Evening star., 1942-10-05
Our Commander in Europe
Gen. Eisenhower, Proves Popular Both
With U. S. Soldiers and the British

l w w W4tAA PA0iuAA1lS OclCllSSS WHICH
gave the Japanese so much trouble.
The first thing that impresses you
about Gen. Eisenhower is the vivid
ness OF his personality. It hits you
as soon as you enter the room with
him.
The general IS big fellow, but he
moves with the east that comes from
well-trained, supple muscles. May
be that is largely the heritage Of his
youthful days, for he was cowboy
in his home country around Abilene,
Kans., before he went to West Point
Certainly his daily workout with q
medicine ball keeps him toned, up.
I watched him manipulate a bat
terry of telephones and give quick,
incisive answers without losing the
thread OF his conversation with me.
1t might have been a stage play
If it hadn't been the stern busi-
ness Of war.
inherently Diplomatic.
should say that diplomacy is one
OF the generals inherent char
acteristics, but he doesn't beat about
the bush. His approach to any
points is exceedingly direct and he
never cutters up speech with un-
necessary words.
All this, gives the impression OF
honesty Of thought. You feel he
isn't trying to lead you up an alley.
In this respect Gen. Eisenhower
is much like our commander In
chief in the First World War. Gen.
Pershing, as found him on the
battlefront. was straight talker
who knew what he wanted to say
and said it.
Gen. 'Ike" and BLACKJACK" Persh-
ing are somewhat alike in another
respect-as their soldiers will tell
you-and that has to do with dis
cipline. Gen. Pershing used to be
hell on wheels in this matter.
During the last war Yankee
soldier told me he saw Gen. Pershing
give trimming to major who had
saluted sloppily on the parade
ground Of Caserne at Blois, France.
The general backed the major up
against a wall and made him salute
steadily for several minutes. At the
end of the ordeal Gen. Pershing
snapped:
THE next time you salute su-
perior officer do it correctly"
I can't vouch for the story but it
sounded all right, for 1t had
Pershing ring. I haven't heard any,
thing like that about Gen. Eisen-
hover, but he has very tidy repu-
tation as q disciplinarian himself.
Yves Gallagher, correspondent for
Wide World and, the Associated
Press. recently reported the. gen.,
erals code. for his men as follows:
I'VE should not make the mistake
that morale can be produced by,
pampering and by lowering OF stand
ards to permit greater ease OF Iv-
ing, y...,... -t'.-' - -
That creed is being applied to
our boys in the British Isles. They
are working hard and intensively,
and the best part of it is they have
full understanding OF the necessity
of painstaking preparation for the
bloody task that lies before them.
They understand fully they're going
up against the most powerful fight
ing machine ever created-or at
least it was the most powerful be-
fore it started hurting itself against
the amazing Russians.
Our troops have been made to
realize they not only must make
themselves expert in the tricks of
killing and of self f-defense. Thus We
find them training like gladiators
five days a week without thought of
hardships. Then they are allowed
to relax for two days to prevent
training and going stale men,
tally and physically.
Thus Gen. Eisenhower's PERSONAL
ity and character are being felt
from headquarters right down
through the rank and file.