Roosevelt’s Retort To Enemy’s Sneer

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 209, 2 September 1942, Page 5

Roosevelt’s Retort To Enemy’s Sneer

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.-—Copyright.) NEW YORK, Aug. 81. Speaking at the dedication of a naval medical centre in observance of the centenary of the Naval Bureau of Medicine and Surgery at Bethesda, Maryland, President Roosevelt said: “In this hospital our navy battles against disease, disability, and death. Those who fight this vital battle are the anonymous heroes of this war. The surgeons, nurses, scientists, and technicians are part of the world-wide service carrying on an unending fight to keep as many men at as many guns for as many days as possible.’’ After a reference to the infamous attack on Pearl Harbour as the darkest hour in the navy's history, when ships were put out of commission and 30uu men killed and wounded, the President went on to say that in the months that followed, months without victories, our enemies tauned us with the question, ‘Where is the United States navy?" “To-day our enemies know the beginning of the answer to that question. They learned in the Atlantic, the Coral Sea, and Midway and they are learning now m their attempts to recapture the Solo-' mons. Where is the United States navy? it is where it has always been—carrying out the command to hit the enemy and hit him again wherever we find him, the President added. Pointing out that battles cannot be fought and won without cost both in ships and men, President Roosevelt said: “To-day in distant places we are fighting battles the like of which has never before been known. In the South-West Pacific ships and planes of the fleet and long-range bombers of the army are striking at the enemy from widely separated bases and striking together, touch co-ordinated warfare requires men of extraordinary physical alertness and exceptional bearing. A split-second in timing by one individual may cost innumerable lives. In addition to working out new methods of healing and cure, doctors must discover new methods of preparing men for unprecedented combat conditions in submarines, planes and tqnks. Men must be perfectly attuned in their bodies as they are perfectly prepared., In their minds and hearts for the fierce test of battle. The extent of the remarkable progress achieved in this science can be attested by our enemies who have faced our men in battle." Pointing out that the progress of prevention and cure must not be limited to the Armed Forces, because the whole population was invoived in winning this total war, President Roosevelt said there were 40,000 fatalities from automobile accidents last year and almost a million and a half were Injured. There were 19,200 fatal accidents in industry and in addition 2,000,000 were injured, including 100,000 permanent disabilities, resulting in a loss of tho almost incredible total of 42,000,000 man days. Thus it was not only our enemies who killed valuable Americans. Admiral’s Confidence. Speaking at Cleveland, Ohio, Admiral King, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Naval Forces, told the Chamber of Commerce the war would be long and tough and would bring many heartaches and disappointments, “but," he added, “the United Nations will win. We have insufficient killing tools yet to make oui real strength felt. A two-ocean navy is not yet a reality; we still ladk smaller warships. The navy expects more than a million and a-half men will be in servlet next year. Enlistments w’ill be kept on a voluntary basis."