Evening star., 1946-11-24

|Af Dinner Honoring
War espondents
War correspondents received
Army campaign ribbons and GER
tificates from Secretary Of War Pat
terson here last night in recogni-
ton OF overseas service, and heard
him appeal for aid Of a free press
in an even greater peacetime battle
against controlled and distorted
news anywhere in the world.
Secretary Patterson and Gen.
Omar N. Bradley. veterans admin
istrator, speaking at a ceremony
sponsored at Hotel Statler by the
Overseas Press Club Of America,
declared the Nation and the world
will have nothing to fear II people
are informed honestly Of what is
going on.
I'VE look with some misgivings on
people who are the silent people Of
the world today" Gen. Bradley said.
They are the explosive people Of
the world"
After handing the ribbons to IS
former correspondents at: the din
ner and announcing that similar
awards were being sent to AL others,
Secretary Patterson outlined the
Army's immediate and long-range
problems.
Coal Strike Termed Threat.
The coal strike, he declared, is
major threat. It could prevent
the movement Of food to peoples
Of occupation areas and ''if con-
tinued it viii surely spell famine In
Europe" he said. He added that
the maritime strike prevented the
Army from building up food re-
serves abroad.
The Secretary disclosed the War
Department will "be compelled to
ask for additional appropriations
from Congress in January" and that
unless we get them, our occupation
will collapse"
The need for additional Army
manpower is equally great, he con-
tinued.
THE occupation responsibility has
first call on our strength" he said,
"and the greater part Of our forces
will be committed to occupation
duties, directly or indirectly Fur
ther reductions viii simply imperil
the success of our occupation and
jeopardize the objectives for which
we committed our national man
power to battle during war"
Military Officials Praised.
The dinner, attended by several
hundred guests, was a two-way trib-
ute Ito the war correspondents and
to the military officials who made
possible the correspondents work.
Among the correspondents who re-
ceived war-theater ribbons was
Thomas r. Henry Of The Star stan.
A posthumous award was given for
Walter r. McCallum, Star war cor
respondent who died after returning
to this country. Mrs. McCallum ac-
cepted the award from Secretary
Patterson. A similar award In recog-
milton Of the services of the late
Raymond Clapper was accepted by
Mrs. Clapper. Edward T. Folliard
Of the Washington Post was the re-
cipient Of campaign ribbon.
As with the speeches of Secretary
Patterson and Gen. Bradley, one by
1t. Gen. A. c. Wedemeyer, present
commanding general Of the I'd
Army, dealt even more with the
peacetime responsibilities of the
press and radio than with. their
achievements In repogting the war.
Patience and tolerance are necessary
in solving international problems;
Gen. Wedemeyer said.
Lloyd Stratton, executive secre-
tary Of the Associated Press, paid
tribute to the Army and Navy for
their cooperation and confidence.
Urges Unified Armed Forces,
Secretary Patterson described the
recent war as the most Thoroughly
reported war in history. This should
be followed up, he said, by con-
tinued thorough coverage Of over
seas news. He also repeated his
recommendation for "a single de-
tpartment of armed forces in place
of the present divided responsibility
between the War and Navy Depart
ments."
w. w. Chaplin. president of the
Overseas Press Club Of America.
and Col. r. Ernest Dupuy, retired,
chairman of the Awards Dinner
Committee, announced that 399 ac-
credited correspondents previously
received campaign ribbons in over
seas theaters. The additional 526
announced last night, they ex-
planned, do not complete the
awards. More viii be made as fur
ther recommendation are received
from commanders overseas