Show GRINSTEAD DENIES CRUEL TV CHARGES By Associated Press PHOENIX Ariz July 30 General General Strong never told me to treat prisoners with ruthless severity and I never Interpreted my orders from General Strong to mean that said Colonel F. F P. P Grinstead today commenting on c charges arges of Lieutenant Frank Frank H. H Smith before the congressional committee investigating In Investigating Investigating In- In conditions at army prison arms in I France rance Continuing In a formal statement Colonel Grinstead said General Strong told me before I 1 went to Chelles 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 difficult difficult difficult cult task arising from congestion that we weere were ere not able able- to relieve for some time and I do not think that he used more severe means than were necessary necessary sary sarv ta to control the prisoners I do not think prisoners at the farm Smith commanded ever were beaten We Ve were getting over deserters or other absentees from the American army in France Franco every day and they I were a hard lot to handle I Asked whether he had any orders from any source that men were to fco ku 1 treated so they would never come comeback comeback comeback back to Paris or never pass through the farms again as charged by Smith Colonel Grinstead said I 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 ru ruthless severity was to be bo employed at the farm Regarding statements that prisoners had slept in the mud on straw Colonel Colonel Colo Colo- nel net Grinstead said these conditions arose from general conditions through the district and prisoners in that re regard regard regard re- re gard were not treated differently from other soldiers |