Evening star., 1943-04-04
Army Should Order
Col. zanuck 10 Front,
Truman Declares
Senate Prober Also Takes
/ Fling at La Guordio
I As Brieodier General

Senator Truman, Democrat, OF
Missouri declared yesterday that
Col. Daryl Zanuck should be sent
to the front instead of back tt
civilian life as the movie producer
has requested-and at the same
time observed that Mayor F. H. La
Guardia of New York has no more
business being a brigadier general
than Zanuck has being a colonel
Col. Zanuck was defended by Un-
dersecretary of War Patterson. who
said the producer has made heavy
personal sacrifices to serve in the
Army.
Senator Truman. a captain in the
last war, made his remarks at the
Senate War Investigating Commit
tees hearing into the relations of
the Army and Hollywood.
Interrupting testimony by Mr
Patterson, Senator Truman said he
had noticed headlines indicating
that Mr. La Guardia would be COM
missioned soon.
Il know the Mayor was an air
officer in the last war; Senator
Truman said but I don't think he
has any more business being briga-
dier general than this fellow (Col
Zanuck) has being colonel"
Needed at Front.
AS for the latter. Senator Truman
suggested he be sent to the front
Il don't believe in letting fellows
back out in the middle of a war"
he said. why don't you send him
to school and make a real soldier
out of him? With his experience
I think you could very well use him
at the front. That's where we are
going to need men"
Mr.. Patterson, testifying that Col.
zanuck 'unwisely" continued to
draw a salary from Twentieth Cen
tury-Fox, motion picture firm. for
several months after he was called
to service, said his request for a
return to inactive status has not
been acted on and assured the COM
mittee its view will receive full con-
sideration.
Col, zanuck, 40 years old, produced
such films as alexander Graham
Bell Grapes of Wrath and "Yank
IN the RAF." He was commissioned
lieutenant colonel in the reserves
In January, 1941. and was called to
active duty after the Pearl Harbor
attack
He supervised the making of docu-
mentary films in Tunisia and over
Kiska Island.
Patterson Testifies.
Mr.. Patterson told the committee:
Your committee has made in
qulrles concerning the commission
Ing and military activities of Col.
Daryl F. Zanuck. Long before
Pearl Harbor, the chief signal officer
created an advisory council to which
we're appointed perhaps a dozen re-
serve officers, each specially quail
flec to give technical advice in his
particular speciality, and including
G. B. Allsop of Postal Telegraph,
Carroll o, Bickelhanpt of American
Telephone and Telegraph. David
Sarnoff of RCA and E. R. Shute of
Western Union.
In January, 1941. Mr.. Zanuck was
commissioned a lieutenant colonel
IN the reserve for duty in this coun-
Gil. After Pearl Harbor, Col. Ia
muck was called to active duty. Be-
tween intervals of duty in combat
areas overseas, he was stationed at
Hollywood to supervise the opera
ZION OF the cooperative arrange
ment with the Research Council.
He was transferred from that sta
ton IN August, 1912, and at that
time he resigned his Office in TWen-
tleth Century-FoX Film Corp.
Col Zanuck has been commended
by the chief signal officer for his
courage, energy, patriotism and ac-
Comphshment l think that his re-
tentlon of the Craftsmanship of the
Research Council and his Office in
goth Century-FoX while part of his
time up to last August was being oc-
cupled by Army duties in Hollywood
was unwise.
Personal Sacrifice.
1T is only fair to say, however,
that his retention of these positions
was with the knowledge and ap-
proval of the chief signal officer. He
has made heavy personal financial
sacrifice. I do not believe that he Is
subject to any personal criticism.
THE missions for which he was
originally called to active duty hav-
ing now been accomplished. he has
requested that he be placed on in
active status. and this request is now
before the War Department.
Brig. Gen. Dawson Olmstead is
chief signal officer.)
Senator Truman said he couldn't
get into his head why a physically
fit colonel on active duty would want
to 60 on inactive status in wartime.
They would have to kill me to get
me out under those same circum-
stances" the Senator declared.
Mr.. Patterson said that as result
Of the committees work and an
inquiry by the department, the
Signal Corps picture activities had
been reorganized under Brig. Gen.
w iiAoIil H. IldI lNDIl ana JIldU Oh
fcer selection now is entirely a
function of the War Department. S
Offlcer Procurement Service.
Reynolds Comments.
The forecast of Mr.. LaGuardia' S
appointment also drew comment
from Chairman Reynolds of the
Senate Military Affairs Committee.
He said in statement that sit
would seem on the face that the
mayoralty of our country's largest
city is in itself responsibility enough
for any man, but that is decision
for Mayor La Guardia to make"
1T has not been necessary up to
the present time to hold any hear
ings in connection with nominations
for high posts in the Army" Sen
ator Reynolds said. Il am not sure
that hearings would be necessary in
hN ~T