soc.history.war.world-war-ii

"David Thornley" wrote in message
news:cBrS8B.A.I8F.agM9HB@sol01.ashbva.gweep.ca...
> In article <76a7v3td8m1bbnkqj9f7jq685ltp0j8upf@4ax.com>,



> Look, why don't you go out and find cases where Alexander actually
> did more to advance his own plans than a life-sized cardboard
> cutout could have.

Well Alexander certainly impressed favourably at least one
person in high places. Maybe this highly placed person
was easily fooled, but.....

January 10, 1945 letter to Marshall:

Because of the great size of the land forces now engaged on this front it
would
be more convenient for me if my deputy supreme commander was an experi-
enced ground officer rather than air. In spite of my personal and official
admira
tion for Tedder, he is not in a position to help me by visits and
conferences with
troop commanders. If I could have a man of fine personality, respected by
all
and willing to serve as my deputy, and not under independant charter from my
superiors, it would be most helpful...I am afraid it would be impossible to
find
such a deputy as I describe. The only one I could think of myself would be
Alexander, and manifestly he is not avaiable.

Ref. National Archives, Department of
Defence, Washington, RG, 218, JCS File,
Leahy, Folder 16.