Evening star., 1949-05-24
cabinet Members PoIIbeorers
AT ForrestoI Rites Tomorrow
By John A. Giles

By John A. Giles
Former Defense Secretary James
v. Forrestal, who broke under .
nine-year burden Of high service
in war and peace. will be given q
military burial at IL an. tomor-
row with members of President
Truman's cabinet as honorary
pallbearers.
The list Of mourners at Airing
ton National Cemetery will be
headed by the President and Mrs.
Truman.
The services will be conducted
by Bishop Wallace z. Conkling of
the Episcopal diocese Of Chicago.
a personal friend Of Mr.. Forrestal.
The graveside services will be At
tended by members Of the family
only.
Mr.. Forrestal's tragic leap from
the 18th floor Of Bethesda Naval
Hospital early Sunday came at a
time when psychiatrists believed
him recovering from q breakdown
caused by overwork In public serv-
ice, Navy Capt. George Raines
reported.
Critics Are Denounced.
Meanwhile, sharp criticism for
those who criticized MIR. Forrestal
mingled with praise for the late
defense chief on Capitol Hill.
Representative Boggs, Demo-
crat, Of Louisiana led the law
makers criticism with statement
that Mr.. Forrestal had been VIC
timized by Washington's most
devastating weapon"-the weapon
Of words. It was "a campaign OF
abuse and vilification the like Of
which have never heard" he
declared.
Chairman Tydings Of the Sen
ate Armed Services Committee
said the former cabinet member
had been subjected to "unwar-
ranted carping and. quite often,
uninformed criticism" Although
Mr.. Forrestal seldom answered
these attacks and showed little
outward signs Of noticing them
intimates said that they worried
him a great deal and undoubtedly
contributed to his death.
Rites in Amphitheater.
Simple but impressive rites for
the man who always summed pub
lie ceremony are planned at the
cemetery. A simple grayeside
prayer service was first planned
yesterday but when 1t became ap-
parent last night that such q site
would be inadequate for the large
number Of expected mourners. 1t
was shifted to the large amphi-
theater near the Tomb of the Un-
known Soldier.
The body will be escorted to
the cemetery gate by Rear Admiral
John e. Gingrich. It will arrive
about 1880 am. the Defense Es-
tablishment said. It then will be
placed on q horse drawn caisson
and take approximately ~ min
utes to arrive. ct the ampitheater
where services swll begin q
Ill:15 am. ANE |
. =. Admission II kestflcted. |
r. Admission .tbf the an1pitheatea
before IL am. win be by inviata-
ton only. Any unoccupied seats
after that time will be made
available to the public.
Only automobiles bearing spe-
cial stickkrs will be authorised u
enter. the cemetery. Persq not
having those stickers MAJ park
their cars or. the main d1 field
at Fort Myer. &.
The Navy Band will escort the
caisson to the amphitheater and
will remain with the body there.
The Army Band will play at the
amphitheater and the Marine
Corps Band will play at the grave
and sound taps. There will be q
Marine firing squad. Taps will be
played at the grave site and In
the distance bugler will play an
echo" taps.
Active pallbearers will be two
enlisted men representing the
Army. Navy. Air Force and
Marine Corps.
Roper to Lead Procession.
The procession will be lead by
Rear Admiral John w. Roper
deputy chief Of Navy personnel
and former aide to Mr.. Forres-
tai.
The grave site Is In the north
ern section Of the cemetery near
the grave Of Gen. Malin Craig who
was Army chief of stan during the
administration Of President Roose-
velt. The grave Is 400 yards
northwest of the main Arlington
gate.
A saluting battery of artillery
from the Third Infantry Regi-
ment at Fort Myer win fire q 19-
gun salute upon the entrance OF
the caisson into the cemetery.
Flags are being flown ct halt
staff until after the funeral. The
lofice of Norwegian Ambassador
Munthe de Morgenstierne, dean Of
the diplomatic corps, said the f1ags
Of all foreign embassies In Wash
ington also would fly at half stan
until after the services.
Inquiry Continues.
A Naval Board Of Inquiry ap-
pointed by Rear Admiral Morton
ID. Willicutts, commander Of the
Bethesda Naval Medical Center, ol
which the hospital is . part, con.
Itinued to 60 into details Of the
suicide.
/ It was to hear from Capt
lRaines but whether he could con-
Tribute any more information
t{hay. MOS Noofatnnd In his xtafa.