Evening star., 1936-05-04
P. w. A. Critic Acts After
Serving One Day in Com
mand of 9th Army Corps.
PLANS TO DEVOTE TIME
TO NATIONAL DEFENSE
Will Show How United States
Can Have Adequate Program
at Less Cost.
BACKGROUND

Gen. HGgood, an Army officer
1Dho says Whdt he thinks, in jan
udry told House Appropriations
Subcommittee that w. p. A. funds
1ere stage money" On February
"a he ,0Gs relieved OF his 9Th Corps
Area command. On March 1 Rep
resentdtiUe BlGnton of TerdS told
the House Hdoood DdS "trdmed."
On March the Senate Military
Affairs Committee Uoted not to in
Uestigdte his removal Last month
Hdgood conferred wEh the Presi-
dent and later he UdS restored to
dctiUe duty and put in command
of the 9Th Corps Area.
BY the Associated Press.
After serving only one full day
as commanding officer of the 9Th
Army Corps Area at Chicago, Maj.
Gen. johnson Hagood-who spent
seven weeks in military exile after
criticizing w. P. A. spending policies
today requested Immediately retire.
ment.
In a communication received here
at the same time from Chicago, the
veteran officer announced that he ex-
pected to go to his home in Charles
ton, S. c., TO write a book "in which
shall show how the United States
can get a much better national de-
fenSe at very much less cost to the
taxpayer"
During part of the time he has been
on inactive duty after losing command
of the Sth Corps Area at San Antonio,
Roebuck g. Co., Chicago mail order
house. He Is understood to have been
rendered a permanent position with
that firm, but to have decided against
accepting an active business connec-
ton.
Friends Satisfied.
without specifically mentioning his
punishment" or the controversy in
Congress until he was restored to
active duty, Gen. Hagood said his
friends considered he had been
"vindicated."
He assumed command Of the area
on Saturday.
Under the circumstances" he said,
"I do not feel that it will be of any
advantage to the Army for me to re-
main on the active list for another
year . and cannot do it without
a sacrifice Of my personal dignity and
professional prestige"
Under Army regulations, Hagood-
after more than A years active duty
is entitled to retire with the rank of
major general and full retirement pay.
Granting of his request is manda-
tory.
In making it to President Roosevelt,
as commander in chief, Gen. Hagood
revealed that he had asked to be re-
tired on March 17-at the height Of
the storm over his case-but had with
drawn his request at the solicitation
Of the President and Senator Byrnes,
Democrat, of South Carolina.
He would automatically retire for
age next year on his 64th birthday an
niversary.
Gen. Hagood's statement said:
IT have requested the President to
relieve me at once from command Of
the 9Th Corps Area and to give me
the retirement to which am entitled,
after nearly forty-four years of active
service, under the act of June 80.
1882.
my application for retirement has
been pending since March II. asked
for it the day after my arrival in
Charleston (after removal from COM
mand at San Antonio). but reluctant
ly consented to it being temporarily
held up, first at the solicitation Of
Senator Byrnes and subsequently at
the very gracious request Of the Presi-
dent himself.
'I have been restored to command
and this has been taken by my friends
as a vindication. But under the cir
(See HAGOOD, Page g.