Secret Warriors (Men at War 2)

And then he had another thought, a professional thought. Douglas MacArthur, whom Bill Donovan had known since they had both been young colonels with the AEF in France in 1917, was very likely up to something devious. God only knew what that letter contained. Whatever it said, it could not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. Donovan realized that the wrong hands were not only those of Colonel McCormick of the Chicago Tribune but those of George Marshall as well. Marshall and MacArthur despised each other, What Roosevelt did with the letter was his business, but it had to reach him, not get "mistakenly' released to the press, or "misplaced' mi 41111 the Pentagon. Or "lost." Donovan picked up the secure telephone and called the White House. The President was not available, he was told, but would be in half an hour. He left a message for the President: Jimmy Whittaker was in San Francisco, en route to Washington, bearing a personal letter to Franklin Roosevelt from Douglas MacArthur.

After he hung up, he realized that wasn't enough. Interception of the letter was possible now that he had announced its existence. He picked up the secure phone again and called the COI duty officer in the National Institutes of Health building. He told him to find Captain Peter Doug lass and have him call immediately. Captain Doug lass, whom Donovan had recruited from the Office of Naval Intelligence, was on the phone in three minutes. Donovan told him what he had just learned. "I want you to find out how Whittaker is traveling to Washington," Donovan said. "If he flew from Hawaii," Doug lass said, "he went to NAS Alameda.

I'll call there and get the details."

"I want to ensure that he delivers that letter to the President," Donovan said. '-Mich means I want you to have the airplane met when it lands in Washington. I would prefer that you're not personally involved, but if need be, meet him yourself. Is there anybody available?"

"Canidy is in Washington," Doug lass replied.

"He came back today from visiting his father in Cedar Rapids. He and Whittaker are close. I think I can lay my hands on him. And Chief Ellis is at the house on Q Street, of course."

"Where's Canidy, if He's not at the house?" Donovan asked. "He called up and said he was staying with a friend," Doug lass said dryly.

"He left her number with Ellis."

"Aside from his cat ting around," Donovan asked, chuckling, "is he giving us any trouble?" Canidy was a naval aviator who had been recruited by General Claire Chennault for his Flying Tigers in China.

Canidy had been the first ace of the American Volunteer Group. He had then been recruited again, this time by the COI to bring Grunier and the old admiral out of North Africa. After he and Eric Fulmar had been left floating in the Atlantic off Safi by the submarine they'd both expected to escape on, Canidy decided he no longer wished to offer his services to COI Shortly after his safe return to the States, Canidy had informed Captain Doug lass that now that he'd had the opportunity to play Jimmy Cagney as a spy, he'd decided that flying fighters off an airplane carrier didn't seem nearly as dangerous or unpleasant as what he'd gone through in Morocco, and that he would be grateful if Captain Doug lass would arrange for his recommissioning in the Navy.

There were several reasons why Donovan could not permit this. At the top of the list was Canidy's involvement with the "movement" of Grunier from Morocco to the United States. Canidy knew nothing about why Grunier was important, of course, but he knew about Grunier, and that meant he was privy to a nuclear secret, and that in itself was enough to deny him return to the Navy. And that wasn't the only secret he knew. He had been in contact with Sidi Has san el Ferruch, pasha of Ksar es Souk. Donovan believed that Roosevelt in the end would decide in favor of the notion of using el Ferruch's Berbers in the. But even if he didn't, the necessity for absolute secrecy about American plans for North Africa was such that Canidy's knowledge of them-presuming he was not a cheerful, willing, obedient, loyal Boy Scout's honor COI volunteer-made him a security risk. So would his very knowledge of the inner workings at the top of COI For these reasons, if he became "difficult" Donovan would have to have him sit out the war at a remote base in Alaska or Greenland. It might even be necessary for Donovan to order his "hospitalization for psychiatric evaluation." In the opinion of Roosevelt's attorney general, the legal right of habeas corpus did not apply to mental patients. If Canidy were "hospitalized," it would be for the duration. Captain Doug lass could not threaten Canidy with any of this when he asked to return to the Navy. What he did say to him was that he should sit and think a moment about why it

might be impossible for him to pin his golden naval aviator's wings back on.

Canidy, who was by no means stupid, saw what the writing on the wall was, and agreed-by no means enthusiastically-to stay on. "No," Doug lass said to Donovan.

"He's hardly what you could can a happy volunteer, but he seems to have reconsidered his situation."

"If he were a happy volunteer," Donovan said, "that would worry me."

Donovan was pleased, and relieved. He liked Canidy personally, and it would have been unpleasant to order his "hospitalization." And he agreed with El don Baker, the longtime professional intelligence officer in charge of the Moroccan operation, that Canidy was one of those rarities who have the strange combination of intelligence, imagination, courage, and ruthlessness that an agent needs. It would have been a pity had it been necessary to lock those talents up for the duration. Captain Doug lass chuckled.

"Okay," Donovan said.

"Then he's the man. Have Chief Ellis get him out of the lady's bed, tell him what he has to know, and then let him handle it. Didn't you tell me you'd gotten him a marshal's badge?"

"It's in the safe."

" Well, give it to him," Donovan said." Send Ellis along with him.

Chief Boatswain's Mate Ellis was an old China sailor from the Yangtze River Patrol. Ellis was Doug lass's jack-of-all-trades in Washington.

"Yes, Sir."

"And maybe you better go with them too. Sit in the car or something, where nobody can see you. just make sure that letter is not intercepted."

"If I have any trouble, I'll call you back," Doug lass said.

"Otherwise, I will call you when Whittaker is safe in the house on Q Street."

"Fine."

"How are you, Colonel?" Doug lass asked. "I'm sitting up in bed drinking rat poison and Scotch whiskey," Donovan said.

"Thank you for asking, Peter."

"Good night, Sir." Somewhat bitterly, Donovan thought he was spending much too much time in political warfare with the ranking member of the American military establishment. But it couldn't be helped. His allegiance belonged to Roosevelt, and no one else.

ONE I Alameda Naval Air Station Alameda, California April 4, 1942