Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 September 1938 — Page 17

Second Section

Vagabond!

From Indiana = Ernie Pyle

The Indianapolis Times

SEPTEMBER 16, 1938

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.

Washington

By Raymond Clapper

Roosevelt's Purge Method Failed, Some Say, Because He Tried to Do It in the Open, Not in the Alley.

FRIDAY, PAGE 17

Air War ° ® * ® ® . * . * ® ® ° By Maj. Al Williams Europe Lives in Fear of Raids for Which None Has Adequate Defense

When Maj. Al Williams set out to study air war preparations in Europe, he took his single-seater fighting ship with him and wen: straight to sources of information uniquely available to him as a pilof. For two months he flew around England and leading natiens on the Continent. His stories on Europe—of which this is the first of a series of six—are those of an airman appraising military aviation as he | found it. In discussing the air power of each country his observa- > z on Sone up to the day of death from | tions—ecritical or laudatory—concern aviation plans and machine, ASHINGTON, Sept. 16.—The Adminisinfirmities, the belief that somehow | only, not the nation or its government, i rdings 1 we'll still get to be policemen, 10co- | : Hf | tration fight on Senator Tydings in : 5 pt 4 | Maryland—the most bitter of the whole

motive engineers, Indian hunters | RE we going to be bombed ?” A * » » > ~ \ 7 ¥ . : or, in some instances, millionaires. going | purge campaign—is over. He will be accepted as the regular party nominee and will

In my own case, I know quite well That's the question on the lips of every man, woman

{ In Case You Didn't Know It the Next ~ Winner of the 500-Mile Race Is None Other Than Our Own 'Speedy Pyle.’

ANY WHERE IN NEW ENGLAND, Sept. 16.—-The desive to be somebody vou aren’t is almost a universal one. There are only two people of my entire acquaintance, I believe, who have become exactly what they wanted to become. It might, well be that the psychologists, if they | were smart enough, could find here the thing that | keeps most of us from suicide. We continue to harbor, |

that some day I will win the 500mile race at Indianapolis. As we passed a Connecticut farmhouse the other day, there was a fellow out in the front vard practicing with a lariat. sight, because Connecticut is Mr. Pyle

farmers as anything

Yorkers.

Connecticut but suburban New

say was a 30-foot rope. As through a big windup, swung his

we passed,

neck. ~The cowboy complex is a strong one will probably never get west of Scranton. Pa., but the feeling that he may vet become a cowboy keeps him from hanging himseif. I wonder if Hevwood

Broun knows what a Wild West state he's living in?

A Newspaperman With $300,000!!

Switching suddenly from cowboys to

must tell you about a friend of mine who is a news- |

paperman and who owns a ferry line across the St. Lawrence River.

My friend writes, just like any other ented business a | when I wrote that | bridge which President

reader, great injustice. the new Thousand Islands Roosevelt dedicated the other day would charge only half as much as the ferries. My in his ferry business, and that my statement is liable to cause him to lose his shirt, throw old employees out of work, cause the eviction of widows and or-

and says I have done the ferry I did it, he says,

phans, and generally bring havoc among millions of

people, So I hereby wholeheartedly any newspaperman with tow, genufiect, supplicate, eves in holy reverence. a liar, but you can't take anv chances on $300.000.

make an and eagerly

amplification. It comes

tremble, and lift

At any rate, I said originally that the new bridge | toll for car and passengers would be $1.50, or approxi- |

And that is exactly true, Y.)-Gananoque (Ontario) cost us $3.50 for car

mately half the ferrv rate. if vou use the Clayton (N. ferry, which we used. It two people. But my friend says his ferry, where the river is narrower, costs only $1.25 per car. with a free return trip in 24 hours. That, according to my friend, is just half what the bridge will charge.

sengers, or how many tourists from Canada within 24 hours, or shirt if the new bridge fails. But that: I suppose, is quibbling, and if there's one thing in this world I wish to avoid, it’s a quibble with $£300.000. Could you spare a dime for a cuppacoffee, | friend?

My Diary By Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt Condition Is

And Dr. Mayo Explains Operation.

OCHESTER, Minn, better

. ' Jimmy's Thursday—Jimmy is feeling every day. Betsy and

has a throat this Jimmy

we will

leaving sore morning, wait another hours in Rochester. This is certainly an interes I went to a tea at Christian Association and met a group of women. some of whom I had met before. Dr. and Mrs. George Eusterman invited Betsy, Miss Thompson and me to have dinner with them last night regular weekly staff meeting at the clinic Dr. Ruby Daniel had asked me to go to the clinic with her last night, and so we came back to the hotel to meet her and all walked over together. I found it most interesting, but as we were

tonight. however, day, =o

Yesterday Women's

ting place

afternoon the Young

a little late, I had some difficulty at first in identi- |

fving from slides what part of the body the doctor was talking about. I finally heard some medical terms which meant something to followed everything quite easily. they successful it had been. Jimmy asked me about had found his only feeling t

on

it this morning, saying he

that he couldn't decide what he could neglect.

Real Objective of Education Dr. Will Mayo. who sat beside me, explained to me.

while one of the younger men here on a fellowship

was speaking, that the object of much of the work

done, particularly from the educational point of view, | . Side Glances—By Clark known ‘has claimed | % i They | probably have better material to work with here and ! are therefore more successful than in the large ma- |

was to teach men how to think. Every educator I have ever

that was the real objective of all education.

jority of educational institutions. I came across such a very nice column written by two Washington correspondents the other day, ahout a man for whom I have had great admiration ever since I first met him. I am very happv to have my own opinion confirmed by others who are probably far better judges than I am. I quite agree with them that “M. L. Wilson (Undersecretary of Agriculture) is looking ahead, not behind.” I wish quiet, calm personality. I don’t know whether it is the cross between a quaker, Humanist,”

culture and rural life.

sult is excellent. You cannot be with Mr.

ties in the face and finds a way out.

Bob Burns Says—

OLLYWOOD, Sept. 16.—There are two types of | chiselers—the seller who tries tc make too much |

on his product and the buyer who tries to get too much for his money. happen if those two ever got together. last summer at my Uncle Skinny Flint's house. There was one boarder who kept eatin’ and eatin’ after everybody else had got up from the table. Uncle Skinny watched him nervously for about a week and then he went up to the fella and says, “I'm sorry, brother, but I'm gonna have'ta charge you $5 a week for board from now on.” The fella looked wild-eved and says. “For goodness sakes, don’t do that—I've been half killin’ myself tryin’

t up $4 worth a week!” Yo sai wp (Copyright, 1938)

It was an odd | far | east, and anvhow we don’t think of |

This | fellow was pretty good. He was using what I would i he went | lasso with easy ! cowboy grace, and took a fencepost right around the !

This fellow |

ferries, Ii

friend says he has an investment of $300.000 |

for the mere thought of | $300.000 causes me to kow- | up my | Of course I think my friend is |

and | this. which is farther east |

Improved |

so I began to make plans for |

thinks I had better | spend another 24 i

before the |

me, and from then | In one case | had the subject of the operation to show how !

difficulty was that he came out | rat every part of his body was so important |

| you can't

and child in Europe today.

During my recent air

tour through England and

over a great part of the Continent-in my own plane I

heard it everywhere.

The momentous question is murmured on the Continent but spoken loudly and fearfully in England. Development of what is regarded as enemy air power has the British on the run and the topic is a public phobia.

England is more vulnerable to air attack than any nation in Europe.

An air-

man computes its area in flight-minutes. Under his wings pass highly concentrated

populations,

jam-packed manufacturing

centers, and political and financial control points. These are lucrative targets, conveniently grouped for the enemy bomber. Constantly hammering on the perils of bombardment and the strength of foreign air powers has led British political leaders to flagrant over-

Maj. Williams statements.

Small bonfires lit to scare the civilian

into supporting huge air armament programs have set the entire horizon ablaze with fear of air bombardment. If war comes, the British expect to be bombed right off the bat,

and believe that air raid. Jects’ = = " HE reversal of propagande settled all fizhting morel~. stand in a trench or oparate a big gun. But he balks at the terror and mystery of an air war which seems to be aimed at his family as well as at him and is likely to come before he can get into a uniform. There are more men under arms today in Europe than there were in 1914. But no one seems to be worried about a land invasion. The land defense far outweighs the power of land attack and the citizen of Europe knows

British sea power is as strong as the combined fleets of Europe. Yet the British are more fright-

| ened about an air war than any My friend doesn't say anything about extra pas- | want to come back | who will lose his |

other nation. = n on

Cyaan populations find no consolation in the fact that arsenals contain more efficient cannon. machine-guns, mines, shells. torpedoes. tanks, and poison gas than during the World War. These are the weapons wked” against professional soldiers and sailors. The bombing plane is going to wage the war against the civilian. his family and his home. and he wants to know what protection there is against it. The new warfare would make a front line trench of everv avenue and street and every doorstep. No one knows how to stop the bombing plane. Each country has many bombers. but bombers can’t keep enemy bombers away. They are threats of retaliation, but that’s too late for the civilian. It is my conclusion, after exhaustive Investigation, that no nation has sufficient preponderance of air raid power to hold a conclusive threat of retaliation and thus scare off the others. And more important still, no nation has devised an adequate defense against air attack. = = = VEN the civilian looks with distrust upon propecsed defense equipment ana measures against the bomber. Antiaircraft gun fire has only a nuisance value against bombers operating above 10.000 feet. Tests conducted in Spain by the latest sample of Europe's most expert antiaircraft gun manufacturers prove that point. Fast fighting planes can make it hot for bombers. if the fighters can get to them in time. but the old baseball slogan still holds good: “You can't hit em when see em.” Bombers are fast, the time element of warning is reduced to minutes and possibilities of a surprise bombing raid would require the defense to maintain a con-

their war

the declaration of the next war } The Government's job now is to attempt to quiet its subfears by teaching them what to do when the raid comes.

will be the first

® ® =

first to scare, then to quiet—has unA man will

fight if allowed to air patrol at maximum torce. This would be as futile as trying to maintain a constant, antiaircraft gun barrage as soon as war seemed to be approaching. In short, the air attack has far out-distanced and overpowered the flying air defense and ground efforts against the swift, deadly bomber.

stant

2 » x ND it was to see these weapons that fly and those which fight against air attack from the ground that I went to Europe.

No censorship can blue pencil the conclusions of an airman who sees fighting war planes. One glimpse of a bomber design tells him the reason why someone built that kind cf bomber, and what they intend to do with it. One visual shot at a super-speed fighting plane in the air and the airman has the reason for its existence. There are a lot of rumors about development of mysterious rays, rays of death or which will impede electrical ignition, to ward off an air attack.

They may be developed some day, but theyre not ready now. Even when they are standard equipment, they will fall far short of stopping the bomber. No one has the wildest hope of being able to prevent fuel oil from being pumped into the ‘cylinders of aircraft engines which do not depend upon electrical ignition, and that type of engine is the Diesel. ” = ” HE balance of power in Europe has been in the air for some years. Strangely enough those nations who won the World War with ground and sea weapons, had discounted this danger of air attack and neglected to build their own air arms. England and France are the outstanding examples. Germany and Italy alone are geared and organized for a pure air war to be conducted without interference from their ground forces. England and France seem to regard air power merely as an additional arm. German experts, whose opinions must be given weight, consider the Russian Air Force only from the standpoint of size and number of ships, and not from pure fighting efficiency. The Germans’ experience with the Russian airman in Spain leaves him content that Germany can handle Russia in the air. Germany and Italy consider their air arins as the most eftfective striking force for use beyond their borders in a major conflict.

—“The New Warfare Will Make a Front-Line Trench of Every Avenue . . . . ..’

They believe that one or more branches of a nations fighting departments must be slowed down to permit concentration on the third.

x ” x

ENCE they have curtailed their army and navy commitments and look to their bombers for striking power. The British and the French do not see this line of reasoning and have apparently decided that in addition to superior armies and navies they must also have superior air forces. Whether or not they can carry all three arms to first position will be determined by time and test alone.

It is significant that in the gigantic British air armament program a defense weapon—the super-speed fighting plane —is that country’s outstanding air development. Neither the British nor French bombers are a match for the German Heinkel 11's or the Italian Savoia Marchietti. The British are trying fo improve the accuracy of their antiaircraft gunnery by shooting at radio-controiled target airplanes. For every one shot down . few and far between, where the shooting was conducted under normal war conditions . . they have learned an additional dozen reasons for appreciating the limitations of the antiaircraft gun. = 2 5

HE air attack has scores of ingenious tricks up its sleeve for baffling the antiaircraft gun and getting into bombing position. About 10 or 12 seconds are required for an antiaircraft shell to reach 15.000 or 16,000 feet.

In that time the fast bomber may be a mile from where it was when the shell was fired. Meanwhile, the gun battery estimates the speed of the bomber and attempts to get a shooting lead of so many hundreds or thousands of yards. But the bomber only needs to open and close his throttles at uneven intervals to vary his speed from 150 to 300 miles an hour. And this completely upsets the es-

timation of the antiaircraft gunners. Sound detector accessorics of antiaircraft guns are effective in locating the bomber if its engines are run at cruising speeds. But the air strategists are developing the silent zir raid as a result of experimenis conducted successfully against Barcelona.

The silent air raid means starting at an altitude of 25,000 to 35,000 feet, and gliding toward the target for the last 40 or 50 miles with engines throttled to idling speeds. I listened to sound detectors as bombers approached a target in this fashion, and there wasn't a peep out of them. Just so much wasted effort. u » 2 COULD not understand the significance of the various types of exhaust mufflers installed on European engines bevond the fact that they dampen the flames of the exhaust gases. Unable to silence the roar of an engine running at cruising speed, these mufflers do eliminate the sound of an idling engine's exhaust during a silent air raid approach to a target. The bombers also have a way of hiding by using camouflage. Wings are painted pale blue on the under side. This includes the bottom of the fuselages also. The upper portion of the bomber wings are painted in splashes of green shades with varieties of khaki and brown. These tints hide the bomber from defense aircraft hovering aloft. The only defense against the bomber which holds any promises at all is the fast, single-seater fighting plane. I flew the best of this type in Europe—the Messersmitt M-109. o ” »

HE main purpose of the fast fighting plane is to act as the extended arm of the antiaircraft gun. Guns can do business up to about 10.000 feet. From there up the defense is expected to fly smaller guns within range of the bomber. But the bomber is fast also. I don’t think their fast fighters

eB

are up to the job. Four and a half vears ago the British started building their much-advertised fighter called the Supermarine “Spitfire.” When I was in England a few weeks ago, only two had been delivered.* I saw the Supermarine “Spitfire” flown from the airport at Eastleight, South Hampton, where I placed my Gulfhawk, and was disappointed tremendously with its all-around performance. The “Spitfire” is England's firstline fast fighter for bombing protection. Fitted with a huge wooden fixed pitch propeller, it requires | more than a half-mile to get off the ground. and all during my air tour through Europe. I did not see one single fast fighter belong- | ing to Italy or Germany, handi-capped-with a fixed pitch wooden propeller.

The British also have the Hawk- |

er “Hurricane” fighter, another defense aircraft, which is good for about 330 miles an hour. But the Hurricane also is hampered by a huge wooden fixed pitin propeller. The German Messersmitt M-109, on the other hand, was wooden in every particular. with a controllable pitch propeller made of metal. It's take-off was rapid. It was excéedingly maneuverable in the air and its climb was astounding. I select the comparison between these outstanding superspeed fighters for: two reasons: One, because they constitute the only reasonable defense against the bomber, and second, in their performances they reflect the difference between a nation which depends upon air power for international influence—Germany, and another nation which accepts an air force as an additional weapon —England,

| tions will not be broken off.

| a liberal

| Oscar | Democratic votes. | little | post-election feeling and little, if | any, | ment marks the end of the purge.

{ed a large number of voters, | in Maryland who,

| secretly. | the job out in the open.

| revive Robert Jackson, Solicitor General,

TOMORROW

The true air war bids to usher in the "mole age" as governments urge civilians to dig in when bombers approach.

more people had his |

result of being “a a Unitarian and a Scientific | or whether it is the result of close con- | tact. first with the soil and then with an educational | institution where his interest continued to be in agri- | Whatever the source, the re- ! M. L. | Wilson and not feel a kind of strength in him which | faces situations and thinks them through, looks reali- |

I've often wondered what would | I found out | boardin’

Everyday a Worimon

C2eR 1532 NER SERVICE INL . REGU S PATOFE |

"Your mother has been over-bidding all afternoon and there's nothing | can do about it." ay

Mopey Dick and the Duke "Every time it's-your turn to dry 'em, you suggest letting ‘em drip." fe ; ;

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1—In what bay is the Government prison, Alcatraz Island? 2—Under what Government department is the Federal Alcohol Administration? 3—What is the name for the Mohammedan religion? 4—In which American city is there a great annual celebration of Mardi Gras? 5—In electricity, what is an insulator? 6—With what sport is the name of Henry Picard associated? 7—In which state is the source of the Rio Grande River?

2 2 ” Answers

1—San Francisco Bay. 2—Treasury. 3—Islam. 4—-New Orleans, La. 5—A nonconducting device, or material, used to separate two electrical conductors. 6—Golf.

7—Colorado. 8 = 2

ASK THE TIMES

Inclose a 3-cent stamp for reply when addressing any question of fact or information te The Indianapolis Times Washington Service Bureau, 1013 13th St., N. W,, Washington, D. C. Legal and medical advice cannot be given nor can extended research be underen,

i be entitled to the standard courtesies and | assistance which the Democratic National Committee

will give to other party candidates. Diplomatic rela=-

From now on the amenities of one family—if not one happy family—will be observed. The election of Tydings in November is in no serious doubt. There had been talk of running Democratic candidate against him. Also some of the supporters of Rep. Lewis felt so

| strongly that they were tentatively | looking over the record of the Re-

publican Senatorial nominee, Judge Leser, who is bidding for But there will be this

material residue from

Mr. Clapper

organized effort to bolt Tydings. This develop=

Roosevelt may be expected to continue his fight to

| impress his viewpoint on the party but without going

to the extent that has marked the current Eastern Primaries. The fight against Rep. O'Connor in New York will be continued, the only remaining contest in which the Administration has its hatchet out.

| Let Public Forget Purge

Quite generally through the Administration and the national party organization, the conclusion is

| that the purge method failed and was a tactical mis=

take. That is without conceding anything about “invasion” and carpetbagging. The right of the President to seek within his own party men who are

| loyal to the general program, and to get rid of those | who want to wear the label while voting steadily | with the opposition, cannot be questioned except for | political campaign purposes.

has plainly affrontas for instance those while regarding Rep. Lewis as the more desirable man, nevertheless voted for Tydings solely because Roosevelt said he didn’t want him. Roosevelt rubbed local pride and prejudice the wrong way. Politicians have always done their purging more It remained for Roosevelt to try to do His crime was in trying to do.it by radio, instead of back in the alley. Now the most pressing business is to find a Democratic candidate for Governor of New York. The strongest possible pressure is being brought on Sen=ator Wagner. Some new dealers here are trying to who was headed for the Governorship until he aroused hos=tility by his speeches last winter. The play now is to let the purge fade out of publie

The method used, however,

memory as quickly as possible, concentrate on pulling

the party together in preparation for the coming session of Congress. There, it is feared, the Administra= tion will encounter a strong backfire resulting from the resentment of the purgees and their anti-Roosevelt friends. All of the diplomacy and skill the Administration has, will be needed to prevent Roosevelt's last

| two years from generating into a war of stalemate | with a stubborn Congress.

Jane Jordan—

Mother of Three Must Drop Suitor To Regain Affections of Husband.

EAR JANE JORDAN—I am 30 years old and have been married for 15 years to a man whom I respect and admire. I had a very comfortable home, nice clothes and three beautiful children. However,

| during the past year I have been infatuated, or in | love, I do not know which, with another man.

Now

the most tragic part is that I confessed this to my husband and he deserted the children and me. In the meantime I have been seeing this other man who is a professional man very much in love with me. He is single and needs a helpmate badly. I believe he worships the ground I walk on. But I have had considerable time to think this over and I feel like I want to live with my husband. He is afraid I will not stop seeing this other man. It would be very hard to do as he is very kind to me and understanding, My husband is cross and never makes love to me. He always wants to do something for revenge to hurt me. Sometimes I feel like destroying myself. Will you please advise me? JUNE.

Answer—I am afraid that you are using the other man as a weapon over your husband's head. You will hold on to him until your husband comes to your terms. I do not doubt that your husband has brought this on himself by his unkind and thoughtless be= havior. You set out to punish him severely for the humiliations which you have received at his hands

and you succeeded. If it is true that two wrongs do not make a right,

| then you are proceeding on a false premise and can- | not expect the right answer to your problem. Since | you have made up your

ind that you want to live with the father of your children, drop the rival com= pletely. True, his admiration and devotion are balm

| to your wounded pride ari will be hard to live with=

out, but he will have to be renounced if you waat vour husband back. The best way to convince your husband thal you won't see the other man after a reconciliation is to stop seeing him now. Come to a decision one way or the other and stick to it. ” ” » EAR JANE JORDAN-—I read the letter of “Wonse dering Mother” and feel awfully sorry for her,

| She says that she has a six-months-old child in an | institution. | never had any ! crazy for a child. | care of her baby I thought perhaps I could persuade her to let me have it if it is in good health. | supply the best of references as to our honesty and

I have been married 10 vears and have children. My husband and I are If this girl has no way of taking

1 can

I wonder if you would help me to get in

capability. MRS. G. M,

contact with this girl?

Answer—All I can do is to publish your letter. JANE JORDAN,

Put your problems in a letter to Jane Jordan, who will answer vour questions in this column daily.

New Books Today

Public Library Presents—

HIS latest book by Douglas Jerrold, English aue thor, publisher, and sometime government aid, is indeed well named GEORGIAN ADVENTURE (Scribner). Adventure it is—rare, stimulating, provocative—involving mind and emotions in both close and far reaches. Countries at war, statesmen at log= gerheads, departments struggling for order and integration, generals at rest and on parade—all make up a commentary of unusual scope and insight. Pregnant with self conviction, the book provides a better guide through troubled world affairs, even for those who disagree with its finding, than documents which confer approbation on all movements alike. ” The book lover, too, will find the volume a treat, for as publisher, Mr. Jerrold has brought out many of the famous writers of our time. His intriguing and discerning comment on some of their productions will send many weople to library catalogs to mend omise sions. % ~ 2