Evening star., 1941-04-06
Donovan Rides Tide Of Events
solations Back From War Tour Axis Menace

cided he wanted as his Attorney General
Protestant and a dry, whereas Col
Donovan was Catholic and a wet. But
"there is another theory and that is
that Republican friends of Senator
Wheeler raised such a protest that Mr..
Hoover, who had originally intended to
name Col. Donovan, changed his mind
Senator Wheelers hackers, particularly
the late Senator Borah, claimed Col
Donovan had had part in bringing an
indictment against Senator Wheeler
which was subsequently proved baseless
Beaten for Governorship.
Col. Donovan was the Republican can
didate for Governor of New York in
1882. He was beaten by Herbert F.
Lehman in the tide of votes that first
put Mr.. Roosevelt in the White House.
Ironically enough, he had come to politi-
cal maturity al the worst possible mo-
ment for conservative, worldly agree
able Republican.
But there were compensations Thanks
IN no small part to his Washington back
ground, Col. Donovan was soon engaged
Al q Al46lliS prosperous Law Dl dCllCc Will
offices in New York, Washington and
Buffalo. In the midst of political changes
that seemed almost revolutionary, cor
poration clients found something very
reassuring in the presence of this self
confident IriShman. Some of his cases
made headlines, others equally profitable
did not come to general attention
His most spectacular appearance was
at the head of a staff of 81 attorneys
in the Madison, Wise, oil trial Execu-
tlves of virtually all the major oil COM
panies were brought to book on anti
trust charges with the possibility of
individual fines and prison sentences.
A small town judge, Patrick Thomas
Stone, one of Mr. Roosevelts political
appointees, presided over this remarkable
trial. The opportunity was heaven
sent for Col. Donovan, who is at his
best in a courtroom with a grandiOse
background. In Madison he lived in
unexampled elegance, taking a large
house and installing his own cook and
butler. The net result after 16 weeks
was, in effect, victory for Col. Donovan
Nominal fines were imposed on the
companies
Saw Ethiopia Conquered.
While his law practice absorbed most
of his time and energy, he kept in close
touch with the world situation During
Italys African war in "a and IS, he
spent considerable time in Ethiopia
There this adventurer, with his tent
pitched next to that of Marshal Badog-
lio, formed an excellent impression of
Italian military strength and skill. But
he has since pointed out Italian equip
ment was at that time the newest and
best available. 1t later became obsolete
and there were few requirements.
Again, during the Spanish civil war
he spent long period as an observer
with Gen. Frances rebels and their
German and Italian allies Particularly
this last mission gave him an insight
into modern warfare and the profound
changes that have come in the past
decade. This shrewd observer saw that
the old tactical warfare, based on close
order and drill and the manual of arms,
the whole elaborate heritage of the 18th
century, had gone forever. His obser-
vations of the present war have only
served to confirm that impres ion.
Like many another American. Col.
Donovan was strongly opposed to
American intervention until Germany's
victories of May and June last year. In
fact, in ar article III the May. 1910,
Forum he took strong anti-interven-
zionist line.
Riding Tide of World Events.
go We are completely Independent
of the outside world. except for a few
raw materials" he wrote. 1T has been
estimated that we could store up a
suficiency for less than the cost of a
battleship. Our ocean barriers still make
us impregnable to attack, despite all
progress in aviation = . As to the i'm
mediate threat to us of a victorious
Germany-it should be borne in mind
that modern wars exhaust almost
equally victor and vanquished. Against
well-pfepared and alert defense by US,
experts say that, even with the destruc-
ton of the British Navy by Germany,
neither Hitler nor any conceivable COM
bination of powers could successfully
land an army in either North or South
America"
This contrasts strikingly with his
recent broadcast in which he warned
of the dangers to America of an axis
victory. Col Donovan returned to this
country convinced that he must arouse
AmericanG to the imminent perils he
now forsees on the immediate horizon.
If a year ago he could be put in the
category of the isolationists, today cer-
tainly he is an interventionist. Once
again wild Bill' Donovan is riding the
tido of would