Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-05
Mccarthy Continues
Army Investigation
Despite Wilson Blast
By John A. Giles

By John A. Giles
Senator Mccarthy showed no
signs of letting up on his in
vestigation of Communists in the
Army today despite Defense Sec
rotary wilson's branding the
Senator's charge that the service
was coddling Reds "just damn
tommyrot."
The defense chiefs comment
prompted Senator Mccarthy to
retort that mo one has ever
claimed that the Army as such is
coddling Communists. But. the
Wisconsin Republican insisted,
testimony had established that
certain individuals in the Army
have been protecting. promoting,
covering up and honorably dis
charging known Communists. "
He added he was sure the Sec
rotary will not disagree with
that"
Senator Mccarthy plans to ask
his Investigations Subcommittee
into special closed session today
to consider whether a physician.
in the Army as a private, was
guilty of contempt when he re-
fused to say yesterday whether
he is or was a Red. The Senator
also planned a public meeting to
question witnesses concerning his
accusation of Communist spy
ing at the Federal Telecommuni-
cations Laboratory at Nutley,
N. j
The physician. Pfc. Marvin S.
Belsky, said he was denied an
officers commission but de-
clined to say that was because,
as Senator Mccarthy expressed
it, he was a member of the
Communist conspiracy"
However. the Army told The
Star DR.. Belsky was denied a
commission when he refused to
sign a standard Defense De-
partment loyalty certificate on
grounds of self discrimination.
Claimed Privilege.
At the time DR.. Belsky was
drafted in New York on February
5 1858. Army regulations had
been changed to require sigma
ture on the loyalty form before
a commission was offered. He
wrote across the form Federal
constitutional privilege fifth
amendment) is claimed" After
short stay at Camp Kilmer,
N. j.. DR.. Belsky was shipped to
Camp Pickett. Va. for basic
training and then to the Army's
Murphy General Hospital at
Waltham. Mass, where he has
remained on duty.
The case of DR.. Belsky is un-
like that of DR.. irving Peress
which brought an angry contro-
versy between Senator Mccarthy
and Army Secretary Stevens and
resulted in Mr.. Wilson's tommy
rot" blast at news conference
yesterday.
DR.. Peress. a New York dentist.
was called to the colors in the
fall of 1852 under the same doc
tor draft act. On October IS he
was given the rank of captain
in the Dental Corps reserve, but
remained on inactive status.
About two weeks later he filled
out two forms. on both of which
he wrote constitutional privi-
lege" in the blanks about men,
bership in subversive organiza-
tons. Under the present man.
ner Of handling such draftees he
would never have been commits
stoned but would have been kept
in uniform as an enlisted man as
was DR.. Belsky later.
Critical of Procedures.
Mr.. Wilson was critical of
Army procedures in handling the
commissioning. promotion and
subsequent honorable discharge
of DR. Peress.
He disclosed that his Office
was conducting a full-scale in
vestigation of the case. Later
he told reporter this investi-
cation would require several
weeks.
While the Peress case in it
self is not of too great import
ance." he said, 1.-The manner in
which it was handled certainly
is.
Il want to get every bit of
information on the case from
start to finish to make certain
that something like it does not
occur again"
He was asked whether he be-
lieved Mr.. Stevens was response
BILE for hardness in ousting Mai.
PereSs.
Hes technically responsible
because he's the boss" Mr.. Will
son replied.
rs Mr.. Stevens going to re-
sign because of that?"
i wouldn't think So" Mr.. Will
son replied.
Mr.. Wilson was asked whether
ho fI1o1,ook .,.az;z1