Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-01-14
DESK OFFICERS GOT
 MOST 0F CITATIONS,
 CALLAHAN DECLARES
Army of Potomac is Flayed by Massachusetts
 Democrat

""Si''6 toH, Jan. I0.- lhe move ment for congressional investiga- tion into awards of army w.G decorations produced a stormy scene in the house today, during which a resolution by Representative Galli van, democrat, Massachusetts, call ing on Secretary i,aker for report on the awards, was adopted.
 The fight eentered largely about MT Gallivan's attack on General March, chief of staff, and other off. eers assigned to duty In Washington during the war. The chief of staff and other officers attacked were defended by other members.
 "The house ought not to acq1iiesct in the attack on General March anG other officers of the army" declar ed Representative Moore. democrat Virginia, concluding the debate witt an appeal for rejection of the reso luton which, on a roll call way adopted, ls3 to 123. Most of tn, democrats opposed it.
 Representative Gallivan urged tn, adoption of his measure as the start of general congressional investi gation into the award of war hon. VI D, 'Ntifi iilB bIldb more officers in Washington receiy ed distinguished service medals thar those in the front lines. The ser. vices of all "lounge lizards" of tho second army of the Potomac. wer, recognized with decorations, Galli. van charged, including former chief, of staff, who, he said were removed for inefficiency.
 Plays March
 General March was referred to by Gallivan as "the high priest of Prussanism" and the "man for whom no officer ever speaks word ex- cept contempt" adding that his cita tion for the distinguished service medal would have been written only nnder orders. Several other mem. bers lauded the chief of staff fol his fairness and efficiency, declar- ing he was entitled to any honors conferred on him. They also accused Gallivan of unfairness in attacking an officers who could not reply
 "lt is common talk in the army said Mr. Gallivan, "that our present chief of staff and one of his assist. ants, a colonel. whose duty it was to escort and dine foreign missions here in Washington, have no space left between their belts and their collars to display the medals that have been given them as a result of this service"
 Congress should investigate all awards of medals and crosses, MT Gallivan, so as to determine why some recommendations were acted upon favorably and others disre- garded.
 "The distinguished service medal has been cheapened and certainly ridiculed by the bold and brazen manner in which it has been passed out to those who belong to the elect" said MT. Gallivan. "It has been used as reward for friend ship, t has been used to placate those who have been removed to make way for some one else.
 "The reading of the total of the citations in awarding the distin- guished service medal to several chair officers of the general staff who never left Washington during the war, if believed, would certainly impress one that the war was fought with red ink at mahogany desks near the shadows of the Washington monument.
 Rewards Messengers.
 "Surely the lounge lizards of the second army of the Potomac can have no quarrel with their comrades the Hobby lancers' of the capitol as to the number of D. S. Ms these two valiant units received for heroic service in the war.
 "As for France, wherever the com mander in chief sent 'commission- ed messenger boy on an. errand, the D. s. M was sure to be the reward
 "In Washington we had four diff ferent chiefs of staff during the war and every one who knows any thing at all about the workings of the war department knows that the predecessors of the present high priest of Prussianism, General Pey- ton c. March, were considered un- equal to the task. Thru one pre- tense or another, they were remov- ed
 Ordinarily when a man has failed in the performance of any specific task, he is removed without reward These men have on the other hand been rewarded in the name of the president of the United States by the bestowal on them of the D. S. M."
 "The kaiser" continued MT. Galli- van, with some spark of apprecia- tion for consistency yet alive, said: Nc Und Gott.' Not so with your chief of staff, U. s. A., Peyton c March, who sees no reason for in- cluding 'Gott.' It is simply Me with him.
 Medal for Grafter.
 "In France there was a board of awards of medals that sat in Chau- mont and looked with easy favor