Evening star., 1949-08-13

Following is the biographical
memorandum about himself sent
to Gen. Vaughan's office by Gen.
Watt:
Gen. Watt is recognized as
one of the leading authorities
in the world on the subject Of
theological warfare. This comes,
not because of his position as
chief of the Chemical Corps but
because of his long and varied ex-
perience in chemical warfare in
war and peace. his many years of
study and his publications and
writing on the subject.
Gen. Watt was graduated
from the Massachusetts, Institute
of Technology with degrees of
bachelor of science and master
of science. He is the first chief
of Chemical Warfare trained in
chemical science, and Is also
the only one who actually served
in the field as a gas officer He
was gas officer of the 29th Divi-
sion in France in 1918. and has
been in chemical warfare longer
than any man in the Army and
his entire career has been devoted
to the study of this subject. His
book, Gas Warfare" is we'll
known.
ut should be emphasized that
Gen. Watt has the unique expe-
rience of having actually served
under gas warfare conditions dur
ing World War I. Practically all
of the officers now on duty with
the Chemical Warfare Service
transferred from other branches
after World War I.
Wide Experience.
There is no officer in the
Chemical Corps who has had as
wide experience as Gen. Watt
He has covered every phase of the
Chemical Cormps. He has not
only been a gas officer in the field
in war. but was gas officer of the
Hawaiian Division for a year and
commanded company of chem
ical troops. He is out of the few
older officers who is qualified as
an expert in chemical warfare
weapons. He organized the first
chemical Warfare Procurement
District in Boston and operated
it for three years. He has had
wide experience with the Air
Forces. He was an instructor at
the Air Corps Tactical School for
four years. teaching chemical
warfare, ground tactics. and air
drome defense. He is probably as
we'll known in the Air Force al
he is in the Army. While with
the Air Force. he qualified ane
wears the wings of air observer
He was also the first chemica,
officer of the armored force, where
he served on Gen. Adna Chaffee'.
staff. While with the armorec
force, he qualified as a driver OF
tanks and armored vehicles. Dur
ing the last war, he was assistant
chief of Chemical Warfare Serv-
ices in charge of field operations
During this time he spent at least
six months overseas in the Euro
pean and Pacific theaters in the
battle areas.
During the first half Of hi!
term of Office, a greater part o1
Gen. Waits time was spent ir
connection with the unfortunate
Carson affair. The Carson cast
was something Gen. Watt inher-
tied, as he had nothing to do with
procurement or production during
the war. The only efficiency re.
port on his entire record that /.
not superior was given him dur
ing 1946 when his corps was being
attacked because of the Carson
controversy. I must emphasize
the fact that the Carson tria,
had very serious effect on ths
entire crops, and particularly or
it's chief, who carried the brunt o.
1T. In spite Of this, however. the
progress of the Chemical Corp.
since Gen. Watt was appointed
as chief has been increasing on 9
very definite upward curve. Where
other technical services have re.
ceived cuts in appropriations, the
Chemical Corps has received in.
creasing appropriations.
Renegotiation Completed.
1.-THE Chemical Corps was one
of the first of the services to com.
! plete renegotiation of wartime
contracts. 1t has led the way ir
procurement studies. being the
first to complete a phase ane
phase 2 studies, and those studies
have served as models for tht
other services. The responsible
ties of the Chemical Corps hav'
been increased during his term o.
office and in addition to chemica
and biological warfare. the corp
now has responsibilities in radio,
logical defense and I suspec
; strongly is even more concerned
with this new phase of warfare.
Gen. Watt is an active mem
ber of the American Chemica
; Society and stands high with civil
ian science and industry. When hi
was first appointed chief, he had
the Endorsement of DR.. Conant
president Of Harvard University
and at that time. Chairman Of the
National Defense Research Com
mittee, and also had the indorse'
ment of DR.. Karl T. Compton nov
Director of the Research and De-
velopment Board. In the field o1
biology, I am sure that if you ask
the Chairman of the Biological
Warfare Committee of the Re-
search and Development Board
DR.. Ira Baldwin, Dean of Science
and Assistant President Of the
University of Wisconsin. you would
find that he would indorse Gen
Watt most highly and recommend
him for reappointment. The same