Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-13
Allies 10 Decide Soon
On Fate OF German
General Staff Officers
sy the Associated Press

Ey the Associated Press.
FRANKFURT, July 13.-Gen
Eisenhower and Field Marshal
Montgomery are expected to decide
soon on what to do with the Ger
man general staff.
At midnight tonight supreme
headquarters of the Allied Expedi-
tionary Force will be dissolved, but
the problem Of handling the hun
dreds Of high ranking staff and
field officers of the German Army
who are prisoners of the western
Allies awaits final disposition.
British and American officers held
informal discussions on the matter
during Gen. Eisenhower's absence.
These conversations touched on
the possibility of breaking UP the
German general stan and condemn
ing its members to exile in British
crown colonies throughout the
world, but the talks were regarded
as no more than ground clearing
expeditions assembling data to be
presented to Eisenhower and Mont
gomery.
Some Expected TO Be Shot.
OF the captured German military
hierarchy one SHAEF officer said:
Some Of them ought to be shot
as criminals and undoubtedly will
be. Others must be regarded purely
as military figures who carried out
military orders. All these officers
are still In uniform and are CLASH
fed strictly as military prisoners.
THE greatest emphasis, however,
is placed on the members of the
general staff. The general staff in
Germany Is special clique, almost
hereditary.
II don't know just how Eisen-
hover will do 1t, but ! can promise
you this-the German general staff
will be broken UP and destroyed so
that it can never function again."
Even lesser staff officers down to
the grades of majors and captains
are believed destined for the same
fate as general staff officers.
Speedy Settlement Hailed.
Meanwhile, Allied accord on prob
lens concerning the joint military
government Of Berlin was reached
in such spirit that responsible
sources are highly optimistic over
future meetings of the powerful
control council whose task will be to
direct the governing of all Ger
many.
1t was learned that speedy and
amicable settlement of major prob
lens was achieved at the Berlin
meetings by Marshal Georgi K. zhu-
kov, 1t. Gen. Lucius D. Clay of
Marietta, Ga, and 1t. Gen. Sir Rom
aid Weeks of Great Britain.
In effect their meetings to solve
initial problems concerning Berlin
constituted gathering Of the con-
troll council, since Marshal zhukov
is the Russian council member, Gen.
Clay is Gen. Eisenhower's deputy,
and Gen. Weeks represents Marshal
Montgomery.
misunderstanding at Lower Levels.
The friction that developed when
British and Americans took over
their respective zones Of occupa-
ton, it was learned, was confined to
lower levels and did not enter the
discussions of the policy-making
group, who were "in complete har-
mony."
What Misunderstanding devel-
oped, it was understood, resulted
from language difficulties, slowness
of communications or normal diff
ferences in procedure.
Gen. Eisenhower expressed graft
tude and admiration today to all
the soldiers who fought under his
command in one of the last an
nouncements to come from SHAEF,
which will be dissolved at 1901 a n
tomorrow.
No official ceremonies are planned
for the dissolution and SHAEF will
slide into history with as little fam
fare as accompanied the generals
return to his desk here after his
visit to the United States. :
Eisenhower's Message.
The supreme commanders mes
sage stated:
THE task to which we set our
selves is finished and the time has
come for me to relinquish the COM
bined command.
I'm the name Of the United States
and the British Commonwealth,
from whom my authority is derived,
1 should like to convey to you the
gratitude and admiration of our two
nations for the manner in which
you have responded to every demand
that has been made upon you.
"At times conditions have been
hard and the task to be performed
arduous. No praise is too high for
the manner in which you have sur
mounted every obstacle.
II should like, also, to add my own
personal word of thanks to each
one of you for the part you have
played, and the contribution you
have made to our joint victory.
Now that you are about to pass
TO other spheres of activity, say
to you and wish you good luck and
Godspeed."
Al