Evening star., 1942-03-08

Frank KnOI.
And that his Republican friends would
call him a traitor-as they did later.
But he added that If the time ever came
when war threatened this country, and
when no American could decline to serve
in any capacity at the request of the
Chief Executive, he would reconsider.
With the fall Of France, the picture
changed overnight. Col. Knox became
convinced that it was only question Of
time when this country would be forced
into the war by the totalitarian powers.
So when an emissary Of the President
came to him, he sent word that he would
serve in any capacity the President
wished him to serve.
Served With Teddy"
The two Republican members OF the
Presidents Cabinet have more In COM
mon than their one-time political COM
plexion. They were both closely asso-
ciated with the first Roosevelt President
Col. "Teddy"-Col Knox was in the
Rough Riders, Col Roosevelt's regiment
in the Spanish-American War. Secre-
tary Stimson was appointed United
States attorney for the southern dis
trict of New York by President Theodore
Roosevelt in 1906 Both Knox and
Stimson saw service in the A. E. F. in
France during the first World War,
Stimson becoming colonel of the 3lst
Field Artillery and Knox as major in
the 303d Ammunition Train of the 18th
Division.
The heads of the two departments
work closely together, in the firm belief
that only through the closest collabora-
tion-and unity Of command where the
two services operate together-can the
best results be obtained In the war. After
Pearl Harbor, both secretaries issued
orders there was to be 40 criticism, no
backbiting on the part Of any Army or
Navy man or officer in an effort to throw
blame on the other service for that dis
astrous defeat.
The service Of members Of the oppo-
site political party in Presidents cab
met during an emergency did not begin
with Secretaries Knox and Stimson.
President Roosevelt, when he first ap-
preached Secretary Knox. pointed out to
him that the Secretary of the Navy in
the cabinet of Abraham Lincoln, Gideon
Welles, had been a Democratic news
paper editor in New England. Col. Knox
was once a Republican editor in New
England. However, Mr.. Welles did be-
come member Of the Republican party
prior to the election of Mr.. Lincoln.
Col. Knox's Interpretation of the Sc
lection of two Republicans to head the
War and Navy Departments is that the
President determined there should be
no politics in the national defense-and
that is Col. Knox's firm conviction today.
President Accepts Advice.
President Roosevelt, it has been
charged in some quarters, undertakes
to conduct the military operations of
the American forces from the White
House, overriding on occasion his mill
tary and naval advisers. Nothing, ac-
cording to Secretary Knox, is farther
from the truth. The President has been
student of naval affairs and strategy
for years-he was Assistant Secretary
Of the Navy in the Wilson World War
administration. He relies upon the adj
vice Of his naval advisers.
It was Col. Knox who thought up the
plan Of flying to Hawaii Immediately
after Pearl Harbor. He wanted to know
the truth at first hand. The idea came
to him as he was riding back from the
Capitol after listening to President
Roosevelt's war speech to Congress.
He turned to Mrs. Knox and said:
I'm going out there myself to see
the situation"
Mrs. Knox agreed he should 60.
And so this 68-year-old Secretary of
the Navy-who looks Is years younger
in time of war boarded plane and few
across the continent and more than 1000