BAN BY U.S. ARMY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21064, 8 April 1943, Page 3

BAN BY U.S. ARMY

MEN ON ACTIVE DUTY PUBLIC OFFICE SEEKING EFFECT ON MAC ARTHUR? (10.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, April 7. The United States Army Chief of Staff, General George Marshall, has issued new regulations prohibiting men on active duty from seeking or accepting public positions, says the New York Times’ correspondent in Washington. The War Department spokesman described the order as routine without political indications. However, political, circles in Washington express the opinion that the regulations might be aimed at General MacArthur, who is considered a possible Presidential candidate for 1944. At his press conference to-day, President Roosevelt declared that he had never heard of the regulations and wanted to know at whom they were supposed to be aimed. The New York Daily News corres-. pondent in Washington says that the sudden army decree is interpreted in the capital as a direct declaration from the White House that Gener, MacArthur must be considered as •- candidate in 1944. The correspondent points out that General MacArthur will be 64 in January. 1944, and maybe forced to relinquish his combat command because of the compulsory retirement law, but he will not be prohibited from engaging in political activity.