Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-29
LATIMER. Is SKILLED DIPLOMAT
ID AND KNOWS HIS SPANISH WELL
American Admiral in Mica
@ragua Is 3d., Handsome and
Father of Four. 49,.
Believes in Personal Pre-
paredness-Is '"Great Har-
monizer" and'LaWyer.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

Rear Admiral Julian Lane IAtimer,
commanding the American forces in
Nicaragua at this important juncture,
is known far and wide as one of the
greatest diplomats the Navy has ever
developed. 1t is a part Of naval train
ing In the higher commands to study
the finer phases Of diplomacy Of
course, diplomacy in the Navy has
undergone many changes. There was,
for instance, the somewhat blunt
diplomacy of Fighting Bob" Evans,
who once threatened to blow Chile or
some other South American country
clear into the sea- But that was in
the good old days" long since de-
parted.
The modern diplomacy has more
finesse. Admiral IAtimer has gone
into Nicaragua to straighten out GER
tain slight factional differences exist
ing in that sometimes revolution torn
country and the chances are ninety
nine out Of a, hundred that he will
emerge from the land and take to the
sea with the effusiye thanks Of both
sides, expressed as only those of a
Latin temperament, can express such
things.
One of the flrst real accomplish
ments in diplomacy Is TO speak the
language of the people you are deal
ing with. When Admiral Latimer
found he was to be given command
of the special Service squadron operat-
ing in; Central and South American
waters, he took up an intensive study
of Spanish, with the result that the
Nicaragua incident has found him
fluent with the language of the
country. That is the Latimer way of
doing things. The admiral always
AnH fn
national preparedness.
Versed I'm Law.
He versed himself in the law among
other things. And so, in due time,
he became Judge advocate general
of the Navy, serving in that capacity
for four years with marked distinc
ton. During his term as Judge ad-
vocate general Admiral Latimer came
in constant contact with the COM
mittees of Congress. Here he was
just, as much of a diplomat as he IL
on foreign soil today. He got legisla-
ton through. for the Navy which
had been pending and hanging fire
for years. He paved the way for an
omnibus service bill. which cleared up
all sorts of odds and ends in the
naval service-an accomplishment for
which he will always be remembered
by his brother officers.
Admiral Latimer is Of an old West
Virginia family which moved to Wash
ington sometime after he got his APP
pointment to the Naval Academy al
Annapolis. Admiral Latimer graduated
in the class of 1899 and is So years oi
age. His appointment to Annapolis
came from Representative w. l.. VIII
son of West Virginia, author of the
famous Wilson tariff act Of the Cleve-
land administration.
After serving in the Spanish-Ame
can War on the Winslow. Admiral
Latimer went to the Far East and
got there in time to be in the midst
of the Boxer uprising. He served as
naval aid on the staff of Gen. Chaffee
He was sent on many difficult mis-
sions, was constantly under fire and
was several times cited for bravery
He is a member of the Military Order
Of the Dragon.
Commanded Rhode Island.
During the World War Admiral
Latimer, then a captain. command
the battleship Rhode Island, engaged
in convoy work in getting the troops
| to France.
He tells many interesting stories OF
his days in China and bis work in the
Aa1d vhare ha had to ride a horse