The Wilmington morning star., 1943-11-11
European Invasion Staff

With the trans channel invasion of Europe
.,norent1v near, London is specializing upon
the possibility of Russian representation on
the staff which will direct that operation. The
opinion is voiced ny some observers that,
since unprecedented harmony proceeded from
the Moscow council room during the tripar-
tite parley, there is reason to think that Stain
will have an aide in London net merely to
report to him on decisions concerning the in
vasion reached by American and British staff
chieftains but as an actual participant in the
deliberations.
On the other hand, other observers, who may
be as well informed, are contenr to think that
while Moscow will be kept well informed Of
every move contemplated or made, the STRAIT
egg of invasion will be drafted by an Anglo
American staff
This discussion, which seems to have at
tracted wide attention in England, does not
have equal importance with the staff COM
mand London seems to take it for granted
that General Marshall will head the Anglo
American expeditionary forces with headquar-
Eisenhower will succeed him as American
chief of staff in Washington, with General
Alexander taking over in the Mediterranean
theater.
AS General Alexander has been second in
command since General Eisenhower moved
into Africa, he is the logical man for that
post but because of General Montgomery's
magnificent leadership in Africa and the
showing of his Eighth Army in Italy there are
many Americans and probably an equal num-
Der of Britons who would like to see him pro-
NOTED to that position. Perhaps he might
have been if he had not refused to take over
in Africa unless he was given sole authority
in the field and so incurred some displeasure
from Prime Minister Churchill
While there has been no official announce
ment that General Marshal is to command in
the western European theater it is the gen.
eral opinion in this country as we'll as in Brit
Eisenhower is to be the next United States
chief of staff Granting that this shift is most
probable, it is interesting to nota the British
opinion of the two men with regard to their
methods of dealing with American and British
officers 1t is conceded that they achieve
equally desirable ends but by routes as far
apart as the poles One London dispatch an
alyzes their methods SO logically it is worth
quoting:
The question has already been here Of
how will General Marshal compare with
General Eisenhower as Supreme Allied
Commander in this theater? The answer
is that he is expected to attain the same
unity by ompletely different method.
General Eisenhower in hlgiers has to
a considerable extent functicned as
sort of strategic chairman holding a stern
balance between the British and Ameri-
cans and refusing to tolerate any bias
either anti-British or anti-Ar1erican on
the part of any member of bis Inter
leaved' staff
General Marshall on the contrary &C.
cording to those who know him best fol-
lows rather different system He simply
refuses to let the question either of per-
sonalities or nationalities enter into the
picture.
He looks at each matter as it arises not
from an American nor, of course. from an
English viewpoint, but simply from the
viewpoint of its contribution to total vic
of his Joint Staff shall approach all stra-
tegic and priority questions with this same
attitude.