Evening star., 1949-11-09
|CrommeIin 10 Assume
Post on West Coast,
Around November 80
BY John A. Giles

Capt. John G. Crommelin plans
to assume his new post in San
Francisco around November 80,
but before leaving he will draw
|up reply to Admiral Forrest P.
Sherman's sharp reprimand for
his action in blowing the lid OF
the bitter row over national de-
ffense policies.
The 48-year-old Navy crusader
said today he would be detached
from his present duties in the
Office Of Admiral Sherman, the
Chief Of Naval Operations. within
Ia few days.
II then have Is days delay
and seven days travel time, which
should put me In my new job
as Western Sea Frontier aviation
officer around the end Of the
month";" he said. ....
"Of course. I'll accept the Or
ders." he said in reply to a ques-
ton as to whether he planned to
retire or resign. LAS a naval Off
Ger I have the choice of either
going where I am ordered or turn
in my suit
Based on Three Counts.
Admiral Sherman stifi1y re-
buked the captain for having
slipped to newsmen a series Of
confidential Navy documents cri-
itching the unified defense setup.
That action reopened a House in
vestigation.
The reprimand was based on
three counts:
/. INSTRUMENTATION.
2. Violation Of Navy regula-
tions governing classified mate
rial.
3. Deliberate, circumvention
of an order expressly forbidding
Capt. Crommelin to take part In
the inter-service controversy.
Admiral Sherman's letter gave
the captain an opportunity toI
reply and the aviator said heI
would have one ready in two or
three days. He would not say
whether it would be released forl
publication.
To Give Address Friday.
Meanwhile, topside Navy people |
were waiting to see If the re-
primand had really silenced Capt.
Crommelin or whether he will
again speak out. They may know
Friday.
At Montgomery. Ala, the cap
tain's home town, American |
Legion officials In charge Of an
Armistice Day program said he
advised them yesterday afternoon |
that he would keep q speaking |
engagement there.
A Navy spokesman said Ad-
miral Sherman had told Capt. |
Crommelin he could, like any
other Naval officer. apply for
leave and make the speech. The
15-day delay in reporting TO San
Francisco therefore was granted.
But. the spokesman added. like
any other naval officer. he could
be held accountable under naval
regulations for anything he had to
say"
Many Expected Court-Martial.
One OF the points of the offcialj
reprimand was that Capt. Crom-
melin had been, warned q month
ago against, participating In dis
tcussion Of controversial matter
This apparently referred to the
views Capt. Crommelin had ex-
pressed about what he held to be i
the diminished role Of the sea-
arm. Many had thought q court
martial. rather than q reprimand,
was in store for the captain.
But the major incident on which
the reprimand was based was
Capt. Crommelin's release toI
newspapermen Of what the Navy
said was confidential material-a
letter supporting the captains
views written by Vice Admiral
Gerald F. Began to Navy Secre-
tary Matthews. The letter bore
supporting Endorsements by Ad-
miral Arthur w. Radford. Pacific
Fleet commander, and Admiral
Louis E. Denfield. who since has
been replaced by Admiral Sher-
man as chief Of naval operations.
UDC Votes Down Revision
OF Confederate Flag Salute
Dy The Associated Press