Evening star., 1941-09-02
Churchill Absorbed
Completely in War,
Beaverbrook Says
. Hardest Working Mon
! Have Ever Known
Supply Chief Asserts
BY SHEILAH GRAHAM,

Foreign Correspondent of The Star and
North American Newspaper Alliance.
LONDON, Sept. Lord Beaver
brook, Britains dynamic Minister of
Supply, who performed miracle in
refurbiShing EnglandS war machine
after the fall of France, says Prime
Minister Churchill is the hardest
working man I have ever known
To-day the Prime Minister never
thinks on any subject or talks on
any issue save the war" Lord
Beaverbrook told me. so complete
is he the master of his subject, so
vast is his understanding of all
the implements of modern war,
that he can discuss equally the de-
tails of ships, planes and tanks. He
has grasped entirely the details and
value of the enemys formations,
also their strategy, and this en-
ables him to take the lead at all
meetings with his chiefs of staff"
I interviewed Lord Beaverbrook at
his desk in his private study. l
was delighted to meet informally
the man who, more than any one
else in England, is responsible for
saving Britain during the days and
nights of the battle of Britain. One
day the story will be told in full
OF how a human dynamo in the
shape of Lord Beaverbrook organ
lied almost overnight the swift
machinery that cut through the
confusion and uncertainties of last
August and September to rush
planes. and yet more planes, through
the assembly lines and into the air
that is still England's.
Never Takes Raid Cover.
I naturally wanted Lord Beaver
brook to talk about himself and the
important work he is doing, but he
insisted on speaking about his chief
and great friend, Winston Church.
Ill
Mr.. Churchill never leaves Lon
don because of air raids" the Min
lister of Supply asserted. He never
wants to take cover. He is by no
means a fatalist and he doesn't
take unnecessary risks, but he
never stands back If there is
chance of testing new experiences
In Warlike formations.
"I first met him 80 years ago. He
asked me to dine with him and I
was fascinated by his company and
bv the glittering circumstances.
hardly said a word But I took pre-
cautions to be invited again. In
the lobby of the House of Commons
that same night I told his close
friend, F. E. Smith: I would give
5 pounds a night to dine with that
man
The little bit of flattery worked" B"
Lord Beaverbrook smiled, Il got
another invitation the next week.
After 80 years of friendship still
dine with him. I am not always ST.
lent now and not always overcome
by the glamour. But admit IL Is
greater than ever.
Never Neglected Family.
"Mr. Churchill has never turned
his back on a friend, never shown
rancor. never neglected his family
life. He always remembered his
duty to the Crown and the royal
family. He has never neglected the
interests and concerns of the work
ing people. Twice he has moved
multitudes to a turning point in his
tory. The first time when France
fell and the second when Russia
arose. I saw him prepare both
speeches and he showed no con-
~ hi
But the most moving speech l
ever heard was the appeal he made
in the prefecture at Tours when he
addressed committee of the French
cabinet three days before the final
collapse of France For that speech
there was no preparation and in Its
course there was no restraint and no
limit to the splendor of his elo-
quence."
Lord Beaverbrook, who is super
viSing Britain's vast tank building
program so that if and when the
Germans invade England they will
be met tank for tank and more, has
just returned from a flying eight
day visit to the United States. He
shortly will take off again, this time,
according to reports current here,
for Russia.