Evening star., 1951-03-04

Ine cOInpleIlon OF plans unQer the
his present position as commander
in chief, Atlantic Fleet.
The purpose of single overall
command for the Atlantic is to
avoid in the future those rigid
geographical lines of responsibility
which hampered rather than
helped the fight against both the
Nazis and Japan in World War II.
In the Pacific Gen. Macarthur
had tightly closed lines around
his Southwestern area, across
which naval forces in the Central
Pacific could not operate without
prior clearance with him. The
degree of cooperation between
Gen. MacArthur's command and
forces in the Central Pacific was
low. This was demonstrated in
the battle for Leyte Gulf, when
Admiral Kinkaid's escort carriers
took a shellacking from the Japa-
nese task force which came
through San Bernardino Strait.
In the Atlantic the Eastern sea
frontier protected conveys and
other shipping within about 800
miles of the coast, but beyond that
the hunt for submarines and the
defense against all other enemy
forces was the responsibility of the
United States Atlantic Fleet. On
the Eastern side British Coastal
Command aircraft covered ship
ping within their range from Brit
ish bases. Midocean protection,
however. was the responsibility of
the escort mander-British or
American-and his accompanying
destroyers.
What was lacking was an over
all command. embracing both the
Eastern sea frontier, British
coastal waters and the mid-At-
lantic. within which anti-subma-
rine forces could be deployed
freely and fast to meet the sub
menace wherever it appeared
strongest.
It is this sharp division of
command which NATO planning
seeks to overcome. It seeks to
create a single combat area in
which a single commander can
deploy all forces assigned to him
to meet the enemy threat,
whether it be by submarines,
long-range aircraft or surface
raiders.
Admiral Fechteler's command
area extends from the North
Pole to the Tropic of Cancer (23
degrees, 27 minutes North lati-
tude) and from Western Hemi-
sphere shores to the coastal wa
ters Of the continent of Europe.
On the American side certain
commands would be set off for
the United States and Canadian
Eastern seaboard, but they would
be subordinate to SAGA. On the
East British home waters would
be another subordinate command,
while the territorial waters Gnside
the 3-mile limit and harbors of
the continent would fall under the
protection of their respective ma
tional forces, and thus Gen. Els
enhower.
Unsettled Questions
Admiral Fechteler will have un-
der him a deputy supreme COM
mander, who will replace him in
case of need in the overall COM
mand. This post has not been
filled, and cannot be filled until
the supreme command is settled.
A British officer would be eligible
for this position.
The overall ocean-wide COM
mand will be divided sinto two
major areas-East and West
with their commands directly sub
ordinate to Admiral Fechteler and
his deputy. Prime Minister Attlee
has announced that the Eastern
area will be commanded by the
chief of the British Home Fleet.
Among the unsettled questions
is the command of the Mediter-
ranean area, protecting as it will
Gen. Eisenhower's right flank on
the continent. It could be ex-
tremely important because of
American commitments to Greece
and Turkey and because of the
necessity to maintain communi-
cations with the Middle East and
Far East by way of Suez.
The United States now main
tains task force in the Mediter-
ranean and is reactivating air
bases in North Africa for pos
sible use in providing air protec-
(See ATLANTIC, Page C-2.)