Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-21
Guard Association
Accuses Press Of
Moral Sabotage
Officers in Convention
Are Angered by Article
Critieizine Troops

Charging various" sections OF the
press and American magazines with
producing moral sabotage" on ma
tional defense, particularly the
Army, a resolution was presented to
the National Guard Association of
the United States today for estab-
liShment OF new system for a
positive national press program"
designed to eliminate speculation
which would destroy public conf
dence.
The gathering of about 300 Ma
tional Guard officers from all parts
of the country at the Washington
Hotel was angered by reading of an
article from morning newspaper
criticizing the National Guard. Dis
cussion on the subject provoked
indignant denials of the charges and
bitter denunciation in sharp words.
The resolution was presented by
Mai. Gen James E. Edmonds of
louisiana former commander of the
23d National Guard Division. and
by Brig. Gen. Ralph NJ Immell, adj
jutant general of Wisconsin. 1t was
strongly supported by Mai Gen
Ellard A. Walsh of Minnesota and
by Mai. Gen. Albert H. Banding of
Florida.
Referred to Committee.
Referred to the Resolutions Com
mittee, the denunciation of moral
sabotage" will come before the as
ISOLATION later in its convention
under regular convention procedure.
The association this afternoon
was to hear several speakers, headed
by Mai. Gen. John F. Williams, chief
of the National Guard bureau. The
convention will close Wednesday
morning. Gen. George c. Marshall.
Army chief of staff. will address the
annual banquet tomorrow night.
The National Guard officers dis
cussed the question of press criticism
for nearly an hour, explaining that
their complaint was directed not only
AT tho current criticism in the morn
inc paper, but at what some speak
ers said had been a continuing cam
palgn oyer a period Of two years.
Motion to Table Beaten.
A motion to table the matter pro-
posed by Brig. Gen. Amos w. w.
Woodcock of the Maryland National
! Guard was defeated.
Col Walter w. Burns of the 26Oth
Coast Artillery, District of Columbia
National Guard, told the convention
that a complaining letter purported
to have been written to a Wash
ington newspaper by an enlisted
man at Guard maneuvers last sum-
mer had been carefully investigated.
There wasn't any such man in
the regiment" he told the conven-
ton
After a prolonged discussion from
the floor during which it was
charged fifth columnists" seek to
bring dissent into the armed forces
and distrust on a part of the civilian
| population in various parts of the
country. Gen. Immell and Gen. Ed
monds, retired to prepare formal
resolution. The convention went
into brief recess.
Wants Restriction to Truth Only.
Gen. Immell explained that it was
not his purpose to restrict the con-
! stitutional freedom OF the press,
but declared newspapers should be
restricted to the truth.
The resolution read as follows:
Whereas, over two years, in va
rious sections of the press. and in
various ways, there have appeared
many articles largely or wholly I'M
true tending consciously or uncon-
! sciously to produce moral sabotage
by Ia creating distrust and dis
sension among the several compon-
ents of the Army of the United
States (b) creating among the CT
william population distrust of the eff
flciency. spirit, devotion and will to
discipline of whole Army of the
United States or components there
of-which publications continue into
one Washington newspaper on the
morning of our convention-now
| therefore be it resolved:
That the President of the Ma
tional Guard Association of the
United States appoint during this
conference a standing committee Of
| three members to serve for dura-