Evening star., 1941-07-10
Gen. Lear, Attacked
In Congress, Defends
'Penance March
Officer Who Punished
Men for Yelling at Girls
Replies to Critics


With a move afoot for a con.
gressional inquiry into the punish.
ment imposed by 1t. Gen. Ber
Lear on troops of the 35th Division
for shouting at girls on golf course
where the officer was playing, the
commander of the Second Army
last night defended his course in
telegram to Representative Kilday
Democrat, of Texas.
As member of a special House
subcommittee investigating per-
sonnel matters in the defense pro-
gram, Representative Kilday had
wired Gen. Lear that he contem-
plated a resolution to investigate
"your severe punishment" of the
forces who were ordered to repeat,
partly on foot, their l50-mile march
from Memphis to Camp Robinson,
Ark, for the Sunday episode in
Memphis.
Won't Tolerate ROwdyism.
Gen. Lear's response released last
night by Second Army headquarters,
In Memphis, said. in part:
Il am responsible for the train
ing of all elements of this tSec-
ond) Army and for raising all ele-
ments to the highest attainable
standards of conduct and combat
efficiency. Nothing less will secure
this country's successful defense
against thoroughly disciplined,
trained and efficiently-led hostile
forces in case We are attacked.
Loose conduct and rowdyism cam
not be tolerated -. am respon-
sible also that members of the
Second Army treat the civilian
population with respect and con-
sideration ="
The message ided the conduct
Of the group punished was in
marked contrast to the soldierly and
gentlemanly behavior of the vast
majority of men" in the recent
Tennessee maneuvers.
Norrell Favors Inquiry.
Representative Norrell, Democrat,
OF Arkansas, saying he had just been
advised that Gen. Lear is still on
the golf links" suggested in the
House today that Congress demand
an investigation of the officers
disciplining of the yoo-hooing troops.
He is not the kind of general We
need. standing on the brink of war;
Representative Norrell said. He
apparently is engaged all the time
IN playing golf.
Congress ought to call for an in
vestigation.
Representative Faddis. Democrat.
OF PENNSYLVANIA replied Immediately
that it was not a matter for the
House, saying it was not up to Con-
gress members to attempt to regu-
late Army discipline.
Gen. Lear also was criticized in
the House yesterday by Representa-
tive Dirksen, Republican, of Illinois,
who commented on "grouchy, golflng
old generals" Gen. Lear was on the
course in multi when the troops
shouted at shorts clad girls and one
called hey, buddy, want caddy?"
ut him.
Dirksen Flags General.
Can you imagine a contingent
Of $50 healthy, vigorous young Amer
lean boys in the United States Army,
marching by a golf course where
some girls are playing golf in shorts
a contingent so devoid of the
buoyancy and effervescence that
makes the American a great SOL
dier. that some one out of that
contingent would not say, Hi. girls,
or some equally typical salutation:
yet precisely because of that conduct
q battalion in the 35th Division at
Memphis was disciplined to walk
Is miles in 97-degree temperature
by Gen. Ben King Lear.
Il do not know whether public
funds are to be expended so that
Hrouchy golf1ng old generals will de-
velop lot of sour puss soldiers,
but for my part will take the other
kind Of soldiers whose youthful eff
fervescence Is in the best tradition
Of America. They can take that
kind of discipline; but I still think
1t is in poor form and ill grace for
an Army commander to seek to
sti1e that spirit of youth"
Representative Kilday said news
paper accounts all give the very
definite impression that action taken
BY you in the name of discipline
was actually to assuage personal
resentment because of remarks
directed at you while not in uniform
and your identity not known"
Mass Punishment" Scored.
The Congress member asked for
precedents in military history "for
mass punishment of guilty and in
nocent alike by requiring long march
without investigation to determine
individual responsibility of men and
sitter your determination of guilt
without investigation or opportu-
nifty to be heard
He also said that the divisions
activity on Sunday afternoon indi-
Gated the Importance of it's ma
neuvers, and asked Gen. Lear:
"1nasmuch as division is portion
OF your I'd Army command, please
advise whether misconduct came to
your attention while in the field
with your troops on important ma
neuver or while on golf course as
indicated by newspapers"