NEW COMMANDER FOR INDO-CHINA

Named French commander in chief and commissioner general for Indo-China: General Paul Ely, 56, for the past ten months chief of staff of the French armed forces.

Cadet. Ely was born Dec. 17, 1897, in Salonika, Greece, son of a French civil servant. Fought as a foot soldier, then as a St. Cyr Military Academy cadet in World War I, winning the Croix de guerre with three citations. He was twice wounded. Graduated 2nd lieutenant from St. Cyr in 1919.

Staff Officer. Ely waited eleven years for his promotion to captain. In World War II, stayed on with the Vichy government after the 1940 surrender, but later joined the Resistance. Served as liaison officer between the French National London, crossing the channel on numerous occasions with information on German military movements; he landed on the Normandy beaches a few weeks before D-day and later joined the Allied army as a Maquis colonel. Won a second Croix de guerre, with two more citations for bravery, and suffered a third wound that cost him the use of his right arm.

General. After the war, Ely was promoted to brigadier general in charge of infantry training. From 1949 to 1953, he represented France on the Standing Group of NATO. Ely's U.S. associates considered him a good administrator and a shrewd but not brilliant officer; he liked to immerse himself in Greek philosophy and long periods of silence. He lives austerely, eats sparingly, conserves his strength and is considered to be in poor health. As French chief of staff. Ely visited Washington in March, where one unimpressed U.S. official nicknamed him "the poodle." Sent on a post-Dienbienphu tour of Indo-China, he recommended the prompt reinforcement of the Red River Delta and the replacement of General Henri Navarre. The French Cabinet asked Marshal Juin if he would take Navarre's job, but Juin did not want it. So the Cabinet asked Ely. He will be the eighth top commander in eight years in Indo-China.

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