Evening star., 1943-09-21
General Chosen
Allied Chiefs
In Quebec Talks
Appointment Awaits
Approval of War
Cabinet in London
By KIRKE L. SIMPSON.

(copyright. 1943. by the Associated Press)
The blunt fact about Gen.
George c. Marshal, is that he is
tentatively slated to become vir-
tual global commander r-in-chief
OF all Anglo American forces in
the field, ground, sea and air.
and put into execution the pat
tern of victory East and West
shaped at the Quebec Confer
ence.
Just when an announcement to
that effect will be forthcoming from
London or Washington is uncertain,
This writer can say, however, that
the nomination Of the American
Army Chief of Staff for the task
was perhaps the major decision
reached at Quebec. If it meets the
final approval of the London war
cabinet as expected. it will put Gen.
Marshall at the head of a super
global field command with authority
to coordinate aggressive action on
all fronts under the Quebec strategic
directives.
1t will recognize, also, that in sue.
cessiye inter-Allied military confer
ences, from Washington to Casa.
blanca to Washington to Quebec, the
American Chief of Staff was the out.
standing contributor to the fashion.
Ing OF the strategic plans for victory.
Won Respect of British.
PuYparc fhof Gay, 4.
be eased out of his present Chief OF
Staff assignment because OF the
pressure of interests opposed to
him, presumably British, are in di-
rect conflict with the facts. The
Chief Of Staff has won the admira-
ton and respect of all the British
officials with whom he has come In
contact, including Prime Minister
Churchill.
The unprecedented scope OF his
contemplated ultimate command.
giving Gen. Marshall presumptive
authority even over Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower in the Mediterranean
theater. Gen. Douglas Macarthur
in the Southwestern Pacific and Ad-
miral Lord Mountbatten in South
eastern Asia, might stir debate in
Britain. 1t is understood to be
wholly acceptable to Canada, how
ever, and as far as known to French
forces in the Mediterranean.
One thing is absolutely certain.
Gen. Marshall stands so high in
President Roosevelt's estimation
both personally and for his profess
sional attainments that the White
House would veto any change in his
present assignment that Gen. Mar
shall himself opposed, that was not
definite recognition OF his abili-
ties and-perhaps most of all-that
Mr.. Roosevelt did not regard as an
important contribution to victory
over the Axis.
Smash Germany First"
The primary and dominating ele-
ment of Allied war plans still is to
smash Germany first, then turn the
full weight OF ever increasing Anglo
American armed power on Japan.
For that reason Gen. Marshall is
expected to assume command of
the direct attack across the Eng
lish channel on Germany in France
and the Low Countries" for which
Mr.. Churchill told Parliament to-
day the present MEDITERRANEAN cam
paign was "an essential prelimi-
nary"
"Our toughest job is to reach Ber-
lin and Marshall is the toughest
soldier we (the Allies have got to
do it," a high-placed Government
official told this writer today.
1t also was indicated that in Gen.
Marshall the Anglo-American Joint
Chiefs of Staff saw the only officer
of either nation to whose supreme
(See MARSHALL. Page A-91