Field Marshal No. 8

For a mean job well done, slim, imperturbable General Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander, one of Britain's military best, won a new job, a marshal's baton. From the mud and frustration of Italy's stagnant front Alexander moved up last week to command of the Mediterranean Theater, became Britain's eighth field marshal of World War II.

Son of an Irish peer, Harrow and Sandhurst bred, Alexander epitomizes Britain's professional officer class. Cultured, athletic, politely indifferent to publicity, he has been content to fight two wars, let the honors fall where they may. Field Marshal (then General) Sir Bernard L. Montgomery won the glory of North Africa, but behind his brilliant tactics was the brilliant strategy of his chief--Alexander. In Italy, too, Alexander stayed in the background, let Generals Mark W. Clark of the Fifth and Sir Oliver Leese of the Eighth win the headlines in the long march up the peninsula of Italy. In his new post Alexander will still have the overall guidance of the Italian campaign, also guide the Empire's hand in the Balkans, the Near East.

Alexander filled the post left vacant by burly General Sir Henry Maitland ("Jumbo") Wilson, who will go to Washington as head of the British Joint Staff Mission (succeeding the late great Field Marshal Sir John Dill). Into Alexander's place, as commander of the Fifteenth Army Group in Italy, stepped lanky Mark Clark.

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