The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-09-01
Yonk Troops Have Faith I'm Leaders

| can soldiers advanced relentlessly through enemy lines in Sicily and will continue to do so in future campaigns because they are inspired by confidence in the ability and judgment of their leaders, Hugh Baillie, president of the United Press, said last night in nation wide (NBC) radio broadcast.
 Baillie, who returned recently from @ trip that took him to Eng land, North Africa and the front lines in Sicily, paid tribute to Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower as "the type of leader who plans every move ir advance" and as one "who doesn't move until he is sure he has plenty of everything"
 The Sicilian operation demon strated, Baillie said, what the AL lies can do when they can accumu- late troops, ammunition and SUD- plies for drive on given point Eiyenhower's plans, he said, even allow for temporary setbacks and delays, SO that they are absorbed without the general advance being retarded.
 No Gambler Chances
 of course, the knowledge that this Is true gives the individual sol- dier 6 great deal of confidence" Baillie said. T believe that our sol- diers feel they are being com manded by men who know exactly what they are doing and who aren't going to take any gambling chances. This was certainly true in Sicily and I expect 1t will be the same in the campaigns which are to follow"
 Baillie said he noted one differ ence between this war and the last that the highest officers seem to be right up in the lines with the men"
 There wouldn't be much chance to make up song in this war about the general getting the Croix de Guerre and not even being there" Baillie said. He told of finding one colonel who had his headquarters at a spot where German shells went overhead frequently. The colonel said he wanted to be with his men, Men in Fine Condition
 Telling of the difaculty of the soldiers in rough terrain before Troina and in the advance toward Messina Baillie praised the physical condition and training of the Amer ican soldiers.
 And the spirit of the troopS was high" he added. "They knew they were going to win. There never was the slightest thought of the Ger mans checking us seriously or break ing through with a unter-attack." :"
 Much of the Sicilian fighting was on a man to man basis, Baillie said and in the northern end of the island 1t was a continuous struggle for the possession of roads. He re- called seeing one German gun stop ping thousands of advancing Amer jeans by dropping shell precisely on the road every two minutes. The column stopped long enough to elim- mate the battery.
 | No Singing
 Baillie found that the American soldier does not sing in this war he's too busy with hts field equip ment.
 Engineers, he said, performed miracles" in building detours around blown up bridges and in removing land mines.
 Americans are not known as 'doubhboys," but as "Yanks" in this war, he said.
 Baillie noted that "a bath, inci- dentally is a thing most highly de- sired on a battlefield like that of Sicily where there is so much dust and 30 little water"
 In England which he left 10 days ago Baillie said he found a differ ent kind of warfare in progress aerial battles. In his talk with American combat pilots, he said. "I didn't find one who had any feel ing of compassion for the Germans or any feeling that there may be few good Germans here and there"
 They are out to burn Germany down." Baillie said, "and they have already made a very good start"