Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1956-06-01 / 6. szám
FRATERNITY 9 moral chaos. They were to direct Hungary’s affairs until the shortly expected conclusion of a treaty of peace. The Americans Arrive A huge, black automobile, covered with scratches and mud patches, drew up in front of the Hungarian Royal Palace on August 10, 1919. Outside of a military chauffeur, two persons were sitting in the car. One of them. of sharp features hut. friendly mien, wore a sizeable mustache, an American uniform, a general’s insignia, no decorations and no weapons unless a riding whip be considered one. His companion, hair parted in the middle, round head rising out of a very high and stiff white collar, was dressed in a blue serge suit of obvious American manufacture. General Bandholtz, late Provost Marshal of the American Expeditionary Force, accompanied by Mr. Herbert Clark Hoover, engineer turned food expert, arrived in the capital of ex-enemy Hungary. 2 The General expected to stay for a few weeks only; but six hectic months were to pass before his departure. He thought his duties would be mostly of a routine nature; but they turned out to be extraordinary and at times nearly superhuman. A group of Allied officers received the new arrivals at the foot of the huge marble staircase leading up to the Palace. As all but the chauffeur were walking up the stairs amid animated conversation, English- speaking Hungarian passers-by surrounded the car. One asked, “What sort of man is this General?” More than three decades have passed since, but no better basic description of Harry Bandholtz has emerged to this date than that which the driver gave to his interrogator: “Stractly a no-nonsense guy . . .” The General was fifty-five at the time, member of a noted Michigan family of German origin, West Point Class of ’90, ex-professor of military tactics, veteran of the Santiago and Philippine campaigns. He had been Governor of Tayabas Province in the Philippines, the only regular army officer actually elected to such a position. He had achieved notable success in maintaining law and order in the restive Islands, having destroyed the forces of Simeon Ola and Felizardo, and forced the surrender of large groups of outlaws. After six years as chief of the Constabulary and subsequent service as chief of staff of the 27th New York Division on the Mexican border, he rose in World War I to the post of Provost Marshal of the A. E. F. before receiving the assignment that took him to Hungary. The Commander’s Cross of the French Legion of Honor, the Distinguished Service Medal and numerous other high decorations evidenced his timbre. 2 One of Mr. Hoover’s assistants when the future President of the United States was chairman of the Allied Economic Council abroad, was a young lawyer from Ohio named Robert A. Taft; another, a former shoe salesman, future Rear Admiral and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Lewis L. Strauss.
