Detroit evening times., 1942-07-01
Allies Must
Place Best
Man at Helm
Politics, Diplomacy Should
Not Sway Choice
By PAUL MALLON

az dSi dlli ' " Y lidNN
been creeping into the press
suggesting that the Canadian
Gen. Andrew George Latta Nc
Naughton might be chosen TO
head the British and American
armies invading Europe.
His choice would be a compro-
mise. Both Americans and Brit
ish would prefer 10 have one OF
their own in command.
Not a lot is known of General
McNaughton here. He was an
artilleryman in the World War
and Canadian chief of staff for
six years before 1885. In this
war ne was in France. before
Dunkirk in command of the first
division. Lately he has been in
command of Canadian forces in
England.
Next TO production Of equip
ment. the selection of generals is
the most vital matter of war.
The Libyan campaign is proving
this pointedly at the moment.
but il was true back in the Civil
War and beyond.
Obviously generals should not
be chosen for any other reason
than superior ability-not for
political reasons, not for diplo-
matte compromises.
The man needed 10 head the
invasion OF Europe must be the
best man in the armies OF the
United Nations for that job.
Until somebody arises and says
McNaughton qualities on that
ground and proves il. there may
be some dissatisfaction with the
suggestion.
Meanwhile neral Mac
Arthur, who is clearly the best
of ours 10 show himself thus far,
and better than aHy-eHe the
British or Canadians have shown.
is defending Australia, a job
which seems likely to require
less ingenuity than the creation
of a second front.
A SEMIOFFf6fAL British ac-
"A counting for the Libyan dis
aster (which is probably more
than semD, traces all their
troubles back to General RICHES
premature counter-attack three
weeks ago June ~.
He did not realize the NaZi
tank strength, having received
inadequate reconnaissance re-
ports. and threw his tanks into
daring and risky maneuver
which shattered British armor
power enabling Rommel to seize
the initiative. The British have
been on the run since.
Incidentally, after all the COM
menting that has been done
about the magnificent German
8S nm. tank guns, this account
ing shows the superior German
fire power was not based alone
on this gun. which is mobile
artillery field piece. The Ger
mans had AZ nm. and Is nm.
guns in their tanks, while the
bulk of the British tanks Wal
entines and Matildas). carried a
shorter range two-pounder.
This means our General Grants.
with their 75s are still a match
for the Nazi any day. In this
connection the semiofficial Brit
ish report says:
"The British had a number Of
General Grant tanks, but not
enough of them"
Thus il appears that while the
British had superiority in tanks
tas well as planes, ships and
troopS). they did not have the
right kind. Their big six
FOUNDER anti-tank guns began to
arrive after Rommel started the
campaign, but not in sufficient
numbers.
MO ONE here minimizes the
~ gravity OF what the British
have been defending in Egypt.
II is not just the Suez Canal.
but the whole Middle East and
its oil. in fact, the future course
OF the war.
If driven from Alexandria and
Cairo they would presumably re-
tire into Palestine and Syria
1where they have a very small
force) TO defend the MoSul oil
fields.
Such a defense could not
easily be maintained over long
period. with Hitler possessing
inner lines of supplies and undis-
puted hold on the whole Medi-
terranean, which would become
an Axis lake. Turkeys neutrality
would come under Nazi super
vision.
Hitler's acquisition of Middle
East oil and a possible juncture
later with the Japs. through
Persia and India. could at least
add a couple of years on the
war
COMMUNIST Sympath izerS
Y and their Daily Worker are
trying now 10 call even the state
department "NaZi.'
This govern m ent has at
@ m pt @ d TO help the French
along moderately in order 10
keep the French fleet and Afri-
can bases out of Nazi hands.
The policy has worked fairly
well so far. Now two ships are
loading in New York with low
grade kerosene. cotton textiles,
sugar and tea for French West
r. L