Evening star., 1942-11-16
By IVES GALLAGHER.

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, North
Africa, Nov. IS ODelayed 1t. Gen.
Dwight D. Gke) Eisenhower some
times gives the impression he would
like to trade his job as supreme
commander of the greatest am
phibious force ever created for a
rifle and good front-line spot.
The tough, Texas-born command
er who, with Admiral Sir Andrew
B. Cunningham, escaped with his
life recently only because a skillful
pilot conquered clouds and mist be-
fore gasoline gave out, blurted out
the other day: Hell, I'm not seeing
enough of this darn war"
The man who has tens of thou
sands at his call, from privates to
admirals. Is unable to fulfill his
honest desire-to see front-line ac-
ton.
Sixteen hours day he is at his
| desk, swapping out decisions with
| a speed and Sure-handedness which
excite the envy of all who watch
! him.
OAACiy htCItCu DASASGCEs
The flying trip which nearly ended
In disaster was one of the few occa-
sions on which Gen. Eisenhower
has been able to break away from
headquarters. With Admiral Cum
ningham, British commander of
Allied naval forces in this theater,
he flew to Algiers in a Flying
Fortress to look over the military
and political situation.
On the return trip the plane ran
into foul weather and visibility was
less than 40 feet. His staff made
frantic effort to order the plane to
another field to avoid the dangerous
flying conditions, but the plane
already was short of fuel and the
order didn't get through anyway.
With clouds and mist almost
touching the ground, the pilot, 1t.
A. E. Aenchhacker, brought the
plane in and later received a COM
mandatory letter from Gen. Eisen-
hover.
MY staff was mad as hell at me-"
the general said later.
| Besides decision of military STRAIT
egy, the supreme commander must
handle delicate political matters,
serve as head of the largest mass of
shipping ever gathered into one
force, direct the movements of two
complete air forces and see that
they are supplied with men and
material, and look after the welfare,
personal and military, of number
of men greater than that hired by
a great corporation.
Day Begins At S:15 AM.
That, in part, is the task of the
supreme commander During the
first 48 hours preceding and after
the start of the North African Of
fensive, Gen. Eisenhower had ex-
actly one hours sleep.
On an average day, his orderly
wakes him at Sis am. with cup
of coffee in the small room which
serves as his bedroom. The orderly
is followed Immediately by one of
three chiefs Of staff, who has been
on duty during the night, with the
! complete reports of the night.
While taking his bath and dress
ing Gen. Eisenhower listens to the
reports and makes decisions which
are transmitted at once to the field
commanders.
Most of these orders are informal,
such as this one to Maj Gen. George
s. Patton, jr., in French Morocco a
few days ago:
Dear George: Algiers has been
ours for two days. Oran defenses
crumbling rapidly with Navy shore
batteries surrendering. Only tough
nut left to crack is in your hands.
Crack 1t open quickly"
1t was signed Ike"
After breakfast at 8 am, Gen,
Eisenhower leaves his secret head
quarters, usually in an informal fly
ing jacket, riding breeches and
boots.
His desk is usually piled high with
dispatches to and from Washington
and London.
Writes Voluminous Reports.
BY the time Gen. Eisenhower has
nnlSneo MS reports TO the British
and American chiefs of stan and to
Gen. George c. Marshall, chief of
the United States Army staff, and
satisfied the desire of Prime Minis
ter Winston Churchill for every bit
Of news, he has done more writing
than any Of the four reporters at
tached to his headquarters.
These reports are constantly in
terrupted by conferences with Ad-
miral Cunningham, Brig. Gen.
James H. Doolittle, British Air Vice
Marshal w. l. Welsh. 1t. Gen. Mark
w. Clark or with any Of his COM
manders.
BY some means, he deals with all
as personal friends, but at the same
time there Is never any question Is
to who's boss"
Lunch IS sometimes eaten at his
desk. Several times daily, with 1
stride that makes the stan run to
keep up with him, he visits the war
! room," where he takes In the mill