Slapper Slapped

The Senate Military Affairs Committee was still mad at blustery Lieut. General George Smith Patton Jr. for his unsoldierly outbursts in Sicily. Last week it dropped Georgie Patton from a list of 14 general officers slated for permanent promotions in the Regular Army.

Georgie Patton's three stars are only temporary wartime rank. On the permanent list he is a colonel, could be dropped back to colonel at war's end, when the strength of the Regular Army will be pared down. To head off that kind of possibility for its best officers, the Army has already got permanent promotions for many: e.g., General Dwight David Eisenhower, formerly a permanent lieutenant colonel, was jumped to the permanent rank of major general nine months ago.

Among the officers recommended for promotion last week:

To major general: Lieut. General Brehon Somervell (permanent rank, colonel); Lieut. General Jonathan Wainwright (brigadier general); Lieut. General Joseph Stilwell (brigadier general). To brigadier general: Lieut. General George C. Kenney (lieutenant colonel); Lieut. General Mark Clark (lieutenant colonel); Lieut. General Carl Spaatz (colonel); Lieut. General Omar N. Bradley (lieutenant colonel); Lieut. General Ira C. Eaker (lieutenant colonel).

As for Georgie Patton, the Senators, who had brooded seven months over his case, indicated that they might relent later. Said one Committeeman: "If he does something gallant in the field, if he makes a good record in the invasion, he'll probably come through all right. But he'll have to keep his mouth shut and control his temper."

Actually the Committee's slap at General Patton will cost him little more than prestige. He already has almost 40 years' service, is thus eligible to retire at any time on three-quarters pay. The law says that an officer retires at the highest rank he held in active service. So when General Patton retires, he will be a lieutenant general anyhow.

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