Evening star., 1940-08-11


of the outstanding military episodes
of the first World War.
His wartime staff work made him a
protege of General Pershing's, and he
returned from France as Pershing's
aide. He was already marked for a
great future. but he was still only
captain in rank, and he had to submit
himself to the usual rigors of the army
promotion system. After his service
with Pershing, he was moved from
minor post to minor post. slowly ris-
ing in the military hierarchy. until in
1898 General Craig brought him to
Washington to be deputy chief of
staff. On General Craig retirement in
June, 1899. he became acting chief of
staff And two months later, the Presi-
dent named him to his big post.
The most important part of Mar
shalls job is the staff work in which
he has always excelled. He has under
him five divisions of experts, the most
important of which is War Plans; the
others are G-l, Personnel, G-2, Mil
itary Intelligence. G-3, Operations
and Training. and Ga. Supply.
In each of these divisions, there is
now vast amount of work to be
done. War Plans must revise its con-
clusions and bring its programs up to
date in the light of the terrible events
Of the last months, and be ready with
blueprints for meeting any contin-
gency. from sabotage of the Panama
Canal to Nazi-inspired uprising in
Latin America or an air attack on
Canada. G-1 must handle the problem
of the expanding army. G-2 is re-
Quired to analyze and correlate the
vast quantity of new data pouring in
from Europe. G-3 and Ga are busy
training new recruits and finding
equipment for them. Each of these
activities is tremendously complex in
itself. 1t is Marshall's role to CO.
ordinate them all, and to see that the
result is a steady, dependable and
rapid increase in military power.
Tremendous PtobIsns
MARSHALL is the sort of man who
likes old friends and a quiet life He
and his wife live at the Chief of Staff's
big house at Fort Myer while he is on
duty. and at Fire Island for vacations.
He tries to get some hard exercise and
do some reading every day, and he
goes out as little as possible. Now,
however, he has little time for any
thing but work. Everywhere tremen-
dous problems confront him: procure
ment of the most vitality needed sup
plies is desperately slow; recruiting
must be speeded up; every available
ounce of the Army's energy must be
put into training new men. Demands
on him are infinite, whether they come
from the President, seeking informa-
ton on the progress of rearmament, or
from the Defense Advisory Council.
seeking advice on production sched-
ules for materiel. or from the Congress
sional Appropriations and Military
Affairs Committees, requesting expla-
nations of the Army's expenditures.
Each week that passes increases the
pressure on Marshall, by making the
time available for achieving prepared
ness seem shorter and shorter. He is
no foolish optimist. He began long ago
to consider seriously the problems of
hemisphere defense, and has given
much time to trips on which he in
spects such strategic areas as the Natal
district of Brazil and exchanges views
with the ranking military men of
other American nations. Although he
does not discuss such matters, men
who know him say that he will not be
surprised if there is real trouble, at
least in South America, some time
this summer. If the trouble comes, he
hopes to be able to deal with It with
the forces now at his disposal. Mean
while, by mobilizing all energy and all
resources, he expects to achieve ap-
Drov;nate corn1iete DrenaredneSs next