Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 March 1941 — Page 3

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| | of Bulgaria Altinoff made a state-

it f

{ /

Hi _ Injured esses 10] Accidents .... 19 Ry 2 | Arrests esses 15] Boat

equipment arrives, a Turkish Army

British Businessmen Say U.S. Men Needed

Bomb-Devastated Midlands Leaders Doubt War Can Be Won Without Military Aid.

‘ By HELEN KIRKPATRICK { Copyright, 1941, by The Indianapolis Times and The Chicago Daily News, Ine.

LONDON, March 4—Britain needs American manpower, Without men as well as material, Britain cannot win this war. That is the view (contrary to London’s official position) as expressed by key businessmen to this correspondent on a tour of the industrial Midlands, where despite war's devastation, life carries on courageously and production is not seriously curtained, as yet.

. That is the view of Coventry and Birmingham. That is the view in t h e devastated and most depressing Midland towns, where a different side of Britain, and opinions hardly in concert with those heard in London, confront the observer. In flattened Coventry and battered Birming- \ ham you see bot Miss Kirkpatrick DO ea damage of war and the hardships which. war causes. Despite about the most depressing vistas anyone could want to see, people appear to be unperturbed and undismayed, ‘but life is indescribably tough. - People line up for food in many British cities, but it is usually for meat and cakes. In Coventry there _ are bread lines—not because there isn’t plenty of bread but because there are no stores from which to buy it. Hence, trucks arrive on the sites of former stores and ‘housewives have to line up in the

~ street to buy their daily baked

goods. I counted 110 women in a line along what was Coventry's main street. Despite the unappetizing surroundings, hundreds of Coventry people who were forced to leave the city after its bad blitz are now drifting back. And they are going back to a city which can offer no greater protection against repetition of that disastrous night than small brick shelters, which even an

ordinary English winter has already made unsafe to enter—when there is nothing falling. I counted 10 of these shelters which had just disintegrated. Their lime and mortar being unequal to the task of holding the bricks together, much less of protecting anyone inside from falling debris or blasts.

Spring Blitz Is Main Topio

Coventry people think the plans for building a handsomer and better town are very nice, but they

would be more interested, they say, in plans to meet immediate circumstances and the spring blitz, which most of them are convinced is coming. Talks with industrialists, particularly that handful of American businessmen who run Midlands factories present a different view of the United States position than one hears from official London. There is no criticism of the United States policy or attitude, but there is comment, One American businessman whose factories both here and in the United States are.turning out important small parts said, “I don’t think - Britain can win this war without United States help. and military manpower. If we have decided that American interests demand German defeat then our people at home are kidding themselves that any policy short of war will accomplish that.” And that is the general view expressed by every businessman you

meet.

Russia Blunt With Sofia

MOSCOW, March 4 (U. P).—Blunt Russian disapproval of Bulgaria’s course in consenting to occupation by the German Army was

The communique: “On March 1 the representative

ment to the Russian Minister in Bulgaria, Lavrishchev, that the Bulgarian Government gave its consent to the dispatch of German troops to Bulgaria, having in view the preservation of peace in the Balkans. : “On March 3 Deputy People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs Vishinsky conveyed to the Bulgarjan Minister Stamenoff the follows ing reply: ““In reply to the communication of the Bulgarian Government conveyed March 1 of this year through the Minister of the Soviet Union in Bulgaria Lavrishchev by the representative of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Altinoff to the effect that Bulgaria agreed to the dispatch of German troops. to Bulgaria and that this action pursues peace aims in the Balkans, the Soviet Government deems it

' contained yesterday in a communique issued by Tass, official news | agency.

of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

‘ ‘Firstly. The Soviet Government cannot share the opinion of the Bulgarian Government as to the correctness of the latter's position in this matter since this position, irrespecitve of the desire of the Bulgarian Government, does not lead to the consolidation of peace but to an extension of the sphere of war and to Bulgaria being involved in it; : “‘Second. In wview of this the Soviet Government, true to its policy of peace, cannot render any support to the Bulgarian Government in the application of its present policy. “ ‘The Soviet Government is compelled to make the present statement especially in view of. the fact that the Bulgarian press freely circulated rumors fundamentally misrepresenting the real position of the

necessary to state that:

Turk Defense

Soviet Union.”

Role Stressed

By LUDWELL DENNY Times Special Writer

WASHINGTON, March 4—The

the agreement reached during Anthony Eden's visit at

defensive role assigned to Turkey in irons is making

doubly difficult the British Foreign Minister's united(front efforts in

' Athe:s,

With most of the Greek Army tied up in Albania, and Britain unable to transfer a large force from Africa to Salonika quickly, Turkey's ten-

tative decision to hold her Thracian * troops inactive unless Hitler attacks her is cold comfort for Athens.

Actually, however, though Greece may suffer more in the first instance if Turkey fails to engage part of the Nazi Bulgarian Army immediately, this may prove more effective strategy in the long run. At least that is the British-Turk theory. This theory is hased on a twofold assumption: A Turkish Army fighting in Bulgaria might meet the fate of the British in Belgium last year, while the Turks on their own ground can save the Straits and the Near East upon which eventual rescue of Greece depends. The Turkish Army is the largest and best trained in that part of the world. But it is ill-equipped in offensive mechanized weapons. Until British and American modern

fighting outside its own defense

Hitler an open road to the Middle East. The defensive role of Turkey; though less spectacular at first, can be vitally important. Besides holding the Dardanelles and the Ana-

tolian roads to Mosul and Suez, it can provide: : British use of the Straits for transit to the Black Sea; British air bases; A barrier to any Berlin-Moscow Axis in the Middle East. This would enable Britain to strike at Hitler's Danubian Rread basket and oil wells from the Black Sea, as well as from the Aegean. If Britain can put and keep a fleet in the Black Sea, she probably can destroy Nazi submarine nests and ports in Rumania and Bulgaria. That would cut Hitler's supply line for . Russian oil and , strategic minerals, at the same time it en-

Lieut. | Col. William C. Lee (above) has been appointed commander of the Army’s provisional parachute. group stationed at Ft. Benning, Ga.

BRITISH HANDS TIED BY ALLIES

Even Grease May Have Held Back Too Long to Get Necessary Help.

By WILLIAM H. STONEMAN

LONDON, March 4.—The impression is growing in London that no country {friendly to Great Britain but little Greece has yet learned the lesson of Norway, Holland .and Belgium. Every! report which comes into London, fron Washington to Ankara, indicates that, though the hearts of many people seem to be in the right place, Germany is still being allovied to take the initiative everywhere. Apparently the importance of the {time element, which is so highly appreciated and exploited by the Germans, ‘has not yet been given full consideration by Germany's enemies and potential enemies.

Speed Lacking

The British have done everything in their power to speed up things on their side of the fence, but they have found it impossible to do very much where speed has been most essential from their viewpoint. In Washington, the British have their hands completely tied by the fact that any attempt on their part to speed up the enactment of the lend-lease oill might upset the applecart completely. In Sofia, despite the apparent desire of King Boris to keep out of war, they might as well have been talking to a totem pole. In Ankara, they found once more that Turkey's heart was in the right place. | But it has been publicly demonstrated by Turkey's very failure to move, long before now, that Turkey has preferred a waiting game. INcw, though Turkey may very well have agreed to take certain steps in case of German attack on Greece, there is a very definite question’ of whether or not too much time has spilled over the dam.

Jugoslavia Stalled

« Jugoslévia, at one time the potential ally of Britain and France, also is stalled until she is completely surrounded by Germany and Italy. One month ago, five Jugoslav divisions might have knocked Italy out of Albania. Today such a step lboks out of the question. Even Cireece has sinned in this respect by hesitating to accept a British land force for fear of ‘“provoking the Germans.” A British expedition to Salonika was a ticklish prospect at any time, but with the Germans already on the Greek frontier and their air force ready for action against shipping entering Salonika, it now looks positively dangerous.

BALTIMORE OFFICIAL, 2 OTHERS DIE IN FIRE

BALTIMORE, March 4 (U.P.).— Three persons were burned to death today When fire destroyed the home of James 3. Blake, member of the Baltimor2 City Council. The dead are Mr. Blake, 59, his wife, Anna, 55, and his brother, ‘william J. Blake, 4". : The three were asleep on the third ficor and firemen said their escape: was cut off by the flames. Another brother Joseph F. Blake and hii wife, Catherine, were asleep on the second floor, but climbed

dangered his Rumanian oil fields.

down 2 ladder to safety.

lines might be 'destroyed—leaving

IN INDIANAPOLIS

Here Is the Traffic Record A Cnenty City Tora) 1 Ser sB Retr isk 9000000000000 5 n 2 ~March 3—

‘Dead eevccsee

MONDAY TRAFFIC COURT

Cases Convic- Fines tried tions paid Speeding IEE REN RN) 6 5 Reckless driving. 5 Failure to stop at , street. 6

Disobeying traffic

signs 000 evccne 4 Drunken driving. 1 All others senesced

J Totals ssssses Sl MEETINGS TODAY Rotary Clab, luncheon, Claypool Hotel, s Men's Club, luncheon, Y. M. C. A, sha Tau Omega, luncheon, Board of » ‘Club, luncheon, Spink-Arms Hotel, Feator Club, luncheon, Hotel Lincoln, Club, luncheon, Columbia Club, of Michigan Club, luncheon, of “Columbus, luncheon, K, of r Credit pion. luncheon,

yo i 2 ¥ Institute, diana

1 ~ Borvice” Cran, 1 Juhcheon, Can |s Motor Truck Association, lunchnoon

Health, lecMemorial, 8

Ohi, meeting, Ho Washington, Bottle Exchange Dinner, Hotel , 6:30 p. m.

20 oY

$246

MEETINGS TOMORROW ( hn meeting; Hotel, Wash-

$106 nos

13{nogi

gugiliagy, meeting, Hotel Washington, 7 and 2 h M.

Cameta, Club, meeting, Central. Y * p.m polen ns Club, Siohnon laypool Hotel, 1 Youn Men's Discussion Club, dinner, YY.

M, San Alumni Association, luncheon, Hotel Severin, 15 District ‘American Legion, luncheon,

of Tra oon. Si ma Alpha Epsilon, luncheon, Board of

Trade, indianapolis. Real Estate Board, Property Managers. s’ Division luncheon, Canary ottage, noon Indiana Society, Sons of the American Revolution, luncheon, Spink-Arms Hotel,

o-Ope Cish of opin 31anapelis, tupcheon, ¢ “Colimbia of Com rce, luncheon,

c Jur oo Soamber of y ey. Cot ah Mohivk: Chamber of Commerce, *f 7:

36 py iuncheon, Columbia Club,

ied Crom Institute, Indiana World War a clair Service Club, meeting, Hotel

Sin Seyerin, irlky A Administration, meeting, a Sing MiGisonary” Associa a - pL Feu Hore! Severin, 10 a. m, uit nia Co., ineoUnE ‘Hotel

Semin BiaBinaton Co., luncheon, Hotel Severin, 12:30

MARRIAGE LICENSES . (These lists are from official records in the County Court House. The Times therefore, is not responsible for errors in names and addresses.)

Marlin Catt, 31, of 1836 Kessler Blvd.; Giara 4. Ackerman, 23, of 2014 N. New

erse Hai A. nklin, 28, dn 8 ‘ Belol PER: 2%2.°f of afte BE

Mic ichigan st, 2 of 635 Eugene; Norma, M., PAE oi of 8a 8. vein. I, sylvania: Haze Ris, 27, of i135 N.

ghayiva Geo *an ntrim, 33, of 1432 W Vasu Margaret 5 Livingston, 31, of

Lawrence R. Chandler, 31 of3 3% EB. 31st; Mildred R. Coleman, 33, of 9 . Pepn-

sylvania Leslis, f 1842 Howard:

Robert Ruth E. PO v 3 1019 River.

BIRTHS

Frank, Viola Schonsts, at St. Francis. I A ran at Coleman.

! lis ‘Casting Club and Yen's

st. velyn Fars: at St. Vin

nt’ Paul. Jean Walker, at St. Vincent's. Robest. Virginia Mosiman, at St.’ Vin-

cent’ Fra Laura Jordan, at St. ycmt'y Franklin, Julia King. 936 Indian Virginia Armstrong, 128 MilBoys Jona Jackson, at St. Francis. Esther Alyea, at St. Francis. Keniie'h, Nellie Robbins, at City,

Joseph James,

Staneil, Frederick, Jane King, at Methodist. Robert, Margaret Taylor, at Methodist. Jimes, Anne Smitha, at Methodist. Herpian, Edrie Koers, at St. Vincent's. Harcld, Esther Johnke, at St. Vincent's. Wilbur, Sylvester Patrick, at: St. Vin-

cent's Mabel Daniels, at Methodist.

Josenh, * Shsenh, trig Turk, at St. Vincent's. New

len Brant, at St. Vincent's. Ie Hom, arie Scott, 1409'%; 8. Carl. Fay Jett. 2928 Newton. primer, Gertrude 2 Na 1609 Rem-

DEATHS

iza 81, at 1139 E. 35th, ch onic mocagdltis. ce May Smith, 64, at 4500 E. 30th, celeb: al hemarrhage 7 at City, lobar

eutsch, 7, pneun: AT Chrissian Hattendorf, 70, at 213 Leota, arteriosclerosis. . Algorn E. Hulsizer, 86, at vg Avondale Place, acute cardiac, d Jiletat enh dells LS Chapin, a Maas Park, a gas Gorelick, - at Methodist, in- ' Ha: aynes,

oy at 949 Pacéa, pulna tubercu »

Alma Vi Lig 4, at Central Indiana, cerebral hemorrha ; Jol M. Borders, 64, .at City, chronic mjocsraiils lanies Payton, 2 mo., at Riley, bronchopheumo mia. | nigite ieru B. Halsema, 79, at 2358 N. Geos © EA Moitchell, 60, at 219 E. 24th. (1 ay ar acto am Sciam, 56, at City, hyperten-

Binns Underwood. 70, at 2538 Union,

careiac pg RO Robinson, 37, at 1842 Zwingley, [oler Be TE

aris Julia Martin, at Coleman.

anson, 3 mo., at City, broncho- | 4 pheumonia.

ny Arthur, Gladys Johanning, at Methodist. | | Katherine Phillips, at Methodist. | E

STILL ON'S IN MILWAUKEE

Allis-Chalmers Fights Union Shop; New Harvester Walkout Threatened.

By UNITED PRESS Negotiations to end the six-weeks’ old strike at the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. were stalemated at Milwaukee, Wis, again today despite a second Office of Production Management plan for settlement of the largest dispute in progress in national defense industries. The negotiations were broken off abruptly last night after the OPM had announced at Washington that the 7800 striking United Automobile Workers’ (C. I. 'O.) Union had ratified the proposed settlement. The company management announced it had accepted the proposal but reserved the right to negotiate further with the union and reiterated its opposition to a union shop, maintenance of membership or any other device “that makes a man’s job dependent on union membership.” Thomas Protests R. J. Thomas, international president of the U. A, W.-C. I. O., issued a statement. in which he charged the company’s offer was contrary to what had been expected by the OPM and union officials said the points on which the firm reserved judgment should have been submitted to an impartial referee provided for in the OPM proposal. Status of the strike, involving defense orders for materials worth $40,000,000, was uncertain Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Farm Equipment Workers Organizing Committee (C. I. O.) announced at Chicago that the union had sent a telegram to Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins threatening a strike at a fifth plant of the International Harvester Co. unless some settlement of strikes at the other four was reached today in company-union conferences with the secretary at Washington. FEWOC strikes at two other Chicago plants and the Richmond, Ind. and Rock Falls, Ill, plants of International Harvester already involve 13,450 workers and defense materials worth $10,000,000. Members of the Wilmington, N. C., Building Trades Council (A. F. of L.) voted last night to continue their

aircraft firing range at Camp Davis.

Prop Plant Closed Angther dispute shut down the Neville Island aircraft - propeller plant of the Curtiss-Wright Corp. at Pittsburgh, Pa. Four plants of the Curtiss-Wright firm hold $70.000,000 worth of Government airplane orders. Officials at the Neville Island plant said a C.I.O. “disciplinary action” to collect dues and check membership had forced 950 key employees out of work. Despite what it termed “serious interference” with the defense orders, the company refused a C.I.O. demand ‘to discharge non-union workers.

CONSIDER ‘POCKET’ FOR ARMS PLANT

WASHINGTON, March 4 (U, P.). —A delegation from Evansville and Mt. Vernon, Ind., had War Department assurances today that their area would be given careful consideration if the Government decides to erect more munitions plants. The assurances were given yesterday by Lieut. Col. F. H. Kohloss of the Office of Industrial Planning to

Vernon Chamber of Commerce; Jerome D, Beeler, president of the Evansville Chamber of Commerce, and Louis Ruthenberg, president of Servel, Inc.,, Evansville. They were accompanied by Rep. John W, Boehne, Jr. (D, Ind.). The group presented a prospectus on about’ 50,000 acres of land in Posey County between Evansville and Mt. Vernon, It is owned by small farmers. . Col, Kohloss told them their proposal would receive full and careful consideration,

OFFICIAL WEATHER

— Us 8. Weather Bureau pe

INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST: Fair tonight and tomorrow; colder tonight with lowest temperature 15 to 20.

Sunrise 6:14 Sunset

TEMPERATURE ~March 4, 1940—

seesenas 36 BAROMETER

Precipitation 24 hrs ending 7 a. m.. Total precipitation since Jan. 1...... ois’ 16 Deficiency since Jan. 1 ......evc.en.. 3.52

MIDWEST WEATHER

Indiana—Yail, except light local snows near Lake Michigan; colder in south portion LR tomorrow fair. Illinois — Fair tonight and tomorrow; solder a south portion tonight. r Michigan—Fair, except light local snows g extreme east portion tonight; tomorrow generally fair, not much change in temperatur Oblo—Fair | bY colder tonight: tomorrow fair with slowly rising temperature; warmer Thursday Kentucky—Fair ‘and considerably colder, cold wave in extreme east portion tonight; tomorrow fair with slowly rising temperature in west and central portions; ‘warmer Thursday.

WEATHER IN OTHER wiItIES, 8 30 A. M. eather Bar. Temp. Anon ® rex. 30.23 3 Boston . 18 Cincinnati ve 28 17 25 a3 58

36 52

CARDIFF, Wales, March 4 score of buildings #d left more in the worst raid of the war on Thousands of incendiary and

of smaller ones cast a red glow for Two churches, a convent, school and hospital were among the buildings damaged, One of the raiders was believed |er to have been shot down. At the height of the raid there was a huge flash in the sky. Sparks and flames shot in all directions and then a terrific explosion was heard. A hospital at which air raid casualties were being treated was struck. The operating room was de-

Sigoyen but there were no casual-

strike at the $13,000,000 Army anti-|

D. E. Hastings, representing the Mt.|

bil] a thorough combing.

four to three. But there are other changes of apparent minor + nature — the changing of a word here and there—that are going under the microscope. The Stout backers are looking for “bugs,” hoping to catch them, if any, before the bill is rushed through in that very near last-minute jam. In addition to rewriting some provisions of the Senate-approved bill, the Markland Committee, whose chairman, Rep. Glenn Markland (R. Zionsville), also introduced a 165-page control measure in the House, added several sections and made about 20 other changes. Many were features taken from his bill. Here is one of them, quoted from the printed bill given House members and referring to beer wholesalers’ permits: “Such applicant shall have available for investment, capital, in cash or property, necessary and useful in nis business exclusively as a wholesaler, of at least seven (three thousand five hundred) dollars, exclusive of motor vehiclgs, and if his application be granted, such investment shall actually be made and proof thereof submitted to the commission, before such applicant shall engage in business as a wholesaler under his permit.” The figures within the parentheses were stricken out by the Markland committee. F There's a lot of differerice between $3500 and $7.

FJ » ” LIQUOR interests also learned for the first time yesterday that they would pay a special tax for the policing of the industry. They haven't found out yet just how much, but an amendment to the Stout bill will be offered to provide the funds. The ABC, which has been operating with 35 Excise Officers, asked the Budget Committee for 19 more to tighten enforcement. The Committee granted funds for 12. Then the G. O. P. budget pruners knocked out the funds for the whole enforcement division, said a case tax on whisky and a barrel ‘tax on beer would be sponsored to raise the $300,000 needed for the police work.

» ”

WITHIN a day or two, a Senate committee will hand down its decision that Senator Albert Beveridge Jr., Indianapolis Republican, is entitled to retain his place. It will rule against a contest petition filed at the start of the session by Joseph Sexton, former Democratic Senator who was beaten by about 60 votes. Mr. Sexton charged that a voting machine in one precinct jammed and failed to register all votes for him. He claimed that the totals of other candidates show that he would have been elected. But the Senate committee disagrees with him. A decision in the other contest suit before the committee, involv~ ing Senator Blaz Lucas (D. Gary) probably will not be returned this session. Senator Lucas won by about 25,000 votes, but his opponent charged that he was ineligible to serve because of a Volstead law conviction several years ago. » » ~

AN EXPECTED compromise in the intra-party battle over Congressional reapportionment failed to materialize, and the Republican camp still was in turmoil when the leaders renewed their huddle last night in an attempt to iron out the difficulties. It's reported that one compromise offer was turned down by the Fifth District: delegation because it failed to include any help for the Third District, whose Senators stood by the Fifth in the early fight. With Congressmen, District chairmen, county chairmen and interested bystanders mixing it up with the legislators, this is a first class political battle royal. Rep. Forrest Harness of Kokomo, whose Fifth District seat is threatened by the present setup, and Rep. Robert Grant of South Bend are in town. Rep. Gerald Landis from the Seventh District was here last week. Some others have drifted in and out and are keeping their eyes on developments. Refusal of the heavily-Repub-lican Second District to surrender any of its G. O. P. counties is reportedly blocking the present compromise moves. * Charges that the setup proposed in the House-approved bill “smacks of bi-partisanship” have created a lot of comment. And some of the dissenting Republican Senators have said that if this bill ‘stands, they will attempt to block action and throw the 1942 Congressional elections on an at-large basis, without districts.

ANOTHER COMPROMISE report floating around involves the State Welfare Department and Republicans sponsoring legislation which would wipe out Indiana’s parole supervision system and the Welfare Department's right to review paroles recommended by ine stitution trustees. It’s said the deal would leave parole supervision with the Welfare Department, but would eliminate the right to review. The

dropped. Casualties were believed small.

. the flames,

Welfare Department, naturally, is

Cardiff Hse Worst Raid

(U. P.).—German bombers destroyed a than 100 persons homeless last night this port.

many high explosive bombs were

a time over the town.

Women and children evacuated from bombed homes knelt in prayat a religious service conducted oe a Roman Catholic priest at an air raid shelter. In one district men and women in evening clothes doused incendiary bombs on their way to a dance. A Catholic church was set afire by incendiary bombs and the priest rushed in and salvaged altar p. Then he joined firemen In aging

LEGISLATORS AND others. interested in removing liquor control as far as possible from politics are giving the House-amended Stout

They aren’t hiding their displeasure over the Markland committee’s action in striking out the State ABC's right to appoint a member on the county control boards, reducing the number of members from

A dozen big fires and scores |.

opposed because it does not care to assume responsibility for freed convicts whose release from prison they had not Spptoved ” AFTER a Areven: fight, the Indiana League of Women Voters is the closest it ever has been in its drive for a State-wide merit

' system.

In 1935, the first merit bill was introduced by them in the Senate. In the special session the following year, the League tried again in the House. It succeeded in getting a clause in the Social Security Bill providing that employees would be “selected on a basis of merit.” The Welfare Department and Unemployment Compensation Division have been operating on a merit plan since, but it was set up by rules and regulations, not by law. After another futile attempt in 1937, a merit bill was passed by the Republican House in 1939, but it lost out again in the Senate. This year, the League gained the co-operation of several groups in forming the Indiana Merit System Association. After some close calls, both on the floor and in committees, the Association’s 1941 bill cleared a high hurdle in easy fashion in the House yesterday. It affects 3000 employees in Welfare, Health, Institutions and Library work. Only Senate agreement on House amendments giving preference points to veterans is keepiug the measure from the Governor. And if he signs it, Indiana belatedly will have its first merit system law on the books.

Strauss Says:

Dobbs, of course—

A strong selection at 6.50—the distinguished Duvay felts at 8.50, the Rainbow Tones at 8.50, and a series of $10 Dobbs hats that are superlative.

By RICHARD MOWRER ag EAST More reminiscences of a foreign correspondent on home Hodis, The battery was in a_ hollow, hidden in pits among some scraggly fig trees. Several times Italian Savoias had come over, looking for those guns. Once the bombs had dropped pretty close. But the Italians were guessing at the guns’ position and the. bonibs only stirred up the gravel-sand. When the bombers came the guns would quit firing and everybody would stay ‘where he was, so that no movement would betray the battery’s position.

Open Up at Dawn

That day the battery had opened up at dawn, the guns’ long barrels tilted at a high angle to send the shells over the escarpment and plunk a few miles beyond into the Italian positions. The fire was not Italian positions. This went on until early afternoon. Then the battery ceased firing altogether and the gun crews, stripped to the waist and sweating, shoved the ramrods and brushes into the hot barrels and cleaned the rifling. The sun beat hot and we stayed in the shade of the scraggly fig trees and rested. Toward 4 o’clock one of the men strolled off toward Sollum’s bomb-scarred houses to make some tea.

“Here Comes Sam”

“Here comes Sam!” somebody shouted. A lone figure approached, a man with rips in his khaki trousers and torn sneakers on his feet. His nose was sunburned red, his lips were dry and cracked and his eyes bloodshot. He carried a greatcoat under one arm, ludicrous in the afternoon’s heat but necessary at night when it gets cold. Everybody crowded around. “J-j=j-jolly good s-s-shooting, you chaps,” he announced. “You sh-sh-sh-should’'ve seen those Eyeties t-t-t-tumble into their holes when that first s-s-s-salvo came

This was Sam, the battery's walks ing observation rost. He had spent part of the previous night and most of the day on the desert plateau, a mile from Ft. Capuzzo, with only a pistol and a telephone, and the ter rific sun blazing down upon him. as 4 he checked his battery’s range. 3 When the battery's first salvo T whirred over his head Sam watched i the Italians with anticipation’as they “walked about” only. a mile away. The shells burst and Wess i Italians scuttled’ to shelter. : “TL eyre walking Abous a 1 ag-g-g-gain,” Sam reported into his telephone. The battery fired an- i other salvo, and again the Italians tumbled “like rabbits” into their holes. This went on for a while, then the Italians became suspicious, for o the shells came only when everys .s body was out of the trenches again, i» They suspected a British observa- 4 tion post somewhere near. So pretty = | soon Sam saw them hoisting a couple of special observation ladders” ] devised for desert work. ait

Saved by Mirage ,

As the men started to climb to the «; top with high-powered field Flames dangling from their necks Samy: stuttered a high-powered word intoss his field telephone. A brace of shells came along and Sam watched ‘the. Italians hastily clamber off their. > perches, : After exercising considerably once their ladders, the Italians tried.»

|something else. They sent a ‘num ss

ber of shrapnel shells popping over the desert where they thought Sam might be. “A c-c-c-couple of them were & rather c-c-c-close,” Sam admitted, «; “I was glad when the m-m-m-nti= sp Ww rage came up,” he added. CE pe For with the mirage .as & shime.. mering curtain between him and haw Italians Sam at least could . away without being identified. Which was well, because soon after=... ward the exasperated Italians at--Ft. Capuzzo sent out two baby Ansaldo tanks to look around. "a

One of the men handed Sam &

over. J-j-j-jolly good fun.”

mug of hot tea. “Oh, I say, th-th-th-thanks,” said Sam. :

y i a — i EL Can mew wee Toe EG ay rth oa ns 2

It has such a deep and enthusiastic acceptance that many men just don't feel right unless they are in the possession of one or .

more of these hats!

This is due to three reasons—and Dobbs is all THREE—(1) Dobbs who pioneered light-weight = felts—(2) Dobbs who initiated the major advances in. fine Hatting—(3) Dobbs who puts into the - 1 CROSS COUNTRY a rare union of stamina ng

style and VALUE!

YOUR "GROSS COUNTRY"

—is in about a dozen colors —including black, and the new

WHIPCORD. Among them

are the two-tone Cross

Country hats with the wide

folded silk ribbon band.

Wear 'em with a three-corner crease, Polk-Pie, or how will

you have it.

Also Dobbs REGULAR WEIGHT hats at $5

Dobbs celebrated COLLEGE blocks, the Kenley, Ridgeley and Bradley,

various widths of brim—

the new smart shades, $5 And the Dobbs GERARD— a general all-around favorite, $3 5 And WINGS—a newcomer with a new set crow! and a fixed-in tri-corner crease, $5