Evening star., 1947-05-22

this would have dealt with the oeVli niHlSeA'
At the time, Darlan was our only possible enec-
tive channel OF French command
Darlan's name had come up IN various con-
versations in our Loridon planning heaoquar-
ters and in cable communications with Wash
ington and with Mr.. Murphy. But simply as q
fairly important Frenchman who was not to
be trusted.
At Gibraltar it was my job to help Gen.
Eisenhower sweat out an agreement with Gil
raud as to his exact eventual place in the Allied
command setup. GFaud came to the Rock
tired after his submarine journey and proud at
the prospect Of returning to a position OF I'M
portance with his own fighting forces.
IKE and I shared small Office in deep,
solid rock tunnel within GIBBS labyrinth.
sat at my desk while Gen. Eisenhower, IN his
usual srave and pleasing manner, explained 10
Gen. Giraud just why we could not fmme-
diately promise him supreme command OF Ill
the Allied forces about to land in North Africa.
Giraud Wanted Top Position.
was amazed to see the Importance Giraud
placed upon his having the top job, and at what
seemed like obstinacy in his unwiningness to
understand we could not turn this post over to
a newcomer after the months Of planning ana
with the gigantic British and American re-
sources in men and equipment already COM
mitted to Torch
Gen. Eisenhower eventually felt he had ex-
hausted his own arguments and LETT me 10
argue further with Giraud. hammered away
at the Frenchman for hours, arguing that we
were prepared to give him command Of FTencn
forces In North Africa as soon as practical;
but insisting that was the best we could
promise.
Finally. In the wee small hours, Giraud said'
"In that case, shall return to France"
"How are you going back?" I asked.
1.-THE same way came"
mo, you're not, that is a one-way submarine
and it's not going back to France"
Then, Gen. Eisenhower suggested that as
we were all exhausted we should sleep on the
problem.
Next day Giraud was somewhat more amen
able. It was decided we would both go to
Algiers and he would become Immediately the
top Frenchman on the ground, commanding
all French troops-but no others.
That day, November 8, we received the hrst
message indicating Admiral Darlan's presence
In Algiers and, in fact, reserVing q place for
him In our calculations. The message was
! from Mai. Gen. Charles w. Ryder, U. s. A.,
commander of our Eastern Assault Force.
Gen. Ryder reported simply he had seen
Admiral Darlan and asked for instructions as
to what to do with him.
Giraud Went Underground.
Gen. Giraud and flew into Algiers the same
day November 9, 1912 in separate planes.
Giraud arrived several hours ahead OF me and
was apparently tipped off at once by his agents
that all was far from well In his personal
relations with the French in North Africa.
Instead of staying out in the open. Giraud
practically went underground in with
a French family in an obscure neighborhood.
He let us know where to find him, but kept out
Of sight.
My first briefng Of "on-th the-spot" conditions
came from Gen. Ryder and his staff at the
Hotel st. George. I had small party OF
officers with me, including Col Daryl Zanuck
who had come along to take pictures but was
Immediately pressed into service as courier,
intelligence agent and Intermediary in dozen
ticklish situations-which he invariably sue
cessfully ironed out.
Mlitarily, there was an armistice In the
Algers region, but 1t did not affect the re-
mainder of Algeria, Morocco or Tunisia. Spo-
radio fighting continued between French and
American forces. The most troublesome knowl-