Col. J. S. Maul, of the field artillery. A number of captains and lieutenants also were named as having taken an actual part in the brutal treatment of the prisoners. At the close of the hearing Representative Johnson, who is chairman of the sub-committee, announced that all cases in which charges were made would be placed (before the inspector general of the American army and every effort made to bring the guilty men to punishment. “From the evidence before the committee,” said Mr. Johnson, it seems dear to us that while sergeants and (lieutenants were punished, they were merely the scapegoats off higher officers. We want to discover who were the men ‘higher up’ and will do everything in our power to see that they are brought to trial. It is apparent that this was not a case of brutality in an individual prison, but that similar (Conditions existed in practically all of the prisons in France.” The principal witness a|t the hearing today was Colonel T. Q. Donaldson, of the inspector general’s department, who made an ■ official investigation of the prisons after the first charges of brutality were made puMfiic. Under close questioning J by Representative Bland and with obvious reluctance, Colonel Davidson admitted that responsibility for the conditions in the Paris prisons, concerning which sbme of the most sensational charges of brutality have been made, must be laHd.to General Harts. He was then questioned Sharply as to the reasons why Colonel Grimstead, wfh/o had (been in Charge of Farm No. 2, had never been brought to trial, although Col. Donaldson, in his report had recommended his court martial for neglect of duty. “Is it possible,” asked Mr. Bland, “that high officers took the position that' they could not convict a man of the rank of colonel?” “Oh, ho.” “And that they had a good goat in the person of ‘Hardbodied’ Smith?” “I have nothing to say about that.” “Do you know of any reason, persisted Mr. Bland, “why Col. Grimstead should not have been brought to trial?” “I suppose (the superior officers had some good reason,” replied the witness. “It is a serious reflection on the A. E. F.,” commented Mr. Bland. “If a sentry goes to sleep on duty he is shot, but if an officer goes to on duty and hundreds of boys are beaten up, he is given an honorable discharge.” Mr. Bland then asked the witness if the falct that Colonel Grimstead come from Phoenix, Airiz., that “Hafdboiled” Smith came from the same town and that 'the two were intimate did not suggest thta Smith had been willing to take the blame for the (things he might have passed up to his superior. “It would look that way,” replied Col. Donaldson. Lieutenant F. H. “Hardboiled” Smith, who was in direct command of farm No. 2, admitted on' the stand that “terrible brutalities” were practiced in the French prison camps (but insisted that, his camp was a pleasure resort compared to the others. He said he han not long to live (and wanted to tell the truth while he was alive. Smith was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on charges of beating prisoners and stealing their property. His sentence was reduced Ito eighteen months and when Col. Donaldson was on the stand he was asked to explain this reduction, but could give no reason for it. , 1 Smith’s reference to his expected • death was interpreted by the prison

doctor as an indicaitron of his belief that some off the other prisoners would attempt his life. The doctor said that as far as he knew the mam was in perfect health. Smith, in his testimony, had asserted he had been told by Col. Grimdtead that Gen. Strong had ordered prisoners to be (treated with the most “ruthless severity.” He* said that it was his understanding “that these men were to be treated in such a way \ that they never would come back to Paris or even pass through these farms again.” The description by Smith of Farm No. 2 as a “pleasure resort” was flatly contradicted by Sergeant Clarence E. Ba®, formerly the lieutenant's subordinate alt the prison and T&xw serving six months 'on charges of brutality. Sergeant Ball swore that he and other sergeants had been forced to beat scores of prisoners ♦n the direct orders of Smith and frequently in bis abesnce. The sergeant was asked what instructions were given by Smith when he was made prison sergeant. “I was ordered to beat the men, to treat them rough.” “How many men did you beat up?” “I could not say.” “You mean they were so many you could not count them?” “Yea.” “Fifty or one hundred?” * “Yes.” Ball asserted that some of the men beaten were just out of the hospital, that ion one occasion he was ordered to beat a man in the presence of Smith and five other officers and that an officer was generally present when a man was thrashed. When men were beaten so badly that they were covered with blood, he said, they were taken out into the yard and the hose, played upon them.