Evening star., 1954-08-06
Five Generals
In Peress Case,
Mccarthy Says
Gets Stevens Letter,
But Doesn't Name
Officers Involved
By John A. Giles

Senator Mccarthy announced
today that five generals had a
hand in calling to duty, promot-
ing and then honorably discharg-
ing Maj. Irving Peress, a Reserve
officer who invoked the fifth
amendment before his subcom-
mittee when questioned about
Communist Party membership.
Maj. Peress was given the hon.
orable discharge two days after
he had appeared before the Nc
Carthy subcommittee.
One of the generals, Senator
Mccarthy said, wears four stars,
two others were major generals
and two were brigadier generals.
There was a whole mess Of
colonies among the 80 officers
who had a part in the Peress
case," the Senator said.
Doesn't Name Officers.
The information was contained
in a confidential letter from
Secretary of the Army Stevens,
who has said that appropriate
action" has been taken by the
Army in the Peress case. The
Senator declined to name any
of the officers who had a hand
in the case, saying that he
would respect the confidential
classification at the present
time.
He said the Stevens letter in
dicated that this was not a
routine affair and the officers
took an active part in the case
of Peress.
But even after the long in
vestigation by the Army Inspec-
tor General, the letter still
doesn't say which one of the Of
ficers was at fault" he stated.
"The implication is that all were
at fault"
Two Workers QuiZZed.
The Senator made his an
nouncement on the Peress case
after a closed hearing of his SUBJ
committee during which two de-
tense plant workers were ques-
toned. Both invoked the Fifth
Amendment, he said,
After hearing the witnesses.
the Senator said it was decided
to ask Deputy Attorney Cen
eral William Rogers to discuss
with the members such cases as
were heard today.
The first witness was Miss
Diantha Hoag, of Buffalo, N. Y.
She told reporters that II am
not, have not and will never
be engaged in espionage. I am
not a spy or saboteur."
When asked whether she was
questioned about Communist
Party membership she said she
had invoked the Fifth Amend
ment.
She works for Westinghouse
and Senator Mccarthy said the
firm was doing confidential de-
tense work.
Apology Withdrawn.
The other witness was Law
renee w. Parrish, an employe Of
the Fore River Shipyard at
Quincy, Mass. +
On July 19, another witness,
William Tetteo, former FBI
undercover agent, mentioned a
Lowry Parrish as having been
a member of the Communist
Party.
Senator Mundt. Republican,
of South Dakota, who was pre-
siding on July 10. asked If such
a person was in the audience.
Mr.. Parrish arose, said that he
had been handed a subpoena
with the wrong name and that
the committee was the victim OF
mistaken identity.
Senator Mundt then apologized.
But after today's session he said
he was withdrawing the apol-
ogy" because Mr.. Parrish re-
fused to answer questions on
constitutional grounds.
He said he was the wrong
man on July 49," Senator Nc
Carthy said. "We found he was
the right man and he will be
recalled at a public session." he
said.
Senator Mccarthy said the
witness was a member of the
union grievance committee and
as such had knowledge of the
confidential work being done by
his employers.