Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1945-01-08
.THEWOR
IN REVIEW
BY Maj. Gen.
D. P. Barrows
IN ESTIMATING the Allied

Sleut surprise THRUST INTO the
Ardennes forest. there is much
criticism being directed at the
military intelligence service of
the Allied armies.
To appreciate what is in
volved in these criticisms we
must understand what military
intelligence is and what an On
fortunately minor part it has
played in the history of Ameri-
can wars.
In the planning of battle
there are two ma or staff
functions. They are called
Operations and military in
teiligence.
In all modern armies they are
entrusted TO two assistant gen.
ersl staff officers and their
sections, called &c 3" and &c g."
Both are advisory to the conf
mander.
On the basis of their knowl-
edge and counsel, the COM
mander makes his decisions.
CONTINUOUSLY. in the prog
~ ress of campaign, and
practically every night follow
ing day of fighting, G 3 should
be able to inform the COM
mander as TO the position,
situation and fighting strength
of every unit of his command.
The questions are whether
the troops are fit to fight on
the following day, what have
been their casualties. are their
requirements ready. have they
munitions and supplies. and,
very Importantly, is il time to
draw in the reserves
1t is the basis OF the COM
mander's decision as to what he
viii do.
Shall he withdraw. stand and
dig in. or shall he attack, and if
so. where?
All of this analysis is a very
difficult task.
But the task Of G 2 is even
more difficult, for he must adj
wise the commander. on CORE
spending facts in regard to the
enemy. Above all, the enemy's
design must be penetrated.
every opportunity open to him
explored, and before a COM
mander can decide what he will
do with his own force. he must
be enlightened as to the proba-
BILE intentions of the foe.
THIS is the important role in
Il war of military intelligence.
And l am compelled to admit,
from what knowledge I have Of
the matter. that American
armies have generally neglected
1t, misunderstood its Importance.
and even treated it with dis
favor.
Military intelligence is funda-
mental in the conduct of war.
Throughout our history in
battle there has been a DISPOSE
ton to make light of exact
knowledge of the opponents
strength, his positions, and the
opportunities open TO him.
The American attitude has
been, Let the enemy come
wherever he will, and we will
lick him." This is our tradi-
ton.
Our military history began
with great soldier. George
Washington.
He always knew more about
the British forces than they
know about his.
So ne achieved some sur
priSes, of which Trenton and
Yorktown are the best known.
But following the Revolution,
and the utter deterioration of
military interest in America,
military intelligence was wholly
neglected, and has never fully
recovered.
TN THE Mexican War, Gen.
i Zachary Taylor, "old rough
and ready" won a military rep
utation that gained him the
presidency of the United States.
But he never knew anything
about the Mexican forces, under
Gen. Santa Anna.
This indifference almost lost
him, by a hairs breadth. the
decisive battle of Buena Vista.
In the Civil War this indiffer-
ence continued.
In the first world war preju-
dice against the military intelli-
gence service still existed in the
line.
This, as I then saw il, was
because its role was not prop
erly understood, and il was
given tasks destructive of its
usefulness.
Instead of being confined TO
its own role, il was given i'm
proper responsibilities having to
do with morale.
Some assignments directed its
attention 10 the morals" of our
own officers and men.
Many thought il was a spy
organization. working within
our own country and our own
ranks.
This tended 10 make IL as
unpopular as an inforIner in a
boys school.
Thus the prejudice against
military intelligence was per-
petuated.