Higher Ranks for American War Leaders

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 220, 16 September 1944, Page 5

Higher Ranks for American War Leaders

Received Friday, 8.45 p.m. NEW YORK, Sept. 14. The War Department has asked Congress to authorise the elevation of two officers to the advanced rank of “General of the Army,'* to match a proposed new naval rank, “Fleet Admiral. ’ ’ The proposal to increase the rank of American top generals and admirals is viewed as a move to match the rank of British leaders who theoretically outrank United States chiefs. The New York Times’ Washington correspondent says another extremely touchy question is what to do with the American generals in Europe— Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton and others—when the European war ends and the big push in the Pacific begins. The army does not wish to waste such military talent, yet already it has some topnotch leaders in the Pacific field who will not relish being shelved. As an example, nobody high in the War Department likes to dwell on the storm that would blow up if General MacArthur should be replaced by General Eisenhower.