Evening star., 1948-11-28
Observation-Disclosures
War by Ignoring His
Plans, Giraud Says

of World War II by year because
he took no account OF my plan of
attack against the Axis"
This statement was made Thurs
day night at Dijon by Gen. Henri
Honore Giraud to the French news
paper France Dimanche on the heels
Of the publication of the Allied war
leaders memoirs.
The French general, who helped
carry on the struggle against the
Axis nations in North Africa after
his country was overrun by the
Nazis. made point-by point reply
to what he considers criticisms of
him in Gen. Eisenhower's writings
despite the fact that he was the
victim few weeks ago of serious
poisoning - apparently criminal in
attempt-and still is in weakened
condition.
The French general declared that
Gen. Eisenhower in his memoirs
wrote that he (GiraudD arrived at
the Supreme Allied commanders
headquarters at Gibraltar on No
vember z, 1912, under the grave
Misrepresentation that he was i'm
mediately to assume command of
the whole Allied expedition. Upon
entering my dungeon he, offered
himself to me in that capacity.
Il could not accept his services in
such a role. wanted him to pro-
ceed to Africa, as soon as we could
guarantee his safety. and there
take over command of such French
forces as would voluntarily rally to
him.
Giraud Adamant.
Gen. Giraud was adamant; he
believed that the honor of himself
and his country was involved and
that he could not possibly accept
any position in the venture lower
than that of complete command.
This, on the face of it. was impos-
siblG The naming of an Allied
commander in chief is an involved
process, requiring the co-ordinated
agreement Of military and political
leaders of the responsible govern
mentS. No subordinate commander
In the expedition could legally have
accepted an order from Gen. Giraud.
Moreover, at that moment there
was not a single Frenchman in the
Allied command; on the contrary,
the enemy, If any, was French.
'All this was laboriously explained
to the general. He was shaken, dis
appointed, and after many hours of
conference felt it necessary to de-
cline to have any part in the
scheme. He said, Gen. Giraud can
not accept a subordinate position in
This command; his countrymen
would not understand and his honor
as q soldier would be tarnished.'"
Replies to Statements
Gen. Girauds reply to these. state
ments was that he certainly would
not Judge the value of Gen. Eisen-
hower's memoirs, but I will add
few Qualifications for the record.
Nowhere" (p Gen. Eisenhower's
memolrs), continued Gen. Giraud,
do l see any mention of the i'm
portant documents which I brought
with me to Gibraltar. Incluoed
among them was the answer of
President Roosevelt to the condi-
tions put forward for my Cooper
alton with the Americans. The gen.
ersl, it seems to me, has entirely lg-
nored these documents in his mar
Tative."
according to Gen. Giraud these
papers were: ID A letter sent Gen.
Giraud at AK en- Provence by
President Roosevelt in which the
President promised to name him
commander in chief of the Allied
troops in North Africa; % Vari-
GUS other official documents rela-
tive to that promise. The general
did not state whether they were
Q still in his possessionJ
1T must be realized" Gen. Giraud
said, that my position was not
question of obtaining a pompous
and valnglorious title. l know as
well as any general the greatness
ana servltude ol mlntary lne, and
have ieu enough mln.ary opera
tions IN my army career not TO seek
another success, particularly since l
did not take part in the prepai a.
ton OF the operation tine invasion
Of North Africa.
My plan was essentially to let
the enemy know that France was re-
entering the war on an equal loot
ing with the Allies, and that the
Anglo o-American army under my
command really was the liberating
army to which all Frenchmeh, with
out exception, could rally. Gen.
Eisenhower did not want to under
stand that"
In another instance, according to
Gen. Giraud, the Supreme Allied
commander wrote that following his
eGen. Giraud's) failure to rally the
North African French to the Allied
cause, he gladly accepted to serve as
chief of staff under Admiral Jean
Darlan for lack of anything better.
E,-c&