Evening star., 1943-05-18
Maj. Gen. GiI|em Now
Acting Chief Of
Armored Forces
Skilled Toctieeion, Who
Rose From Ranks, Takes
Over Gen. Devers' Job
By NELSON M. SHEPARD.

BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.
From tank experts available II
this country to head the armoree
force, the War Department ha.
chosen one Of the few senior com.
manderS to rise from the ranks
Maj. Gen. Alvan c. Gillem, jr., who
only eight years ago was ROTC of.
f1cer at the University Of Maryland
Designated as acting chief to sue
ceed 1t. Gen. Jacob L. Devers, now
in command Of United States forces
in the European theater OF opera
tions, Gen. Gillem took over his new
duties at Fort Knox, KY, late yes
terday. He had formerly command
ed the I'd Armored Corps.
Whether he is later to receive
permanent appointment as chief OF
the armored force was not made
known at this time. If he is, he
will be promoted to lieutenant gen.
eral, a rank that corresponds to the
Importance of his new command.
33 Years in Army.
Gen. Gillem, from Nogales, Ariz.
and Nashville, Tenn, his birthplace
rose to his present rank after 80
years Of varied and distinguished
army service. Like 1t. Gen. Joseph
Stilwell, who commands the India
Burma China area, he was one of
the few officers still in the army
that participated in the Siberian
campaign with Allied forces in 1919
20. There he encountered Japa-
nese officers, an experience that may
help him in the future, as it has
helped Gen. Stilwell.
Since Gen. Devers' transfer from
Fort Knox, there has been consider
able speculation over the appoint
ment Of a new commander Of the
armored force. Gen. Gillem's, name
had not figured prominently, but in
making him acting chief, the War
Department has chosen one Of the
most experienced men in this COM
paratively new branch Of the service
Gen. Gillem, at IS, is vigorous and
matured as handler Of tanks. In
maneuvers he got the reputation OF
being a hard campaigner and skilled
tactician. He came up into the serv-
ice the hard way, through the in
fantry.
Born in Nashville August 8, 1888
he enlisted in the 18th Infantry at
the age Of 21. After IA months in
the ranks he was commissioned q
second lieutenant.
At MARYLAND II IN 1o2n.
Gen. Gillem is not only we'll known
in Washington official circles, but
has many friends here, who recall
him as professor Of military science
and tactics at Maryland UNIVERSITY
from August, 1880, to June 80. 1885
Like many old timers in the serv.
Ice, he has done tours Of duty over
seas-twice in the Philippines and
also In Hawaii. In more recent
years he has had important duties
In training and commanding vari.
ous armored divisions.
A captain in the last World War
he was ordered to Siberia with the
27th Infantry in the summer OF
1919, after the Armistice and durine
the disturbances there. Promoted
later to major, he was sent with
his regiment eight months later te
Manila and after a tour also in Ha-
wau he returned to this country
for more army schooling.
He WIS graduated from the Com.
mand and General Staff School al
Fort Leavenworth, Kan, and two
years later, in 1925, he graduated
from the Army War College. He
was then assigned to headquarter.
of the Third Corps Area, Balti.
more, Md.
Given Tank Unit.
From College Park, Gen. Gillen
was sent as an instructor to the In.
fantry School, Fort Benning, Ga
While there in 1910 he was placec
in command of the first tank unit
the 66th Infantry.
From the start Of the prepared
ness program, Gen. Gillem has beer
IN the thick Of tank training. He
was assigned to duty with the &c
Armored Division under the now 1t
Gen. George s. Patton, jr., and late,
given command Of the Sd Division
at Camp Polk, La. His actions ir
the early maneuvers had caught the
eye Of superiors and he was ap-
pointed commanding general Of the
I'd Armored Corps, which consists
OF two or more divisions.
While the Tunisian campaign and
earlier British victory at Ell Alameiu
demonstrated swift changes in the
employment Of tanks in battle. 1t
Gen. Lesley j. McNair, recently re-
turned from North Africa, has said
the question of tanks is still "un-
resolved"
Gen. Gillem, as well as other tank
commanders In this country, are fol-
lowing the latest tactical trends re-
vealed on the front and none has
lost faith In the tank when properly
used. That Use is to avoid the new
tank destroyer guns, when possible :
break through holes in the line and
encircle and envelop the enemy
forces.