Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-10
SomerveII
Proves Wise
Choice in Job
General Cuts Red Tape
to Supply Forces
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON


reorganization of the war
department was made effective.
II was wise move for the war
department TO clean its own
house and Streamline peacetime
procedures for war emergency.
Today the three branches are
functioning efficiently, but the
outstanding job, and the most
difficult job in the whole pic
ture, was that given TO Lieut..
Gen. Brenon Somervell. the
commanding general of the
services of supply.
| know what that job entails.
I tried 10 do something along
that line in the first World War,
but Somervell. in the short
period of a month, has gone
much farther than we were able
TO do, or were permitted TO do.
He has quietly, efficiently and
effectively gone about the job
of tieing in and combining re-
lated functions. eliminating red
tGrc and time-conSuming pro-
ccdures. cleaning his house of
deadwood, and at the same
time keeping the wheels going.
That is an accomplishment.
TT IS true that there is still
L much for him to do, but the
American people can rest as
sured that he will do the job.
More and more of the old die
hard. tradition-bound. regular
army brass hats have been in
Spired by the vigorous and
precedent breaking leadership
of Somervell.
Somervelfis first order was 10
drop the word defense" and Use
the word war" Other federal
agencies could follow that same
directive.
His second order. which was
most important. was 10 delegate
10 the lower echelonS the au-
thority for direct action. thereby
eliminating routine channels.
The necessity for this action can
be recognized by any one who
has had experience in Wash
ington.
Not satisfied with the routine
reports he was receiving from
the field, he selected a team OF
qualified. brilliant young officers
and sent them into one of the
largest industrial areas 10 get
first hand facts on how his
organization could help and fur
Their the efforts Of those pro-
ducing war equipment.
This is the first example. and
il is an encouraging one. of the
application of the principles OF
modern field generalShip TO the
problems of war supply. All the
civilian experts and leaders in
the United States could not give
that type of direction TO the
supply problems of a modern
army.
I KNOW Bill Somervell. have
L watched him closely through
his career in the army: later
when he started the task OF
building the Florida canal and
did what other engineers thought
impossible: and when he fol-
lowed me in New York City in
the WPA.
No boondogglinC projects were
slipped over on Somervell in that
latter job, and no one is going
10 slip anything over on him in
doing his Job as long as he has
the authority and responsibility
10 do il.
This column is lust TO give
YOU another example Of what |
meant in enc of my previous
co'u~1nS when I said that there
arn lots If Cff'"0rS in 'hc army
OF the Mac thur cc'ibor. VIII
when given the opportunity. will
deliver the ball
You can rest assured that
Somcrvell will give them tho
opportunity because he cannot
stand a man who does rot de-
liver. He delegates authority.
but demands action.
The country sFoyl1 realize
that in Sor1ervcll tNov F3vn tho
Keystone Of Tire BRIDGE that vill
Gerry troops and supplies TO The
attack.
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