PATTON 'INCIDENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1943, Page 4

PATTON 'INCIDENT

WAR SECRETARY REPORTS TO SENATE MISLEADING EARLIER STATEMENT MADE FOR MILITARY REASONS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) WASHINGTON, December 13. Reporting on the Pattqn incident, to 1 the Senate, Mr Stimson (Secretary for War) said the two slapping incidents reported in cablegrams on November 23 appeared to be the only instances in which General Patton had physically mistreated soldiers. However General Eisenhower had informed Mr Stimson that on one occasion General Patton spoke threateningly and with undue harshness" to a soldier who was not wearingGeggings, because his ankles were swollen, but nevertheless was performing full combat duty. General Eisenhower explained that a misleading announcement was issued on November 22 for purely military reasons. This may have been an error of judgment from the public relations viewpoint, but was eminently sound from a military standpoint. General Eisenhower explained that the intention was to correct, for important military reasons, untrue and damaging inferences which Mr Drew Pearson made in his original broadcast. Mr Stimson reiterated that these instances did not affect General Patton’s standing as a tactical leader whom officers and men again willingly follow into battle.