Evening star., 1941-08-17
BY RICE YAHNER,
Tha Gtoris GnanisI Mare Saru;s 4.


A pair Of ex-privates, neither
born IN this country, are grooming
two field armies for the Nations
most spectacular military show.
Soon Lieut.. Gems. Ben Lear and
Walter Kruger will match wits in
simulated battles that stretch across
half of Louisiana and involve almost
half million men. Their Sep
tember warfare, though bloodless,
will be as realistic as it can be made
in peacetime.
A little more than 40 years ago
Gen. Lear and Gen. Kruger were
recruits. Now each wears three
stars, just one short of the most a
United States soldier can get. They
command two of the four biggest
fighting units in the land.
Privates, non-coms and line on
GERS of the regiments in their divi-
sions have been perfecting teamwork
through most of the summer. Now
they are dovetailed into complex
field armies-with great problems
Of administration and supply to say
nothing Of movement in strange
country-to demonstrate how well
they function as a great machine of
modern war
| Coordinate All Branches.
In the field exercises, fighting and
bombing planes, swift armored di-
visions, horse cavalry and motorized
infantry must be co-ordinated. AL
| Ypayycf Uyapk fNoafhAr AafIaISv
promptly.
Such 4 task will utilize to the
utmost the strategy and field gen.
eralship OF Gen. Lear and Gen.
Kruger, both of whom have been
the full distance Of the military
ladder. Both enlisted as privates
during the Spanish.American War,
served in the Philippines and on the
Mexican border. Both are native
Of foreign nations-Lear Of Canada
and Kruger of West Prussia. Gen
Lear is 81, two years older than
Gen. Kruger.
But there the likeness bekins to
fade In their respective careers.
Few, seeing tall and ramrod. straight
Gen. Lear striding down Z street or
across . field In uniform, would mis-.
take him for any one but . high
omcer. Short and wiry Gen. Krue.
ger, on the other hand, often has
moved among his men in the Held
at night, asking how the food Is or
how the privates are withstandins
maneuvers, without being recog-
nized.
Gen. Kruger was brought to this
country at the age OF 8, attended
public schools in the Midwest and
LETT high school in Cincinnati to
go to his home in Madison, Ind,
to enlist at the outbreak OF the
panish-American War. After serv-
Ice in the Philippines, he was COM
missioned second lieutenant.
Went to France in 1917.
BY the summer Of 1917 he was a
major and assistant chief Of stan
OF the S4th Division. In February
OF the next year he went overseas
and attended the General Sta11 Col
lege At Langres, France, for four
months and then became assistant
chief Of stan Of the 26th Division,
During that time, 1t was in the de.
1ensive sectors at Toul and near
Chateau Thierry. A month later,
he was brought back to the United
States and returned to the seth
Division which went to France in
August.
Gen. Kruger was educated prin-
cipally in the Army's hard school Of
heid service and its colleges Of
specialties. He became chief Of the
Tank Corps Of the A. e. =. 4 month
before the armistice, remained
abroad until May, 1919. Then came
more school, hrst Is q student and
then as an instructor.
The Army didn't have enough
schools for him. He tried the Navy
and was graduated from the Naval
War College in May, 1896. Then he
went to the Air Corps Primary
Flying School 1T Brooks Field, Tex.
At both places he dropped his rank
and was only a student. However,
in two years he was ordered to the
Naval War College stan tor q four.
year tour Of duty.
Recent Assignments.
In the last seven years he has
commanded the 9Th Infantry, has
been IN the war plans division Of
the War Department General staff,
commanded the Second Division and
the Eighth Army Corps. He has
been lieutenant general since May.
Everything about him IL positive.
Maybe" doesn't seem to be q part
of his vocabulary. There Is never
any doubt of his meaning. His
words are hrassy with conviction,
but he doesn't like TO see them In
print.
His life is the Army and he works
at it day and night. His son is Q
captain. The generals intimate
friends hardly remember when he
took . vacation, and officers, with 4
little less zeal, find him q sharp.
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