Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, July 30, 1919, Page 2, Image 2
THE BEE: OMAHA, WEDNESDAY, JULY. 30, 1919. BRUTALITIES TO A. E. F.YANKEES ARE DISCLOSED Witness Declares Higher-Ups to Blame for Treatment t Dealt to Soldiers In I'v Prison. (CaatlniMd fnm ra On) on, in hit report had recommended his courtmartial for neglect of duty. "It it possible," asked Mr. Bland, "that high officer! took the position that they would not convict a man of the rank of colonel?" "Oh, no." "And that they had a good goat in 'he person of 'Hard Boiled' Smith?" "I have nothing to say about that- "Do you know of any reason , persisted Mr. Bland, "why Colonel rirint9f4 chnnlri not have been I brought to trial?" "I suppose the superior oincers 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 hot, but if an officer goes to sleep on duty and hundreds of boys are beaten up, he is given an honorable discharge. Mr. Bland then asked the witness l II IflC tail iiiai v-wiwiiti uiuiaivKu I came from Phoenix, that "Hard I Boiled" Smith came from the same town and that the two were inti mate did not suggest that Smith had been willing to take the blame for things he might have passed up I to his superior. It would look that way, replied Colonel Donaldson. Admits Brutalities. Lieut. F. H. "Hard Boiled" Smith, who was in direct command of farm No. 2, admitted on the stand that B ' terrible brutalities were practiced 311 the French prison camps, but in sisted that hit camp was a "pleasure resort" compared to the others. He said he had 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 to eighteen months and when Col onel Donaldson was on the stand he was asked to explain this reduc tion, but could give no reason for it. Smith's reference to his expected death was interpreted by the prison doctor as an indication of his belief that some of the prisoners would at tempt his life. The doctors said that as far as he knew the man was in perfect health. Smith, on his testimony had as serted he had been told by Colonel Grinstead that General Strong had ordered prisoners to be treated with the most "ruthless severity." He had said it was his understanding that these men were to be treated in such a way that they never would come back to Paris or pass through these farms again." (!:)' Sergeant Contradicts. The description by Smith of farm No.: 2 as "a pleasure resort" was flatly contradicted by Sergt. Clar ence E. Ball, formerly the lieuten ant's subordinate at the prison and now- serving six months on charges of brutality. Sergeant Ball swore that he and other sergeants had been forced to beat scores of prisoners on the direct orders of Smith and frequently in his presence. The sergeant was asked what in structions were given by Smith when he was made prison sergeant. " 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?" "Yes." "Fifty or 100.?" "Yes." Ball asserted that some men beaten were just out hospital, that on one occasion .was expected to beat a man the presence of Smith other officers and that 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 Jiose played on them. Had No Choice. Sergeant Ball claimed that he had no choice, because Smith threat ened that if he did not obey orders, he himself would be turned over to the prisoners and that he knew they would kill him. r "Did the colonel know about these things?" he was asked. The colonel was in it as much s anyone else. If he didn't see things he must have had bad eye sight. V The most sensational testimony of the hearing was given by Joseph t, Kgrszelewski, a sophomore of the University of Pennsylvania, who enlisted in the aviation corps. ' Ryielewski, who speaks English, French, Polish and Russian, got into some trouble over gambling and was sentenced to three years' imprison ment. He escaped and joined the Polish army in France, was gassed, wounded, decorated with the Croix de Guerre for gallantry and given a commission. Finally he was identi fied by the American army authori ties and claimed by them as a fugi tive. He was sent to the stockade prison at Gierves where, he assert ed, a heritable reign of terror" ex isted. " saw men tortured to make them give evidence against their com rades," he said. "They were hand cuffed and chained to the walls and then, beaten senseless with black jacks by sergeants." y: Negro Beaten Unconscious. . Ryszelewski described oat a&se of a colored soldier who was caught entering the kitchen at night to try and get some food. The negro was beaten unconscious with blackjacks by. three sergeants. Afterward he was put in solitary confinement "where his hair was burned off his bead and he was flogged on the soles of his feet with sticks to try nd make him tell the name of a sup posd accomplice. Ryszelewski also described a pun ishment inflicted on other men, who, be said, were first handcuffed andj U. S.-France Treaty Presented to Senate (Continued from Fate On.) can, Minnesota, announced that while he wanted to see it ratified he thought reservations necessary. During the day Senators Hitch cock, Nebraska, and Swanson, Vir ginia, democratic members of the Foreign Relations committee, talked over the senate situation with Presi dent Wilson at the White House and invitations were issued asking seven more republican senators to confer with the president Wednesday and Thursday regarding the treaty. Sen ator Hitchcock described Mr. Wil son as "very well satisfied" over the outlook. Although most senators have re served judgment on the merits of the French treaty, it is known that Senator Borah, republican, Idaho, and others are stubbornly opposed to it. It is thought unlikely that there will be any effort to hasten its con sideration, and a vote probably will not be sought until the Versailles treaty is out of the way. The text of the French treaty sub mitted by President Wilson was the official copy in English and differed only slightly in verbiage frm the English translation of the French text, which was made public by the French foreign office and cabled to the United States by the Associated Press on July 2. Neither the senate nor the Foreign Relations committee will meet Wednesday. Beginning Thursday, however, the committee expects to resume daily meetings, hearing Bradley Palmer, Norman Davis and F. W. Taussig and possibly some other advisors on economic provi sions in addition to Mr. Baruch. of of the the he in and five an otticer then seated with their hands on their knees and a stick passed under their hocks. They were put in the court yard and fed on bread and water. Other men were taken out of their cells at midnight in the middle of the winter and scrubbed with mud, he asserted, for the "crime" of smoking. After he had been in this prison some weeks, Colonel Maul was ap pointed commandant as, the men un derstood, a reformer. Ryszelewski said Colonel Maul addressed the men on his arrival and promised them that "if a man did right" he would be treated well. On the strength of this promise Ryszelewski wrote an article de scribing conditions which he entitled "The School For Bolshevism" and handed it to the commandant. He said that the next day he was brought before him and sentenced to three months' solitary confine ment, for one month of which he was handcuffed. There was no change in conditions under Colonel Maul's administration, the witness testified. The committee will sail for Eu rope within a few days to continue the inquiry there. Denies Severity Charge. Phoneix, Ariz., July 29. "General Strong never told me to treat pris oners with ruthless severity, and I never interpreted my orders from General Strong to mean that," said Col. F. P. Grinstead, commenting on charges of Lieut. Frank H. Smith before the congressional committee investigating conditions at army prison farms in France. Continuing, in a formal statement, Colonel Grinstead said: "General Strong told me before I went to Chellas that the disciplinary problem there was a difficult one and that I would have to exercise at all times strictest discipline. "Lieutenant Smith had a most dif ficult task, arising from congestion that we were not able to relieve for some time and I do not think he used more severe means than were necessary to control the prisoners. I do not think prisoners at the farm Smith commanded were ever beaten. "We were getting over 100 de serters or other absentees from the American army in France every day and they were a hard lot to handle." Asked whether he had any orders from any source that men were to be treated so "they would never come back to Paris or never pass through the farms again," as charged by Smith, Colonel Grinstead said: "I didn't have any of that kind of orders and I didn't give any of that kind of orders." Colonel Grinstead said he believed -Smith had been misquoted in regard to any orders that "ruthless sever ity" was to be employed at the farm. Regarding statements that prison ers had "slept in the mud on straw," Colonel Grinstead said these condi tions arose from "general conditions through the district," and "prisoners in that regard were not treated dif ferently from other soldiers." Tenth District Expected to I Take $20,000,000 Notes Of the $500,000,000 United States short time treasury certificates the Tenth district federal reserve bank of Kansas City and its branches in Omaha and Denver are expected to take about $20,000,000 of the paper- Already the Omaha banks have ap plied for $2,000,000 of the certi ficates. It is expected that this sum will be at least doubled by addi tional applications from Omaha banks and those from the country. The certificates run five months, draw interest at the rate of 4'i per cent and are issued in denomina tions of $500 and $1,000 each. No allotment is made to any of the branch banks in the district or any of the other reserve districts. As a result, when an application is filed with the Omaha branch for the purchase of certificates, the order is sent to the reserve bank at Kan sas City, where it is filled. Nebraskan to be Present At Good Roads Meeting Topeka, July 28. Five ftates have accepted the invitation of Kansas authorities for a meeting at Kansas City Wednesday for the purpose of starting a campaign to have con gress appropriate additional money for federal road aid. These states are Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ar kansas and Texas. Examinations for Postmasters Washington, July 29. (Special Telegram.) Civil service examina tions will be held on September 24 for presidential oostmasters at the following places: Potter, Neb., sal ary, $1,200: Linnwove. Ia.. salarv $1,100; Wilsonville, Neb., salary, $1,100; Pomeroy, la., salary, $1,500; vreen Kiver, Wyo., salary. ?1.6UU; Carroll, Neb., salarv. $1,100: Harri son, Neb., salary, $1,400. DEATH LIST IN CHICAGO RIOTS NOW TOTALS 27 Soldiers Not Yet Called Upon by Police to Quell Race War, Though Fighting Continues. (Contlnned from Ff e One.) cars had been procured for this pur pose. Negro educators and religious leaders sent out appeal after appeal for the blacks to go to their homes and keep the peace. The appeal fell on deaf ears. Another Riot Caused. The riot at the hospital was pre cipitated by another at State and Thirty-fifth streets, where two white men and one negro were killed, and approximately 30 negroes wounded in a battle that followed a collision of an automo bile and a patrol vagon. Several policemen were injured. Two white men were injured in the same riot and were taken to the hospital where the mob followed. At Milton avenue and West Divi sion street a negro leaped from an alley and knocked a white man down. In a moment a crowd of Italians started for the assilant, who ran and escaped. The police ar rested four Italians, two of them armed with sawedoff shotguns and two with revolvers. Another negro was fired at repeat edly while near his home on Larra bee street, also on the north side. Italians Participate. Italians also were participants in rioting on the west side, according to the police. William Donelson, a negrs, was attacked by a crowd at South Racine avenue and Taylor street, beaten and shot in the head and neck. He was taken to a hos pital, where it was said he might die. On the south side fights continued in many localities. John Johnson, 18 years old, a negro, was stabbed, beaten and thrown into the river at Archer avenue and South Halstead street. He was rescued by the police and taken to a hospital. Negroes at Fifty-fourth and South State streets dragged John Duffin, white, a florist, from his wagon and beat him so badly that he was taken to a hospital. At Root street and Wentworth avenue a negr was shot in the head and probably fatally wounded. Hun Chiefs Balked On Giving Up Liege (Continued from Page One.) the declarations made by the allies in reply to President Wilson's note. Neither Austria nor Germany ever made such a declaration. Any at tempt to bring the belligerants to an agreement seems vain so long as we do not know the points- where their opinions differ." Premier Bauer followed Dr. Muel er. He attacked the conservatives and declared that the former em peror would certainly be brought to trial and proved guilty of many things. "The reintroduction of a mon archy in Germany is impossible," he said. "I will read you two declara tions, one from Chancellor Michaelis to Von Hindenburg, dated Septem ber 12, 1917, and the other, dated September 15, 1917, containing Von Hindenburg's reply and accompanied by a memorandum from Von Luden dorff. You will then understand why no decisive reply could be given regarding the reinstatement of Bel gium." Dr. Bauer then read the Michaelis note, as follows: "In accordance with the wishes of the high command, I drew up the following basis for peace negotia tions, for the protection of our com merce. We demand the city of Liege and adjacent territory. Belgium must be intimately and economically united with Germany. When Bel gium has fulfilled all our demands for security of economic connection, which will take several years after the first peace negotiations, we con sider that military measures can then be abolished. Consequently we only ask to hold Liege provisionally as a factor of security." Von Hindenburg replied as fol lows: "I don't conceal that the navy and patriotic circles will feel it a hard blow if we give up the Fland ers coast a delusion which can only be alleviated if compensations are also known by the navy to be ful filled. Economic connection with Belgium cannot be released without pressure on Belgium, even after peace is declared and for that pur pose several years will be necessary, which, for military reasons, is pos sible only when England and Amer ica desert France. , "If we are in possession of Liege and unlimited master of the situa tion we can take the measures neces sary. I therefore do not believe that we should give up Liege. "The hardships which will be en dured by our neighbors are the in evitable result of the war under present conditions. There can be no talk of indemnities; neither can we indicate our intentions to foreign countries. i Ludendorffs Advice. Ludendorff's memorandum says: "We must keep the district firm in our hands. Possession of the Meuse line only is insufficient. We must drive the British and French armies still further back. It is only thus that Belgium can become economic ally and intimately connected with us, and this could not be effected without strong military pressure. Without a lengthy occupation and the possession of Liege the neutral ity of Belgium is a phantom, not to be reckoned with." Having made public these state ments the premier continued: At the same time the so-called land party was formed, .which sup ported the demands of the high command. It was the members ot this party which supported the an- nexionists and drove the German people into destruction." Ihe premier was interrupted by many of the members who, leaping to their feet, shouted "murderers," traitors, "political radicals. , Reavis Criticizes War Department's Policy 1 (Continued from Face One.) lings that God had given her. So far as I am concerned, and so far as my party is concerned, you will find us fighting by the lady in the calico dress." Congressman Reavis having laid the foundation for the development of an intimate history of the War de partment and the food supply as it relates to the high cost of living, Representative Jefferis, in his maiden speech toward the close of a day of bitter partisan debate, took the democrats into camp by produc ing first-hand evidence of the charges that canned salmon in a gov ernment warehouse in Omaha was reported unfit for food, when, as a matter of fact, it was reported wholesome and merchantable by rep resentatives of three of the largest wholesale grocers in Omaha. M. B. Newman, president of the Newman Brokerage company, who was accorded permission by Quar termaster General Rogers to in vestigate the government-owned salmon in storage in Omaha, tele graphed Congressman Jeffris as fol lows. "The sender in company with Mr. Hughes of Hughes company, Mr. Keoth of Paxton & Gallagher and Mr. Murphy of McCord-Brady, in spected salmon and found the same wholesome, good and fit for food. The above wholesale grocers offer the government $10 per case on all red salmon, $6.50 per case on all pink salmon at Omaha govern ment warehouse net cash. This offer good only for immediate ac ceptance and immediate delivery. Omaha is entirely out of salmon. Wholesale grocers can distribute right now to advantage at the same time relieve the food shortage. We understand the above prices are considerable in excess of what the government paid packers. The very tact that three of the largest whole sale grocers in Omaha are willing to buy this salmon is conclusive proof and evidence the salmon it absolutely merchantable. Examina tion shows about 600,000 cans ot pink salmon, 250,000 cans of red salmon, both grades packed 48 cans to the case. We understand nevi salmon now in transit from Alaska. We believe it to be the govern ment's best interest to sell this salmon immediately and let the salmon go into consumption. The parties bidding on this salmon are responsible wholesale grocers, not speculators." When Mr. Jefferis had finished reading, the republican side rose to him while thunderous applause rang through the chamber. Ihe demo crats sat as if they had received a knockout blow and when the Omaha congressman, concluding, said: "This attempt to keep foodstuffs from the people and in the interest of the canners and packers is the greatest outrage ever perpetrated on a free people even in the name of democ racy, his colleagues showered him with congratulations. And over the whole turbulent scene "Uncle Mose" Kincaid pre sided as speaker out of respect pos sibly to Reavis and Jefferis. It was Nebraska s day in the house. EXPECT TO RAISE PLATTE BRIDGE FUND INjO DAYS Saunders County Making Progress Towards $35,000 Needed Endorsed by Chamber. Saunders county is succeeding ad mirably in the work of raising $35, 000, its share of the money required for the construction of the all steel bridge over the Platte river, east of Yutan and on the line of the Center street road. That is the opinion of the members of the Omaha Cham ber of Commerce. George Davis, N. A. Phelps, A. L. Anderson, Joseph Bradenberg and A. J. Brodahl, Wahoo, and R. H. Parks, Yutan, of the Saunders county bridge committee, met at noon yesterday with the executive committee, of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and reported progress. Members of the committe reported that they had every reason to be lieve that the $35,000 would be raised within the next 10 days. The farmers of the county, as well as the busines men of Wahoo and Yutan, they said, were enthusiastic over the bridge proposition and that generally they were subscribing to the fund. In Omaha the Platte river project has been endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce as a whole, the retail ers, public highways, wholesalers, live stock and trade extension com mittees. Explosion Wrecks House. Denver, Colo., July 29. Police investigation today of the mysteri ous explosion that wrecked the home of Jake E. Molinsky, a fruit ped dler, here last night, disclosed that the Molinsky family was not in the house at the time the explosion oc curred. The building was a total loss, and other structures in the neighborhood were damaged. No one was injured. Don't have to go to cooking school with these in the house says POST TOASTIES 1 1 9 wi IP iKSw Jj 1 Uloin r7 Security ISN'T it worth a few cents a week to know that your valu able papers, insurance policies, Liberty and Vic tory Bonds are safe? Our big vault con tains 1,767 strong boxes for the use of customers and pa trons, as well as storage room for silverware and other bulky articles. As soon as your treas- deposited will know WS3BWVf ured posses ' lIMHHMITm- Army Train Resumes Its Westward Journey (Continued from Pace One.) charge of the searchlight. During the evening a big observation bal loon anchored above Fort Omaha was made plainly visible in the sky by the searchlight, which has a pene tration capacity of 25 miles. . "Recruiting is the prime aim of this trip," Captain Murphy said last evening. "We have -sworn in some 50 men since leaving the capitol and expect to pick up twice that number between here and the coast. 'The motor transport corps is the coming branch of service." Johnson Addresses Churches. L. B. Johnson, government cb servor and good roads expert, who is making the trip with the convoy, addressed the Chamber of Com merce at noon yesterday on "The Transcontinental Transport." He said in part: "Highways connecting extremes of the continent are going to be a common thing of the future. When this convoy arrives in San Fran cisco it will have demonstrated be yond doubt that the transcontinental trip by automobile and truck is go ing to be a common thing. It should be the effort of good roads men everywhere to make these mat ters national rather than local in scope." The transport men, while iu Oma ha, were quartered at Fort Omaha. "Chow" was served from the field kitchen in good old army style early this morning. Aside from the dain ties given by the War Camp Com munity and Red Cross service, the men were fed three meals during the day. Villa's Brother Reported in Sad Mental State Marfa, Tex., July 29. Hipolito Villa, brother qf Francisco Villa, who is hiding in the hills near Santa Helena, south of the Ojinaga border, is reported to be in a serious condi tion. One report received at mili tary headquarters here late Monday stated he was losing his mind. Villa was suffering from conges tion of the brain at the time his brother advanced on Juarez in June. Afterward he was taken in a wagon to the Ojinaga district, where he re ceived medical treatment. s Twelve Villa followers at San Carlos, 60 miles east of Ojinaga, of fered to surrender if given amnesty by the federal commander in Ojin aga, according to a report received here. 16-Year-01d Girl's Body Found in Bushes Near Parents' Home Bandon, Ore., July 29. Investiga tion was begun today of the death of. Lillian Leuthold, 16-year-old daugh ter of a mill foreman, whose nude and bruised body was found yester day in bushes near her home. She disappeared Sunday following a visiK to a girl friend nearby. Mother and 7 Children All Burned to Death Nelsonville, O., July 29. Several hours before authorities were to take them to the Athens county home, seven children, ranging in age from 6 weeks to 10 years, were found with their mother, Mrs. Tony Stravisar, burned to death or asphyxiated in their home at Kimberly, a small mining town near here. The chil dren were tied to their beds and coal oil had been sprinkled over the room. It is supposed that worry over the separation caused the mother to de stroy herself and the children. ThompsoiirBelcieii &Qx J Established 78 8 6 - TAeThsJiioit Geziierjforyyomen A"Month-End Tumult" Sale 111 Gingham and Voile Dresses for $2.95 Attractive colorings and becom ing styles are the main features of these frocks, next in importance, however, is the remarkable price. Wednesday, only $2.95 There are stripes, plaids and plain colors, trimmed with white hemstitched collars, cuffs and belts. Ideal porch dresses. All Sales Final In the Basement -jor MEM 2 Specials... $2.50 Shirts for $2.15. Any $2.50 shirt in stock, Arrow, Eagle and Earl & Wilson makes. Sizes 132 to 18. $1 Ties W ednesday, 85c. Any $1 tie in stock is included. To the Left A You Enter. Union Suits Reduced... Women's lisle union suits, $1.50 and $2 quality for $1.19. Boys' Porosknit union suits, Chalmer's make, special, 69c. Ginghams... Chambray ginghams, Imperial quality in 1 stripes, checks and plain shades all fast colors, 50c a yard. In the Basement. Children's . Wear... Rompers, for older children as well as c r e e p i ng rompers; sizes 1 to 6 years Regularly $1.25 and $1.35, Wednesday, 89c. Cotton crepe kimonas in sizes 4 to 16 years Regular $1.75 to $2.50, Wednesday, $1.69. Third Floor. Sale of Turkish Bath Mats... Brocaded weaves in blue, pink and plain white. Regularly $2.50, Wednesday, $2.25. Reversible mats in blue and white with Greek key border, $2.25 quality for $2. Assorted designs in pink and blue, $2 qual ity for $1.75. Oriental designs in dark blue, $2.75 qual ity for $2.25. The Linen Dept. Lace Remnants 9c a Yard... A sale of fine laces and trimmings in short lengths, splendid val ues, Wednesday only 49c a yard. Ribbons for 69c a Yard... A few odd pieces in different shades will be offered Wednesday for 69c. Widths suit able for girdles and sashes. Gloves A broken line of silk gloves in black, white and brown, Wednes day, 29c. "Filosette" washable fabric gloves in white with self and contrast ing embroidery, 75c and $1 a pair. The Art Dep't Bargain Table Has new items added each day. Finished pieces and those ready for embroidery odd numbers are placed on the counter each day and underpriced. Art Dept. Third Floor Sale of Slippers jor $1.95 White canvas button shoes and pumps, satin pumps in black, white and pink, suede strap slippers and a few pairs of women's barefoot sandals, all in small sizes. Very good values in summer footwear. Wednesday, $1 .95 All Sales Final Odd Corsets A continuance of our clearing sale of corsets, odd numbers, soiled goods and styles which cannot be obtained this fall. Corsets from our regular stock. Greatly Reduced Corset Dept. Third Floor. 9