The Wrangell sentinel., 1942-08-21
ON THEE WASHINGTON FRONT
By Jack shnnett
Associated =Press)


 President in the history of the na- tion has ever had a personal chief of staff, yet constitutionally every President is commander-in-chief of <. the Army and Navy.
 (2) Many Navy officers l have talked to consider Admiral Leahy the greatest naval strategist this country has developed.
 l3) The talk has been going around that the United Nations might solve the problem of an over all commander-in-chief by designat- ing President Roosevelt. CThis, it is argued. would avoid jealousies be- tween Army and Navy officers in this country and in allied nations. Of the four great national leaders, Roosevelt, Churchill, stalin and Chiang Kai-shek. it is the only log ieal choice for such a post.)
 (4J Close advisers to the Presi- dent have said frankly, and the President has admitted, that he actually is taking a big part in the strategy of this war so far as the United States is concerned.
 (5) The constant talk and mount ing pressure for a second front in western Europe make it more inn perative than ever that our Army and Navy leadership be correlated under a single command.
 (6) The President has been pret- ty vague about what Admiral Leahy's duties are to be, but made it pretty clear, by inference, that the Admiral would do the leg work in gathering the facts and figures which will determine the Presi- dents decisions as to our strategic moves.
 Give those six points a second thought and the conclusions must be that there is something more in the wind than the mere designation of a Presidential leg man. The Army and Navy have chiefs of staff, but when the commanderin-chief of BOTH forces appoints one of his own and when that man has the well-earned reputation and respect that Admiral Leahy has, you can be certain that he is something more than just another 'liaison officer"
 Washington opinion generally is that no matter what the real req son, the President could have done no better than pick lean, leathery- faced, 67-year-old Admiral Leahy for the job.
 An Annapolis man, Admiral Leahy has a record of 46 years in the Navy, a couple more as govern or of Puerto Rico and a year as am- bassador to Unoccupied France a post that demanded much more than just a good diplomat and one which, by all reports, he filled to complete satisfaction of those who have guided our foreign policies in these difficult times.
 Heavy browed, balding, and gruff, the Admiral is every inch a sea-dog. His friends most frequent ly describe him, however, by such phrases as "cold logician, master of detail, organizational genius"
 If Admiral Leahy's conclusions
  on Army activity, it will be one oi those ironies. When, as a Hampton Iowa, lad finishing high school. he decided on his career, he tried tC get into West Point. He couldn't There was no opening. Annapolis and the Navy were his second choice.
 As a result of the Presidents or der that all members of Congress on duty with the armed forces re turn to their posts in the legisla tive branch of government, thre Congressmen have announced tha they will throw over their $1O, 1000 a-year jobs to write their names il blood, sweat and tears on the bat tlefronts.
 Three others, still with the arm ed forces in parts unknown Washington, have made no publi declaration of intention despite tn nearness of elections
 Five others have bowed to tn Presidents judgment that they wi be more valuable to the war effol in their legislative positions an Lave returned to run for re-elec tion. Since there has only bee eight months of war for the U. and so far the supply of militar manpower has far exceeded the d, mand, the 77th Congress has hun Up service record of which it ma well be proud
 First of the congressman to bo the Presidential order was Lieut. Com. Robert T. Secrest, the 8 year-old Caldwell, Ohio, exec miner, and father of three childrt who announced recently that l wouldn't wait for the end of h term but would resign to continl his post with the Navy.
 The two who have announc, they will not be candidates for r election in order to stay with u Irf C., A