The Wilmington morning star., 1944-04-29
Secretary Frank Knox

Frank Knox survived two wars The third
killed him.
In the Spanish American war he was a
private in Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders
and participated in the fighting in Cuba. In
the first World war he went to France as
captain of infantry and came home lieuten-
ant of artillery. In 1910 President Roosevelt
appointed him Secretary of the Navy. Yester-
day he expired in heart attack at his Wash
ington home-a casualty of the global con-
flict as clearly as if he had been shot down
in combat.
Whatever he lacked in discrimination on
what should or should not be said, he could
not be accused of lack of zeal for victory. No
soldier no cabinet member, not the President
himself, has worked more indefatigably and,
we are convinced, with more intelligent under
standing of the emergency, than he.
Secretary Knox was republican, had been
the party's choice for the vice presidency in
1885, had fought President Roosevelt on al
most every domestic issue, but he believed
the United States should prepare itself for
entry into the war, which he considered in
evitable. He agreed to become member of
the Cabinet in 1910 because he believed the
war in Europe was making it impossible for
the United States to remain isolated
The republicans rode him out of the party
along with Secretary of War Stmson who
had also been a faithful follower of the COP
But he put duty above party and devoted him.
self exclusively to building the Navy into the
most powerful force the seas, avoiding
politics from the day he took office
Service to his country became the keynote
OF work. His very zeal, his neglect of physical
| shortcomings and the burdens of advancing
age, made him the easy victim of an over
wrought heart when a gastro-intestinal dis
order attacked him. Taken sick only a week
ago, Mr.. Knox goes to his grave, mourned by
grateful nation that has seen the American
Navy become the guardian angel for conveys
delivering supplies and equipment to our AL
lies, troops for service upon many shores, and
as an angel of vengeance to put to flight the
Wanted Japanese naval strength in the Pa
cific
In private life, he had been for years a
successful newspaper publisher and was pro-
prletor of the Chicago Daily News when death
struck. In his capacity as Secretary Of the
Navy he backed the Selective Service pro-
gram, supported unlimited aid to Britain, call
ed up naval and marine reserves as fast as
they could be taken and sought tirelessly to
prod the peace-loving, comfortable nation to
action with such earnest warnings as he made
at Honolulu in September, 1910:
I'VE are living in ugly times-brutal ruth
less times when force and force alone, can
give safety and security,
A little more than a year later the fury of
the Japanese sneak attack struck Pearl Har-
Dor. And tragically enough, on the peaceful
morning of Sunday, Dec. T.. 1941, the Navy
was not ready.
That bitter fact became apparent to Knox
as he heard distressing reports of the battle
during the day and night, sometimes in his
office at the Navy Department, sometimes at
the White House. To him it was not only a
national disaster, but also personal tragedy
gallingly favored with failure
Official records later showed that despite his
warnings, his orders to be on guard for instant
action his assurances to the people, the Pearl
Harbor fleet was little more prepared than
the nation ITSELF
But his reaction was prompt and character
istic. At a. m. on Dec 8 he flew from Wash.
lngton to Pearl Harbor to see what had hap.
pened and assess the responsibility. A week
later he was back in Washington and grimly
! reported to the President. The next day he
summoned the press, frankly stated that nei.
| Their the Army nor Navy had been on the alert
ard that further investigation would be made
by Presidential board.
Subsequently, he relieved Admiral Husband
E. Kimmel of his duties in the Pacific, SEN
Admiral Chester w. Nirnitz there and tool
Admiral Ernest ]. King to Washington a!
commander of all Naval forces and chief o
operations
At the time President Roosevelt brought hin
into the Cabinet the appointment was gener
Il ally looked upon political maneuver. TIM
I has proved that it was a wise move in wa
strategy.
Il V
Trade Weapon
SWedens attitude toward the Allied appea