Evening star., 1941-07-27
Nv NELSON NJ. SHEPARD.

Next move in "vitaliZing" Army
leadership. officials said yesterday,
will come soon after President
Roosevelt signs emergency legisla-
tion now on his desk authorizing
the Secretary of War to remove any
officer of the Regular Army from the
active list for such causes and
under such regulations as he may
prescribe"
The wedding out of inCompetents
and misf1ts would be done by an
official ''plucking" board of not less
than five general officers. The Of
fcer chosen for dismissal or forced
retirement would have the right to
defend himself before the board. but
the decision Of the Secretary of War,
based on its recommendations would
be final and conclusive" There
can be no appeal to the President.
To accomplish this, Congress first
had to order suspension of the
present cumbersome method for
shelving unfit officers into Glass B.
The existing method, Gen. George
G. Marshall, Chief of staff, pro-
tested in his recent biennial report,
requires a procedure so Cumber-
some as to make it totally ineffective
during a national emergency"
From other War Department
sources Congress was informed that
the present machinery to retire or
dismiss an officer may take any,
where from TO l8 months. Under
the proposed new setup an officer
can be severed from the Regular
Army within a month.
For Emergency Period
THE purpose of this legislation. ''
Gen Marshall said in his report, lis
to remove from the active list a few
officers who slow down the develop
ment OF our emergency army
through lack of qualities of vigor.
and intelligent, aggressive leader
ship.
Under existing law the commits
slons of officers of the Reserve Corps
NAV be revoked at the discretion of
the President and the Federal recog-
milton of officers OF the National
Guard may be withdrawn upon the
recommendation of a board of Of
fcers appointed by the Secretary of
War"
Because of the autocratic powers
the legislation imposes on the Secre-
tary Of War the method set up is
for the duration of the emergency
only. Officers have known the legis-
lation was in the making during the
past month and it was recommended
to Congress with the knowledge of
the President and with the strong
support Of ranking Army officials.
The House cleared the legislation
last week, accepting it from the Sen
ate without changes It was expected
the appointment of the 'plucking'
board TO take the place of the exist
ing ClaSsB board will follow soon
after President RooSevelt's signature
makes the joint resolution law
Senator Connally. Democrat. of
Texas. offered the only Senate
amendment that was approved. 1t
gives officers the right to a hearing
before the board.
Present Law Called Joke.
The Texas Senator's criticism was
aimed at the arbitrary powers given
to the board and to the Secretary
of War In offering his amendment.
he stated Il desire of course to get
rid of all the Army's sorry officers.
and think could make up a fairly
satisfactory list At the same time.
! want to give the officers who have
been through West Point and have
been in the Army for many years an
opportunity to combat. if necessary.
some Of the charges which may be
made against them
Gen. Marshall was reported as
having told the House Military
Affairs Committee. when he ap-
peared before it to testify on the
resolution, that the Class-B law was
"a joke, so far as it pertains to the
efficiency of the Army.
He declared the new law would be
administered fairly. that if it were
not it would wreck us on the basis
of morale
The whole subject has been one
Of the most difficult problems the
Army has had to deal with since
the start Of the mobilization. 1t had
to be handled with the utmost tact
and diplomacy. There was concern
in high Army circles for fear any
prior discussion of it in the press
would stir up trouble for the War
Department in Congressional circles
and impair the morale OF many Of
ficers of long service who have been