Evening star., 1942-08-16

oIl ldSI FeDruaTy Ine war Depart
ment announced the creation of the
Combined Chiefs of Staff Of the United
States and Great Britain, to insure COM
plete coordination of the war effort of
the two countries, including production
and distribution of military supplies, and
collaboration with the United Nations
associated in prosecution of the war
against the Axis powers"
The American members are Gen.
George c. Marshall, Army Chief of Staff;
Admiral Ernest J. King Commander in
Chief of the United States Fleet and
Chief of Naval Operations, and 1t Gen.
Henry H. Arnold, commander of the
Army Air Forces. Their British COL
leagues, who are not staff chiefs but
representatives of the Imperial General
Staff in London. are Field Marshal Sir
John Dill Admiral Sir Charles Little, 1t.
Gen. Sir Coville Wemyss and Air Vice
Marshal Douglas c. F. Evil.
The War Department explained further
that this body would have two subdivi-
sions, British and American, and that the
latter would be known as the United
States Joint Chiefs of Staff. It's mem
bers are Gen. Marshall Admiral King
and Gen. Arnold. Their functions are
the same as those of the Combined
Chiefs of Staff, but in the domestic
rather than international field.
Each of these organs of grand strategy
held conferences once week, and the
Combined Chiefs of Staff were some
times joined by representatives of the
Soviet Union, China and Holland. Six
months passed, and the most important
desk in both organizations remained
vacant AS Gen. Marshall frequently
protested, neither the Combined nor
Joint Chiefs of Staff possessed head
On July 81 President Roosevelt, for the
first time in history, created the post of
Chief of Staff to himself as Commander
In Chief of the American armed forces,
and chose for the new post Admiral
William Daniel Leahy, former Chief of
Naval Operations, Governor of Puerto
Rico and Ambassador to Vichy, France.
The President explained that Admiral
Leahy would relieve him of routine and
detail by taking over leg work and sum-
mary and index jobs.
Revolutionary Step.
This definition was interpreted every
where as typical White House pleasan-
try, since there was nothing in the ad-
mirals record and character to indicate
that he would accept the office of a
gloriied Office boy and file clerk. The
correctness of such suspicious has now
been established
1t can be revealed, apparently for the
first time in any public print, that Ad-
miral Leahy promptly took possession
of the great vacant desk in the Com
bined Chiefs of Staff Building on Con-
stitution avenue and began at once, with
characteristic resolution, to preside over
all sessions of both the Combined and
Joint Chiefs of Staff. His desk will soon
be shifted into the White House itself,
although, unlike Harry L. Hopkins, he is
not expected to reside there
AS personal agent of the President,
clothed by delegation with sufficient
quantity of the latters extraordinary
war powers Admiral Leahy took prece-
dence over all the seven British and
American officers concerned, including
even Field Marshal Dill, who alone eXcels
him III actual rank. Far from White
House leg man, Admiral Leahy emerged
as top strategic officer of the American
armed forces and their ace representa-
tive in United Nations affairs.
IT goes without saving that SIIch q do
velopment is revolutionary, and that 1t
constitutes one of the years major ad-
vances In the Job Of winning the war.