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Show Page Six " .re-.- U. H vw.vV - y ljeejlJj, j "I'm Junior Aide to my uncle, the Admiral." The War is just one more adventure in the silver-spoon existence of young Naval Lieutenant Lieu-tenant Gregpr Masterman (Robert Taylor). Crack tennis player, Polo Internationalist, top-notch top-notch quarter-miler, ex-IIarvard Varsity end, amateur yachtsman and a golfer who shoots in the lov seventies, Masterman tops his abilities abili-ties with a personable charm that makes him the delight of the Naval Officers' womenfolk. He has become a Lieutenant and Junior Aide to the Admiral by the simple expedient of a top-drawer education, a high I.Q., social position posi-tion and the fact that the Admiral is his uncle. Admiral Stephen Thomas (Charles Laugh-ton) Laugh-ton) views his nenhew with affectionate alarm. "We're keeping the war in the family." At the moment, Masterman's special duty in the War Effort is arranging the reception for the Senate Naval Affairs Committee. He is also concerned about which girl he should escort to the reception a decision somewhat complicated by the fact that every debutante within reach is vieing for the honor. His concentration con-centration on this problem is rudely jarred when Lieutenant Commander Martin J. Roberts Rob-erts (Brian Donlevy) bursts in and demands to know why his ship, the damaged destroyer "Crenshaw" has been kept lying in dock for several days awaiting repairs. Masterman, annoyed an-noyed at the other's bruskness, suggests that Roberts take his complaints direct to the Admiral. "Ever hear of the destroyer 'Warren'?" Roberts, aware of the War demand for ships, storms out of Masterman's office and barges in upon the Admiral without preamble. Admiral Thomas reprimands him for this breach, but secretly he admires the fighting younger officer Roberts has come up the hard way. A bosun's mate at the start of the last war, he resigned, in 1937, as Lieutenant, and since re-joining has been promoted to Lieutenant Lieuten-ant Commander. Only a man of exceptional qualities could have achieved this; and the Admiral gives Roberts the credit due him particularly in view of the fact that he's looking look-ing for just such a man to command the reconditioned re-conditioned destrover "Warren." "Shall I check the botes and arrows, Sir?" The "Warren" has been growing barnacles for twenty years in the back bay of San Diego. She has been reconditioned now for War service serv-ice Admiral Thomas informs Roberts that he is to command her and take over at once. Roberts Rob-erts resents being transferred from a top-notch top-notch ship like the "Crenshaw" to an old tub like the "Warren" but accepts the assignment with disciplined grace. He is by no means pleased when he discovers the Admiral's choice of his Executive Officer. Admiral Thomas, believing that what his clever young nephew needs most is service under a real Navy man, assigns young Masterman to the "Warren" as Roberts' Executive Officer. Read tomorrow' chapter- i A Y . V i ; ' Y M7.. i Y ' i !' is; J H-tY C! i t i l tec i I- i v y - -A t , . r AA . - 5 I t" " w ,i F sf r, 1 r JG " ! I .? 1 I l , -?,', kh sn I 1 :rr , . V ; SrTT Y Y . 4 'S-il ! f Y-' "Cheery, isn't it? W hen's the funeral?" From their first encounter, Gregg Master-man Master-man (Robert Taylor) and Martin J. Roberts (Brian Donlevy) are at odds. Gregg, born to wealth and position, has never yet had a setback set-back in life. Courageous, personable, easy-going and humorous, the War is just another adventure ad-venture and the "Warren" is a joke among fighting ships, an old tub held together by a fresh coat of paint and wires. Roberts, having won his way up from the ranks, is a seasoned Navy man who has already proven his mettle in the present war by service on a crack destroyer. de-stroyer. To him, his command of the "Warren" "War-ren" means doing his utmost to follow the Navy's precept of giving the highest type of service regardless of the materials on hand. Onnv-'-M 1941!. T.oeVs. Inc. "The ship's pretty as a picture, sir." Roberts is piped on board the "Warren" by old Henry Johnson (Walter Brennan) who served as her Chief Yeoman in the last war. Johnson has never been parted from the ship and has been her civilian custodian during the past twenty years when she has lain at anchor in San Diego Harbor. The "Warren" is the love of his life and the heroic role she played in the last War is his chief pride. He hopes and prays that he will now be accepted for service on her. Although deeply sympathetic and full of understanding, Roberts knows Johnson is too old to take destroyer duty in the present War. Gently, he explains that young men are needed, particularly because the f'Warren" offers risks and chance of loss than would the new, crack destroyers. "You can't run a ship on sentiment." Johnson is heart-broken. Roberts commissions commis-sions Gregg to sign up the ship's crew. Acting un'der the impulse of good sportsmanship, Gregg decides that despite Roberts' viewpoint, Johnson should be given consideration. By means of a well-fitted uniform and hair-dye, he succeeds in making Johnson look ten years younger. He hopes that Roberts will overlook the youthful-looking oldtimer when reviewing the crew. But he has figured without taking into in-to consideration Roberts' one aim: to make the "Warren" a fighting ship on every count. Roberts spots Johnson at once. He gives Gregg a complete dressing down and again informs in-forms him that the Navy cannot be run on sentiment particularly in War Time. "The man who ships ivith Roberts is lucky." Masterman, without overstepping the bounds, subtly ridicules Roberts' one-track mind. He claims he has as much faith in Johnson's John-son's ability to withstand the strain of War because be-cause of his devotion to the boat, as Roberts has in the old tub's ability to withstand the hea?y seas and the action they are sure to face. Roberts, realizing the episode is merely an evidence of Gregg's youth and knowing that the young man has the makings of a fine Navy officer, dismisses the matter by permitting Johnson to remain with the crew. Rear Admiral Ad-miral Stephen Thomas (Charles Laughton) is content that his nephew Gregg is sailing under the commanding officer who can best teach him what it means to be a Navy man. Reai4 tomorrow's chapter. |