Stern Man for the Nazis

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Last week Franklin Roosevelt named the man who will be the top U.S. civil affairs ruler in occupied Germany, under the supreme command of General Eisenhower. The man: Major General Lucius D. Clay.

General Clay's appointment—requested by his friend Eisenhower—relieved an awkward situation in Washington. For four months West Pointer Clay, a hard-driving engineering officer and supply expert, had been Jimmy Byrnes's right-hand man in the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion. A stern believer in duty and principle, he had backed Byrnes on the so-called "tough war" measures (curfew, brownout, racing ban, etc.), had sternly maintained that the first & last job was to supply the fighting men. The result: some Washington officials thought he was too tough on civilians, wanted him sacked.

General Clay, who had the most fun of his life straightening out the supply muddle at Cherbourg last fall, remained above the Washington row. This week he happily packed his bags, got ready to report to General Eisenhower. The complete soldier, he was glad to go to Germany to see things through.