The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-28
+ObseVatiOns
Suffering From
War Impressed
on President
BY Helen Essary

Much will be written and talked
about the look and manner Of
President Roosevelt at his first
press conferences following his re-
turn from his trip to the South Pa
cific and Alaska. II will be said that
the President looked tired, that his
voice was not strong That his
manner lacked the old Rooseveltian
timbre and his personality failed to
glow with It's characteristic spar
kle.
These criticisms are true and fair
criticisms. President Roosevelt
was a subdued man. He was more
subdued than at any time | have
seen and heard him at the end OF
one OF his usual bi-weekly news
conferences in his oval study.
have my personal explanation
OF the quiet that sat so heavily on
his shoulders. He has seen too
much OF the war. seen 1t with his
own eyes, to return iubilant, SELF
confident conqueror.
He has seen men dying. Not
patched up for neat public appear
ance at base hospitals. But dying,
with the life blood running from
open wounds. The anguish of the
war has made his soul sick. The i'm
mensity OF the Pacific which tray.
ers say frightens the stoutest OF
warriors has put fear into his own
spirit.
He has not been able to escape
the feeling OF the enormity OF the
task he and the people OF the
United States whom he represents
have undertaken-nor the realiza-
ton OF what terrifying work is yet
. to be done
Mrs. Roosevelt came back from
her tour OF the Pacific with the
same subdued manner. Not for
weeks after the Journey did she
seem again her usual vigorous SELF.
II will be longer weeks still be-
fore Mr.. Roosevelt can even pre-
tend TO be a cheer leader. He is
much subdued man.
New Caledonia would be a nice
spot for this country to own-after
the war" This is the sub-rosa hope
that Is being spoken softly among
the members OF one official Wash
ington group. "lt's as beautiful an
island as there Is on earth. Be
sides, there are its great mineral
resources and its value as tuellng
station-come another war
Where is New Caledonia? How
did IL get there? Who owns 1t now?
These primary questions are asked
quickly by people like you and me
when the place is spoken OF.
passed the questions on to the Ma
tional Geographic Society. The Ma
tional Geographic sent me back
beautiful map, nest OF maps, 10
be exact. Likewise, the issue OF
their magazine telling OF New Cal
edonia and showing pretty pictures
OF its natives and mines and snow
capped mountain ranges and prize
COWS. its coral reefs, church test-
walls. its squid, its frightened lob
STEERS and French officials in cere-
monial dress-all done in nice COL
ors with come-hither shading.
The French officials are definite
" important to New Caledonia. The
island Is a Free French island. IL
was discovered two years before
our Declaration OF independence
by a sea-going Scotsman, James
Cook. Captain Cook promptly
named the new land New Caledonia.
II reminded him OF the banks and
braes Of his own native country.
But you haven't told me where
the island is?-Just minute.-lts
down somewhere near New Zea.
land. Roughly speaking. about SOo
miles north OF same, and not more
than 100 miles east OF Australia
asa South Pacific crow lilies.
Under the rocks OF New Caledo-
MIA are rich deposits OF nickel
chromium. cobalt and iron. In case
we do talk General de Gaulle out
OF this strange land-and | don
see why we shouldn't talk some
body out Of SOMETHING after all
our trouble in trying to save the
World-New Caledonia has
pleasant tropical climate, saluori'
Gus breezes and that South Sea IS
land atmosphere so desired by wan
derers and those weary OF the tu'
multi OF civilization.