Evening star., 1942-08-16

I'VE know that the AXis-conquered
countries live in misery and starvation.
We have watched whole populations up
rooted and marched away to manufac-
tries. Not long ago I returned from
France. AS Ambassador in that unhappy
country I saw the sufferings of the
French people. Let me give you my as
surance. from what have known and
seen abroad. No pleasant fate awaits
beaten America"
In France, the admiral is said to have
told friends, he saw great people
steam -rollered into the ground by an in
vasion OF barbarians whose solemnly
pledged word cannot be trusted, who
know what they want and take it ruth
lessly at pistol point. He saw a nation
not starving but always hungry, who
cannot say what they think or buy what
they want. He beheld a people unable
to get shoes or rubbers, with gasoline un-
obtainable, motor cars vanished from the
roads and money so worthless that there
Is no inducement to save. His activity
as chief of staff to the President will
be founded on passionate determina-
ton that such lot must not and shall
not befall The United States.
Fatal French Thesis
His efforts will be dedicated to the
cause of the offensive He attributes the
collapse of the Third Republic to the
fatal French thesis" of defense, exem-
plifled by the Maginot line, and is re-
solved that America shall not be con-
quered through a similar delusion. He
rejoiced when United States forces
launched the Solomon Islands attack,
and believes that very soon the United
Nations must find one way or another for
wrestling the initiative from the Axis on
the European continent.
He has wide background of personal
experience in the principal war theaters.
He is one of a handful of survivors
among officers aboard the battleship
Oregon on her historic dash around Cape
Horn to join in the destruction of Ger
vera's fleet. He knows the Far East from
active service in the Philippine insurrec-
ton and Boxer rebellion. He was in
Panama during the Canals beginnings
and caught yellow fever. He knows the
Caribbean from the governorship of
Puerto Rico, and was key figure in de-
veloping that stronghold into an Ameri-
can Gibraltar. Finally, thanks to his
diplomatic mission to Vichy, he boasts
a mastery of the European scene which
few American officers can rival
His friendship with President Roose-
welt dates from World War I, when
Mr.. Roosevelt was Assistant Secretary
of the Navy and Admiral Leahy, then
lieutenant commander, was in charge
of officer personnel. They saw much of
each other, particularly when Mr.. Roose-
velt was Acting Secretary in the absence
of Secretary Daniels, and the acouaint-
ance has ripened over the years into an
intimacy of mutual confidence and ad-
miration. Admiral Leahy still holds
that his Commander in Chief is the
greatest authority he ever met on naval
history, from ancient times down, and
regards him as being similarly expert
in international relationships.
Member of Famous Class.
According to legend, he was graduated
55th In the class of 1897, distinguished
one, which gave to the Navy, including
Admiral Leahy, five full admirals. The
others We're Harry E. Yarnell, Arthur
j. Hepburn, Thomas C. Hart and Orin
G, Murfln. Admirals Yarnell, Hart and
Murf1n were all commanders OF the
Asiatic squadron, and Admiral Hepburn
Was commander Of the Pacific deet.