J.C.S. Files
Combined Chiefs of Staff Supplementary Minutes1
1. Operation “Baytown”
General Marshall informed the Combined Chiefs of Staff of the contents of a signal he had just received from General Eisenhower with regard to the progress of operation Baytown .
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
Took note, with interest, of this statement.
2. Artificial Harbors for Combined Operations
(C.C.S. 307/22)
General Marshall suggested an amendment to the recommendation contained in paragraph 3 e of C.C.S. 307/2, since he understood that the 25 tugs referred to were not immediately available.
It was pointed out that the tugs would be required in the United Kingdom by the 1st March and that in view of North Atlantic weather conditions, those coming from the United States should cross before November.
Admiral Horne said that this point was fully appreciated and every effort would be made to get all available tugs over as soon as possible.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
Approved the recommendations of the Combined Administrative Committee contained in paragraph 3 of C.C.S. 307/2, subject to amending the first sentence of paragraph 3 e to read as follows:
“That twenty-five tugs and suitable towing vessels be made available as expeditiously as practicable from the …”
10. Slowness of Buildup for “ Avalanche ”
(C.C.S. 3343)
General Marshall informed the Combined Chiefs of Staff of the contents of a telegram which he had sent to General Eisenhower [Page 1206] asking if, by the holding of any vessels in the Mediterranean, the buildup for Avalanche could be increased.4 He also informed the Combined Chiefs of Staff of the reply which had been received from Major General Whiteley, in the absence of General Eisenhower, explaining that the rate of buildup was limited not by lack of shipping but by the capacity of the ports.
General Hull said that an examination had been made to see if any assistance could be rendered to General Eisenhower by permitting him to hold any landing craft which were passing through his command. This examination had shown that the only vessels available were 8 British L.S.T.’s en route to India and due in the Mediterranean on the 4th of September, and 10 U.S. L.S.T.’s which had been in the Mediterranean and were now on the way out, also en route to India.
It was pointed out that these L.S.T.’s were already fully loaded for India.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
Took note of this paper.
11. Liberated Yugoslav Prisoners
(C.C.S. 294/15)
The Combined Chiefs of Staff had before them a report by the Combined Staff Planners containing certain recommendations. A revised Appendix “B” containing a draft telegram from the Combined Chiefs of Staff to General Eisenhower was also presented.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
Approved the dispatch of the draft reply to General Eisenhower contained in Appendix “B” to C.C.S. 294/1, as amended,6 and agreed to defer action on the remainder of the paper.
12. Operations of Red Air Force Subsequent to “Tidalwave”
(C.C.S. 255/17)
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
Agreed to defer action on this paper.
13. Possible German Use of Gas
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
Agreed to recommend to the President and Prime Minister that a special warning should be issued to Germany as to the retaliation they might expect should they now resort to the use of gas.8
- The supplementary minutes were given limited distribution under a cover sheet bearing the following note: “It is requested that special precautions be taken to insure the secrecy of these Supplementary Minutes.”↩
- Post, p. 1243.↩
- Post, p. 1263.↩
- Cf. Eisenhower Papers, p. 1377, fn. 2.↩
- Post, p. 1246.↩
- For the amendments made in the draft message to Eisenhower, see post, p. 1249, fn. 6, and p. 1250, fn. 7.↩
- Post, p. 1245.↩
- See post, p. 1250.↩