The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-15
NAVY CRACKS
 WHIP ON ITS
 PRO ATHLETES
BY ERNEST BARCELLA United Press Staff Correspondent


 fessional sports, which has been losing more and more of its man. power during the past few months, suffered another jolt today with the disclosure that the Navy had joined the Army in cracking down on the discharges of apparently able-bodies" athletes.
 Under an order issued by Navy Secretary James V. Forrestal on January ?, to all ships and stations, the United Press learned that henceforth such athletes may not be discharged from the Navy, Ma rine Corps or Coast Guard unless their cases are reviewed by superior officers in Washington.
 Forrestal, proclaiming sports "un- essential to the national health, safety and interest" said final Judgment in the discharge cases will be passed on by Vice Admiral Harold R. Jacobs, chief of Navy per- sonnel; It. Gen. A. A. Vandegrift, Marine Corps commandant, or Vice Admiral R. R. Waesclfe, Coast Guard commandant.
 The order was interpreted to mean that unless otherwise decreed, scores of prominent athletes now in the naval service will not be able to return to their teams until Japan is beaten.
 Many Go Back
 The action is further indication of a general crack down on profess sional sports by Washington of- ficials. Since the order to re-ex- anime all professional athlets who were placed in a 4-F classification was issued, several have been re- examined and in all but one in- stance found fit for the service The exception was Danny Litwhiler, St. Louis Cardinal outfielder. Among those who have been accepted on a second examination were Ron Nor they, Philadelphia Phillies out fielder; Ray Mueller, Cincinnati Reds catcher; Dom Dallesandro, Chicago Cub outfielder, andn several others.
 Baseball Stars
 The new Navy ruling affects such standout athletes as Bill Dickey. Of the New York Yankees Ted Will Hams of the Boston Red Sox, Bob Teller of the Cleveland Indians Johnny Wander Nicer and Mike Me- Cormick of the Cincinnati Reds, PeeWee Reese and Billy Herman of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Barney Mo- Coskey and Virgil Trucks of the Detroit Tigers, Johnny Mize of the New York Giants, Johnny Rigney of the Chicago White Sox and num- erous others.
 The new Forrestal ruling is simi- lar to one issued by the War De. partment a month ago. It also ap- plies to naval personnel who have been prominent in the entertain ment World-stage, screen and ra- dio stars.
 It does not, however, go as far as the Army ruling whereby profess slonal athletes no longer will be re- Jected for Army service on grounds Of physical disability until all facts have been reviewed by the War De- partment. But it was expected to have the same influence at Navy induction centers.
 Sports UnesSential
 Forrcstals order goes beyond the Army position in that it virtually claSsifies sports as "unessential tu International health, safety and in- terest. ." The Navy secretary is the first responsible Washington of- flcial to label sports thus. Hitherto sports have neither been classified as essential or essential.
 He said the order was occasioned by adverse public reaction and criticism" to the discharge of cer- tain nationally prominent persona from military service.
 The order said:
 T. The discharge of certain na- tlonally prominent persons from military services has caused adverse public reaction andn criticism. Tc illustrate, the discharge of a well known professional football player Tor physical disability followed i'm. mediately by successful participation by that individual in professional, games is obviously subjected tu widespread public disapproval. Fur. ther, the discharge of apparently able-bodied prominent figures tu permit them to take part in actiyi- ties uneaSsential to the national health, safety and interest cannot be justified to the general public.
 "2. While 1t is not intended to discriminate against any group ir the matter of discharges, cases ill. volving discharge of national prom inent persons, such as athletes, stage, screen and radio stars, etc., which might occasion criticism of the Navy Department will be de- ferred henceforth to the chief of naval personnel, or commandant, Marine Corps or Coast Guard as appropriate for review and final determination"
 Forrestal did not identify the "well-knoWn professional football player" he had in mind. There have been several such cases involving baseball as well az pro football players.