Evening star., 1947-01-12
Nation 5 No. / Soldier N0U Patterns Peace

Not an Appeaser,
but Is Willing to
Compromise
young lieutenant in Manila, his
commanding officer. 1t, Gen. j.
Franklin Bell, who himself had been
Chief of Staff, described him as "the
greatest military genius since Stone
wall Jackson" At the time, that
was the highest praise an American
officer could give. But Jackson, great
as he was, never maneuvered more
than $4,000 men at one time and his
operations were confined to the
Southeastern States; at about the
same age, Marshall, then a colonel,
maneuvered 100000 men without a
hitch for the American offensive at
st. Mihiel in September, 1918. At
the peak of World War II, he
deployed more than 100000 men
over two hemispheres.
His crowded military experience
has trained Gen. Marshall to think
in g!obal terms about many fronts,
an experience that will be invaluable
to him when he takes over Secretary
Byrnes' duties in Washington and at
the international conferences.
Throughout his military career,
he has associated with great men,
political as well as military. They
relied on him as he must now rely
on others to whom he delegates au-
thority. Gen. Pershing, to whom he
was aide for five years during and
after World War I, has called him
americas greatest soldier" Presi-
dent Truman has said that he re-
CARDS him as "the greatest living
American" The late Harry Hopkins
told friends that Marshall was the
only general Winston Churchill was
afraid of.
i AS Chief of Staff Gen. Marshall
was responsible for picking the
strategists and troop leaders VINO
carried out the plans for the VIC
tories on two global fronts. just as
President Roosevelt jumped him
then a brigadier general, over "a
seniors to make him Chief of Staff
he selected such men as Eisenhower,
Bradley, Patton, Patch, Clark, Col
Inns, Kruger, Allen, Doolittie and
Eaker to carry the fight to the en-
emy, the outcome of which he never
doubted.
Respects Public Opinion.
AS a member of the Joint Chiefs
Of Staff and of the Combined Chiefs
of Staff he demonstrated his ability
to work with other men whose OFF,
cial authority equaled his own. He
impressed all with whom he came in
contact.
His remarkable ability to select
good men will find scope in the
State Department. He is the fourth
Secretary in the last 25 months
Secretaries Hull, Stettinius and
Byrnes each had the task of trying
to remake the antiquated American
diplomatic personnel and machin-
cry adequate for present-day de-
mands. The task Is still far behind
schedule. Much remains to be done
The President and the new Secre-
tary will be responsible for Amer
ican foreign policy, which will be
implemented by the men retained
or selected by Gen. Marshall. Con-
gress and public opinion will also be
effective in determining what that
policy shall be.
In the Army the general had a
| wholesome respect for Congress and
public opinion. When stiff press
controls were suggested after Pearl
Harbor, he told his subordinates:
1--WE the General Staff sit here
at the moment with the destiny of
the Nation resting on our judgment
and ability. We think we are COM
petent. We think we cap fulfill our
responsibility. But how can we be
sure? As far as I am concerned
the press is one of my best inspector
generals"
Soldier and Patriot.
Washington newSpapermen hope
that he will continue in the State
Department the off-the-record con-
ferences he had in his Spartan
Pentagon Office.
When, at his own request, he was
retired as Chief OF Staff, he and
Mrs. Marshall had planned to take
well-earned rest at Dodona Manor,
and later at their winter cottage,
Liscombe Lodge, near Pinehurst,
N C. But before they could get
their luggage from Washington un-
packed President Truman tele-
phoned to the LeesDurg mansion
that Maj Gen. Patrick j. Hurley
had resigned as his special Ambassa-
dor to China
Would the general, the President
asked, take over the assignment to
bring about peace in that war-torn
country.
Without hesitation or asking for
(See BRANDT, Page C-5)