Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 January 1941 — Page 17

THURSDAY, JAN. 30,

1941

‘Hoosier Vagabond

LONDON (By Wireless) ~There is probably nothing more incongruous about this whole war than the fact that it has driven millions of people to burrow underground lke moles. On an average, one-fourth of London's population has slept underground in the last six months: . On nights when the raids are bad, about half of London is below the surface, And in certain sections such as the Borough of Stepney in the poor East End, with its population of a quarter of a million, they say that on bad nights 99 per cent of the people are down below, It is a sorry-life. And I plan to use most of the next week telling about it. I have been in shelters night atter night after night. I've been in about 50 of them, from the lowest to the most luxurious. It is going to be hard®™o describe a shelter so that you can picture it, just as it would be hard to describe a ship to somebody who had never seen one. For ‘there must be as many different kinds of shelters under London as there are kinds of ships on the sea. But in general, sheltering falls into four classifications: (1) ihe tubes, which is to say the subways; (2) private shelters, under hotels and apartment houses; (3) vast public shelters in the basements of thousands of strong buildings, and (4) Anderson shelters—the artificial cave that the home owner builds in the backyard for his family alone.

A Census of Shelters

Back home I believe we've read more about life in the tubes than in any of the other shelters. Possibly that is because it is forbidden to name other big shelters, for fear of directing Germsn bombs to y them, Yet fewer people sleep in the tubes than in any of the three other types of shelter. Here are some figures to show just how much of London can get under shelter at night, how much of it actually takes shelter, and where: (The last column of figures comes from a shelter census taken throughout Greater London on a recent quiet Right) Census 96,000 209,000 368,000 1,271,000

Capacity . 178,000 930,000 1,323,000 3,418,000

Private group shelters ess reeriny Public shelters Anderson shelters

. .5,849,000 1, 944,000

By Ernie Pyle

Taking into account the evacuation, on which there are ho definite figures, let's assume that the population of Greater London today is c¢ight million. Then these figures mean that ther: are shelter accommodations for nearly three-fourths of the people, and that on quiet nights only one-‘ourth of the population uses them. On bad nights. this ‘figure doubles. When you read that only a fourth of London is burrowing on these winter nights don’t get the idea

that the other three-fourths are out busting around] |

town. Only a few thousand are. ‘The rest are at home, hehind their blackout curtains. In the past few weeks bad weather has disrupted

the raiders, and they have been over London 0a an|. average only four nights a week. And only egbout|: one night a week has there been what you would]:

really call heavy raiding. “People grow nonchalant about it, possibly too nonchalant. But just let London get two bad nights in a row and see what happens.

You would see well over half of London diving for|

the basements.

Like People Everywhere.

Today, after six months of hiding from bomb, the

shelter population has become pretty well settled. The same peopl: go to the same shelters each night.

They sleep in the same spots, either in bunks or ong The Ministry of Health is installing hunks|.§ so fast there are now some 350,000, and before spring | &

the floor.

the number will probably pass a million. There are all kinds of opinion about the people who live in shelters. Social workers think they’ré wonderful... Some people consider them cowards. As

far as I dan see they have the same strengths and].

weaknesses that people in the mass have everywhere, in war or out. They are just people doing the best they can with & situation that is pretty bad. The shelters do harbor some conscription dodgers and petty thieves, and a horde of young men who refuse to lact as fire watchers or do much of anything else] They are weak characters. ; At home they would be drugstore cowboys; here they're called “:ube Cuthberts.” When | life has simmered down to the point where

.you have to choose between being bombed and living

like swine on the floor of a dungeon, then life has indeed betome pretty bleak. And this isn’t just in London eitlier. All over England people are burrowing in sheliers at night. Millions of them are living through these 1€-hour

winter nights like that—just down there waiting in a |

tube or a basement or a dugout. There is no denying that it's better than being dead, but it’s certainly a hell of a way to live.

Inside Indianapolis And “Our Town")

IF YOU'VE PICKED up the impression that the . Democrats and Republicans over at the Legislature are at the point of picking up clubs and such, forget it.” There isn’t any bitterness in evidente. The Demo"crats, naturally, don’t like the reorganization bills and they're doing their best to spike them by heckling and delaying. Those bills, by the way, are going through the period of being changed as they go along. One noticeable thing is that there do not seem to be as many “official” lobbyists on the floor as in past sessions. The days of McHale, Elder, etc., being all over the Legislature seems to be far away. The only G. O. P. stalwart apparent day in and day out is Jarhes Bradford, the Marion : County chairman, who spends a great deal of time with the County’s Senate delegation, and who frequently is seen conferring with Bill Jenner. The G. O. P. boys seem to be staying “in line” without any whiphand being necessary on the floor. The bosses are prepared though. A direct phone (one that rings on the other end when you lift the receiver) runs directly from Speaker Knapp's office to Arch Bobbitt's. Let the boys go astray and that phone will be as busy as the dickens,

She Sticks to It

MISS FRANCES FOOTE, librarian at the Business Branch, swears it’s true. A woman came. in and said she wasn’t sure of the name of the author, but the book she wanted was called “Mein Kampf.” . . . Albert Losche, the City purchasing sgent, has been telling his 14-year-old daughter what a wonderful skater he used to be 25 years ago in Garfield Park.

‘Washington

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.—It’s all inside the family, put feeling is growing in this Government that the British ought to be doing more to utilize idle forsign ships tied up in ports-of the United States. Nobody is Bsking anything .unreascnable, but some of the decisions being made by the British Shipping Industry are hard to understand at this end. The trouble is in London, not here, and unquestionably the matter has o> been taken up directly over there.

Lord Halifax, the new British Ambasador, indicated this week that Great Britain expects to obtain much of the tonnage we are now building. There is a constant scramble to obtain merchant ships from us and the United States is turning them over as fast as it can without doing injury to American interests. Yet a large fleet of 120 ships of various foreign ‘registry lies tied up in our ports. Most of these vessels have been idle since the war began.

French Ships Released

Everyone recognizes that complications exist. Yet it is difficult for some people to see why London - refuses to guarantee that these ships will not be seized on the high seas if operated in accordance % With instructions of the British. L.A few French ships are being released just now. But 40 Danish ships are tied up tight hecause Great Britain will not permit the Danish flag to go out on the trade routes. Yet Dutch ships—also owned by interests now under German occupation--are running ‘In the Pacific under British protection. This has nothing to do with the two Cierman ships ‘and the 28 Italian ships tied up in ports of the United

My Day

WASHINGTON, Wednesday. — estariay. Mrs. Henry Wallace, the wife of the Vice President, gave a delightful lunch for the wives of the members of .the Senate. Old acquaintances seemec very happy to eng ‘again, and the wives of new members were : welcomed with open arms. Last night we gave one of the most interesting. dinners that I have attended for a long time. think one of the things vital to all of us today is a knowledge of our own country. Therefore, I am deeply interested in any method’ by which this. knowledge may be acquired. The “Open Road,” in whose iiiterest our dinner was given last night, is one of the organizations which I think is doing an extremely good plece of work along the lines of ‘a better under‘standing of our own United States and its people. They organize groups to study different sections of the country. Many of the people who take these .six to eight-week trips are teachers, social workers and undergraduates. All of them reach out to cer‘tain /definite "groups in, their own communities and ‘will ‘share the knowledge which they obtain. These trips are not just sight-seeing trips but trips in which a real study is made of the life in a _ Whole ; community; its industrial and agricultural 0 ts education, recreational and social

- The release of the French. ships

‘machines, and yet the laces of the forgetfulness of in

Night before last, he took to the Coliseum rink to show her how it’s done and he went around twice and then—zingo! Today, he’s limping and saying it'll be 25 years more before he tries again. . . . The news$papermen covering the WPA {rials at the Federal Building are inflated. Judge Baltzell had a

wooden sign made and placed on a table—“}’ress.” |

What's more he had the desk stocked with copy paper.

Elevation Scrap Warms Up

THE SCRAP OVER track elevation with Council- |"

man Ralph Moore, Republican, ani Corporation Counsel Ed Knight, Democrat, in the ring will go more than one round. Probably, the limit. Already, Hizzoner the Mayor is climbing into the ring with buckets and towels and City Councilinen are lining up as seconds for both parties. The battle started when the Cour sil asked Corporation Counsel Knight to find money for track elevation, Mr. Knight ground out an opinion which said nothing about money and Councilman Moore forthwith demanded another opinion. Privately, Mr. Knight doesn’t think he can find any frack ele vation money no metter how many legal opinions he issues. Finding thoney, he says, is not his job. Finding, law, is.

Shucks, No Sonja!

AMONG THOSE disappointed by the non-arrival of Sonja Herie here last night was the Claypool Hotel delegation of Indiana legislators. A lcbby-full of the lawmakers stood about last night and talked politics, meantime keeping their eyes pinned on the Illinois St. entrance. Sonja, alas, never came, First she was supposed to arrive at/[7:30 p. im. Then 8:40. Last it was 9:15. Then when the train did pull in| Sonjs was not a passenger. Miss Henie will have a suite at thie Claypool but the desk clerk won't say what the number of the room is. Ske doesn’t want it known, he explained.

By Raymond Clapper

N

States. There is no thought of seizing them. Ami ‘ican private {interests are hopeful of being zble to purchase at least the Italian ships. They arc df no use to Italy now because they would be sunk on sight if they ventured out, and on the other hand if sold they would give Italy some exchange. Because there are differences of opinion between Washington and London over the rnsutral ships, it should not be inferred that the two Governments are having any fundamental trouble. Co-cperation between Weshington and the British Embassy here is close.

“Business as Usual”

The same cannot be said of the British Shipping Ministry ir: London, which is consitlered the heart of the trouble. It does not set too well here to see the British making frantic appeals t¢ us for tonnage while at the same time wasting it in orcer to keep up business as usual. For instance, London is routing oil tankers around Africa to Persia when they could shoot across the Atlantic to Venezuela and Jet oil in a third of the time—saving two-thirds by shortening the haul. It’s the desire to preserve, traditional trade arrangements that seems to be causing part of the trouble. That desire is understandable, but to some it seams a little late to be. pursuing it in the face of the admittedly desperate situation. Rather vigorous talking has been done and there is hope that the situation will begin! to ease shortly. is taken as an encouraging sign that the policy may be changed with regard to ships of other registry. In all 500,000 tons of idle shipping are available here. Sluggish bureaucracy in London is preventing most of it from going into service. Inaction in this matter does not fit harmoniously inio-the picture of this Administration pressing Congress for quick passage of the Lerid-Lease Bill.

By Eleanor Ronsevelt

one faking advantage of this type of travel will gain immeasurably in the knowledge of the country. The speeches last night were so good that I found people did nqgt even look tired wher we troke up at midnight, and that is saying a good deal for afterdinner speeches! Dr. Neilson presided and, though he began: by saying that he was jold his remarks need hive no human interest, I ar. quit? sure that everyone present found much in what he said which was of interest from the standpoint of humanity and its future. We are drawing to the climax of the infantile paralysis campaign. Many people have sent me their contributions to the March of Dimes, and our mail is somewhat delayed by the flow of letters t> the President. | © am sure that the whole couniry is more conscious of the work for crippled people because of this yearly event. This year I discovered the work of a sonvalescent home in Rockaway Park, N. Y. which is Sktremely interestirg. The patients there have developed a printing shop, partly as a rehabilite tion raeasure, and partly for support. You may order from them writing paper, calling cards, place cards, playing cards and bridge scores. In fact, I imagine they would Sxecuid any printing order that jou chose to give em. | The pictures in the booklet siént me show the teacher laboriously training cripple:l hands and arms, showing boys on crutches how ta opegate certain

When the Italians fled from Bardia, much of their finest equipment fell into British Hands. His machine gun is a sample.

Ethiopian revolt against Italy.

A heavy British field gun pounds.-away at Bardia prior to the British sweep into the African desert stronghold. The English did some of their most devastating work of the war in taking this outpost of Mussolini's colonial empire. Australians performed heroic service, helping

in the capture of thousands of Italian soldiers.

them as “Bertha” works on Bardia’s crumbling ramparts.

They don’t come too young or too old to fight in the desert. Here a 14-year-old boy sharpens his marksmanship in readiness to aid the

Note the nonchalance with which the soldiers above stand with their hands folded behind

These smiling Tommies are shown in the front line trenches as Bardia was battered into submission.

Judging from their heavy coats, this part of the desert wasn’t hot.

English troops have shown a ready

adaptation to the sizzling climate of Africa and have achieved objectives against almost unsuperable odds.

ELEVATION ROW IN ITS 2D ROUND

In Wordy Battle Over Rail Elevation.

Adjectives and strong verbs flew thick and fast at City Hall today as the verbal battle over track elevation went into its second, furious round. Contenders are Councilman Ralph Moore, Republican, and Edward H. Knight, Democrat. Both have been issuing statements to each other and writing long letters .to Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan since Monday, It all started when the: City Council two weeks ago asked Mr. Knight to find out how the City could get some money for track elevation. In a subsequent legal opinion, Mr. Knight didn't find the

money. .Didn’t; Did

Councilman .. Moore contended that the Corporation Counsel didn’t look hard enough. ‘Counsel Knight replied ‘that he did, too. “The opinion rendered by the Legal Department is unsatisfactory,” Mr. Moore charged in his statement. “The. program . Mr. Moore and others have been ' considering for track elevation is vague,” countered Mr. Knight in ‘his statement. Councilman Mopre demanded that Mr. Knight look once more for the money: Counsel Knight replied that wasn’t his job, which is to find law, not funds.

Terms Resolution Vague

Mr. Knight's opinion is not specific in its response, the Councilman asserted. To which Mr. Knight replied: “In the absence of any specific

vague resolution and of any effort whatever by him or by those for whom he purports to speak, ‘and of -any effort whatever by him to elucidate what he may have . had in mind, but had failed utterly to express; and so lacking any dats whatever to pass upon the practical aspects of the actual problem he had thus merely outlined, this -department: could not be any more specific in its response.” Councilman Moore hasn't thought up ‘a comeback to that one yet.

13 HODSIERS, 5 FROM HERE, ENLIST IN NAVY

Thirteen Indiana men, five of them : from Indianapelis,” recently enlisted in the Navy, will be transferred to the U. 8. Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Ill. = - The Indianapolis men are Morris William Chisholm. Jr., 3727 Salem Sti; Wilbur Ray Smith, 732 E. 64th Kasnak, 350 N.

: oungsters show | Elder the

| for more than 12 years while

~~Moore and Knight Involved

Lotier in Mail 14 Years Is Claimed

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 30 (U. P.). —-A letter which had. shuttled between North and South America

postal authorities sought the addresses was claimed today by. its sender, a Blawnox steel worker. The letter, addressed to Stjepan Crnkovic at Buenos Aires and postmarked in 1928, carried the return address “Mato Crnkovic, 158 Long Way, Etna, Pa.” After trying to deliver the letter, which enclosed three $1 bills, South American postal authorities returned it to Pittsburgh. Postmaster Stephen ‘A. Bodkin yesterday received notice from Postmaster Alvin E. Moon, of -Blownox, that Mato’s wife had claimed the letter in behalf of her husband.

KAHN BEQUEATHS RILEY MEMORIAL

Bequest of $5000 for a memoria} to “my friend”. James Whitcomb Riley, is included in the will of Harry A. Kahn, National Furniture Co. president, who .died Jan. 22. The will was filed for probate yesterday. The Riley bequest and another $5000 gift to provide a memorial for Mr. Kahn end his wife, Carolyn, were left to the ‘Carolyn M. Kahn Memorial Association, Inc. All the stock owned by Mr. Kahn in the National : Furniture Co.; the Colonial Furniture €o., Inc., and the ‘Peoples. Outfitting Co., Inc., was

Jere to: Mr. Kahn's brother, Edward “Kahn. .

sepa ——— SHOT INJURES BOY'S EYE Shot. with an’ air ‘rifle in the hands of a playmate yesterday, 11-year-old Lowell Corlett, 1110 E. St. Clair St., was'in. Oity Hospital to-

indication - by Mr. Moore's very |day.

The pellet struek the boy on the eyelid, but did “not penetrate eyeball, hospital officials said.

G. O. P. Splits Anglers Can

The Republican majority ": the Senate split yesterday for the first time this session of the Legislature, and as a result of the split it will be perfectly legal for all ice fisherman to continue their rigorous: sport. The split came over whether or not to report out of the Natural Resources Committee a bill that, would make all ice fishing illegal. This is a perennial fight that comes up in nearly every. session of ‘the General Assembly. nents of the bill charge ‘that ice: fishermen take all the- fish out of : the

M’NELIS COURT T0 GET REPAIRS

(County Commissioners to

Heed Plea, but They: Don’t Like Cost.

There wasn't any doubt today that County Commissioners are going to repair Municipal Judge John L. McNelis’ courtroom.. In the first place, the Judge can make them. But he won’t.have to do that, the Commissioners announced, “We're willing,” they said.

Dodges Falling Plaster

Commissioners William Brown and Ha Hohlt said they sympathized with the plight of Judge McNelis who. has to dodge falling plaster from the ceiling when he's on the bench. “We're going to do everything we can,” Mr. Brown said. “We are fully. aware, of course, . that the Judge could hold court in a hotel room if he wants to ‘and bill the County for it.” -©®

Begrudges Cost

Judge MecNelis told the Safety Board Tuesday that he has power to mandate the County to make the needed repairs. “Yes, we're going to have a meetabout that courtroom next week,” Mr. Hohlt said. “It's too bad, though. "Fixing up that old courtroom is’ like -throwing money down a rathole.”

FIRE DAMAGES FOUNDRY

Fire which started in a locker room last night damaged the C. & G. Foundry and Pattern Works, 2440 : Yandes St. . The flames, started by an overheated salamander, destroyed the lockers and burst

his | through the roof of the plant. Dam-

age was not estimated by firemen.

Over Ice Bill; Go On Fishing

very. few compared to the fair weather fishermen. The’ State Conservation Department made ‘a survey once that showed the average. daily catch of ice fishermen was 3.2 fish. ' Laws already "have been passed to make any sort of wind. protection. for ice fishermen illegal, but still they fish. Senator Thurman Biddinger (R. Marion). introduced. the bill and argued. that it was:a bill-in the interests of the fair weather fisher men and ought to be Senator Shull (R. Auburn) said ‘any ' that ice fishermen

took more than their share of the

Army Calls Doctor Of 2-Pound Baby

ALAMOSA, Colo., Jan. 30 (U. P.).—Miss Hope Quiller, a spritely young two-pound girl, who lives in an’incubator, is having a tough time of it. After surviving 14 rather precarious days of life since her prematyre birth last Jan. 16, ‘Miss Quiller is now having trouble ‘with the U. S. defense program. Her favorite doctor has been drafted. He is Dr. Sidney Anderson, who brought Hope into the world and who since has supervised her food ration of five teaspoons of milk

every two hours. Another doctor has taken the-case.

FDR SIGNS 1ST BILL OF 77TH CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (U. P.). —President Roosevelt has signe the bill authorizing expenditure o $300,000,000 for installing. modern

anti-aircraft’ defenses on warships, the White House announced today. Mr. Roosevelt signed The measure last night. It was the first act of the 77th Congress to become law. Before work can start on the program, which Navy officials said would require from. two to. three years to complete, Congress must approve an appropriation measure. The program includes equipping not - only battleships and -heavier craft “with anti-aircraft - weapons and topside deck ‘armor, but also installation of protective devices on the smaller ships such as destroyers, trawlers and auxiliaries. Approximately 300 warships are to be equipped.

ISLOAN TO ADDRESS "CHAMBER TONIGHT

Alfred P.. Sloan Jr. board chairman of General Motors, was to arrive in Indianapolis at noon today to address the 51st annual dinnev of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce at 6:30 p. m. at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. It was reported Mr. Sloan may inspect -the Allison Division -of General Motors Corp. while here. A reception in his honor was to be held ‘at 5 p. m. atthe Indianapolis Athletic Chub. W. 1. Longsworth, chamber president; will be ter .at tonight's dinner, for which about 1100 reservations have been‘ made. Preceding Mr. Sloan's address, the subject of which has not been an-

nounced, a feature called “Salute to| will ‘be presented by: the |

chamber’s industrial. commission. It

_|4—Name' the Government

LEWIS WARNS TARDY DRIVERS

Must Appear in Court on Day They're Slated on "Traffic Charges.

Judge Pro Tem David Lewis today warned motorists charged with parking violations that they must appear in court the day they are slated. He issued the warning after a motorist who had received 14 stickers failed to appear in the morning session today. He ordered his re-arrest and placed a $25 bond on each sticker. . Mr. Lewis also warned motorists to destroy their 1940 license plates. There have been several cases in which citizens have been given

stickers issued on their old plates although they had purchased 1941 plates. He ‘said that 1940 plates usually re left behind where someone has asy access to them, and when thas person is given a sticker, the origi« nal holder of the plate is slated be cause the numbers are issued to him,

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1—Whose portrait is on all’ United States cigaret tax stamps? : 2—Which U. 8. Army Air Corps fly ing school is called “West Point of the Air”? 3—“Shylock” and “Portia” are char« acters in which of Shakespeare's plays? official recently chosen as one of the best dressed men in the United States.

5—Does the earth or the moon cause an eclipse of the sun? 6—Name the Undersecretary of the Navy. Answers 1—De Witt Clinton. 2—Randolph Field, Texas. 3—“The Merchant of Venice.” 4—Paul V. McNutt. $—Moon. 6—James V. Forrestal. ” . 2

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