40,000 Seamen

Last week off Gonaives, seaport of Haiti, the burning rays of a tropical sun shone on well-scrubbed decks and burnished brass and steel made rainbows in flying spray. More than 100 U. S. warships strung out in a long grey line against lazily heaving waves and the deep blue of the sky. Huge battleships, their flags flying, moved along like imperturbable swimming pyramids; slim grey destroyers cut through the water as precisely as a butcher's whirling knife slices cheese; ungainly plane and submarine tenders waddled past. The only sounds were the faint swish of the waves, the wasp-like drone of seaplanes soaring overhead.

Off the shores of Haiti, the fleet anchored. To the rails 40,000 sailors, white-garbed, bronze-faced, scrambled, stood at attention. Out from the harbor, the cruiser Trenton moved. Suddenly the grease-grey guns on the biggest ships spat red and yellow fire . . . boom . . . boom . . . boom . . . Twenty-one guns they fired, the full presidential salute. It was for Louis Borno, President of the Negro Republic of Haiti (see p. 6). From the deck of the Trenton he watched the U. S. display its naval power while he chatted with Theodore Douglas Robinson, fourth Roosevelt to be Assistant Secretary of the Navy. They saw the greatest force of U. S. sailors that has ever been assembled, the combined Atlantic and Pacific fleets. Fifteen Admirals took part in the review; Admiral Hughes commanded.

Theodore Douglas Robinson, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, in breeding, birth and life is Roosevelt in everything but name. His mother was Corinne Roosevelt; he married Helen Roosevelt. Following best Roosevelt traditions, he graduated from Harvard, was elected to the New York Legislature (Senator, 1916-18, 1920-24), fought for the U. S. in the World War as First Lieutenant of Field Artillery. At the opening of the Spanish-American War, his uncle, Theodore Roosevelt, was Assistant Secretary of the Navy; he soon found the job too tame and resigned to lead the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill. Another Roosevelt, Franklin D., held the Navy post from 1913 to 1920; Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Assistant Secretary Robinson's cousin, next held the job (1921-1924, resigned). In Nahant, Mass., in November, 1924, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge on his deathbed heard of T. R. Jr.'s resignation. To President Coolidge he made his last request: Appoint Ted Robinson to the place his uncle and cousin held.