Evening star., 1940-11-03

A s top commanders OF the Army of
"A 100000 which Is to be created by
June of next year. spokesmen at the
War Department designated q group Of
fighting generals who are known as the
big Eight" Most are unfamiliar even
by name to the general public. Never
theless, in the months to come, their per-
sonalities will influence the lives Of hun
dreds of thousands of Americans. The
temper to which the Nations land de-
fense is wrought must depend on their
professional genius and military char
acter.
They are not to be confused with
heads of arms, like the chiefs Of infan-
try, cavalry, field artillery, coast artil-
lery and the Air Corps. These command
no troops. but act in Washington as ad-
visers to the General Staff. The men
exercising paramount tactical COM
mands are listed as follows:
Gen George Catlett Marshall. chief Of
the War Department General Staff; 1t.
Gen. Hugh Aloysius Drum, commanding
the 1st Army. Governors Island. N. Y:
1t. Gen. Ben Lear. commanding the
I'd Army. Chicago It. Gen. Herbert Jay
Brees, commanding the Sd Army, Fort
Sam Houston, San Antonio, Tex; 1t.
Gen. John Lessene De Witt, command
ing the 4th Army, Preside. San Fran
cisco: 1t. Gen Delos Carleton Emnons,
air force commander, General Head
quarters: Maj. Gen. Lesley J. McNair,
chief of staff, General Headquarters,
and Maj. Gen. Adna Romanza Chaffee
armored force commander, General
Headquarters.
Only Three Are West Pointers.
This roster provides a graphic cross
section OF American life. Two are East
erners and five we're born in the West.
Gen. Marshall is native of Pennsyl-
vania, Gen. Emmons of West Virginia,
Gen. Drum OF Michigan, Gen. Brees Of
Wyoming, Gen. De Witt Of Nebraska,
Gen. McNair of Minnesota and Gen.
Chaffee of Kansas Gen. Lear was born
at Hamilton, Ontario, Dominion Of Can
ada and was brought to this country at
the age Of 2.
Only three OF the group, Gen. EN-
mons. Gen. McNair and Gen. ChafIee,
graduated from the Virginia Military
Institute. Two others have college ante
cedents. Gen. De Witt spent two years
at Princeton, and Gen. Brees holds a
degree of bachelor of science from the
University Of Wyoming. In years, the
eight range from 50 to 63. The present
retirement age for lieutenant generals
and major generals is 64.
Gen. Drum and Gen. Chaffee derive
from Army families. The formers father.
Capt John Drum, u. S. A., was killed
at the battle Of San Juan, Santiago,
Cuba The latter's father, 1t. Gen.
Adna r. Chaffee now dead, was at
one time chief of staf1. Gen. Marshall,
Gen. Drum, Gen. De Witt, Gen. En-
mons, Gen. Chaffee and Gen. McNair
started their careers with commissions
or appointments as second heutenants
in the Regular Army. Gen. Brees be-
gan as first lieutenant in q volunteer
regiment.
Having enlisted in volunteer infan-
try company during the Spanish-Amer-
lean War, Gen. Lear Is the only one
to have mounted from the ranks. Among
other accomplishments, he has taught
horseshoeing and competed In Olympic
games as an expert rife and pistol
marksmen. So eminent q. cavalier was
s{va hA u,as
member of the War Department team
at the International Horse Show in
London.
Six Wear Medals.
As the youngest of the group, age 50,
Gen. Emmons is the only one with
out combat experience, unless patrol
duty on the Mexican border in 1851
may be counted. Gen. Lear is unique
among the other seven in that he missed
overseas service during the World War.
Drum, Lear, Brees and De Witt are
veterans either of the Spanish-American
War of 1893 or the Philippine Insur-
rection OF 1So9-1s02. Gen. Marshall's
first combat service was in France.
This is true also Of Gen. McNair and
Gen. Chafiee.. Six Of the eight possess
the Distinguished Service Medal. Gen.
Emmons' biography lists no decorations.
Gen. Lear has the Silver Star and also
medal commemorating the Fifth
Olympiad.
At the summit Of the defense hierarchy
stands the President Of the United States.
Under the Constitution, he is commander
In chief Of both Army and Navy. The
head of the military establishment Is the
Secretary Of War. Gen. Marshalls f,lnc-
ton y dual. A. ehief of stan, hs = On
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