"We May Be Next"

To the U. S. public last week, war in Europe continued to be largely incredible. To the U. S. public, it was news of another world. To many it had the aspect of a grisly sporting event. Imagination could not bridge the gap between the reported destruction of Europe and the evident peace of Main Street, U. S. A.

Two men for whom World War II was more than a sporting event spoke last week in Washington. Before the Senate Naval Affairs Committee appeared Colonel Frank Knox, a veteran of World War I, publisher of the Chicago Daily News, the Republican whom President Roosevelt had asked into his Cabinet to become Secretary of the Navy. He was there by request, so that the committee could judge for itself whether he was a warmonger. To committeemen he said:

It is imperative for the U. S. to extend every aid short of military participation to insure Great Britain's ultimate victory or, at least, keep the fight alive until the U. S. has time to prepare for "any eventuality." What eventuality did he see? Said Colonel Knox: "There is a very serious situation in South America . . . almost made to order for penetration of the type Hitler perfected in Europe. We would be in deadly peril if a foreign power gained a foothold there. ..."

His fellow Republican Colonel Henry Stimson--also a veteran of World War I, onetime Secretary of State and of War, a glacial, recondite student of foreign affairs--the President's appointee as Secretary of War, appeared before the Senate Military Affairs Committee for the same purpose.

Said Mr. Stimson: "France has been conquered and the sea power of Great Britain seems to be trembling in the balance. . . . We may be next. It is now recognized that if a powerful enemy secured a base at [Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Newfoundland, Northeastern Canada] ... it could launch a devastating air attack upon our eastern seaboard. ... In the metropolitan area of New York over 7,000,000 people are mainly dependent on a single water supply nearly 100 miles in length "I believe that we are facing a grave national emergency fraught with the possibility of immediate peril. I know that we are unprepared but I am confident that it is not a hopeless situation." These were some of the plainest words to which the public had been treated by men in responsible positions. The commit tees, whether or not they agreed with everything Colonel Stimson and Colonel Knox said, approved the appointments 14-10-3 and 9-10-5 respectively.

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