The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1921-06-09
PROMOTION DENIED
TO CEN. L|CCETT
CONGRESS PROBABLY WILL TAKE
THE SAME ACTION IN CASES
OF OTHER ARMY OFFICERS.
ITS ATTITUDE is PECULIAR
Names of the Commanding Officers
Who Led Our Troops Successfully
in France Were Omitted From Near
ly Every Government Report.
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.


Washington.-Maj Gen. Hunter Lig-
gett, L. :. army, who as Il corps chief
commanded II million men in the field
i'll France, has been refused promotion
III congress 10 the rank of lieutenant
general on the active list General
LiGgctt will 20 on the retired list on
March Fl. and ii is possible, and per-
hIpS probable that congress when he
leaves. will give him the rank of lieu
tenant general to balm his days of re-
tirement
Other chieftains of the United States
army, some of whom fought in France
and others who did high service I'm
this country, also will be denied pro
motion while they still are in the ac-
tive service and when, of course, pro-
motion and the compliment of 1t count.
Among these officers TO whom denial
of promotion probably is TO come are
Maj. Gen. Robert Lee Billiard. who,
ike Liggett, commanded a corps on the
lighting line; Gen. PeytOn G. March,
chief Of staff of the army; Maj. Gen.
Leonard Wood. whose foresight in vlr-
tually forcing preliminary education
the work of quick victory for the
United States: Maj Gen. Enoch H
Crowder, who prepared the draft plans
and brought big army OF civilians
Into the field under what was called
CONSUMPTION. and did It without any OF
the troubles that were predicted and
Maj. Gen. Joseph T. Dickman. who
commanded the first corps I'm the Ar
gOnne and later the army of occupa-
ton in Germany, command which
should have carried with II the rank
Of fun general of the forces.
Their Names Omitted From Reports.
From virtually every government re-
port which deals with the successful
operations of the American troops
abroad the names Of the commanding
officers were omitted To some men
this has looked almost like "A con
spiracy OF suppression" OF course
this charge is denied. but UP to date
no one has been able to determine Just
why It Is that the men under whose
direction advances were made and bat
ties won, have not been able to get
their names into those Of the govern
ment reports which the people read
The names Of the commanding Off
GERS who served I'm this country ARE
better known 10 the American people,
apparently. than the names OF those
who served ON the Fighting line. with
the notable exception. OF course. Of
Gen. John J. Pershing. 1t is known
definitely that. being human. these
American army officers Of rank md
deeds while not being rcsentful feel
somewhat disappointed because the
veil has been drawn over their acts
OF lighting accomplishment
In the British md French histories
OF the war which thus far have ap-
peared, the names OF PershIng. I.iggctt.
Bullnrd DiCkmnn SmmmcraU and 9th
ers loom lnrge The British and
French people knox today nlI about
the commanding deeds Of the Amcri-
can generals in bnblc. men ~ the gen.
crnl rank from brlgadicr UP. The
American people slonc largely are I'm
the dirk.
There unquesttonahly are reasons
why congress has declined to RECON-
mend that Hunter Iiggptt boo made a
lieutenant general on thc active list
FOR The few days that ne IS to serve
before retirement Tho reason has
nothing 10 DO with the undcnlnbIy high
service Of General Liggctt I'm me field.
hut 10 has 10 do with tlar feeling IN
congress That n something is done for
one man something must De done for
others. ana that pressure viii he
brought 10 bear from localities through.
out the United Stotcs to have some
thing done for men who POSSIBLY may
not deserve H. Congress. therefore.
seems to be willing to deny reward to
those who have earned n In order 10
avoid the annoyance Of being asked
gor reward for some ,mentw perhaps