Word: poltroon
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...navy. Her diplomatic service was "a stronghold of anarchy.'' The Kaiser's vacillating hysteria played hob with any sensible, straightforward policy. Author Wolff quotes some of the revealing marginalia the Kaiser was fond of jotting on state papers ("Bosh!" "What does this civilian know about it!" "Poltroon!" "Idiocy!"), gives several instances when his angry orders, if carried out, would have meant instant war. Of such diplomats as Russia's Isvolsky, Austria's Berchtold, England's Grey, he writes with temperate disapproval...
Flush with profits, von Ribbentrop turned to dabbling in German politics at a period when any mention of Adolf Hitler would cause President von Hindenburg to snort: "I wouldn't appoint that Austrian poltroon so much as a postman!" Undismayed, Major von Ribbentrop kept dropping hints among Der Feldmarschall's military entourage that it might be the smart thing to make some sort of deal with Hitler. Finally in January 1933, at the home of Cologne Banker Franz von Schroeder, von Ribbentrop engineered the first meeting of Political Upstart Adolf Hitler and weak, perpetually scheming Lieut.-Colonel Franz...
...Aggie, with a celerity only possible in the cinema, meets bis opposite, a precious, rich, bespectacled country boy (Charles Farrell). By throwing away his spectacles, telling him to talk out of the corner of his mouth, giving him the Irish name of her jailed lover, she turns the country poltroon into a man-eater and a construction gang boss, then falls in love with him. The complications arrive late, when the lover gets out of jail and Farrell's coddling aunt and charming fiancee (Betty Furness) come to town. Aggie hands Farrell back to his country fiancee, and embracing...
...Japan the new Premier enjoys the reputation of a valiant, discriminating drinker, and a gentleman of perfect decorum in his frequent visits to geisha-houses. On one such occasion he became aware during the night that he had carelessly set the establishment on fire. No poltroon, he sobered instantly, ordered the geisha girls out into the street, organized the men-servants to carry out furniture and extinguish the fire, paid openhandedly for the damage he had wrought...
Recently U. S. Senator Robert N. Stanfield of Oregon walked the beach at Ocean City, Md., suddenly, startled, heard a scream. Mrs. J. E. Swanson of Florida was struggling feebly against buffeting combers. No poltroon, Mr. Stanfield swam lustily to her, fought undertow for 15 minutes before he could make the shore. Said the Senator: "This experience was the most harrowing of my life...