Fighting Talk

A broad-shouldered man with a photogenic grin stepped from a Navy bomber. Troops in red tunics and white helmets presented arms. A band played The Star-Spangled Banner. Four years ago the same man had visited Brazil as a private citizen. Now Colonel Frank Knox, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, came as a comrade in arms. He lunched with President Getulio Vargas, banqueted with Brazil's top fighting men, visited war plants and strategic airfields.

Primarily the Knox junket (aside from giving a restless man a break from Washington routine) was to inspect defenses against submarine attacks which have spread from Iceland to the mouth of the Rio de la Plata. Said Knox:

"I bring the salute of the armed forces of the U.S. to Brazilian comrades at the moment when your danger is our danger; and as we share in the toil of war, we shall share in the victory."

This was shoulder-to-shoulder fight talk that made good listening to Brazilians. One high Brazilian army officer retorted in kind:

"Why wait for a German attack? We entered the war to fight. Let us fight."

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