Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-04

II there has been no misunder
standing of the situation. and Gen.
Foch is to become the supreme COM
mander of all the allied forces on the
western front, official Washington
is disposed to view the military flu
ture with the greatest possible con
fidence despite the fact that reverses
of a serious character may yet have
to be suffered and overcome.
This does not imply that there has
been any lack of confidence in Sir
Douglas Haig, the British field mar
shall, or in General Petain, who won
his spurs in the never-to-be forgot
ten struggle at Nerdun and is now
the ommander-in-chief of the
French forces in the field. General
Pershing, of course, holds the faith
of America
Rut above these three splendid
soldiers. it has been felt, was need
ed some one with supreme direction
of the allied effort against an eff!
cient and united foe-some one who
on his own responsibility, could dis
pose of troops TO the greatest advan-
tage and meet unity of command in
thS bti man WIN uIltN VI Yum
mand in the allied army Heretofore
it has been necessary to hold an in
tensely formal and stilted confer
ence OF commanding generals and
chiefs of staff before any concerted
action could be taken. Even these
conferences. held at so much sacri-
flee of time and quick decision. have
not been fruitful of the best results
Unity Was Lacking.
Furthermore there is every rea-
son to believe that these stiffly pro-
per conferences have not been char
acterized by a spirit of complete
frankness. when frankness, above all
other things is so essential in deal
ing with the hard facts of a military
situation. There has been a DISPOSE
tien TO gloss over defects in the all
lied war machine. reluctance 10
criticize when criticism was needed
and perhaps just little Jealous
guarding of the interests of one army
at the expense of another. Diplomat
ic politeness has dominated where
practical common sense should have
held sway.
Reports from London during the
last twenty-four hours have indicat-
ed that General Foch is not wholly
accepted there as the grand general
issimo Of all the allied forces. This
may be due TO the prejudice which
has all along existed in some quar-
ters of England against the general
issimo idea 1t is felt here. however.
that this is no tine for prejGdiccs.
and that England is not in position
at the moment to interpose serious
objection TO plan which the French
and Americans believe will do so
much toward relieving the unhappy
situation which faces the allies in
the west today.
Seek Another Title.
Perhaps General Foch is TO have
some other title than generalissimo.
if the British feel so strongly against
it. but there is no doubt here that
out of the vicissitudes that have re-
suited from the German drive will
come real unity of command
among the allies. real welding to-
gether of the allied armies. a co-or-
dination Of the separated forces OPP
posing the Kaiser and the flaming
swords of all the Hohenzollerns
Sir Douglas Haig and General Pc
tain and General Pershing will not
be disturbed as the responsible and
managing heads of their respective
armies. General Foch will not have
immediate command Of the allied
forces. but will be the supreme di-
recting force.
Ard with him in that capacity, the