Evening star., 1944-06-08
Eisenhower Declares
Confidence in Forces
Has Been Justified
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SUPREME ALLIED HEAD
QUARTERS, June 8.-Gen. Eisen-
hover declared today his complete
confidence in the ability of the
Allied armies, navies and airforces
to do all they are asked to do has
been completely justified"
"In the early landing operations
which are always naval. the two
Allied navies together with elements
of navy units of the United Ma
tions-under Admiral Ramsay have
excelled, in the high standard of
their planning and their execution,
any prior venture in which I have
seen them engaged" Gen. Eisen-
hover said.
THE long and brilliant campaign
conducted in the past month by the
combined air forces, including the
commands of Air Chief Marshal
Harris, Gen Spaatz and Air Chief
Marshal Leigh Mallory, was an es-
sentisl preliminary to the under
taking of the operation and has
proved its effectiveness by the fact
that the landing was made as
planned. Their good work is con-
tinuing.
Ground Forces Lauded.
Gen. Montgomery Is in imme-
diate and direct charge of all the
assault ground forces Under him
all the troops are performing mag
nificently."
Gen. Eisenhower and Admiral
Ramsay interrupted four -and-a-
half-hour cruise off the French in
vasion beaches long enough to di-
rect aid to handful of unknown,
drifting soldiers, it was learned to-
day.
On the way to their shipboard
conference with operational COM
manders, Gen. Eisenhower and Ad-
miral Ramsay were informed that
q landing barge had been sighted
lurching helplessly at one side of
the convoy.
The men aboard Signaled that
they needed help and the answering
signal from the bridge of the fast
British naval vessel carrying the
two Allied leaders said word of their
plight would be relayed to the next
home-going ship. A returning land
Ing craft was passed only mile or
80 nearer France and was given the
location of the drifting barge.
Within Five Miles of Enemy.
Gen. Eisenhower and Admiral
Ramsay's meeting with high officers.
including Gen. Montgomery and
Rear Admiral Alan Goodrich Kirk.
commander of the United States
naval task forces in the invasion
operation, was held in the midst of
an armada of thousands of ships.
The supreme commander left an
English coastal town to attend the
meeting only "a hours after the earIy
landing operations. At one point
the conference was carried on within
b miles Of the enemy because Gen.
Eisenhower felt he could thereEy get
better communications.
AT one stage Of the cruise there
was hardly room on the deck for
the clustered generals and admirals
TO pass each other.
Satisfied With Conference.
AS Gen. Montgomery, in corduroy
trousers and fleece lined Jacket.
bobbed away from the side of the
ship IN his launch at the end of the
session a lieutenant had to break
up the crowd of sailors at the rail.
Gen. Eisenhower grinned, stuck up
his thumb and called after Gen.
Montgomery:
Good luck to you" #@aY
The supreme commander showed
satisfaction at the results of his
conference on his return. Early in
the landing operations he had in
formed newsmen that he planned
such a visit.
Gen. Eisenhower also had a his
toric conference Sunday night with
Prime Minister Churchill, Gen.
Charles de Gaulle, British Foreign
Secretary Anthony Eden and Prime
Minister Jan Christian Smuts of
the Union of South Africa. He sub
sequently reported complete agree
ment was reached on military mat
ters with the French.
1t was not disclosed how much of
the touchy zone of transitional ad-
ministration of liberated territories
was included in military matters"