Evening star., 1936-01-29

speaker of last evening who. in my
opinion, made such an aggressive at
tack upon the Commander in Chief of
the Army and Navy"
The other speakers who refused to
appear were Brig. Gen. Thomas Hol-
comb, commandant of the Marine
Corps School at Quantico. Va, and
Capt. Edward A. Duff, chief of the
Navy's chaplainS.
The walkout of the Marine Band
was dramatic. Something of a furore
was created when the Navy speakers
refused to appear, but it was felt up to
the last moment that the band would
go through with its schedule. A few
moments before the start of the din
ner, the bandsmen. in their bright
scarlet uniforms, had paraded into
the ball room and seated themselves
on the stage under direction of Second
Leader William F. Santelmann. They
began tuning their instruments.
Then Comes the Surprise.
Suddenly. however, they stood up,
put their instruments in their cases,
gathered up their music and, before
the startled eyes of the conference
delegates and their guests. including
members of the Senate and House
and the Federal departments, marched
out without a word of explanation.
We'll, we will have music said
Mrs Rigdon who also is national
If ho No Of ho oval
Legion
She hired four hotel musicians, and
there was music.
Capt Taylor Branson. leader of the
band said later at his home that the
men had been ordered back to their
barracks. Asked who issued the orders,
he replied:
We'll. I'm too good Marine to tell
you that. You'll have to ask the Office
of the major general commandant.
Mai. Gen John H. Russell. Marine
Corps commandant. said. however, he
knew nothing about it. Assistant Sec
retary Roosevelt said only that he had
nothing to say.
Still Another Shock.
The conference got another shock
backer. leading American World War
ace and now general manager of East
ern Air Lines, one of the banquet
speakers. said an attempt had been
made to persuade him not to appear
at the dinner, Rickenbacker however.
refused to disclose who had requested
him to absent himself. Mrs Rigdon
thanked him for coming in spite of
opposition" and both drew rounds of
applause.
Rickenbacker said. "The factor in
the national defense of the United
States. which is envied abroad more
than any other is the progress made
by the airlines of our country" Their
equipment and operating technique,
he said. are conceded to be the best
in the world. In event of threat to
national security. he said. this country
would have immediate use of transport
planes and pilots.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, who
sometimes sits with Secretary Swanson
during his press conferences. was abb
sent today when the Secretary dis
cussed the defense conference matter.
RooSevelt's aide. Maj. John w. Thoma-
son, jr. we'll known writer. said that
the Assistant Secretary had no state
ment to make and was not in his
office.
Swanson Holds Resent Proper.
Secretary Swanson said the naval
officers who withdrew from the con-
ference very properly resented the
Colby attack on the President.
Maj Gen. Louis McCarty Little, as
sistant commandant of the Marine
Corps, who was present at the press
conference, said he knew nothing of
the revocation of orders for the
Marine Bands appearance at the
banquet.
Although the Navy withdrew, the
Army was represented at last nights
dinner by Assistant Secretary of War
Harry H. Woodring and Mrs. Wood
ring. Chairman McSwain of the
House Military Affairs Committee also
was present.
The failure Of Representative Dies