Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-09-17

at seattle ships which now are block
aiding Germany and attempting to clear
the seas of German submarines-is Adj
miral Sir Charles Morton Forbes, K. C.
B., C. B., D. S. o., now only So.
Entering the navy in 1894, he reached
the rank of commander in 1912 and
was made captain during the World
War. He served bravely at the battle
of Jutland, for which he was awarded
his D. S. o. He was made rear adj
mral in 1923, vice admiral in 1888
and full admiral in 1886. From 1925
to 1928 he served as director of naval
ordnance, then commanded destroyer
fleet in the Mediterranean, was vice ad-
miral commanding the LIST Battle Squad
ron, and in 1884 was made second in
command of the Mediterranean fleet.
On the German side, direction of the
war is centered, of course, in Adolf
Hitler, who some months ago assumed
the title of "Fuehrer and Supreme Com
mander of the Armed Forces" Upon
the outbreak of war, Hitler created a
Supreme Defense Council, which has
authority to issue military DEGREES with
out Hitler S own signature, although he
holds veto power over Its action.
Party and Army Mixture.
This council is a mixture of Nazi party
authority and military and economic
specialists. It includes: General Field
Marshal Hermann Goering, Reichsmin-
yefn f1, NJ
Plenlpotentiary for the Reich Admins
traitor DR.. Wilhelm Prick; Heinrich
Hmmler, chief of the Gestapo or secret
police, as tricks deputy; General Pleni-
potentiary for Economy Walther Funk;
Reichsminister and chief of the Reichs-
chancellery Hans Lannon's, and Chief
of the Superior Command of the Armed
Forces Gen. Wilhelm Won Keitel
Under this war hierarchy, the highest
ranking military commander of the
Reich is Col. Gen. CGeneralaberst'
Wolther Won Brauchitch, commander in
chief of the German Army.
An old-line officer of the imperial
military school, Won Brauchitch, al
though not member of the Nazi party,
has nevertheless succeeded in establish
ing himself in the confidence of the
Fuehrer
Built Nazi Army Nucleus.
A graduate of the cadet school,
Gen. Won Brauchitch served as a
member of the German great general
staff during the World War. After the
conflict was over, he was assigned to the
training section of the Reichswehr min
istry which, operating under the restric-
ton of the Versailles treaty, limiting
Germany to an army of 100000 men,
built up one of the most highly-tra
and efficient regular armies in history.
Around this nucleus, Hitler has fash
Toned the present enlarged German
Army.
In 1881 the present commander was
made major general and in 1882 was
promoted to chief of artillery. The fol-
lowing year he was assigned to COM
mand of the East Prussian Military
district. In 1887 he was placed in COM
mand of the 4th Army Group in
Leipzig. He reached the top of his pro-
fession in February, 1888, just before the
German advance into Austria when
Gen. Werner Won Blomberg formerly
chief of staff, was dismissed in the
"bloodless purge" by which Hitler rid
the army of all high-ranking officers
who were believed to be secretly unsym-
: pathetic with the Nazi regime.
Won Brauchitch is described by an
American observer as "a man of force
and intellect, of soldierly appearance,
and willing to 60 along with Hitler"
Smigly- Rydz Heir of Pilsudski.
Outstanding military man of Poland
is Marshal Edward Smigly-Rydz whose
Polish title approximates the English
"generalissimo.'
Fifty-three years old, Poland's No.
military figure is the political heir of
famed Marshal Pilsudski. who dominated
Polish politics until his death four
years ago.
Marshall Smigly-Rydz first met his
political mentor while a student in the
University of Krakow. During the World
War, he was one of Pilsudski's aides in
the Polish Legion, which, under the Aus
trian banner, was the first military unit
to penetrate into Russian territory
Later, in Polands war against Russia,
he was chief aide to Pilsudski and from
that time on was marked as the Polish
leaders successor in the event Of his
death.
Medium sized, baldheaded, he is fond
of horseback riding and other outdoor
Il L. t,,,@
know him as mild hammered and affable
although grim enough in political and
military battles.