The Army Loses

With his election victory safely tucked away, Juan Peron moved last week to square his account with the army. It was stubborn opposition in the army's upper ranks last summer which forced Juan and Eva Peron to drop their brash project of running as a family ticket for President and Vice President. It was a humiliating setback, and the Perons do not forget.

In a sweeping purge, the President got rid of nine top generals, including Army Chief Angel Solari and the commanders of Argentina's three armies, plus 25 officers of lesser grade. All had retired at their own request, said a deadpan communique, in order to speed up promotion for younger officers. Ironically, General Solari had put down last September's one-day military revolt, and was later decorated for it in Peron's presence.

Other officers met harsher punishment; 97 were sentenced last week to jail terms of from three months to six years, and another 34, three of them generals, were cashiered--all for being involved in the September uprising. Among others awaiting trial is retired General Arturo Rawson, Argentina's President-for-a-day during the 1943 revolution that opened Peron's way to power.

Resuming the executive powers he gave up during the elections, Peron hinted to a visiting labor delegation what might be in store for the next six years: "Up to now I have maintained the traditional political forms because we are in a process of evolution. We are now moving toward a Syndicalist state."

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