Evening star., 1949-07-24
Wainwright Scores
Atlantic Treaty, Urges
Draft in DAV Talk Here

~ MI III ~'N t~HA btShS
Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright,
national commander of the Dis
abled American Veterans. last
night denounced the North At
lantic Pact and urged national
military preparedness and univer-
sal military training.
He also assailed the cut in 16,-
900 beds in the veterans hospital
building program and the Hoover
Commission suggestion for sin
gle medical organization to oper-
ate all Government hospitals, civ
illan and military.
The leader who commanded the
famous rear guard action at Ba-
taan was the principal speaker at
the closing session of the two-day
convention of the DAVIS District !
of Columbia Department at the
Washington Hotel.
The Senate confirmed a treaty
called the North Atlantic Pact.
which may drag us into war" he
declared. But it's stupid to get
into a war If we're not ready for
it. We won't get into war if we
are ready"
Don't Have Men.
Discussing the Hoover Commits !
sion proposals. Gen. Wainwright
declared: Il believe the report of
the Hoover Commission constitutes
a complete breach of faith be-
tween our Government and its
defenders. The reduction in hos
pital beds is contrary to the ex-
press will of Congress"
mo aggressor would ever hit
us if We had an Army, Navy and
Air Force like we had four years
ago." he declared, adding that
the United States permitted that
powerful organization to dwindle
away.
I'VE have the equipment, but
not the men. The only way to get
them is to have universal military
training. We must build a strong
force. If we are ready for a war.
1t will not happen"
Gen. Wainwright said if uni
versal military training were
adopted, the men called into serv-
ice would have a better chance of
survival in combat by being thor
oughly trained in time.
General Gets Gavel.
Gen Wainwright inducted new
ly elected officers at brief cere-
mony and was given gavel,
made from an old elm tree re-
Gently taken down at the Capitol
grounds. The gavel was presented
by Department Commander Will
liam T. Slattery.
The national commander pre-
sented to the District Government
the DAV national citation for the
assistance and guidance given re-
turning World War II veterans
through "the foresight of such
needs by the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia" Com
missioner Guy Mason, a Spanish
American War cavalryman who
served in the Philippines, received
this award on behalf of the city.
The convention adopted resolu-
tions which recommended: Re
sisting any weakening of the Vet
erans' Preference Act of 1914;
establishment of blood bank for |
the District. preferably in the I
Naval Medical Center at Bethesda /
or Mount Alto Hospital; suitable ,
legislation to provide additional :
retention credit for all disabled =,
veterans who have permanent ,
status as Federal employees and
receive compensation for war
service connected disabilities: a
direct VA loan for veterans un-
able to borrow for home building {
ut 4 per cent interest, and re-
vision of the penal code to pro-
flOC oCdblA 1Ol VI CdSOll, SdOOIdSC i
or revealing Government secrets. /
Slattery Reelected.
Mr.. Slattery was unanimously
reelected commander for a Sec
ond term at the afternoon session.
Mr.. Slattery. an employe of the
General Accounting Office, is a
former District Department Com
mander of the American Legion.
He served in the Army in both
world wars.
Albert c. Allen was elected first
vice commander. George H. Lane.
was elected junior vice COM Il
mander. Stephen M. Honas was
elected chaplain. Other officers
were: Raymond K. Wiper, treas
urer and Fred C. Costigan, dele
gate to the GAR Memorial Day
committee.
These new Auxiliary officers
were installed last night: Miss
Lorena Reed. commander; Mrs,
Alma DUDE, senior vice COM
mander: Mrs. Wanda Schwartz.
treasurer and Mrs. Violet Palmer,
chaplain.