Evening star., 1943-11-24

i" SUovA6ueAoAA 40 AA1o oNAAOLl bCCAl
given to three-star general COM
manding an army. 1t was not
formal observation-disclosures there
was speculation in informed quar-
ters that officials here might insist
that formal entry be made on the
generals record.
The matter first became known
to neWspapermen in the theater in
August, and while Gen. Eisenhower
was unwilling to impose censorship
to previous publication, he expressed
the hope that it would not be car
ried In dispatches, believing the
publicity would be Of value to the
enemy as propaganda. and might
embarrass the command in the Med
iterranean theater, the Associated
Press said today.
One correspondent suggested to
Gen. Eisenhower that it was almost
certain the story would find its way
into print, and expressed the view
that 1t might be preferable for
writer's on the scene to handle it.
Gen. Eisenhower agreed in principle,
and said press conference might
be arranged with Gen. Patton to
take up the matter. This plan never
was carried out, and the correspond
ents with the Army remained silent.
The story finally was publicized In
"a broadcast Sunday night by Drew
Pearson.
Censorship Lifted,
Mr.. Pearson's broadcast resulted
in the formal statement from Allied
headquarters saying Gen. Patton
still was in command of the 7th
Army and that he had not been
reprimanded.
This statement was technically
correct though 1t did not give the
full picture. There was no formal
reprimand, as the term is known in
the Army. Correspondence on the
subject is in Gen. Eisenhower's per-
sonal files and in Gen. Patton's
personal files and known to the War
Department. But it is not on Gen.
Patton's record.
After the Pearson broadcast, CEN
sorship on the matter was applied
temporarily and when the head
quarters statement was issued Mon
day night, correspondents were told
they might not send any informa-
ton on the incident other than what
was in the statement. ., s... - ,
: Yesterday morning q high officer
OF headquarters appeared before
telling them they
might now send anything on the
matter which they knew to be facts.
This officer again stressed what
all correspondents knew to be true
that Gen. Patton had made amends
for his conduct.
Shortly after the Pearson broad
cast, the Berlin radio issued a fam
tastically distorted version saying
Gen. Patton was removed after an
alteration with Gen. Eisenhower.
The Army newspaper Stars and
Stripes decided to publish nothing
on the Patton incident. The officer
in charge of the soldiers newspaper
said he had taken the decision on
his own initiative.
Similarly the European theater
edition of Stars and Stripes, pub
lished in London, went to press last
night with no mention of the Pat
ton incident Officers refused an
official statement. The denial that
Gen. Patton had been officially rep
was carried in full by
Stars and Stripes yesterday morn
ing.
The soldier Gen. Patton struck
will remain anonymous. Allied
has decided. A spokes- |
man said that since he had ac-
cepted Gen. Pattons apology. the
incident was closed as far as he was
concerned and no good purpose
would be served in making him
marked man.
An Associated Press writer saws
the incident has been discussed
more than any other topic among
the soldiers, and has been the sub
Ject Of endless conversations and
debates from the front line to the
farthest rear base.
1t has led to assertions from some
soldiers that no matter how hard
Gen. Patton was on them, they had
confidence In him as general who
would take care of them.
1t threw light on the attitude of
the Army that such subjects should
be kept in the family and not made
public, he said, but added it showed
that in the American Army there is
line beyond which no officer, no
matter how exalted. can 60 in his
treatment of the lowest private.