Evening star., 1953-12-06
By John A. Giles

by John A. Giles
The Pentagon is rumbling
these days with a lot of inter-
service argument having nothing
to do with money or the compo-
sition of the armed forces. The
question is whether former
American prisoners of war who
signed false germ warfare CON
fesSions" while Communist cap
tives in Korea should be handled
with kid gloves or tried for trea-
son.
1t is problem that goes to the
very core of a soldiers LOYALTY
The military chiefs know that IN
settling this problem they will be
setting an important precedent
for long time to come.
The Air Force, for the most
part. favors leniency and ham
ding the cases in "a quiet way"
by allowing the men to leave the
service.
In the Navy and Marine Corps
backed by some Segments of
the Arny-there are advocates
of court martialS for the 33 air.
men and two Marines. The feel
ing is that any other action
would amount to a "whitewash."
Medals Considered.
Each case is being handled on
an individual basis and boards
of investigation may take
months before recommending
action, if any. Inquiries also
have been launched into the
cases of the men who claimed
they did not break on torture.
The question of whether deco
rationS should be given those
who successfully resisted Red
torture or did heroic acts while
in prison also is under consid-
Grafton. The services have been
asked by the Defense Depart
ment to nominate those they
feel are deserving of such med
ais. But the Army has at least
tentatively replied that none
should be given more than a
Bronze Star.
officials state that 1t is far
more difficult to establish that
a captive was a hero while in
prison than it is to show that
he committed acts which are
punishable.
The argument also is ad-
vanced that the decoration of a
man for not cracking-which. to
some military minds, is only to
be expected-would mean that
punishment should not be meted
out for those who did break.
Different for Air Force.
Several hundred former POWs
who are alleged by other ex-
captives to have collaborated
with the enemy in order to get
better food or treatment also
are under intensive investigation.
The Air Force feels that it has
a different problem in dealing
with "confesSors" or, for that
matter. all former prisoners. Air
crews, particularly those in the
Strategic Air Command which
in wartime operates long-range
bombers deep over enemy ter
ritory, would be more likely to
be captured. Air generals say
the question of morale among
the crews arises if it is known
in advance that harsh treatment
is in store for them when they
are repatrlated.
And the big bombers and fast
jets go down with their equip
ment and creWmen can't COM
promise anything by forced talk
through torture" a general said.
They don't know anything that
would help the enemy anyway.
Its a question of how far a
mans duty extends. Obviously
it is his duty to fight without
cowardice and to obey orders.
But is it also his duty to with
stand inhuman torture, perhaps
allowing himself to be put to
death by inches, rather than
sign some false confession?"
Public Reaction Feared.
The Navy Marine Corps con-
tention that the judicial proc
ess must be brought to bear"
especially in the confession"
cases. is based primarily on the
belief that any other action will
compromise military discipline.
Against this is the Air Force
belief that public reaction to
such action would be disastrous.
LET 'em go ahead and court
martial Marine and see what
the public reaction would be-"
commented an Air general.
THE maintenance of disci-
pline is never popular" replied
an admiral. 1T just doesn't mix
with public relations. It's nice
to be popular in print but you
can't jeopardize discipline in
order to achieve it. War is just
dirty business and that's that"
The fear of the ground forces
is that soldier or Marine-re-