Evening star., 1942-02-01

ROBERT P. PATTERSON,
Undersecretdry of War.
He has been tntrusted Utth
Nations biggest procurement job.
A. P. Photo.
Policy Committee, he has potent voice
in decisions as to utilization of elec-
tricity for war purposes. He is chairman
also of the Army and Navy Munitions
Board, which is charged with co-ordinat-
ing purchases by the two arms. 1t was
set up to forestall wild competitive bid
ding Of one department against the
other in the public market such as OBJ
tanned during the First World War.
In rapid succession, Mr.. Patterson has
had project after project shot from under
him since taking Office in Washington,
and has sprung from one mount to an
other always larger with his own brand
OF sunny imperturbability The first
program was to supply an Army of
1900, 900 with critical items and one Of
100000 with total equipment. Much
reliance was placed in stock Of imple-
-nents and materials left over from
World War I. The disaster at Dun
kerque. with the consequent necessity OF
rearming Englands land forces, depleted
the reserves to so dangerous a degree
that the administration to this hour has
not ventured to disclose the quantity
transferred. This bold and generous
action is credited with having saved
Britain.
Half Output to Britain.
The next blow fell with the original
lease-lend appropriation of $1,000, ,000, 900,
which began diverting to Britain, in the
home islands, Africa and the Near East
half the American output of planes and
tanks. A second lease-lend bill of So
000 900 followed. The Soviet Union
demanded billion dollars worth of
American products. Clamors for large
shares rose in the Netherlands Indies.
China, British Malaga, Australia and
Latin America. Finally came the Presi-
dsNt's message to Congress on the state
Of the Union, in which the production
sights were set sky high.
To carry these burdens, Mr. Patterson
Is no Atlas with shoulders fit to support
the world He is feet inches tall and
weighs 140 pounds. He will be 81 years
old on February H. An authority on
the military history of the Civil War.
he discourses when flying on the battle
fields that pass beneath, giving names,
dates and figures.
His hero is Oliver Cromwell, whom he
reveres not only as. a strategist but an
inspired leader who knew the hearts
Of men," His favorite author is Dickens,
from whom he can quote by the page.
His pet Dickens novel is BLEAK House."
partly because of its satire on legal red
tape in the suit of Jarndyce VS.. Jarndyce.
incidentally, he is left-handed, is chain
cigaret smoker and wears a Phi Beta
Kappa key.
Won Distinguished Service Cross.
He was born at Glens Falls, N Y, was
graduated from Union College, Schenec-
tady, and took law course at Harvard
During 1915 he hung out his shingle in
New York City and enlisted in the Ma
tional Guard. From June 26 to Decem-
Der 2, 1916, he served as q private on
the Mexican border. According to asso-
ciates, he still remains "a doughboy at
heart"
He takes personal interest in the in
dividual soldiers clothing, shoes, food
and weight of his pack. The central
policy of his administration is said to be
finding out what the doughboy needs
and giving it to him. A 155-mm. howitzer
is less fascinating to Mr.. Patterson than
the infantry's chief shoulder piece, the
Garand rifle, which he delights in firing
he is an expert shetland in taking
apart and putting together.
After duty at the PlattSburg officers
training camp he was commissioned cap
tain of Infantry and sailed for France
April 13, 1918. In the course Of service
in the Baccarat, Vesle and Foret-
d'Argonne sectors and in the Oise-Aisne
and Meuse-Argonne offensives he was
promoted to major and won the Silver
Star, the Purple Heart for wounds suf-
fered in action and the Distinguished
Service Cross.
Twice Cited for Gallantry.
The award of this last decoration was
accompanied by the following citation:
capt. Patterson, with two nom
commissioned officers, made a daring
daylight reconnaissance into the enemy
lines. HE surprised an enemy outpost
Of superior numbers and personally de-
stroyed it. Later he had an encounter
with another outpost, during which sew
eral Of the enemy were killed or wounded.