WEST EUROPEAN LAND COMMANDER

About to take over as Commander in Chief of all SHAPE'S armies in Germany, France and the Low Countries: France's five-star General of the Army Alphonse-Henri Juin.

Born: Dec. 16, 1888, at Bone, Algeria, a policeman's son.

Education: From Algerian high school to St. Cyr Military Academy, where in 1911 he graduated first in a class that included Charles de Gaulle.

World War I: A lieutenant in the Moroccan Division on the Western Front. Cited in dispatches five times, decorated on the field of battle, twice wounded. His right arm was so crippled that it became almost useless, forcing General Juin to salute, as he still does, with his left hand.

World War II: After serving most of the years between world wars in North Africa under Marshal Lyautey, took command of the French 15th Motorized Division in Belgium, helped cover the Allied retreat to Dunkirk, was surrounded by Hitler's panzers, fought until his division ran out of ammunition, was finally taken prisoner. Held in the fortress of Koenigstein (from which General Henri Giraud escaped) until July 1941, when the Germans released him in the belief that he would help Vichy defend its territory against Anglo-American attack. Took command of Vichy forces in North Africa, and after putting up some resistance against the Western Allies in 1942, joined them along with Darlan. Led his North African troops brilliantly against the Germans in Tunisia and Italy.

Empire Holder: As Chief of Staff after France's liberation, directed the slow rebuilding of his country's army. In 1947 appointed Resident-General in Morocco, where a nationalist movement threatened French rule. "Morocco," he said, "has a right to be independent. But independence must wait until Morocco is ready." Applied a policy of military firmness to assure French control. He stuck with the Moroccan job after Eisenhower picked him for NATO, explaining, "I'd like to have things in order before I leave." Now he feels ready for the new post.

Private Life: Wife, Cecile Bonnefoy; two sons, Pierre, 22, second lieutenant in a Moroccan rifle regiment (and also a St. Cyr graduate), and Michel, 13. Fond of cigars, bridge, music-hall ditties, dancing (but no jitterbugging).

Personality: Sturdy (5 ft. 7 in., 165 Ibs.), jovial, harddriving, outspoken. In the field, eats and sleeps little. Though sociable, likes to spend his first hour after waking in the morning in solitary thought and with a good smoke. Like most French generals, has a flair for smart uniforms, gloves and boots. Speaks heavily accented English.

Military Views: Rivals General de Lattre de Tassigny as one of France's best military minds. Rejects the rigid-defense, Maginot Line philosophy of fighting. "Don't sit in your trenches and wait," he says. "Punch them in the puss as soon as they show any signs of moving westward." He believes that NATO's forces, when motorized and brought up to planned strength, could quickly seize the initiative in case of attack and punch their way eastward despite enemy masses.

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