The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-24

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 Not only is Admiral Leahy one of the most rounded navy men around the President (Hull liked him as Ambassador to France and Ickes paid great tribute to him as Governor of Puerto Rico), but the Admiral also played a great part in trying to stop Japan be- fore 1t was too late.
 In fact, if Admiral Leahy's ad- vice had been followed in 1897 when he was Chief of Naval Opp erations there would probably have been no war in the Far East and perhaps none in Europe to- day.
 Leahy proposed. when the Japs first went into China, that the U. s. and British fleets im- pose 8 long distance naval block. ade, cutting off Japan's oil, scrap iron, cotton, and copper, and starving out the Japanese military machine in three months. At that time, Britain and the United States had the strongest navles in the world, were not worried about conveys, attacks in the Mediterranean, the protection of India.
 All they had to do. Admiral Leahy told the President, was sta- ton the Amer1can fleet off the California coast and the British fleet at Singapore, and the Japs would be finished.
 they had had no chance to build Up heavy reserves of oil and scrap iron as they did later.
 However, the State Depart ment blew hot and cold, finally tlndercut Leahy's plan.
 STOP JAPAN
 One year later, however, he revived 1t, after the Japs sank the Panay in a deliberate slap at the U. 8. A. And on one Sunday afternoon in December, 1888, Leahy spent three hours in Sec- retary Hull's office pleading with him that now was the time to stop Japan, before 1t was too late. Leahy argued that & world war was certain, that If we waited too long Britain would be in 1t up to the neck, could give us no help, but if we acted at once, showed Europe we meant business, 1t would serve as such an object les- son to Hitler that war in Eu- rope might be prevented.
 But on that same afternoon, Hugh wilson, later Ambassador to Germany and head of the appease- ment clique, pleaded with Hull that we must not offend Japan, that she needed her place in the sun, that if we let her xpand in China she you'd be satisfiel, would go no further.
 In the end, Hul1 sided with Hugh Wilson. NOT TOO MANY FRONTS
 Ever sence then, Admiral Leahy has leaned toward concentrating our main war effort in the Far East. And ever since Pearl Har- bor there has been an important group in the Navy-also in the Army-which favors knocking Japan out of the war first.
 This group believes we cannot fight on too many fronts at once; that the problem of attacking heavily fortified France is terrific, that we should concentrate on Japan and the North African front. The latter they point out, could be used as 8 Steppinug stone into Europe after Japan is knocked out of the Pacific.
 So with Admiral Leahy closer than ever 70 the White House, hls views should have an import ant effect upon future war poll icy.
 NO WOMEN WANTED
 Justice Felix Frankfurter has just about decided to dispense with a law clerk next court term.
 His law clerk Is being inducted into the army and with experi- enced young lawyers so scarce, Q friend suggested that Frankfur- ter employ a woman law clerk.
 'T am sure you could find a very able young woman law yer" the friend said. And it would be quite an innovation. | know lt would make Q big hit with the w0fnen.'
 'Tt probably wOuld," snapped
 FFankfurtor, ''but it wouldnw mako . hit with me. | won't have . woman law clerk. Can't stand them."
 NEW FLAG FOR CAPITOL
 You hear little about 1t, but an important phase of war pro- duction planning is the dehydra- ton (dryingl of meats, vegetables