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This seems plainly a case wherein a loyal and competent officer was double-crossed by a Congressional committee and by the Chief of Staff of the U. S. Army. The committee asked the private opinion of this officer and promised to keep it in strict confidence; not even his superior officer should have known what his opinion was. His superior officer had instructed him to testify ''freely and frankly," then disciplined him for doing so. Now, should an officer of our military establishment need the consent of his superior officer to permit him to tell the truth as he sees it or express an opinion at the invitation of a House military subcommittee, which committee's conclusion is of first importance in our national defense?
General Hagood's remedy for existing ills seems very sensible and constructive, but, of course, the whole affair will only serve to tear down confidence in our Congress and our Army high command instead of serving the worthy purpose which it should have served.
Such disgraceful affairs are not peculiar to any political group, as we have had them under all kinds of administrations in the past, and as for keeping the military out of civilian politics — this insults the intelligence of any one who reads or has served in our military forces. Too bad our men in high places can't think and live in terms of Americanism and fairness instead of in terms of rather small and putrid politics.
More power to TIME for plain, unbiased reporting.
J. C. GLOWER
Wichita Falls, Tex.
Unreversed Hagood
Sirs:
In your March 9 issue under Army & Navy you state that Major General Johnson Hagood. U. S. A., is the nephew and reverse-namesake of Brig. General Hagood Johnson, C. S. A.
There is much today that undoubtedly appears in reverse to the doughty General, and your reversal of the name of his gallant kinsman must but add to his confusion.
Sometime during the third quarter of the 18th Century, General Hagood's great-great-great-grandfather, William, married Sarah Johnson of Virginia. From this happy union have descended several Johnson Hagoods, including Brigadier General Johnson Hagood, C. S. A.
A. L. CORNELL JR.
St. Louis, Mo.
Sirs:
. . . He is a plain namesake of Brig. General Johnson Hagood of the Confederacy, and Governor of South Carolina one term of two years, about 1880-81.
J. W. H. DYCHES
Principal
Blue Ridge Mission School,
Buffalo Ridge, Va.
Ungimballed Binnacle
Sirs:
For landlubberish TIME a rebuke from wave-ruling England. You should know that only the compass is hung in gimbals, which are then suspended inside the binnacle. The binnacle itself is never gimballed (TIME, Feb. 10, China, "Junk de Luxe" — ". . . hung on gimbals like a binnacle").
In case it interests you the word "gimbals" (always plural) is derived from the old French "gemel" meaning a twin, and they may be defined "as two brass rings, which move within each other, each perpendicularly to its plane."
FRANCIS HUGHES
Sales Manager
Henry Hughes & Son, Ltd.
Manufacturers of Nautical, Aeronautical,
Optical & Drawing Instruments
London
Ham Maxim
Sirs: