The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-02
GALLIYAN ASSAILS
PERSHING'S STAFF
Controlling Influence in 1t
Was Lcavcnworth Clique,
lie Asserts.
BLAMED FOR INJUSTICE
Militarism Is Rampant in
American Army, Declares
Bay state Representative.
Special Dsspatch TO TIE SITS.

Special Dsspdtch to THE srN.
wAsHiNGToN, Feb. 1.-"Thers are
Huns behind the lines as well as In front
OF IT," asserted Representative Gallivsn.
Democrat (Mass.), to-day in the House.
"in the form OF military autocracy In
the American army which the men in
France had to fight against"
Mr.. Galiivan renewed his attack on
the 'Jesvenworth clique which he as
serted was responsible for the demotion
OF gallant officers not in its good graces
The influence OF the ''LeRvenworth
clique" the Representative emphatically
announced extended to the General stan
in Washington. Militarisn. he asserted,
Is rampant in the American army,
Replying TO suggestion from Repre-
sentative Decker tMo) that the state OF
AFFAIRS he described may have had its
inception at West Point, Mr.. Gallvan
told the House that he was not attacking
the military school, but insisted that
West Point had q lot to learn, He quoted
recent address of acting Judge Advo-
cate General Ansell to the effect that the
spirit OF the men and not military science
had won the war. He cited cases OF
what he termed unfair and unjust ac-
lions" on the part of influences abroad
In the matter Of promotions and demo-
tions OF officers.
Leavenworth Men Blamed.
81 am assured on high authority"
Representative Gallivan said, that these
unfair and unjust actions are credited
TO the so-calied Leavenworth clique and
there are men from West Point who are
not In the Leavenworth clique. The War
Department has certain army schools at
IAavenworth, sort of postgraduate
schools. and these men who come out Of
Leavenworth have become closely banded
together.
whether Gen. Pershing is the head.
front and centre OF the Leavenworth
clique cannot say. but 1, IL well known
that the controlling influence in his STAFF
were members OF the I.eavenworth
clique. Ard. unless | am led astray. men
In the regular line. II assured OF proper
protection. will when Congress investi-
gates the entire situation take the stand
and under oath testify to the power and
the influence and the unfairness Of the
Leavenworth Clique.
Il am advised from excellent sources
that a great many OF these unmerited
oemotions were due to the influence and
power OF this clique. ] have sought to
separate the West Point system from the
Leavenworth system. and DO not intend
to lay Up against West Point the inju.-
tees that have been perpetrated upon
the American young men who gave up
everything to go across the ocean
Il have 400 letters which have come
10 mo from twenty-nne States In the
Union. and 7 will be glad to show these
letters to any member OF the House who
10 interested in seeing the originals, SO
mat Congress may realize what refer
to Is not local to New England but gem
eral TO the country.
Coming Back DisgruutIed,
These men are coming back disgrun-
TIED. Oh, yes. when they come into New
York or Boston or other ports or dc.
barkation they are glorying the victory
won. They have defeated German au-
tocracy. but ] have talked with dozens OF
them and they have told me in many in
stances when they were fighting the
Huns in front OF them they had to watch
for few Huns behind them, and that is
tho gospel truth, gentlemen of the House.
III members OF the House want an
explanation Of this remark what mean
is the very miltarism which they have
gone abroad TO batter down they have
found In their own ranks behind them"
In explaining his point that militarsm
Is rampant in The American army MIR.
Galivan said:
Right here want TO warn the mem
oers OF my own party who are cor
stanty criticising us when We endeavor
10 bring to the attention of the country
the needs Of these boys who are COM
ing back and say TO them that they
are making the mistake Of their political
lives in rushing to an Imaginary defence
OF the men who have been guilty of
cruel wrongs to our soldier boys Ii
Is no party question and the party that
attempted to defend these men will 20
down In ignominious defeat.
II am doing my party a service when
I challenge the action OF the men abroad
and ] want TO say that the men OF
New England for whom ! spoke the
other day. who are coming back only
In dribs and drabs. are a unit in the
criticisms 10 which | have referred, and
once more I beg the men oil this side
OF the House to keep quiet unless they
can answer these attacks, and do not
put the Democratic party in a hole.
saunders Asks for Light.
'T am certainly not anxious to put
anybody in hole" interrupted Repre-
sentative Saunders (Virgnia), but the
utdlefUcnt tndt tNere were rev Huns
in the rear OF the American army con-
veys a very horrid idea and | want
TO know what Is meant by e. You
know who were the Huns In front and
what they stood for Does the gentle
man mean TO say that behind the AmerI-
can army there we're men, officials or
otherwise, who so far as our men in
France were concerned stood with
reference to them just as the German
enemies In front OF them stood
II want 20 know specifically Just what
IS meant by statement OF that sort.
II there 10 any one who ought not 20 he
protected ! do not want 10 protect him
and II there IL anybody who ought to be
punished will Join in seeing that h.
Is punished"
In reply Mr.. Gallivan said he was
quoting the boys with whom he had
talked and what they meant when they
said they were lighting the Huns be-
hind them; they meant I'm all human
probability that Hun autocracy which
they were there to destroy hut which
they say is exempllhed In our own
ranks"
''1hey mcantNhat that existed on the
part Of some OF the officers in the
American army" demanded Mr.. saun-
ders.
Exactly" replied Representative Gal
iNsn.
Not Proud OF High Comma nd.
In his conversation with many re-
NJ raIt i