The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, September 15, 1950, Image 2
Second Rate Officers
O UR boys In Korea are entitled
to the Army’s best combat offi
cers, whose leadership may mean
the difference between life and
death. Yet it is common talk in
the Pentagon that some key battle
posts are manned by second-rate
officers.
There seems to be a reluctance
on the Army’s part to send its first
team to Korea. Though the Army
has plenty of crack officers, the
Korean command went to Lieut.
Gen. Walton Walker who happened
to be the highest-ranking officer un
der MacArthur and thereby in
herited the job.
Walker served successfully dur
ing the last war under the late Gen.
George S. Patton, Jr. However,
Walker’s fellow generals don’t think
much of him as a great field com
mander.
One general summed up the com
mon opinion of Walker bluntly.
“Walker is a methodical, plodding,
regular army plug horse who sud
denly found himself a lieutenant
general.”
The impression is that while
Walker is not a bad general, he
is not a particularly good one. Yet
the G.I.’s at the front are entitled
to the best commanding general
we’ve got.
Walker’s chief of staff is Cel.
Eugene Landrum, who com
manded the 90th division when
it landed in France in June,
1944. However, he made such a
poor showing that he was re
lieved of his command within
two months and shipped back
to the states. Later, when most
of the wartime generals were
demoted one rank, Landrum
was dropped two ranks, from
major general to colonel. Yet
he now holds the crucial post as
Walker's chief of staff in Ko
rea — because, like Walker,
Landrum happened' to be in line
for the job.
Back in Japan, the G-2 section is
General MacArthur’s eyes and ears.
Its job is to gather and analyze mil
itary intelligence, so vital in time of
war. Yet the G-2 chief, in charge of
this important listening post, is
Maj. Gen. Charles Willoughby, a
strutting heel-clicker who has been
accused by subordinates of doctor
ing the intelligence reports to
please rather than Inform MacAr
thur. Born in Prussia, Willoughby’s
real name is von Tschepe-Wieden-
bach, and his principal qualification
is the fact that he served under
MacArthur on Bataan. This is the
estimate of fellow generals.
Explosive McKellar
The full story hasn’^ been told
how 81-year-old Sen. Kenneth Mc
Kellar of Tennessee tried to bop 71-
year-old Congressman Clarence
Cannon of Missouri over the head
with a gavel.
It happened behind closed doors,
while senate and house conferees
were trying to iron out differences
in the appropriations bill. This
brought McKellar, the senate ap
propriations chairman, and Cannon,
the house appropriations chairman,
into violent disagreement.
With an explosive snort, Mc
Kellar accused Cannon of
“making slurring references.”
Then the aged Tennessean be
gan spouting expletives, which
an eyewitness later reported
“almost peeled the paint off the
walls.” One of the milder terms
McKellar used to describe Can
non was S.O.B. (Unabbrevi
ated).
This was too much for Cannon
who announced he wouldn’t take
such abuse “from any man” and
started after McKellar. Simulta-'
neously, the sputtering senator
from Tennessee picked up his gavel
which he had been using to rap the
table and tried to rap Camion.
However, colleagues separated
them before they could do any
damage to each other.
Washington Pipeline
General MacArthur was consid
ering coming back to the United
States just as the Korean war broke
out. He was interested in an offer
of a top job at Remington Rand
, . . Before the end of the year.
President Truman plans to set up
a special board to keep an eye on
prices and a new agency to take
over the vital job of civilian defense
. . . Many top mobsters have been
getting careless with their income-
tax returns. They have been re
porting ridiculously small incomes
and lumping it all under such gen
eral terms as “self-speculation.”
. . . Mike Reilly, FDR’s famous
friend and bodyguard, is now quiet
ly working for the interior depart-
ment.
Pulling Strings
Whether you’re a 5 per center
angling for government contracts
or a reserve officer trying to get
out of a combat unit, it still pays
to have an inside track with Maj.
Gen. Harry Vaughan, the irrepress
ible White House military aide.
For example, here is how
Vaughan is pulling strings inside
the Pentagon for Robert C. Smith of
Columbia, Mo., a reserve army
lieutenant, who wants to transfer
irom the field artillery to the legal
section.
WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS
MacArthur Note Spotlights Breach
On High Military-Civilian Levels;
British Soldiers Arriving in Korea
(EDITOR'S NOTE: When opinions are expressed In these eolnmns, they are those sf
Western Newspaper Union’s news analysis and not necessarily of this newspaper.)
MACARTHUR:
Truman Applies Gag
The now famous note of Gen.
Douglas MacArthur to the Veter
ans of Foreign Wars, which Pres
ident Truman personally ordered
withdrawn, gave the people of the
U.S. the almost unparalleled spec
tacle of a President telling an
American general to mind his own
business and leave foreign policy
to the White House.
In his note General MacArthur
declared Formosa is vital to
America’s far east defenses and
must remain in non-Communist
hands. He went so far as to say
that many did not understand “the
pattern of oriental psychology to
respect and follow aggressive, res
olute, and dynamic leadership.”
To pursue any other course than
holding our Pacific positions would
expose our friends in the orient
“to the lustful thrusts of those who
stand for slavery against liberty,
for atheism as against God.” The
general’s idea is that Formosa
Jhould be included in our Pacific
positions.
In personally ordering the note
withdrawn, the President set forth
the official American policy—the
United States has no designs on
Formosa, we are guarding it to
keep the war from spreading, and
its future as a former Japanese ter
ritory is a subject for international
settlement.
Republicans, however, quickly
made political meat of the note
and put it into the congressional
record. Observers also were of the
opinion Communist nations would
use it as propaganda expounding
U.S. ‘imperialistic’ designs upon
Asia.
It is an unfortunate breach be
tween the military and high civil
ian levels. Nothing like it has been
spotlighted on the American scene
since Lincoln’s troubles with his
generals and cabinet members.
POLITICS:
What's The Issue?
An unusual, almost unique, situ
ation has developed on the Ameri
can political scene. In the midst of
war, with the highest number of
employed in several years, with
prosperity at a new peak, congress
must adjourn soon so many of its
members can campaign for reelec
tion. But the question is: What
will be the issues?
Four months ago there were a
number of issues. Among them
were such questions as reduced
spending, slashing or increasing
armed forces, and communism
with the government. Many of those
campaign issues have been cast
aside and others must be found to
take their place. Criticism of the
conduct of the war seems the most
likely.
The senators and representatives
are faced with another question.
Should they go honje to campaign
now, or wait until the international
picture has cleared and the Korean
war has reached a definite phase?
They will be criticized whatever
they do.
The political picture is further
confused for a smashing pre-elec
tion victory in Korea could give the
Democrats immediate needed sup
port and would knock the Repub
licans’ campaign of criticism of the
war’s conduct into the ash can.
It is one of the most unusual situ
ations ever to face a congress.
CASUALTIES:
Climb to 100,000
The Korean war is now in its
third month. In this time the war
has taken a toll of more than 100,-
000 killed, wounded or missing on
both sides.
It is a rough estimate, obser
vers reported, with nothing offi
cial from North Korean sources,
and United States losses are not
up to date.
The estimate was broken down as
follows:
North Korean losses — frontline,
50,000; killed and wounded by straf
ing and bombing front, 20,000;
losses among guerrillas and in sea
actions, 10,000; civilians killed or
wounded by long-range bombing at
tacks as announced by North Kor
ean radio at Pyongyang, 11,582.
UN losses — American casualties
(unofficials and estimated by sev
eral sources which were not named),
more than 500; South Korean battle
losses, more than 20,000; South Kor
ean civilians, but no possible
estimate.
SOCIAL SECURITY:
10 Million Benefit
President Truman signed into
law a vast expansion of social se
curity which brings 10 million more
workers under the law and, in
some instances, increases benefits
as much as 100 per cent.
The new law was not as far
reaching as the President had cam
paigned for, but he called it “an
outstanding achievement” never
theless. The law will become active
beginning October 1.
Air Strikes
As North Korean troops re
grouped along the comparative
ly quiet Wegwam-Tabu-U isong
(1) front, B-29 bombers and
fighters continued strikes
against rail marshalling yards,
bridges and supply depotr
(bomb burst symbols). Com
munist attacks west of Mason
(2) were countered and the
South Koreans met a new drive
on the east coast (3). Two mail
enemy headquarters are at
Chonju (4) and Mungyong (5).
KOREA:
British Troops Arrive
Crack British troops—1,500 strong
landed in Korea as U.N. forces
continued to battle an increased
Communist offensive from \ the
north in the area of Pohang.
The British reinforcements were
from Hong Kong and had been
in training for mountain fighting
for 16 months. They will operate
under the command of Lt. Gen.
Walton H. Walker, commander of
U.N. ground forces in Korea.
Meanwhile, bitter fighting on the
east coast continued, in what mil
itary observers reported as a
move by the invaders to cut in
behind the vital communication
center of Taegu. Frontal assaults
on U.N. positions in that area re
peatedly failed in recent weeks.
The Reds were reported using
40,000 troops along the jagged
northern front, slipping strong pa
trols through the mountains to with
in 18 miles of Taegu.
In the air. United States planes
continued to pound Red supply and
manufacturing centers and give
close support to ground forces.
The U.S. air force had flown
20,500 sorties since the beginning
of the war and was credited with
severely crippling the enemy. Con
firmed destruction of 111 Red^tanks
was among the results listed, with
no evaluated estimates on the num
ber knocked out in more than 600
attacks on tanks, armored car«
and half-tractor vehicles.
SOVIETS:
A New Trend
A new trend of thought has ef
fused from the Korean war. It is
based on the assumption that the
struggle now has entered the criti
cal stage and the battle lines are
fairly well stabilized, and, that the
men in the Kremlin now must know
beyond question that North Korean
forces are doomed to defeat.
The new thought is simply this:
The Communists have decided what
their next major move is to be and
are getting set to make it.
Western diplomats believe the
Soviets and their satellites have
three courses open to them at this
point.
First, they may occupy North
Korea in an effort to prevent the
U. S. - U. N. forces from crossing
the 38th parallel and moving in
close to Manchuria and the Russian
port of Vladivostok.
Second, being confronted with the
prospect of a North Korean de
feat, they may make an effort to
settle the fighting in some manner
acceptable both to Russia and the
west.
Third, they may send armed
forces into the fight on the side of
the North Koreans in open defiance
of the U.N.
Many United States officials be
lieve the first of the three courses
is the most likely one to be em
ployed by the Soviets. These offi
cials believe that Russia is still
anxious to avoid moves which might
lead to a general war.
Employment
As the Korean war entered its
tenth week the United States was
experiencing a steadily tightening
labor market. Unemployment was
relatively low and more than 61
million persons had jobs.
In some instances there were re
ports of labor “pirating” and other
industries, especially, aircraft, sent
out scouts for skilled technicians.
The situation was not likely to im*
prove.
RAILROADS:
Strike Called Off
An unexpected strike threat. In
volving 131 major railroads and an
estimated 1,700,000 rail workers,
was called off by the unions after
President Truman issued an execu
tive order for federal seizure of the
railroads.
Acting quickly to prevent a na
tional emergency, the President
ordered Secretary of the Army
Frank Pace to take over the rail
lines and operate them “in the
name of the United States govern
ment.”
Within an hour the unions issued
a statement: “The men we repre
sent will work for the government
gladly under government operation
of the railroads during this period
of crisis unto this dispute can be
settled on its merits through media
tion.”
For the past 18 months rail un
ions and management have been
deadlocked in a wage find hour dis
pute. The unions have demanded a
40-hour week and a 31-cent-an hour
wage boost for yard workers to
keep their take-home pay the same
as it has been for the present 48-
hour week.
Observers pointed out it was the
fifth time in 32 years that the gov
ernment has stepped in to take con
trol of the nation’s rail system. And
most members of congress gave
quick approval of the President’s
order. .
The unions considered the gov
ernment seizure of the roads a vic
tory for their side, but any jubila
tion was quickly dampened with
the announcement by White House
press secretary Charles G.’ Ross
that “the government doesn’t in
tend to conduct negotiations with
the union.” Such negotiation^ will
continue between unions and rail
roads with a federal mediator avail
able “if needed.”
APPROPRIATIONS:
Staggers Imagination
The house sent to* the senate two
appropriation bills that staggered
the average American’s imagina
tion and caused many to ask:
“Where’s the money coming from?”
One was an emergency bill of
$16,771,383,379 to help rearm this
country and its allies, passed by a
roll call vote of 310 to 1, and the
other, a general appropriation bin
of $35,554,490,425.
The senate approved the general
appropriation bill the following day
and sent it to President Truman for
his signature.
The emergency bill included the
big appropriation to purchase 5,333
warplanes and boosts to more than
$30 billion the military outlays set
up for this year.
As an idea how the money will
be spent, the bill included $260 mil
lion for work on the hydrogen bomb
and the atom bomb, $598,637,370 to
stockpile strategic materials, $4,-
535,400,000 for the air force, $2,648,-
029,000 for the navy and $3,063,- %
547,000 for the army.
In addition, there was $62,655,-
850 to strengthen the state depart
ment’s “Voice of America” pro
gram.
The general appropriations bill
carried a proposed $62,500,000 loan
to Spain. It was approved by a
standing vote of 165 to 90. No ad
ministration leaders spoke against
the measure, which was surprising
since President Truman and the
state department had strongly op
posed it and it had never been ap
proved by the congressional com
mittees having charge of foreign
policy.
Representative Smith of West
Virginia made a bitter attack
against the Spanish loan, pointing
out that “we have here an almost
ridiculous situation where an at
tempt is being made to write for
eign policy in an appropriation biV
on the floor” of the house.
Crime Probers
David Lnbben, Hillsdale, N.J.,
candy maker, is shown chatting
with Jack Ellch, investigator
for the senate crime committee.
Lnbben testified t h a t “hood
lums” working for Frank Costel
lo muscled him out of a busi
ness worth almost a million dol
lars a year. His testimony was
taken in connection with a hear
ing into activities of New York
gangsters accused of operating
a $10 million black market in
sugar.
COLLISION:
18 Persons Dead
The navy hospital ship Benev
olence was rammed and sunk by
the freighter Mary Luckenback in
a dense fog just outside of San
Francisco’s famous Golden Gate
with a loss of 18 lives. The navy
announced 489 persons were res
cued.
The Benevolence sank on her side
within 20 minutes after the colli
sion as she returned to port from a
trial run.
■ . v.v. v>.
.
- . . ■/. w.
Ain’t It So
Some doctors believe In
shock treatments—mailed out.
the first of every month.
• • •
If some of ns practiced whatr
we preach we’d work our fool
selves to death.
• * • **
A quartet is four people who
think the other three can’t sing.
v
More Specific
Fortune Teller—“You are going
to marry a tall, dark man.”
The'Girl—“Can’t you be sj
cific? All four of them are tall and
dark.”
WmM
V Vw.tXsy X
can trapsnooi a* ▼ anoauat voio,
by breaking 1M targets in a row.
out of
MYSTERY FLYER PICKED UP AT SEA . . . Seaplane which New
Yorker William Jesse Newton landed beside the Polish liner Batory
when the vessel was 75 miles out of New York harbor, east-bound, is
slung aboard the ship. When the Batory reached Southhampton, Eng
land, British authorities took Newton ashore to headquarters for ques
tioning. The man claimed he made the landing at sea after the rented
plane ran out of gas. The FBI was not satisfied with his story.
CLOSE CALL ... A whirring engine which broke loope from its right
side mountings of a four-engine American Airlines DC6 in flight over
Mountains gouged the plane’s passenger cabin leaving this
foot gap on top. One person died of a heart attack and seven persons
were slightly injured. The plane was landed safely at Denver.
DOGMA STIRS CONTROVERSY . . . This famous painting by Tiziano
depicts tiie ascension of the blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. Pope
Pius announced recently that the dogma that the Virgin Mary is in
heaven both body and soul, a traditional Catholic belief, will be pro
claimed on November 1. The Church of England announced that It
does not and cannot hold this doctrine to be a necessary part of the
Catholic church.
THE BULL WINS A ROUND . . . Nearly always the bull comes off
second best in Spain’s national sport of blood and sand, but sometimes
the toreador Is on the losing end. The loser in this fight in Madrid is
Jose Moreno. His footwork is a mite too slow and the bull is just about
to hook him with a needle-sharp horn. Moreno is affectionately known
to his fans as “Joselette,” and is an apprentice. His thigh was badly
gored, and he was saved by a colleague who diverted the bull.
NEW AMBASSADOR . . . Presi
dent Truman nominated Ambassa
dor Joseph Flack of Costa Rica to
be U.S. ambassador to Poland,
succeeding John W. Gallman. Gall-
man will become deputy of foreign
affairs at the national war col
lege.
■■■
mw v
mm
ms MEN MURDERED . . . Li.
Stephen Gubenia, New York City,
was commander of a mortar com
pany in Korea, 32 of whom were
murdered by Communist troops
after capture. They were mowed
down with Russian-made burp
guns. Gubenia escaped.
HERTS
CIRCULATES
FILTERS
HUiniOIFiES
CIRCULATE
v FOR. ALL GAS E
ROOM OR APARTMENT SIZES
Operates only when beaMLs
positive-:
Draft
(non- clog)
Controls. Has Sealed uouiaw*
(100% welded) . no odors,
no. sweating. • Chrome-Art
Finish . . . Infrared
tz -
— —-
i Pmi
OF
THE PICNIC
HAPPY TAXPAYER? . . . T/Sgt.
Arthur Panure, Denver, fighting
in Korea, reads a notice from
Uncle Sam that he owes some 180
dollars in income tax. He doesn't
expect to see the man with the
briefcase.
MISS FLORIDA . . . Janet Ruth
Crockett, “Mias Florida, 1958,”
will carry the sunshine state’s hope
of winning the Miss America title
in the contest to be held in Atlan
tic City in September. She Is If
years sf age.
Pork ami Roans
in Tomato Sauce
anytime ... any
meal.'C. Van Camp’s is truly
your prise picnic dish. Easy
to carry, quick to serve —
hot or cold — good eating.
Cor every choice bean is rich
with the flavor at the sweet,
tender pork and the savory
tomato sauce. Make your
pteniea all fun — no work —
with Van Camp's.
WHEN SLEEP WON’T
COME AND YOU
FEEL GLUM
Uso Chewing-Gum Laxative—
REMOVES WASTE...NOT GOOD FOOD
e Whea yea can't alee*—feel Just awful
because you need a laxative — do as
atxLuoifs do — chew rasM-a-Moarr.
rasw-a-acmr la wonderfully different!
Doctors say many other laxatives start
their “flushing*’ action too sooa ...right
>■ tho stomach. Large doses of such lax
atives upset digestion, flush away o
tohlng food you need for health
energy ... you feel weak, worn out.
But gentle Ran-a-auafT. taken a
ommended, wdrka chiefly in the
bowel where It removes only wants, i
good food! You avoid that weak,
feeling. Use rsaw-a-aanrr and teal «j
flhe. fun of life I 25*. 50*. or Only 11