Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-11-16
The tert OF Gen. Eisenhoper's
statement tOdau before the Sem


the important task of exploring the
subject fully before you arrive at
your conclusions in the matter.
am therefore honored that you have
asked me to appear before you to
express my views on this vital
subject.
I come before you as soldier to
whom was entrusted the command
of the greatest combined force ever
brought to bear against an enemy
force composed of over five mil.
lion soldiers, sailors and airmer
brought together from the men ano
women of several nations, united in
common enterprise. More thar
three million of those who made
up the Allied Expeditionary Forces
in Europe were men and women OF
the United States Army, Navy and
Air Forces.
Unity Of Direction Was Factor.
I. therefore, prefer to speak to
you as one who has been privileged
to know such singular experience
and should like to speak also as
one who has experienced with them
the successful conclusion of a great
enterprise based on unity of COM
mand.
AS Allied commander of the land
sea and air forces, employed against
our enemies. first in the Mediter-
ranean and next in Northwest
Europe. I know that our efforts
would have met with failure without
unity OF direction. No system of
joint command could possibly have
brought victory to our cause.
But that unity of command in
the field, so vital to our success, was
not easily achieved. When war
came, at Pearl Harbor, we had joint
command. It was not until we sur.
prised the enemy in North Africa
that the first large example OF
unified command emerged. But II
was a new device and there were
many difficulties which yet remained
to be overcome.
Difficulties Were Met.
All of these had to be met and
surmounted during actual opera.
tions when lives were at stake. In
my opinion, those difficulties grew
directly from the traditional separa-
ton of the Army and Navy which
is the inevitable outcome of the
present organization of our military
departments. Separation at the tor
necessarily fosters separation ali
along the line
BY the time we we're ready to
assault Sicily we had achieved uni
fled command in that theater. We
had achieved it by learning as We
went-the hard way.
will not relate here In this forma,
statement the fascinating account
Of the amphibious assault under all
cover on the beaches of Normandy
Neither will I detail the magnificent
teamwork of the land, naval, ali
and supply forces, which combined
under single command to breal
through the crust of enemy resist.
ance at Saint Lo and finally to de.
stroy him in a pursuit to the yer,
heart of Germany.
All Arms Were Employed.
1t took timing, coordination ant
balance. And until final victory wa.
achieved, all three of the grea
co-equal arms were continuously EN-
ployed. 1t will not surprise tn,
members of this committee to recall
that the skill and knowledge of tn,
naval arm was not alone employed
on the seas but was brought to bea.
in the successful crossing Of tn,
Rhine.
After long and careful considera
ton, cannot perceive the logi,
behind the objections which ar,
voiced against the proposal befor'
you.
I am told that the task of tn,
civilian secretary, who would presid,
over such department, is beyon,
the capacity of any man. If thi
were true, then it follows that n,
man has the capacity to assume tn,
presidency Of the United States. I
was my responsibility to lead tn,
Allied Expeditionary Forces through
the European campaign.
Outlines Responsibility.
The force employed in this singl.
theater of war far exceeds the tota
peacetime establishment which thi
Nation would ever approve or couls
afford to maintain or in nv iudr.
ment would ever need. And m,
responsibilities did not alone relat,
to military operations. There were
in addition, enormous problems in,
volving military government. dis
placed persons and first aid to tn,
oppressed peoples of liberated coun,
tries. Surely such an objection can
not stand in the face Of experience
There is another objection, too
which / have heard expressed. Som,
have voiced the fear that the crea,
ton OF such single department,
would subordinate one fighting Sery
ice to another. Gentlemen, that i
rather an old story to me. Both Ii
Africa and Europe, 1t fell to my 10
to organize q fighting team o
ground, sea and air. Doubtless thes,
same fears were present In the mind
| Circulation, October, 1916
average net paid
The Evening Star III, IA
u MI G4..~ -