The Washington times., 1936-03-05
METCALF SAYS
BOOK 0KAYED
BY PERSHING
Volume Under Fire
Also Said to Be Used
at West Point
BY VIM. X. HUTCHINSON
International News Service

Gen. Malin Craig, Army chief Of
staff, furnished erroneous infor-
nation" to the Secretary Of War
in recommending removal of Mai.
Gen. johnson Hagood from COM
mand of the Eighth Corps Area,
Senator Metcaf CRO of Rhode Is
land, charged today in appealing
for a Senate inquiry into the Off
GERS "exile."
Metcalf made his appeal in
letter to the Senate Judiciary sub
committee considering his resolu-
ton Of inquiry.
He charged General Craig with
"misleading" the Secretary Of
war by falsely accusing" Hagood
of publishing a book "unmilitary
in tone" and without apparent
effort at securing authority from
his superiors." Metcalf said both
of Craig's accusations were "un-
true, vicious and should be in
vestigated."
Endorsed by PerShing
Metcalf pointed out Hagood
had been authorized to write the
book by wartime Secretary Of
War Newton D. Baker, that Gen.
John ]. Pershing gave him per
mission to publish it and that a
copy of the manuscript has been
on file in the War Department
since 1882 without objection.
Further, Metcalf said, the book
is an official reference book now
at West Point and in the Army
War College and has been in
dorsed by Generals Pershing,
March, Dawes, Harbord, Hines,
Herman Lord and others.
Metcalf wrote:
"It is apparent that Gen.
Malin Craig opposes the view
point of his superior officers at
that time (abOut the book and
that he has furnished erroneous
information to the Secretary Of
War. The purpose Of this In
formation was to effect the re-
mOval of Gen. johnson HagOOd.
A Congressional o m m ittee
should certainly investigate i'm
puISive and vicious charges Of
this kind"
Hagood was relieved Of his post
on Craigs recommendation, after
telling a House Appropriations
subcommittee that WPA expendi-
lures in his Texan command were
wasteful and silly.
Permission to Talk
Metcalf urged the Senate Judi
ciary subcommittee. composed of
Senators Logan CD of Kentucky,
Duffy CD of Wisconsin and
Carey (RD of Wyoming, to study
the record of Hagood's case. He
pointed out the general had re-
ceived special. permission from
Craig to answer freely, fully and
frankly" that the record of his
testimony had been tampered
with. and that Hagood sought
earnestly to have his testimony
suppressed before it was pub
liShed. Metcalf said:
1T is apparent that General
HagoOd's SuperiOrs had re-
queSted him to suppress his
testimony. A congressional COM
mittee should look into the sup
preston of such material.
"Was the War Department
really responsible for the effort
to silence General HagOOd, or
did the request come from
those administering the Works
Progress Administration. If the
War Department was not alone
responsible, Wh at mOtivated
the administration to punish
General HagOOd?"
POLITICAL PROPAGANDA
Metcalf also pointed out that
Craig at the time he recon-
mended removal of Hagood also
issued a statement defending
and commencing" the New Deal.
MetcaIf said:
"This statement Of General
Craig can only be construed as
political propaganda. Does this
mean that the Army is to be
definitely thrown into politics,
and that the chief Of staff is
to become a part of a huge
propaganda machine? Does it
mean that an Army officer,
regardless of his opinions, must
defend all civilian policies?
Suppose, for example, that
an Army officer should be a
witness to graft and corruption
on a Federal project. Would
military ethics require him to
remain silent and to applaud
the organization which spOn-
SOrS that prOject?"
Unless Congress does investigate
the Hagood affair, Metcalf con-
cluded, officials will be terrorized
into silence no matter what hap
pens within the Government.
Symposium Held