Evening star., 1944-08-12
By NORMAN BELL.
Press Stan Correspondent.

ALEUT1AN ISLAND BASE,
Alaska, Aug. Delayed .-Presi-
dent Roosevelt paid this Aleutian
base a surprise visit today and. in
turn. was surprised by what he saw
He said he was thrilled and graft
fed
1t was the Presidents first trip to
the Aleutians, made on his first Pa
ciflc travelling Of the war. He came
by warship, by the way of Honolulu.
The Chief Executive praised men,
bers of the armed forces participant
ing in the Aleutian campaign and
construction program. He said they
had driven out the enemy and had
built new military, naval and air
bases on once-remote. barren islands
in. an incredibly short time.
Accompanied by Vice Admiral
Frank Jack Fletcher, commander of
the North Pacific. the President
made tour of the islands installa-
tions.
He expressed a wish that the peo-
pie back home could see what had
been done
The japanese. he said, would new
or again be able to threaten North
America with An Alaskan invasion.
Mr.. Roosevelts impromptu re-
marks were made at an informal |
lunch at an enlisted mems mess,
where he made a noon stop during
the inspection tour.
Sees Soldiers Settling in Alaska.
He said he considered some parts
Of the United States overpopulated
and predicted that many soldiers
and sailors would seek new homes in
Alaska after the war. The Terri
torys great size and known re-
sources\he added. invited settlers.
The President did not discuss any
specific war plans for this or any
other theaters. Neither did he COM
ment on the national political cam
paign.
All of those eating lunch with the
Chief EXecutive-eXcept the Navy
base comma ndant and the Army post
commander-were enlisted soldiers,
sailors and marines A proportion
ate number of colored soldiers were
mixed throughout the long mess
hall.
The chatty, smiling Commander
in Chief ate from the Nays regu-
lation metal serving tray. He. was
seated between two youthful pri-
Yates. first class-a red-haired ma
rine from Arkansas and trim SOL
dier from New Jersey. T..
William Goff, the 19-year -old
marine whose father is foreman of
an ice company at Batesville, Ark =,
conversed easily with the President.
m response to questions.
Gets Light" From Soldier.
The 2o-year-old soldier, Ferdi-
nand Rutscher, Irvington, N. j.,
provided and lighted and AFTER
lunch cigarette for the President.
He grinned happily when his flint
lighter worked on the first try.
Another member of the armed
forces singled out by the President
during the day for special notice was
a Navy nurse. She was 1t. q. g.
Margaret Richards whose family.
formerly of Baltimore, now lives at
Woodside, Long Island, N. Y.
Mr.. Roosevelt stopped the line of
inspection-tour automobiles in front
of the Navy dispensary, where the
blue-uniformed. nurses stood at at
tention with other officers and men
Of the hospital unit.
1t. Richards, called to the side of
the Presidents automobile, answered
questions concerning operation Of
the dispensary.
The President asked her If she
was happy here and she said she
was.
Mr.. Roosevelt and his party. which
included Admiral William D. Leahy,
chief Of stan to the Commander In
Chief. came North in a cruiser.
The presidential party, in addition
to Admiral Leahy, included Vice
Admiral Ross r. Mcintyre, the Pres
idents physician; Maj. Gen. Edwin
M. Watson. military aide. and Rear
Admiral Wilson Brown, naval aide.