Evening star., 1941-07-14

Some Criticize, Some Defend
General Who Disciplined
'Yoo-hooin9' Soldiers
To the Editor Of The Star:
The vast majority of Americans are
all-out for the draftees who are serving
their country and all-out for the Army
officers and leaders who are directing
the military phase of the defense pro-
gram with ability and dispatch. Per-
sonally. however, I think American
thumbs go down for general who IN
dulges in petty castigation OF recruits
who indulge in innocent hilarity and
bvplay. Military discipline should be
directed from the field and cantonments
by an officer on duty and in uniform,
but not from a golf course. j. S. D.
Rockville, Md.
To the Editor of The Star
Last fall The Stars feature writer's
originated and or swallowed propaganda
to the effect that Army discipline had
been modernized and humanlzed. Then
came 1t Gen. Lear, one of the highest
ranking officers in the Army, whose
example no doubt will be guide to
the lesser officers. -.
The military mind really hasn't
changed a bit. I find 1t difficult to
believe that $50 men all participated in
the acts for which all were punished.
But did King Lear order an investi-
cation? No. -.
Collective responsibility is not an
American concept-except in the Army.
AUGUST DRAFTEE.
To the Editor OF The Star:
I would like to know why you ran
picture of Golfer Lear" in the field
uniform of a soldier, instead of his golf
costume. II he is a soldier, why was he
not with his troops, teaching them the
proper conduct of soldiers?
AS fitting punishment and discipline,
1t. Gen. Lear should be required to
march under full pack and forced
march schedule from Memphis to Camp
Robinson. reporting progress made each
5 miles to a junior officer of the 35th
Division. c. r. SHINDEL.
Kensington, Md.
To the Editor of The Star:
The country seems to take devilish
delight in harpooning 1t. Gen. Ben
Lear who ordered a battalion to walk
Is miles because the men kidded some
gals in shorts.
Without knowledge of the facts in the
case, 1 should think the soldiers must
have gone farther than polite banter,
else an officer of Gen Lear's experience
could not have termed their conduct
"disgraceful."
No one who has had Army schooling
would call the punishment cruel and
unusual" A l5-mile march, with rea-
sonable rest periods, even in hot weather,
is a cinch for partially trained troops.
Men in the new Army have been doing
such tasks as part Of their routine since
last October. They will have to do Is
miles with packs under worse condi-
tions as part of their normal training
under the process of hardening. A Boy
Scout walks IA miles in passing his tests
from SeCOIu 81 due W iot 81
Because Gen. Lear was enjoying a
round of golf, his traducers are wonder
ing when he works at being COM
manding officer. But is there any better
way of keeping fit, any finer relaxation
for a man of executive burdens, than
l8 holes with a foursome? Gen. Lear
had Just finished a heavy task. leading
the I'd Army in maneuvers where he
was on the job from reveille to taps
daily. He surely was entitled to few
free hours In which to freshen up.
The generals record does not mark
him either as tyrant or loafer. He
came up through the ranks, knows what
1t is to be good soldier. knows the
limitations Of decent conduct.
1t is high time the people were rea-
lizing that the defense program is not
merely a vacation at Government ex-
pense. Training to be a soldier is serious
business. Discipline is the rock on which
soldiers are fashioned. An officer does
not become a lieutenant general and
commander OF a field army unless he
knows his work. w. w. OBR1EN.
Bowie, Md.
TO the Editor OF The Star:
1t would have done 1t. Gen. Lear
credit to have paused for few seconds
before giving such harsh and unjust
orders. Also, to have realized that after
all. boys and men are human beings.
They were only having few minutes OF
harmless pleasure while the general him.
self was enjoying his golf for hours. e.
AS a taxpayer, I would like to suggest
that Gen. Lear should have considered
the extra expense involved in his un-
reasonable and undeserved discipline.
One cannot help feeling that stiff
rebuke to officers and men by their
superior was all that was required and
needed. A. CITIZEN.
Waterford, Va.
To the Editor of The Star: