Evening star., 1946-12-04
20. O. P. Senators Wait Chance
For Army Misconduct Probe

For Army Misct
(NOTE-Ti0o articles based on
the Meader report to the Senate
War Investigating Committee
Dere printed in The Star ON
| Monday and Tuesday, before the
/ official release OF the document.
l They iDere Dritten By Col. Rob-
1 ert S. Allen and distributed By
i the North American Newspaper
4 Alliance.
4 BY tho kssocioied Press
/ Senate Republicans bided their
/ time today for a chance to explore
charges that immortality, venereal
disease, dishonesty and incompe-
tence in the armed forces jeopardize
success of the occupation Of Ger
many.
1 The Republicans will have control
when the new Congress is organ
lied January and there seemed nc
doubt of their determination to in
vestigate the allegations despite:
Il Cd A denial by the War Depart
ment that conditions are as bad as
described.
(2) President Truman's statement
at news conference yesterday that
he does not think an investigation
is necessary.
1t was the four Republican MEM
bers of the Senate War Investigat-
ing Committee who made public,
over objection of the six-man DEM
ocratic majority, a report by Com
mittee Counsel George Meader de-
failing the charges.
The Meader report recounted tales
OF immoral conduct by some OF the
American occupation troops. unsat-
isfactory performances by Negro
soldiers, misconduct by officers, and
an extensive influx of Jews and
other displaced persons into the
United States zone.
Statements Called "Hearsay."
The Republican Senators, Brew
ster of Maine, Ferguson OF Michi-
gan, Ball of Minnesota and Know
land of California, explained they
decided to make it public to correct
inaccuracies" in leaked-out yer-
SionS.
The War Department contended
that many of the allegations made
by one of Mr.. Meader's principal
witnesses, Col. Francis P. Miller,
were unsupported and based on
gossip" and "hearsay."
A proposed investigation was
called off after Mr.. Meader came
back from a four-week tour of Gen.
trail Europe and presented his con-
fidential report to the committee.
Yielding to the advice of the State
and War Departments, which con-
tended the inquiry was inadvisable
at present, the six Democratic Sem
ators voted for cancellation.
The four Republicans voted to
proceed, in the first party-line split
in the history of the committee
whose original chairman was Harry
S. Truman.
johnson Urges Inquiry.
Although the Presidents news
conference head-shake obviously
blocked any immediate revival Of
the investigation, Senator johnson,
Democrat, of Colorado told re-
porter he thought full inquiry is
in order, to clear up the controversy
aroused by Mr.. Meader's report.
Along with the Meader report, the
Republicans gave out transcript
of secret committee hearings last
August and September in which the
members demanded from the War
Department the truth of reports
that:
Conduct of generals in the United
States occupation forces in Ger
many has been such as to destroy
the morale of the whole troops;
generals in the Pacific theater have
been "hijacking cigarettes for sale
on the black market; some dis
charged officers in Europe took
UNRRA jobs 'for the purpose of
continuing their black market opera
tions."
Col. Miller testified at hearing
August IA he had heard of one col
onel whose black market operations
enabled him to buy a hotel and an
other who banked $4,000.
Inspectors Report Released.
Aware that the Republican COM
mittee members were making Mr..
Meader's report and the secret hear
ing transcripts public, Chairman
Klgore handed out summary by
the Army Inspector Generals Office
of an inquiry into the testimony by
Col Miller.
The summary. by Brig. Gen. Ell
lott D. Cooke, declared Col. Miller
could not substantiate some of his
allegations.
Gen. Cooke also said:
l. No commanding generals in
Europe are terrified over the prob
lem of colored troops"
2. There have not been enough
derelictions of conduct on the part
of American personnel to jeopardize
this Nations prestige and authority
The inspector. general conceded
that there have been individual
cases of promiscuous cohabitation," I"
but he said the military authorities
are going on the theory that they
are dealing with adults whose per-
sonal morals are their own affairs"
so long as their actions do not re-
fleet discredit on their Nation or
their branch of the service.
Meader's Recommendations.
In his report, Mr.. Meader made
certain recommendations as well as
criticisms He suggested:
That the United States forces,
European theater, and the Office
of Military Government be con-
solidated.
That Military Government be
placed under the State DEPART
ment.
That steps be taken immedi-
ately to improve the quality Of
occupying troops.