Evening star., 1951-08-05
Only ; Army Players
Identified as in Clear
In Cribbing Scandal
Continued From Page BIZ

treatment given the 80 cadets is
unfair.
Bob Blaik, son of the coach,
was intercepted this morning by
newsmea as he was entering the
gymnasium, presumably to see his
father VINO has his Office there.
Immediately a group of some
80 cadets, most of them in the
group accused of "cribbing" on
exams. gathered from their bar
racks across the company street.
Young Blaik refused to say
whether he was involved, but he
used the pronoun I'VE" as he dis
cussed tile ousted cadets.
1--WE were not allowed to notify
our parents all over the country
in ADVANCE" he said. First notice
they got was from the newspapers
and over the radio"
Col. james B. Leer, West Point
public Information officer, told a
press conference later that Army
headquarters in Washington was
to blame for the way the news
was announced.
ut was impossible" he said,
"due to the fact that the Army
put out the news on the (press)
wires and notified us at the same
time, for anybody to have noti-
fed the individuals any earlier" A"
Col. Leer hurried over to the
barrack2 after many in the group
of cadets who talked with the
newsmen had complained they
were not permitted to telephone
parents
Somebody slipped. They are
phoning now" Col. Leer said.
Blaik Refuses Comment.
Coach Blaik, whose teams have
won rs games, lost II and tied
six in the last 10 seasons, was
contacted briefly by reporters
after dodging them for almost "a
hours. Asked for comment, he said
fatty: No"
At the gathering in front OF
the gymnasium, one of the 90
cadets involved in the cribbine
charges said:
cat least 200 corps cadets did
the same thing"
j. He and others in the angry
group around young Blaik refused
to give their names. The youth
said the cadets to be dismissed
admitted the cheating when ques-
toned, but that others equally
guilty denied under oath any
completely.
I'D rather have these men
who told the truth lead me into
battle than the Others" said an
other in the group.
One member of the gathering
said he knew that lover a hun
dred" members of the class
graduated in June were involved,
but were not punished.
Charge Denied by Colonel.
This brought denial from Col.
Leer, who met the press after
comforting privately with Mai
Gen. Frederick A. Irving, super
intendent of West Point.
Insofar as I know, the evil
dence does not bear out the state
ment that any graduates have
been involved" Col. Leer said
Col. Leer, who said yesterday
the Army would still field foot
ball team this fall. insisted again
that no names would be an
nounced.
Young Blaik, who was quarter
back of the team which won eight
straight games last fall before
being upset by Navy. 14-2, was
from the gymnasium
by a telephone call.
When the others returned to
their barracks. Col. Leer went
there and later told newsmen:
II made myself available to
them to take their statements and
pass them on to you. I offered to
take statements from them singly
or in a group. They said they
would talk it over and let me
know later if they have any state
ment."
Newsmen were told that West
Point officials did not know the
identity of any Of the cadets in
the group that met in front of the
gymnasium, and that no discip-
linary action was planned.
Officials said about so of the
30 cadets involved were presently
at West Point.
At first they were confined to
their barracks or the immediate
area.
Late in the day, however, they
were given permission tn yoova