Third Boss

This week the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division, which had taken the worst beating of any U.S. division in Red China's November offensive, had its third commander in six weeks. The new boss: Major General Clark Ruffner, 48, former chief of staff to the X Corps' Major General Edward Almond.

In December Major General Laurence Keiser, who had commanded the 2nd Division since its arrival in Korea last summer, was relieved of his command. The official reason was that Keiser had pneumonia. Keiser was replaced by red-faced, outspoken Major General Robert B. ("Uncle Bob") McClure, a top staff man in the Pacific war who had once remarked that the "smell of a dead Jap is perfume to my nostrils."

Last week Eighth Army headquarters announced that General McClure had been relieved. One of General Ruffner's first orders directed the 2nd Division's officers to shave their beards. Three weeks ago McClure had ordered them to grow beards. His idea was to make identification at night easier. Explained a division spokesman: "Under the McClure scheme, some sections were to grow chin-whiskers, Some the Lincoln style, and headquarters men full beards. I rather think it was a morale gesture, toogiving the men something to talk about."

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