Show F 0 Behind the tl War News r 1 Major Eliot Says i f jt eSI Eliot Fielding D Dy 13 Major 1 George As rumors and reports continue continuo con con- a anely anew anew concerning to pile up new nely as assignment for General George C. C Marshall they arc are accompanied on every hand by tributes to the truly magnificent accomplishments of this gifted officer in his present post as chief of staff of ot the United States army and as a member of ot the combined chiefs of staff a fitting moment It is perhaps to invite attention to one of those accomplishments which stood alone would entitle entitle entitle en en- even oven i if it title him to the tho undying gratitude gratitude gratitude tude of ot the American people Glance backward over the thelong thelong thelong long and in all too many es cases s unnecessarily bloody pa pages es of military history It will our immediately be apparent that never before in any war which the United States States' has ever so er soca armies been waged have our ca capably ably commanded from the very be beginning Inning Washington was a great commander commander commander com com- mander in chief But Washington Washing WashIng- ton was not always alway It allowed a afree afree afree free hand in the selection of his subordinates Gates and Sullivan Sullivan Sullivan Sulli Sulli- van are outstanding examples of the incompetence which leads to butchery arid and lost battles The War of ot 1812 was one long tragedy for our armies It is hardly necessary to recite of the long and terrible history Incompetence in high command in the Civil war where the younger and abler generals came to the front through a welter of blood that need not have been spilled after having proven their right to command on the battlefield Of the Spanish war as far faras faras faras as command by land is concerned concerned concerned con con- it is necessary only to remark that we were fortunate in our enemy In World war I I. I the situation as far as command was concerned concerned concerned con con- was vastly better than in previous wars This was due to the fact that Woodrow Wilson a profound student of American history chose wisely and well first his secretary of war and second his commander in chief In this war the process of selection began before the war started That Is the great difference difference difference dif dif- dif dif- ference between this war and all those which have gone before For that fact General Marshall MarshallIs Is responsible and the results are at once a a. tribute to his foresight foresight foresight fore fore- sight and to his methods of choice General MacArthur was aman a natural the natural the man on the spot equipped with an experience and anda a personality which uniquely fitted him for his task With that one exception exception and and it is isa isa isa a good exception exception every every general officer now commanding our forces forces' overseas is a a product of General Marshalls Marshall's system of selection Look them them- over over over- Eisenhower Clark P Pat a t 11 t ton o n Eaker Devers Brereton Spaatz Doolittle Eichelberger Bradley and the rest rest and and note that tha from the tho very first encounters encounters' i H a l with the enemy American tro troops ps have been capably and v Jr J h victoriously led How does It i happen that hat that these capable young I j i I g generals have come to the front at the he very outset of the war to to todo 1 do so fine a Job r a Du a They were picked tested tested v a trained and as far as possible rit proven for their tasks before t s fd they were even sent into action I with the responsibility for tor the Uie lives of American soldiers That 1 1 sO sOis Is why Let me give you an example General Eisenhower When the fall of France brought Ite theus the I us all out of our lethargy witha with d du a suddon sudden disillusioning shock enc General Marshall immediately o began to cast about for tor the of of- to command the new army b which he could see sec might soon be needed He Ho knew that most most ched d dof of the general officers then serf serf- To yo ing were too old for the command com com- comi t frO f ro romand mand of troops under the tho ex I oe l igent conditions of modern war wl rj i t He knew he would have to pick t kOU toor UT his army corps and division divIsion icI commanders and his air force I I i commanders from those who id d 4 Ie at were then serving in the grades graded d of major lieutenant colonel and andl colonel i j p pHe He had a a little list but he did not trust his unproved Judg Judg- r r Eisenhower J R ment was on on- that list He was lieutenant colonel f i i of the Fifteenth infantry He He lie was made chief of staff of the g Third division from there he Its to be chief of went staff of a a corps and then of an army grf Then he went to Washington iii If to toas wi as assistant chief of staff for i operations and training He J sr made good in each successive under the severest 8 post pros pres J u sure 1 m So it has been in accordance with the needs of each individual j ebl bi and each command with the h others that have been chosen M The right man has been trained and tested for each position I ithe e which involves the high com coin command et t mand of American troops in to ii battle tr If |