To South Africa

The scuttlebutt was busy weeks before blunt, soldierly Thomas Holcomb retired as Commandant of the Marine Corps, full of honors and the first four-star general in the history of the Corps. Rumor's net at that time (New Year's): General Holcomb was going to join the Allied Joint Chiefs of Staff. This week the rumor was abandoned in favor of other and sounder information.

The new scuttlebutt was that Marine Holcomb, who has served in China, the Philippines, the Caribbean and Europe, was all set for a diplomatic job. He was going to become U.S. Minister to the Union of South Africa. Reported reason for the choice: the State Department decided it could find no better man to deal with outspoken, common-sensical Premier Jan Christiaan Smuts, soldier of 43 years' standing, than outspoken, common-sensical Tommy Holcomb, veteran of 43 years of Marine service.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.