Hide Article Text (OCR)
Replacement Depots Face Brushing Up In Theater(Continued front page i)could be learned, the system actually worked on the trial and error basis common to all new enterprises.Regardless, however, of the reason, that phase of the ”repple deppie” has passed. Out of it has emerged a central authority to control the replacement system in this theater. This authority—the Replacement Command, MTOTJSA— has instituted a series of reforms which have made today's ”repple deppie” a better place by far than its counterpart of several months ago.Instead of each depot being a vast melting pot, the Command has assigned a specific function to each. One handles new men arriving in the theater.Another conducts a basic training program where soldiers from other branches and arms are converted into infantrymen.A third is responsible solely for men returning to their units.The fourth is a forward stockage point where front-line outfits come to draw the particular men they need.In addition, the Command operates four schools—Leadership and Battle Training, Armored, Signal, and Engineer,The Command was established June 1, this year, to supply manpower In an orderly fashion to the armies and network of supportingStrongest Attack Launched By ELAS(Continued from page 1)but were repulsed by British gunners firing from the palace roof when they were only 600 yards from the Hotel Grande Bretagne, present headquarters of the Greek Government. At 5:30 AM, British riflemen took up positions In the hotel windows overlooking University Street toward the ELAS-held concrete stadium.In an official communique, issued at Allied Force Headquarters in Italy this afternoon, Admiral Sir John D/ Cunningham and AirMarshal Sir John Slessor, Commander of the Royal Air Force in the Mediterranean and Middle East, denied rumors said to be circulating among the population of parts of Greece that units of the Royal Hellenic Navy and the whole Helenic Air Force in the Piraeus area had deserted to ELAS. Earlier, reports from Greece said that the reason why the Royal Hellenic Air Force had not taken part in operations against ELAS positions wars that they were engaged in strafing German concentrations further north.An Associated Press dispatch from Athens said this morning that the 2nd and 13th ELAS Divisions are known to be massing at Hassia, 15 miles west of Piraeus, while BBC stated at noon that most of the port of Piraeus is now in ELAS hands.ELAS forces infiltrating into the city were engaged this morning by units of the Royal Greek Mountain Brigade. Armed action also was reported for the first time from the area of Lamia, reportedly the seat of ELAS headquarters, 100 miles northwest of Athens.Today’s battles followed day-long engagements yesterday between ELAS units and British tanks, aircraft, artillery and ground forces as well as regular Greek troops in and around Athens. Homemade bombs and grenades were used againstBritish tanks in the Attica Peninsula, north of the Greek capital, while an ELAS battalion was reported moving on Athens with a number of captured German 75s.units within the theater. It marked an entirely new approach to the complex business of handling soldierreplacements.BASE SECTIONS, ARMIESPrior to its creation, control of eplaeement depots came through base sections and the armies. As a result, authority was divided and he line of jurisdiction never wasclear. In a sense, the over-all picture of the replacement system was that of an unfinished jigsaw puzzle.With a central authority, the Command, working on the puzzle, the parts began to drop in place and the rlt;£replacement system started to operate as it had been originally intended to function.Because thousands of men have assed through replacement depots, a and out, the replacement system Is one of the largest operations of the Army. At the same time, it is te of the least understood. Aetu-ly, it has but one main purpose: To supply men when, where, and trained as .hey are needed in order that the war may be prosecuted totally and successfully.Under the old system, orderly distribution of manpower was difficult to achieve in the confusion surrounding operations. Instances have been known where men would arrive in a replacement depot and, upon arrival, be told they did not belong there but were supposed to be in another depot miles away. With the Replacement Command operating efficiently, that situation now Is a thing of the past. Likewise, now when an outfit requisitions a replacement depot for ”500 men,” each requistion specifying the particular type of soldiers it wants, there no longer is any possibility that 500 chauffeurs will be sent out when 500 riflemen are neededPROPERLY STOCKEDThese new measures come close to achieving 100 percent success in keeping depots properly stocked with balanced amounts of personnel. Under the old system, this balance often veered sharply away from the center with the result that depots usually had on hand too many soldiers possessing MOSs (Military Occupational Specialist) numbers not called for frequently.Facilities for housing, feeding, training and recreation were limited in the ”repple deppie,” The Replacement Command has brought about an increase and improvement in these facilities and is, itself, not completely satisfied that all has been done which can be done.For example, it is improving and enlarging housing facilities so that pup tents and sleeping in Italian mud are no longer necessary. Pyra-midals are being winterized and floors laid. Still, the Command wants better locations and more materials to do the kind of job it believes can be done.In all, contrast between past and present operations is as night from day. A very black picture has been lightened by the application of hard work to solve a very difficult problem. The key to winning the war is a reserve of well-trained manpower with high morale. The replacement system at last is functioning toward that end.(This is the first of six articles, Tomorrow: The past.)'De Gaulle Government To Form Security UnitsPARIS, Dec. 10—The French Provisional Government today announced a compromise with the left-wing resistance groups on the militia issue, by the creation of special republican security companies divided among 20 regional commands, the Associated Press reported,The new organization will be subject to orders of the Secretary General of Police in each district.
Newspaper Details
Rome Stars and Stripes
Roby, Missouri, US
Mon, Dec 11, 1944
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
MA, USA 04 Jun 2021
Other Publications Near Roby, Missouri
Rome Stars and Stripes
