The Washington times., 1933-04-01

for a war In which ne telt we
he made a quick trip to Haiti
Arriving on the island he
heard a more detailed account
of the insurrection than had
reached him in Washington.
It seems that for some time the
Cacos who had never subjected
themselves to local jurisdiction
had been giving the authorities
no end of trouble. They had
barricaded themselves in Fort
REVERE and were sniping off
any one who came within shoot
ing range.
Heroic Sergeant
General Butler and eighteen
men had ridden across the
island in the night and under
cover of darkness prepared to
take the fortification which was
held by nearly 300 Cacos. Frank
left Immediately with an escort
to heart the rest Of the story
on the spot on which it was
enacted. General Butler and
his men had climbed 1000 feet,
at length reaching the masonry
fort. This ground Franklin re-
traced step by step until he
came to a drain about three
feet high an dtwo feet wide
used ordinarily as an outlet
for rain water. This drain,
- curiously enough, was the
means of achieving the ex-
traordinary feat of taking the
fort. General Butler had de-
cided to use as their entering
wedge but when the moment
came for him to make the de-
scent a grizzled old sergeant
grabbed him arrestingly by the
arm and said:
"I've been in the service longer
than you've been and as such
outrank you and claim the
privilege of going through
ahead" He went through first
but General Butler was close
on his heels. Before the
startled Cacos could regain their
composure and fire, the arines
opened up with a volley OF
lead that sounded as If they
must have had a whole regi-
ment behind them. General
Butler and his men, protecting
their backs with the wall of
the fort, fought hand-to-hand
battle, lasting half an hour,
and at it's conclusion there re-
mained only a few frightened
Cacos who grasped at the
chance of being taken back as
prisoners of war. Franklin, in
full possession of all of the
facts, returned and recon-
mended that both General
Butler and his sergeant be
awarded the Congressional
Medal of Honor, an event which
might not have taken place had
not Franklin on Scorching
day stubbornly insisted upon
climbing a 4,000-foot hill in Haiti
Stocks Up Supplies
Franklin meanwhile was quiet
ly but effectively to put the
Navy into shape for any even
tuality. He and his chief, Sec
retary Daniels, foresaW posi-
bilities that many, blinded by
their pacifism, were unwilling
to take into account. Franklin
proceeded on the theory that
one was not precipitated into a
war just because one was pre-
pared for it. Very often, in
fact, just the reverse is true.
Franklin took full advantage
of what latitude was given him
by the passage of the navy bill
and stocked up with every kind
of supply he felt might be
needed. So thorough was he in
his purchases that one day
soon after war was declared he
received summons from the
White House Upon entering
the room he found the Presi-
dent in conversation with Cen
eral Scott, Chief of Staff of
the Army. Mr.. Secretary"
Mr.. Wilson addressed Franklin.
smiling good naturedly as he
spoke, lit seems that you have
cornered the market on sup
plies. I'm sorry, but you'll have
to divide with the Army"
His expenditures had not
been restricted only to the ma
terials to which Mr.. Wilson had
specifically referred and Frank
Af&nIA VnnnfiNYn1 fhof
in his zeal to do what he in
Stinctively knew to be right, he
had broken enough regulations
to keep him in trouble for the
rest of his life.
Hailed as Master Stroke
However, such were the ext
gencies of war that what once
might have been considered a
detection from grace was sud-
denly converted into virtue
and hailed as master stroke
of strategy.
News of Franklin's successful
record with the Navy having
travelled to the same "Boss"
Murphy who was once his
sworn enemy, Tammany de-
cided to offer him the nomina'
ton for governor of New York.
When eventually the definite re-
quest that he run came
through. Franklin declined it in
favor of trip of inspection
abroad for which he had al
ready arranged. So in July.
1918, Franklin set sail for Eu-
464 D1ynVA ~