Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-17
Evidence Will Clear
Schwab|e, Counsel
Tells Marine Board
By John A. Giles

Counsel for Col. Frank H.
Schwable, who signed a false
confession of germ warfare while
a Communist prisoner in Korea,
asserted today he would prove
the Arlington Marines conduct
was entirely justified under the
circumstances of his lengthy
confinement"
Col. Paul o. Sherman, the
counsel. made the statement be-
fore senior investigating board
which has been charged with
determining VIII Their Col.
Schwable should be punished.
col. Schwable has nothing to
hide" Col. Sherman declared.
The statement by Col. Sher-
man followed his objection to an
effort to put before the board a
letter from Gen. Lemuel C.
Shepherd. jr.. Marine Corps
commandant, to Col. Schwable
demanding that the latter make
statement with reference to
the broadcast of his false con-
feSSion.
Code of Justice Cited.
Col. Sherman maintained that
this was in violation of the code
of military justice, but the board
did not sustain him.
1--WE intend to show that not
only is there no disciplinary &C
ton warranted by the facts"
Col. Sherman declared, "but
that Col. Schwable acted in &C
cordance with official directives
and exercised sound judgment
in everything he did while a
prisoner of the Communists.
1--WE are certain that when all
the facts are brought to light and
given mature. deliberate and
careful consideration. this mat
ter, which not only concerns the
Marine Corps and Col. Schwable
but which also has national and
even international implication.
will result in findings and recon-
mendations which will protect
the national interest and be fair
and just to Col. Schwable."
Held Prisoner IA Months.
Col. herman said Col.
Schwable. who was shot down
behind enemy lines July 8, 1852,
and held as a prisoner for IA
months. was anxious that all
the facts be publicly known.
/ He maintained that Gen.
Shepherds demand for a state
ment. which Col. SchWable COM
piled with, was a direct order,
and that the statement could
well be used in any action which
might be initiated against the
former prisoner.
| But the assistant counsel for
the court. Capt. Nation Bennett,
replied that Gen. Shepherd had
given the colonel adequate warn
ing that the military justice
code gave him the privilege of
! Self-protection and that he did
not have to make statement.
! Earlier the former command
ing officer of Col. Schwable de-
scribed the 45-year-old Marine as
courageous. conscientious and
one of the best officers I've ever
! known.
| Maj. Gen. Clayton c. Jerome,
former commander of the lst
Marine Aircraft Wing in Korea,
gave that testimony to a senior
investigating board which is
taking testimony to determine
whether Col. Schwable should be
punished for signing a false germ
warfare confession after his cap
ture by the Communists.
Col. Schwable was chief of
staff Of the wing at the time.
Gen. Jerome. now commander
of Atlantic Fleet Marine Air
craft, said Col Schwable was
on an authorized fight when
his plane was shot down on July
8. 1852.
LAS l figured it out, he was
we'll within the reconnaissance
area south of the battle lines
during the flight" Gen. Jerome
told the board.
He explained that there was
a so to so mile an hour wind
in the area and that it was pos
sible that the plane f1oated across
the line.
Promised Combat Command.
Gen. Jerome said he had fig
ured that the reconnaissance
aircraft was on automatic pilot
at the time it was shot down.
He explained that he had not
seen Col. Schwable nor talked
with him since the latter re-
turned home last September.
Col. Schwable wanted to get
combat command and the
general said he had promised
him one.
Therefore. he continued, the
colonel was flying regularly in
anticipation of his new assign
ment. Further. he said, he was
passing on to others classified
information which came into his
| hands.