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Show ARRESTS IN ARW1Y FOR THEFT DENIED Liquidation Officer Defends Men of Service PARIS, Feb. l!.-Charr last Tuesday in the chamber of deputies by Leputy Urousse, to tho effect that there had been wholesale arrests of officers and men of tho American army for the theft of army stocks sold to France, Friday brought forth a denial de-nial from Major J. A. Warden, liquidation liquida-tion officer of the Unite: States army, who is now In Jaris. Major Warden was one of the officers tn charge, of American stocks who participated in the negotiations leading to their ale to the) French government. .There were not more than twelve arrests ar-rests for thefts of stocks during thla time, according to Major Warden, who adds that the records on file with the assistant chief of staff for supplies at Washington will bear himouLin hia contention. Only a few weeks, he declared, de-clared, elapsed between the beginning of the negotiations and actual transfer. Thefts on a large scale did occur after the atocks were taken over by the French, Major Warden added, and the police reoords will prove this. The French had comparatively few men fruardlns; the stocks, while the Americans Amer-icans had more than 76.000 men on guard. No- members of the American 'expeditionary farce was permitted to tHke any of the supplies. Major Warden War-den said. A careful search was made before the departure of each transport. Major Warden added. The only automobiles taken awuy were six which had been used by General I'ershlns; and possibly i six more, .making a total of twelve In all. I Such thefts as did occur after the sales negotiations began were nesligl- ble. The French under the sale re- ) celved stocks valued at $1,000,000,000 for a purchase price of $400,000,000. the ! major declared. |