Evening journal., 1919-02-06
OPPOSES AWARDS
To IS. generals
{ Frelinghuysen Would Wait
Til All Details of Con-
duct Are Known
WAR CHIEFS
ARE A2RAlGNED

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The War De-
partment, and particularly General
March, chief OF stan. was strongly de-
nounced in the Senate yesterday by
Senator Frellnghuysen. OF New Jersey.
for Its refusal to award promotions
earned by officers on the field OF bat
tie, for its refusal TO pay ailotments
to soldiers dependents and for neglect
of wounded men.
Senator Frellnghuysen spoke on the
bill now in Congress to give Generals
Pershng, March and Bliss the full
rank Of general and Lieutenant Gen.
erals Hunter, Liggett and Bullard their
present ranks permanently.
The generals who led the United
states army in the field may be en-
titled to such recognition, he said, but
he urged that Congress delay the
awarding OF any such honors for years
possibly, or at any rate until after
peace has been fully accomplished.
We want no cloud Of scandal or in
justice TO dim the glo OF Americas
part in the supreme conflict for de-
moerscy,' Senator .Frelinhguysen con-
tlnued.
"We have heard much during this
year about 'dollar-a-year men, swivel
chai. officers, 'bomb-proof Jobs, and
so forth, in Washington and else
where. ] do not altogether sympa-
thlze with or indorse these views. I'm
douhtedly these were such individuals
in Washington, slackers' In every
sense OF the word, yet | believe many
OF these men-most Of them, perhaps
were patriotically doing imperative
ly Important work back OF the line
and are deserving Of the thanks OF
their countrymen for their services.
But there IS a grave suspicion that
there was studied favorltisIn shown by
those in authority: that military poll
ties was rife; that many officers OF the
national guard and the national army
were Disseminated against and that
regular army men were favored
There Is every reason, too, for the !
belief that promotions in America were 4
more rapid. more the result OF inau- I
anee than at the battle front. do not !
suggest that ,hese promotions at home |
were improper, but that promotions in /
France were tardy by comparison
'Of course, the Secretary Of War /
must assume responsibility for all the /
and deredict ones Of those /
who are his subordlnates. On the other
hand during the progress Of this war
the chief Of STAFF has been vested with
or has assumed extraordinary, almost
autocratic, powers, such as no other
American military officer has ever been
endowed with in the history Of the Re-
public. From day to day he took TO
himself greater authority. until he was
almost supreme, almost a law unto
himself.
Under the circumstances the chief
Of staff must expect to be held respon-
sble in a large measure for every |
phase OF development Of the military /
and 10 have charged /
against him the delinquencies Of his
Discussing the order Of November ~,
9ia, in which the War Department d.
ected that no further promotions
hould be awarded, Senator Freyling-
uysen said:
nAcl utsbllillte GEdStQ There ld0 :
ccumulated a large number Of recon-
for promotion. and the COM
lissions. were all ready for the sigma !
Ires OF the appropriate officers. c
u understand that included 10 this
st were thousands OF the very flower
{ our army in France Lieutenants.
aptains, majors, lieutenant colnnels, t
olonels and brigadier generals. who :
'on imperishable laurels at Chateau i
heirry, St. Mihiel, the Argonne, Sedan ?
nd so forth, but who were refused pro- c
lotion under the drastic order OF the d
Of War.
~ do not think this course was ac-
sptable to the American people 1t is S
Iy belief that they would gladly sane
on such increased expenditure as {
light be involved, even though the n
,tal should reach si00,000.O00, the IL
mount we have appropriated. at the Il
residents demand for the purpose OF "
eding Europes unemployed. r
is VICTIM OF ACCIDENT. !,