Evening star., 1952-07-12

The human quality of Gen
Dwight D. Eisenhower has wor
him more followers than all hi!
victories as a soldier.
This quality of personal mag
netism is coupled with a fighting
ability which seems to gather i'm
petus under fire, whether in wal
or peace.
When the general returned tc
Washington last June l to turn in
his uniform, the newly dedicated
civilian was welcomed to the po-
litical fray Immediately.
''Mr. Eisenhower" was to react
In his own good time, and on the
fields of his own choosing. to the
challenge from B. Carroll Reese
manager of campaign headquar-
ters for Senator Taft:
Nov that he (Gen. Eisenhower
is about to take off his battle
jacket, we of the Republican
Party hope that he will start
fighting" The general did his
not-inconsiderable best to oblige
although he held his fire at the
time.
Valves Lifetime Pay.
One of the generals first moves
after he requested the Army to
place him officially on the retired
list, was to waive his hard won
right to lifetime pay and allow
ances. Under the recent increases
to service personnel, this would
amount now to about $19,500 an
nually.
Moreover, Gen. Eisenhower re.
leased his personal plane, the Col
umbine. for immediate return tt
Europe for the use of his successor
Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway. The
general had named his especially
equipped, four-engined transport
after the official flower of Mrs
Eisenhower'S home State of Colo
RADIO. The plane now bears an
other name.
Just before the Eisenhowers took
off from Paris for Washington or
May 81, the general relinquisheo
his North Atlantic command in a
brief ceremony on the front lawn
of Supreme Headquarters outside
Paris. For nearly a year and 9
half, he had served in Europe as
the top soldier of the Western
world.
His task had been one to test
the skill of a diplomat as we'll as a
soldier. Into it he had thrown
some of the pioneering spirit
common sense and neighborly
feeling of the early Eisenhowers
who crossed the continent OF
America to establish new homes
in Texas and Kansas.
Admired by Churchill.
The one-time Kansas farm boy
had been working among friends
His homely ways and direct, SIM
pie manner had endeared him
alike to Prime Minister Churchill
and other European leaders, as
well as to the rank and file of the
troops of many nations.
To Mr.. Churchill, the man from
Abilene was not only one of the
greatest commanders of his time
but he had the power ito stir
mems hearts" The Prime
Minister felt the general of the
army had shown "the capacity
for making great nations march
together more truely united than
they ever had been before"
On the day the general left
France to test his political future
at home, those who bade him
farewell included French Minister
of Defense Rene Pleven. Many
in the throng could remember an
other farewell. seven years previ.
ously.
Then a million cheering French.
men jammed the boulevards Of
Paris to pay tribute to the gen.
eral. Gen. Charles deGaule mad,
him fellow of liberation" in &
ceremony before the tomb O.
Frances Unknown Soldier. HI
was presented with sword owneC
by Napoleon for delivery to tn,
American Army.
\ At the ceremony last May 8.
Gen. Eisenhower, told Gen. Ridg
way: ut is my proud duty to turI
over to you the finest headquarter
I have ever seen" Standing be-
fore the massed flags of IA NATC
Nations. the general added: 9TH,
task is now yours"
Guns Salute Return.
When Gen. Eisenhower arrives
at National Airport on June /. tn
military reception and .17-gul
salute was in sharp contrast tt
the spontaneous outburst tina
greeted him on June 18, 1945.
Perhaps Washington remem
bers Gen. Ike best on that day
Nothing like it had been seen her,
before. The sophistication of /,
=