The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-06
BAKERS PLAN HIT
BY FRELINGHUYSEN
Senator Scores Secretary's
Intention to Promote
High Officers.
Special pespatch 10 TIE srN.

SPECIAL Despdtch 10 THE svS
| WASHINGTON, Feb 8 - Secretary
Bakers plan to reward with permanent
elevation to grade OF General and Lieu
tenant-General certain high officers OF
the army was attacked IN the Senate to-
day by Senator Frelnghuysen IN. u.
He held that In view OF the famous or
der OF November IL fofbidding further
promotions on any ground whatever. au-
thcrity should be withheld from the Sec
rotary OF War TO parcel out high re-
wards while the less spectacular. though
! perhaps more important contributors TO
the victory were ignored
| Gems Pershing, March, Bliss. Billiard
and Liggett are the officers Secretary
Baker has slated for permanent high
rank. according to Senator Frelins-
huysen.
! ~ do not maintain that these officers
should not thus be honored eventually"
said Senator Frelinghuysen, but | do
say there are other promotions which
should be frst made In Justice to the
men who for conspicuous and distin-
guished gallantry and service have been
recommended by their superiors for suca
/ promotion and which has been denied by
, the very officials who now propose this
! legislation.
In common Justice they should re-
ce.ve that promotion before We confer
! higher and more permanent honors upon
, the officers have mentioned. SO far as
Gen. Pershing Is concerned, I am ready
! at any time 10 acguiesce in and agree to
the bestowal Of such distinction as a
grateful country may deem him worthy
of. but even IL his case Il may be best
to await the complete fruitlon OF his
| campaign abroad tina, We may the more
| fully measure the scope OF his achieve
mcrts."
Refers to Crowder.
Senator Frelin shuysen referred 10 the
case of Provost Marshal General Crowtier.
whom IL is known will not be cited for
promotion by Secretary Baker He said
THE preliminary Investigations made
by the Senate Committee on Military
Affairs IN December 1917. seemed TO
demonstrate Enthusiastically that three
chiefs OF bureaus had each failed as an
effective administrator OF his bureau, yet
all OF these were advanced to the grade
OF Mator-General for the emergency, two
OF them being subsequently given per-
manent rank as MaJor-General OF the
line, reaping a high reward. and for
what7
"On the other hand. let us look at
Fnoch II. Crowder, whom this nation and
ally should ever hold In grateful remem-
brance for the extraordinary celebrity
with which he modified Americas great
citizen army.
lie has with equal ability filled the
dual role OF Judge Advocate General and
Provost Marshal General and has re-
ceived the reward only which was ac-
corded all other chiefs Of bureaus. H.
however. he shall not be reappointed by
Z ho ORA dapt ba Is Vnl
February IS. 1919. ne will be relegated
10 civil life with his rank taken away
from him or will take his place by re-
appointment as Colonel in his own de-
partment
Us that n just and proper distribution
OF military honors?
"And what Of Henry p Mccain. who
for the nrst year and half of the war
as Acknowledgement rendered extraordi-
nariiy efficient service In shaping the
army handed over to him by Gen.
Crowder.
For reasons which have never been
divulged he seems to have been sum
marily removed from his post some
months ago, and though he continues to
hold h. new appointment the rank OF
Major-General during the emergency he
reverts TO the rank OF Colonel when the
war shall end. Again I ask is that a
Jus; and proper distribution Of military
honorS'
Slnps at Col. Deeds.
Senator Frelnghuyscn. once he had
opened up on the subject of the conduct
Of the Secretary of War In the
matter OF promotions and denial OF
rewards to men OF lesser rank through
the blanket order Of November ~. did
not confine himself to this one line. He
attacked the conduct OF the Secretary in
embarrassing two officers whose con-
duct had been said by Investigator
Charles r. Hughes to merit prosecution.
as well rs the 'honors" extended by Mr. |
Baker to Col. +. A. Deeds whom Mr. |
Hughes had recommended for trial by
q competent court.
1T would remind this Senate" he said. |
that even up to the day hostlities !
ceased. in spite of the billion dollars We
expended for aircraft, not an American !
bull. battle plane or bombing plane was
used by our army in Franco. Who was
responsible? Has this Senate forgotten
the report Of the Presidents own inves- |
tigator. Charles f. Hughes? Two army
officers were recommended for punish F,
nent while the disciplining OF another, |
Col. Deeds. was suggested. |
What was the result? The Pres!-
dent felt constrained to pardon the two F,
officers In advance OF trial while Col |
Deeds was 'vindicsted' by the Secretary !
Of War.
ut 10 all very we'll for us to felicitate
ourselves as a nation that the United .
States played a major role in the win |
ming OF this war. but what OF the Amer
lean private who returns to his native |
shores unhonored and unsung, dismissed |
from the service miles away from home |
without dollar In his pocket?'