The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 34, No. 318, Ed. 1 Sunday, February 16, 1919 Page: 1 of 52
fifty two pages : ill. ; page 21 x 16 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
TH
I
VOL. 34 NO. 318.
HOUSTON TEXAS SUNDAY FEBRUARY. 16 1919
52 PAGES PRICE FIVE CENTS.
POST.
BREST CAMP AND
HOSPITALS LITTLE
BETTER THAN STYS
Army Surgeon Describes
Conditions at French
Post as Extreme-
ly Bad
FEW NECESSITIES
AND NO COMFORTS
Soldiers Forced to Exist as
Best They Could Under
the Worst Imagin-
4 able Conditions
By Leased Wire to The Houston Post.
WASHINGTON Feb. 15. American
soldiers at Brest were quartered in shel-
ters little better than ordinary cow pens.
The sanitary conditions were extremely
bad there.
"The water supply was inadequate and
the lighting system was so unreliable
that the lights would frequently go out
in the hospitals while surgeons were per-
forming operations."
This was the indictment against the
American army camp at Brest Saturday
by Major Kllsworth of the army medical
corps testifying before the senate mili-
tary affairs committee. His testimouy
probably will lead to the calling of many
more witnesses including the secretary of
war to explain why the war department !
was so tardy in arranging adequate ac-
commodations for the great numbers of
men sent to France through the port of
Brest.
Woeful Lack of Everything.
Major Kllsworth had just returned
from a trip abroad which he related
iu detail. He was assigued to the duty
of visiting and inspecting the various
American hospital stations in France.
The naval base hospitals at Brest he
said were well located but the army
vamp hospitals were established about
two and a half miles outside the city.
His first visit to this site was in August
of last year.
"There was a complete lack of build-
ings and there was a constant complaint
among the officers over the failure to
get any better conditions." said Major
Kllsworth. "Some of the troops were
quartered in wooden barracks little bet-
ter than ordinary cow pens just plain
boards with tur paper roofs but the
greater portion were in tents most of
the men bcjng quartered in 'pup tents'
without floors.
"It was (piito evident at that time that
Brest was to be the principal port of
entry for our troops going into France
but no preparations were being made to
provide suitable hospital accommodations
or proper sanitary conditions.
Little Water. Less Light. .
"There was insufficient water and the
electric current was not only insufficient
but irregular. It would frequently fail
while tho surgeons were in the midst of
an operation.
"The common topic of discussion about
the camp was the unsanitary condition
of the camp and the hardships the men
had to endure through the lack of water
and lack of all other necessary sanitary
facilities.
"It was perfectly evident that some
housing plan should have been provided
for these soldiers early in the history of
the cainp. The unanimous verdict of
those who passed through Brest in the
later months of 101S was that it was
unsanitary and unprepared to handle the
number of troops quartered there."
Major Kllsworth said that after his
first visit to the camp he discussed con-
ditions with Colonel Guy K. F.die the
divisional surgeon who said he was help-
less to obtain any improvement.
Bolshevik Have Sinister
Designs in Accepting
Conference Invitation
Associated Press "Report.
OMSK Monday Feb. 1(1. The readiness
of the Russian soviet government to send
delegates to the Princes islands confer-
ence is an attempt to repeat the Brest -Litovsk
conference with the central pow-
ers according to a statement issued by
the foreign ministry of the Omsk gov-
ernment. The statement says that the
bolsheviki "again offer to sell the country
for the benefit of themselves."
There has been no official statement
as to the attitude of the Omsk govern-
ment concerning the meeting but an of-
ficii reply probably will be made in a
few days. Socialist and non-socialist
leaders and representatives of the co-
operative associatious arc preparing a
protest against the meeting. Universities
nd academies of Siberia are sending an
appeal to the allied powers and the
United States not to hold the meeting.
Holland Will Permit
Passage of U. S. Troops
Associated Press Report.
U'laniVI'TOV vh is finiatar
Barrett at The Hague notified the state
government had consented to aid in the
' .return home of American troops by per-
; tuitting trans-shipment to transports at
Rotterdam of soldiers brought down the
. Rhine.
Assurances also were given that war
material sequestered in Holland would
v. restored soon i
GERMANS DEFIANT;
TALK OF SPURNING
NEW CONDITIONS
National Assembly Urged to
Declare Against and
Resist "Peace of
Violence"
WILL NbT PAY
WAR INDEMNITY
German Leaders Also Loud-
ly Protest Against Propo-
sition to Disarm and De-
mobilize Hun Hordes
Associated Press Report.
GENEVA Feb. 15. The Swiss
telegraph agency received a dispatch
from Berlin Saturday morning stat-
ing that the German armistice com-
mission has suspended negoitations
with the allies at Spa because they
considered the new allied conditions
too severe.
The Germans according to the
telegram continue to complain
against the British blockade and fu-
ture controversies are predicted over
the occupation of the Rhine towns;
the expulsion of undesirable Ger-
mans and the lack of railway trans-
portation. Associated Press Report.
WEIMAR. Friday. Feb. 14 (Havas.)
At the meeting of the national assembly
today Herr Hjiitze put forward a motion
inviting the assembly to adopt a resolu-
tion containing the declaration that the!
German people would never accept a
peace of violence and protesting against
the "exaggerated" conditions of the arm-i
istice as tending to ruin Germany.
The resolution also protests against
the denial of self-determination to Al-sace-IOrraine.
Associated Press Report.
BASLE. Feb. 15. Count von Brock -dorff-Rantzau
German foreign secretary
discussing Germany's foreigu policy in
the new national assembly at Weimar
yesterday declared he had resisted and J
would continue to resist allied attempts
t make Germany demobilize all her mili-
tary forces.
The task of the German nation as re-
gards foreign affairs might he summed
up he said under two beads first ending
the state of war; second establishment
of normal relations with other peoples.
Will Resist Disarmament.
"Unfortunately." he continued "Ger-
many's voluntary disarmament has not
softened our enemies who recently at-
tempted to settle on the basis of dis-
armament questions undoubtedly apper-
taining to the peace conference. I have
repulsed and wil continue to repulse
these attempts looking to the dissolution
of all our old military forces and the sub-
stitution of new republican troops for
our old peace army which could be used
in the East.
"Germany has shouldered the conse-
quences of defeat and is determined to
observe the conditions agreed upon with
her adversaries. These conditions imply
the complete renunciation of the po-
litical aims of the old Germany. We are
ready to accept restrictions upon our
sovereignty the conlrmlsory submission
of our differences with other states to
an international court of arbitration and
the renunciation of our armament if our
old adversaries and future neighbors sub-
mit to the same restrictions."
The foreign minister acknowledged
that the stand taken by Germany at the
conferences at The Hague regarding
these two fundamental questions had con-
stituted a grievous mistake which the
entire German nation would have to ex-
piate today. He added that this admis-
sion in no way implied an avowal that
Germany bad caused the world war. He
urged iu strong terms that no war in-
(Continued on Page 8 Column 1.)
Today's Calendar
FORECASTS OF THE WEATHER.
A$ociat1 Tress Report.
IV.4SHTXGT0. Feb. lS.J:.ast Terat
Sunday cloudy; warmer; Monday probably rain.
West ieras.mSundav cloudy warmer; Mon-
day fat.
Louisiana. Sunday fair ; Monday cloudy
warmer.
TODAY'S EVENTS.
Church congregation mass meeting
city auditorium 3 p. m.
Methodist centenary at First Method-
ist church Sunday night.
AMUSEMENTS. .
COZY THEATER: "Splash Me."
QUEEN THEATER: "The Girl Dodger"
TURNER HALL: Dancing every night.
PRINCE THEATER: Continuous vaude-
ville. ISI8 THEATER: "The Indestructible
Wife."
CROWN THEATER: "The Lore Auc-
tion." ZOE THEATER: "The Fighting Roose-
velt s."
TRAVIS THEATER: 'The Higher
Law.
KEY THEATER: "The Greatest Thing
in Life. "
LIBERTY THEATER: "Life's Great
est Problem.
VICTORY THEATER: "Riders of the
Purple Sage.
VENDOME THEATER Camp Logan
"Damaged Goods."
MAJESTIC THEATER: Vaudeville
matinee and nignt.
HOUSTON 8AKNGERBUND: Moving
MCtura nu Atpqpf p u. m.
The Modern "Will o'
MANY CRITICISMS
AGAIN DELAY VOTE
ON MILITARY BILL
Revision of Court Martial j
System Sought but Ef- j
fort Fails
Associated Press Report.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 15. Criticism
of the army court martial system condi-
tions at Brest and other French em-
barkation camps and demobilisation
marked the debate Saturday in the house
on the $1100000000 military appropria-
tion bill. Passage of the measure went
over until next week despite the holding
of a second night session in an effort to
speed up its consideration.
Efforts by Representative Frear of
Wisconsin republican to have many of
the appropriation items reduced because
"they were complete guesses" were voted
down with the exception of that to cut
iu half the $4000000 appropriation for
maintenance of barracks and quarters of
the coast artillery. Various provisions
permitting building construction by vari-jby
ous war department bureaus also were
eliminated. . An amendment was adopted
requiring the use of army automobiles
only for business purposes.
Representative Johnson of South Da-
kota republican who served as an of-1
ficer with the American forces abroad j tu( armistice and was taken in "accord- or h'' demobilization of some of the di-
condemned the court martial system and LDCC w jth the desire of the board to onen 1 T''ons "ow returning from France but
sought to have the house adopt as a increased fields to our commerce with ' he telegram received Saturday morning
rider to the appropriation measure thejtnP purpo8C nf restoring trade to 'eondi- I sppms soc the question as to the fu-
bill of Senator Chamberlain of Oregon ; tion nior(1 nPllrlv approaching normal." j turo of hp can-
providing for revision of court martial j with the opening of the Dardanelles Reports Saturday showed there were
procedure. Representative Gordon of Hln.-k ea .Rumania becomes ac-
Ohio. a democratic member of the mili-1 cf sil)1( .(mmerce and relief measures
tary committee defeated Mr. Johnson's for ArmPnia an(1 an of South Russia will
proposal on a point of order. j bp facilitated.
"The administration will never get America never declared war against
through hearing about their refusal to al- jTurkeV or Bulgaria and it was pointed
low congress to consider this amend-
ment. designed to protect men in tho l tion withou awaiting the framing of the "s i! ia "I'ed "'" in th"
army" declared Mr. Johnson when the ; . ... will be discharged by that time or traus-
j j ... treaty or peace.
point of order was made against his pro
posal. "It is up to congress to give pro-
tection in the future to men in the army
who will be subject to abuses of an atro-
cious character unless this court martial (
law is revised.''
Representative Moore of Pennsylvania '
republican asserted that soldiers were
being held two to six weeks in embarks-
tion camps and kept in "anxious suspense
to get home." with conditions at Brest; the great war exceeded the death rates ' hioh means he will become assistant to
such that "it made the trenches seem like jfrom disease. General March announced . Hrigadicr General D. It. Dcvore. the
paradise." Saturday in making public statistics pre-: oamu rommander.
Replying to criticisms of Represents-1 pared by the general staff. In past; Gaptain Albert Aisenstadt. commander
tives Moore and Johnson Representative ; wars disease killed many more men than'"' ne 15th nitary train has been a-
Ferris of Oklahoma democrat said he
opposed "congress resolving itself into
an old woman's society to hear com-
plaints." Criticism on the floor of the
house he said was of no avail and mem-
bers repeating the complaints were doing
injury to tne men tney sought to aid.
Representative Frear iu attacking the
demobilization program said the week be-
fore Christmas the war department re-
ported the discharge of 194000 men.
while last week the number waa an-
TURKEY THROWN j
OPEN TO TRADE !
WITH AMERICA!
Ban Also Is Lifted From
Bulgaria by Allied
Authorities
Associated Press Report. i Washington instructions were re-
WASHINGTON" Feb. 15. For the'eeived at Camp l.ogan headquarters Sat-
first time since the outbreak of the wari'""oay morning stating that the camp had
the Dardanelles have beeu opened to
commerce and trading between America
and the Turkish empire and Bulgaria
resumed.
Announcement was made Saturday
night by the war trade board that the
supreme economic council in l'sris had
authorized resumption by the United
States of trade with those countries and
! had opened also to American trade all
; )ort! on the Black sea.
-rn board's announcement made clear
j that in those regions which have been
mder enemy domination Turkey and
j Bulgaria arrangements would be made
the associated governments to insure
j tDat tnis resumption of trade would not
j iessf n the effectiveness of the present
j blockade of the central powers.
I This action the statement bv the board
said ln.rb9 the most extensive nnenin
of territory to trade since the signing of
L hnt .hi. fnPt made nossihl. thi. c
j p r
Leatn rxate in -lmy
During War Period
Below Battle Losses
Associated Press Report
Washington; Feb. 15.
ideath rates in the American army durinc
lost their lives under fire. "
The battle death rate for the entire !in otnM" orders. The demobilization of
American army in this war was 20 perjth nitry train was completed last
thousand per year. In the expeditionary ' wpk-
forces it was 57 per thousand per yfr. i The staff of Red Cross nurses at the
Th. Hi sou tie Helh rata ... 17.
thousand in the expeditionary forces and
16 in the army at home.
But for the influenza epidemic he
said the death rat would hare been cut
10 JbaJC. . a.Uuk
JLIV
the Wisp"
CAMP LOGAN SLATED
FOR ABANDONMENT
DEMOBILIZING POST
Washington Orders Halt In-
flux of Overseas Men at
Houston Cantonment
viously designated to receive troops for
discharge.
This is taken to mean thnt with the
exception of those now on their way to
the camp to be discharged no more will
be sent here and the camp will not he
further used. As the demobilization of
'he 15th division is virtually complete it
is believed Camp Logan will be main
tained only long enough to discharge thr
men now in the camp.
There are ti'J convalescents at the camp
now and they will probably remain here
until well enough to be discharged. In
the meantime the base hospital and quar-
termaster corps will be maintained but
the present indications are that it will
be only a short time until the camp is
entirely abandoned.
Citizens of Houston have entertained
the hope that Camp Logan might he
made a permanent camp or at b'ast used
4417 officers and enlisted men at Camp
Iogan. This included the battalion of
the 4T.d infantry the few men who re-
main in the 15th division and the various
camp units.
The 15th division will probably of f i -
I cially cease to exist after next Tuesday
ferred to other organizations or camps.
Orders directing Brigadier General Guy
V. Henry and other officers of the divi-
sion to other duties are expected at any
tiaie. Several of the division heads have
already been discharged or assigned to
I other duty. Colonel George S. Tiffany.
' chief of staff of the division received or-
Battle ''ors Saturday assigning him as acting ex-
: eeutivc officer of the camp organization
! signed to duty at the base hospital pend
r j of the nurses leaving Saturday night for
"""P""' . . i.to o
other camps including Camps Stewart.
Meade and Miola. Those who left are
Misses Gough. Parham. Raussell Hinton
Grady Hanesberry. Bert rand Washing-
ton. Taubert JJaakin Cos Moor od
Wilson Asks Congress
to Delay Discussion
of League of Nations
POLL OF SENATE
LEAVES FATE OF
LEAGUE IN DOUBT
Only Twenty Members
Definitely Declare in
Favor of It
39 REGISTER AS NON-COMMITTAL
Twelve Emphatically Re-
cord Themselves as Op-
posed to Move
By Leased Wire to The Houston Post.
WASHINGTON Feb. 15. Evidence
that the senate will be slow to make up
its mind on the constitution of the league
of nations framed at the Paris peace con-
ference was obtained Saturday in a poll
of the senators on the question.
"Do you favor the league of nations
constitution in its present form?"
Thirty-nine senators asked to be re-
corded as noncommittal in reply to this
question. Twenty said they favored it
and 12 were so bold as to respond "no."
Twenty-live scnutorH could not be
reached. Of the 20 senators who re-
sponded "yes" 18 are democrats and two
republicans. Nine republicans and three
democrats said "no."
Following is the record of the poll on
the question:
Senators who said "yes": Democrats
Ashurst Arizona; Beckham Kentucky;
Gay Louisiaua; Gary Rhode Island;
Kirby Arkausus; Lewis Illinois;
MeKellar Tennessee; Pollock South
Carolina: Pomerene. Ohio; Rans-
dell Louisiana; Robinson. Arkansas;
Haulsbury Delaware: Shafroth Colorado:
Sheppard Texas; Simmons North Caro
line; Swanson Virginia; Thompson Kan-
sas: Williams. Mississippi.
Republicans MeCuinber North Da-
kota: Norris. Nebraska.
Senators who responded "no".: Demo-
crats Reed Missouri; Vardaman. Mis-
sippi; King. Utah.
Republicans Borah Idaho: Cummins.
Iowa: Moses. New Hampshire; New In-
diana: roindextcr Washington: Smith.
Michigan: Townsend Michigan: Wads-
worth New York: Spencer Missiouri.
Senators who were noncommittal:
Democrats Chamberlain Oregon;
Fletcher Florida; Gore Oklahoma; John-
son South Dakota: Jones New Mexico:
Pittman Nevada: Smith Arizona. Smith
Georgia: Smith South Carolina; Thomas
Colorado; Trammel!. Florida: Wolcott
Delaware.
Repulicans Baird. New Jersey; Bran-
degee Connecticut: ('alder. New York;
Colt Rhode Island; Curtis Kansas; Dil-
lingham Vermont; France Maryland;
Freliughuysen New Jersey'; Gronna
North Dakota; Harding Ohio; Johnson
California: Jones Washington; Kellogg
Minnesota; Kenyon Iowa: Knox Penn-
sylvania; I. enroot Wisconsin ; liodge
Massachusetts; McLean Connecticut;
I McNary Oregon; Page Vermont; Sher-
j man Illinois; Smoot Utah; Sutherland
West Virginia; Sterling South Dakota;
Warren Wyoming; Watson Indiana:
Weeks .Massachusetts.
General Strike Threatened
in Frisco Ship Yards
Associated Press Report.
SAN FRANCISCO Feb. l.V-Pros-
jpects of a general tie-up of ship building
in the San Francisco Bay region loomed
again Saturday after a period of at
tempted mediation when the Boilermak-
ers' union in Oakland announced an im-
mediate strike of all members and a
group of striking San Francisco boiler-
makers failed to compromise wage diffi
culties with their employers.
; A demand of the employers that the
: 1000 striking machinists here return to
work and that the whole union cease
j taking a Saturday half holiday or face
dismissal from all ship ysrds and con-
tract shops will become effective Mon-
day. The meu said tney were shorten-
ing the Saturday shift in order that the
'members of the union now returning
I from government service might more
I readily find employment at their trades.
Italians Pelt American
Soldiers With Flowers
Associated Press Report.
GENOA. Italy. Friday Feb. 14. The
.T2nd regiment of United States infantry
i arrived here from the Italian front today.
The streets were decked with flowers
land crowded with cheerings throngs who
I threw bouquets to the passing troops.
CITES COOT MARTIAL TRIALS.
1 Associated Press Report.
WASHINGTON Feb. 15. Trials of
soldiers by court martial on flimsy evi-
dence and instances of the trial of half
a dozen or more men on the same charge
by the same court were cited by Acting
Judge Advocate General Ansell Saturday
before the senate military committee in
support df the pending hill reTUHD .court
President Desires Opportune
ty to Go Over World Con-
stitution Article by Ar-
ticle With Senators and
Representatives.
FEARS FELT FOR
MONROE DOCTRINE
Reactionary Element in Both
Senate and House Plan to
Make "Last Ditch" Fight
Against Ratification of
League Plan
By Leased Wire to The Houston Post.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 15. President
Wilson wants congress to defer debate
on the league of nations constitution
framed at the Paris peace conference
until he can explain it to members of the
foreign relations committee of the senate
and the foreign affairs committee of the
house.
The president communicated this de-
sire to each member of these committees
Saturday iu a cable message inviting
them to dine with him at the White
House soon after his return to the
United States.
The dinner has been set for Wednes-
day evening February 2C after which
there will remain but five days in the
life of (he present congress. If con-
gress agrees not to debate the impor-
tant issues raised by the proposed in-
ternational coveuant in accordance with
the president's request there is little
possibility that any expressive action
can be taken by the senate on the
subject before adjournment on March 4.
Seme Fears for Monro Doctrine.
Meanwhile several senators and mem-
bers of the house who bad not beard of
the president's message to the foreign
relations committee members and who
1 had kept silent Friday until they couM
I find an opportunity to study the pro-
I posed constitution of the league cx-
! pressed themselves informally in forcible
: let ins. ami I here is a growing feeling
I that the constitution as now formulated
' will deal a death blow to the American
i Monroe doctrine.
j The president who sailed for Amenta
I Saturday said in his message to mem-
! bers of congress the first communica
tion to any member of the legislative
branch since his departure for the peace
conference nearly three months ago that
each article of the league constitution
was "passed after the most careful ex--animation"
and there "is a good and stif-
1 ficient reason for the phraseology anil
substance of each article."
Wilson's Message.
The president's message sent througli
Secretary Tumnlty to the members of
the senate foreign relations committee
and house foreign affairs committee is
as follows:
"Paris Feb. 14 1019.
"Ijist night the committee of the con-
ference charged with the duty of draft-
ing a constitution for a league of nations
concluded its work and this afternoon
before leaving for the United States tr
is to be my privilege and duty to read to
a plenary session of the conference th-
j text of the 'M articles agreed upon bv
the committee.
; "The committee which drafted these
articles was fairly representative of th"-
world. Besides the representatives of
the United States Great Britain France
Italy and Japau. representatives of Bel
j gium Serbia China. Greece. Rumania
j Czecho slovakia. Poland. Brazil anl
Portugal actively participated in the de
hates and assisted materially in the
drafting of this constitution.
"Faeh article was passed only after
the most careful examination by eac;
member of the committee. There is i
good and sufficient reason for tin-
phraseology and substance of each
article.
"I request that I be permitted to g
over with you article by article the con
stitution before this part of the work oi
the conference is made the subject of
debate of congress. With this in view
I request that you dine with me at tin-
Whit House as soon after I arrive in
the United Slates as my engagement -permit."
Opponents Plan Fight.
Some democratic as well as republi-
can senators are agreed that the consti-
tution of the league means a compliHi-
renunciation of the Monroe doctrine and
for this reason they arc preparing to re-
sist its ratifn a: ion by the senate to tin-
last ditch. Tin- group of senators hold
i ing this view included many v.ho favor
some of the principles of the league con-
I stitution. but who. nevertheless believe
' that the preservation of the Monroe doc
trine is paramount.
Senator Cummins of Iowa republican
who explained at the outset that he fa-
vored muuy of the provisrous of the
covonaui. said that the fundamental Ob-
jection lay in the obligations proposed
to be assumed by the United States with
regard to the mandatories. He expects'
to make a speech in the senate on this
point ejirly next- week pointing ant tome
V
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 34, No. 318, Ed. 1 Sunday, February 16, 1919, newspaper, February 16, 1919; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth608354/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .