Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 July 1942 — Page 9

» one.

SATURDAY,

JULY 25, 1942

| »-Hoosier Vagabond

LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland, July 25.—War #8 a tough business, and all that, but the policy of our ‘government is to make our troops abroad just as comfortable as possible, and I think the policy is a good Sailors and marines at the new United States

naval base here, for instance, are living almost as they would be if they were in a camp at home. The only real difference is that when they go to town in the evening they are amidst foreign surroundings. Food is always item No. 1 in a wartime outfit. Our men here are eating well, in fact better than well. The contrast between their food and what the British soldiers

and sailors get is almost embarrassing. The navy gets eggs locally, but practically everything else is shipped from the States. Even beer. I have eaten here and been all through the galleys, and the grub standard is just as high as at home. There - is only one lack—the men miss their fresh vegetables. Although the officers’ messes take a chance and serve fresh milk, the army and navy have turned thumbs down on Irish milk for the troops. The reason—the dairies don't come up to our standards of sanitation, .and there is much tuberculosis among the Sails. So condensed and powdered milk from home s used. !

Cigarets: 6 Cents a Pack

THE MEN FREQUENTLY receive packages of food and knicknacks from their families, but actually it’s

¢ the touch of home rather than what's in the pack-

ages that counts, for there's almost nothing they need or want that isn't supplied them. They can buy American cigarets and chocolate

By Ernie Pyle

bars at the post exchange. Cigarets are 6 cents a pack. They are rationed at a carton and a half a week, but that is plenty. It’s the civilian Americans over here, such as myself, who take it on the nose as far as shortages are concerned.’ It is a real treat to us to be put up at an army or navy camp for a few days. We get plenty of sugar, real American coffee, an egg for breakfast, and we get our pockets loaded with American cigarets. The sailors over here work regular hours, with very little drill, because they are nearly all technicians. They are up around 6, have breakfast, clean their huts and stand formation. Then they are taken in buses to the big repair base. They work at the various shops from 8 to 12, then go back to camp in buses for lunch. They return to work at 1 and knock off at

4:30. Supper is at 5. Shortly after that they are off}

for the evening:

And They Can Get Cokes, Too!

THERE ARE ALWAYS some who go to town of an evening to dance or sit around in he pubs or walk the streets. Many spend their evenings in camp, writing letters, listening to the radio, going to the movies, or chatting around at the petty officers’ club. There is a movie in the recreation building every night except Saturday, when there is a dance instead. The camp also has a brand-new library occupying a whole hut. Bocks have just arrived, thousands of them, and all new. It made my mouth water to look over the shelves. There also are two clubs in nissen huts—one for the men, one for chief petty officers. The clubs have tables, chairs and a radio. They serve American canned beer—each man being limited to two cans a day. They also serve grilled sandwiches, ice cream and Coca Cola. In fact, it's easier to get Coca Cola here in this camp than it is back home.

All in all, as long as we have to be in a war, the boys over here at the Derry base haven't much to

grumble about.

Inside Indianapolis By Lowell Nussbaum

' PROFILE OF THE WEEK: James Irving Holcomb, president of the J. I. Holcomb Co. (brushes) and Hol-

comb & Hoke (stokers, ete.), trustee of Butler university and the Meridian Street Methodist church, president of the Lincoln Union, a Republican member of : the state conservation commission, ousstanding amateur landscape gardener, self-made business man, and one of the greatest salesmen this town has ever seen, A 66, J. I. Holcomb still doesn’t fave to take off his hat, as a salesman, to anyone. He has more live wire sales ideas than a country dog has fleas. Although he’s started to.relax a bit—goes to Mi- . ami Beach for the winter and spends quite a bit of time fixing up his estate here, which is one of the town’s show places—he’s still active in his company's operation. In Florida, he divides his time between taking friends for rides on his 50-foot yacht (he calls it a boat) and writing long letters back here with directions for running the factories. Of medium height—5 feet 8 or 9, he weighs about 160, has blue eyes and wears glasses.” He has a brisk walk and a nervous habit of trying to arrange and rearrange a thin wisp of hair to cover the top of his nearly bald head.

Mr. Holcomb

Goes in for Slogans

HE'S AFFABLE, HEALTHY. Pretty positive in his views, he usually knows what he’s talking about, but he has a habit of hemming and hawing—backing and filling—which he affects, apparently to get the other person to express himself. One of the secrets of his success is his ability to give his associates hell and smile at the same time. Born in LaSalle, Ill, he attended the University of Michigan law school, earning his way as a furniture dressing salesman. At 20, he started a brush factory—over a livery stable in Lafayette. A few months later he moved the plant. to Sullivan, where he met Fred Hoke and began a business partnership that’s endured 46 years. They moved to Indianapolis in 1906. J. I. always has been more interested in the sales end of the business than the manufacturing. He

wrote a book, Salesology, back in 1917 that’s run

into several editions and is used as a college textbook. \

Likes Tapioca Pudding

HE ENJOYS FOOTBALL, basketball and baseball, likes to fish down in Florida, and is a movie camera addict. He gets fun .out of showing his travel movies to friends. In golf he generally shobts in the nineties, casually tells inquirers: “Oh, I've been under 90.” He refers, we're told, to once when he scored 89. Only fair at bridge, he plays a pretty good game of Saturday night poker for low stakes, reads everything from biographies to detective stories. He loves to read a Peter B. Kyne western in bed. A moderate eater, he's liked tapioca pudding since boyhood, and dotes on crackers soaked in coffee and then sprinkled with sugar. He smokes El Producto cigars and a few cigarets. He loves fine cars—once bought a $17,000 Duesenberg and a 16-cylinder Marmon within a few months of each other. Now he drives Cadillacs.

sick friends. One of his persona] failings is losing hat checks, and he frequently has to stand and turn his pockets inside out before reclaiming his hat.

His Home Is His Hobby

"HIS PRIME HOBBY is his 30-acre estate on Cold Spring road at 44th st. He's spent a large sum of money and much loving toil in fixing it up. It has seven lakes, one of the finest Japanese gardens in the country, an eight-foot waterfall. It also has an artificial cave, built in the side of the hill, that’s a masterpiece of realism. It has stalactites and stalagmites and is designed to give the impression of great depth. His main obsession is collecting rocks. On his trip around the world he managed to obtain pieces of rock from such famous spots as the wall of China, the Taj Mahal, and others. He has these all neatly arranged and labeled with bronze plaques.

He has quite a knack for landscape work, and enjoys telling friends how he used to retain a firm

of landscape consultants.

But all they did, he says, was to go out, look “Gee, that’s fine.

over what he’d done, and sy: Don’t change it.”

Raymond Clapper is on vacation.

He will return in about three weeks.

ncle Sam Con:

Guard Walter Rudzinski . . .

with gun on Lig,

he guards Stout field.

Ambulance men .

He has a nice greenhouse and enjoys sending potted flowers to

URGES MONTHLY TAX PAYMENTS

Senator TobheoR Believes Plan Better Than ‘Check-off.’

By JOHN R. BEAL United Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, July 25.—Senator Ed C. Johnson (D. Colo.) today proposed substitution of a plan calling for income tax payments in monthly installments for ae “withholding” or ‘“check-off” hod incorporated in the $6,270,900,000 war revenue bill. . The withholding plan, proposed by the treasury and approved by the house, came in for considerable criticism by members of the senate finance committee during the second day of hearings yesterday and Senator Johnson contended that a monthly installment requirement would meet most, if not all, objections raised.

Would Deduct 5 Per Cent

Under the house bill, employers beginning Jan. 1 will deduct 5 per cent from workers’ pay checks each pay day, the money to be paid over to the government as an advance on 1943 taxes. Employees! will be supplied receipts to show how much was withheld. If deductions surpass the workers’ eventual tax liability, a refund will be made. Senators Robert A. Taft (R. 0), Harry F. Byrd (D. Va.) and Arthur H. Vandénberg (R. Mich.) assailed the proposal as a duplication of 1942 and 1943 taxes, pointing out that workers will be required next year to pay taxes on 1942 income, either in a lump sum or quarterly installments, while’ having 1943 taxes deducted from their earnings.

Says Plan Would Be Burden

Senator Vandenberg contended the program would add to the burden of 2,500,000 employers whose backs are “already breaking under a multiplicity of government re-

Egypt?

WASHINGTON, July 25~—American and British reinforcements of Egypt, to stop Marshal Rommel's advance, complicates the problem of opening a second front in western Europe as demanded by Russia and by allied public opinion. This applies to the possibility of a land offensive from England, and also to the alternative plan for a continuous mass bombing attack. The planes, tanks, supplies and ships required to buttress North Africa otherwise would go chiefly to England. Perhaps the hardest decision now facing the strategy conference meeting in London under Prime Minister Churchill is whether to concentrate on western Europe at the risk of losing the Middle East. Hitherto Churchill’s preference for the African front has withstood all the pressure for ~ a direct attack on Hitler across the English channel, as it earlier favored Libya at the expense of Singapore and Far Eastern defense. If this strategy had been effective in ousting the enemy from North Africa, as Churchill predicted when the British seemed on the verge of decisive victory there, it would have facilitated concentration on western Europe now at relatively little risk.

No Naz Planes Diverted

INSTEAD, THE unekpected fall of Tobruk and Nazi invasion of Egypt not only jeopardize all the Middle East, but at the same time interfere with the long-delayed help to China and opening a European front. All of this has cost Hitler very little. Of the esti-

My Day

CAMPOBELLO, New Brunswick, Friday.—Before I finish my story about the farm federation in Asheville, N. C., I would like to tell you of one other phase of their work. They call it the Lord’s acre. It is often hard to pay the minister's salary in a little country church, and yet not to have a church would be unthinkable, so members of the congregation set aside land and plant it for the support of the church. This plan has worked so well that last year they were visited by more than 80 missionaires who wished to study this method ot meeting the expenses of small and struggling churches. There is one other thing I would like to tell you also about Asheville college. Nearly all of the students earn a good part of their education by work- . ing in their flourishing handcraft shop. Their teacher

By Ludwell Denny

mated 90,000 Axis troops under Rommel at the beginning of the current campaign probably less than

half were German.

The battle for Egypt, which has taken so many British and American planes needed elsewhere, has diverted no Nazi planes from the Russian front. Rommel’s advance has been despite British air su-

periority over the desert.

Although the British apparently have received many more reinforcements than Rommel they have been unable so far to produce more than a temporary

stalemate on the El Alamein line near Alexandria.

It's a Many-Sided Threat

THERE IS STILL hope that the British, with their much shorter local supply line plus superior man and air power, can push the invader back to the Libyan frontier before he has time to consolidate his present advanced position for a blitz on Alexandria and Suez. "If the allies with their present strength cannot quickly regain the advantage in Africa, the Middle East soon may require more rather than less reinforcement. For Rommel’s force is only one prong of a double pincers. Another axis force is in Crete and the Dodecanesse Islands, preparing to, invade the Levant; while Nazi armies in Russia are converging

on the Caucasus from north and west.

This many-sided threat to the Middle East not only endangers the British empire and allied Far East communications, but also the southern supply

line to Russia and Turkey.

These are some of the factors which induced the prime minister and the president at their recent rush reinforcements to

Washington conference to

Egypt,

- But the desperate situation on the Russian front

now necessitates another emergency decision.

By Eleanor Roosevelt

is very ingenious, and she showed us a summer hat of corn shucks which made one really envious. They have some little pottery salt and pepper shakers in

which they tell me the salt never clogs.

Some of the weaving is expertly done, so much so that I planned at once to send in some Christmas orders, for we are. nearing the month of August and

I must begin to think about my Christmas list!

And now at-last I will return to my diary of more recent events. I left Washington on Wednesday morning by plane. I worked for a little while in New York city, saw a friend on business, and caught an afternoon plane for Boston. There I was met by some representatives of the Harvard post-war probI caught'the night train for East

ems council. Machias, Maine.

Transportation to the island of Campobello nowadays is very complicated. No regular ferry runs any more, so one has to make a special date with a boat to get across the very narrow and swiftly running bit of water Between the amin, and the island.

ports.” Senator Johnson believed Americans “can be ‘trusted’ to pay their own tax instead of having someone withhold it from them,. like a guardian, and pay it to the government.” “It would not make him put up any money in advance next year. The rates are going to be high enough without making the small taxpayer start putting up the cash for his next year’s taxes,” he said.

CLAIM NAZIS DRAFT 2,500,000 WORKERS

LONDON, July 25.—The oath of foreign workmen in Germany has now passed the 2,500,000 mark and is expected to exceed 3,000,000 by the end of the year, according to the authoritative weekly, Der Deutsche Volkswirt. The German journal says that the recruiting campaign throughout Europe since the appointment of Labor Dictator Fritz Sauckels dast March has successfully overtame the opposition “fomented by England.” The article admits, however, that most new arrivals are completely unskilled and must be trained. The urgency of continued German efforts to tap new labor sources provides a good indication of the strained domestic economy. The problem is threefold, stemming from the mobilization of German men for army service, the tremendous requirements of the armed forces and the effects of the united nations’ blockade.

HUNTING CIGARETS— FINDS $35,000 GEMS

NEW YORK, July 25 (U. P.).—An Aborogine girl, searching a northern Australian beach for cigaret butts, picked up a tube containing $35,000 worth of diamonds, the Australian radio said in a broadcast recorded here by CBS. The diamonds, which were handed over to military authorities, were believed part of a consignment from the Java bank of commerce, sent to Australia by a plane that never arrived. A beachcomber found $1,000,000 worth of diamonds from the same consignment early in May.

6. M. PRODUCING 5 TIMES FASTER

Wilson Points 1 to Ye ar's Progress; Lauds ~ Allison’s.

General Motors plants are 'urning out war products nearly five times faster than they were a year ago, C. E. Wilson, president of Zeneral Motors, said during 8 vidit to the Allison Engineering Co. plant here yesterday. He praised Allison's airplane motor production record, declhring that “no other manufacturer, has done a better job than Allizon:’

Visited Here Several Tine:

Mr. Wilson, when he was vice president of General Motors iz 1929, purchased the original Allison I'ngineering Co. for the corporatics! and has visited the plant seversl times. The G. M. C. head asserte: that General Motors deliveries cf war goods during the first half of this year were $628,439,000 compared to $131,800,000 in the same iii ind a year ago.

Tours Entire Plain 3 ;

He made a tour of inspection of the entire Allison plant with *. C. Kroeger, general manager of Allison, and conferred with other zompany executives during a lung neon meeting. He also met with the plant. | bargaining committee of the Uhifed Aircraft Engine Workers, discussing with them terms of the nev contract which is now under neg otiation.

GREEKS TO GET WHEAT WASHINGTON, July ‘25 (IU P.). —A Swedish ship was en rcuie to Canada to ‘load its first 1%5,00)-ton cargo of wheat for delivery tc the starving ‘people of Greece.

A street of tents . .

8 'n

. homes for the soldiers.

Morale of Men Excellent, Preparedness the Keynote

By VICTOR PETERSON

Time: Anytime. Place: Stout field.

Setting: Hangars, planes, air force personnel.

8 » »

A blur, a barking sound

o ” 2

and a “P-40” settles down to

a four point landing. The tail wags, it turns and shuttles up to a corporal. Then it rears on its hind legs and holds a

stick in its mouth. “P-40” is the mongrel

mageok of the men at head-

quarters of the first troop carrier command, Stout field.

Feeling the station was not complete without a dog, they adopted a stray and chipped in to buy the Indiana license.

That's Stout field in its lighter vein, but it symbolizes the men's

morale in the more stern setting

of their work. Here’s What They Do

And, citizens of Indianapolis, here

are the details back of Stout field and its operations. W. O’Connor, staff officer, put it:

“We can tell you everything that

Hitler already knows.”

Activated in the spring, news of

the activities at Stout field were released last week, thereby partially explaining the increased number of large transports cir= cling the city. Commercial air transports, taken

over by the army air force, are now going through a testing proc-

ess. And at the same time, men trained to fly fighter craft, are

now going through a transitioning period to become transport “pilots.

Fly High and Low Planes are constantly taking off

and landing while others are being serviced on the field and in the hangars. a few hundred feet soar high into the cloudbanks. It’s all part of training for the}: various phases of work encom-

Some fly at an altitude of while others

FUNNY BUSINESS

As Maj. Gerald

passed by a troop carrier command “Our armies have to have a place |to fight. There are no such places as yet, and it is our job to find the spots,” said Maj. O'Connor. “We carry air-borne infantry, paratroopers, complete tanks, artillery, tow individual gliders and others carrying more air-korne troops.”

Get There First

“In straight talk, we have to get there fustest with the fewest men; drop back of enemy lines; engage the foe and hold until our forces can bring up the mostest men,” pointed out Maj. O’Connor. As at all the armed camps throughout the country, preparedness is keynoted. The crash wagon and the fire department stand by for any emergency. Escorts accompany all accepted visitors, but hurriedly accompany all unwelcome ones right off the reservation.

Veterans In Command

Most of the commanding staff members are veterans of World War I, well qualified for their responsible positions. The commanding officer is Col. Fred S. Borum and his Chief of Staff is Col. Reed G. Landis, accredited 10-plane ace of the last great war. And the men seem to complement the qualifications of the officers, for as one corporal said, “We've got stout hearts at Stout field.”

FATAL SHOW NETS TETER ESTATE $446

A balance of $446 was turned over

July 4 and 5 were paid. This was brought out at Noblesville in the

| final administratrix report of the widow, Mrs. Edna Teter, approved}

by Judge Cassius M. Gentry in| Hamilton circuit court. . Ht

ceived two checks, $7000 and $3890, father was appointed administrator:

ing of the thrill show and proposed liquidation of the estate after Mrs.

{ Teter resigned. "Mr, Teter was killed July 5 in die :

show at the fairgrounds.

" LODGE MEETS TUESDAY Temple Rebekah lodge 591 meet Tuesday night in Castle h A business meeting will he held

to Azra Teter, administrator to the} estate of Earl (Lucky) Teter, after| expenses cf $10,890 for the army} relief show at the state fairgrounds|

Mrs. Teter reported that she re | from the show. The stunt driver’s|.]

to manage the announced disband} |

. . Pfes, Capstick (rear) and Chase.

PAY ALLOTMENT FORMS RUSHED

Machinery for Payments to Soldier's Family Is Almost Ready.

WASHINGTON, July 25 (U. PJ). —Administrative machinery for the

dependents is nearly complete and

cial revealed today. Payments will not start until Nov. 1, however. 3 The machinery has been in the process of organization since June 24 when President Roosevelt signed the federal allowances act for dependents of service men in the four lowest ranks. i All applications must be made on regular printed forms which will be available within a few days at recruiting stations and army posts and camps everywhere.

Retroactive to June 1 Soldiers may write letters of ap-

‘plication prior to the time the

printed blanks are available. Although they will have to fill out the regular forms later, this will give them a “time priority” on the benefits, the spokesman said. ; Letters from any excepting the enlisted man—such as wives or

considered by the war department. They must wait until the printed forms are available. When the payments start in November, they will be retroactive to June 1 for dependents of men in the army as of that date.

Two Classes of Dependents Under the terms of the allow-

|ances bill, dependents of privates, first class privates, corporals and -

line sergeants are divided into two classes: wives and children, also a divorced wife to whom alimony is payable; class “B” consisting of parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents or grandchildren.

be paid the allowance either on their own application or the appli-

ments to “B” dependents are made only with the soldier's consent and

soldier must make part of the con~ tribution. «508 Besides the army, the act also provides similar benefits for the enlisted men in the navy, marine corps and coast guard.

TWO SCOUTS RECEIVE "THEIR EAGLE RANK

Two Boy Scouts who completed their eagle rating during the third session of Camp Chank-tun-un-gi received their rank last night at vie ; camp court of honor. ; Attaining the highest rank in scouting were William Hamaker, 6025 Park ave. a member of troop 90, and George Martin, a ‘member of troop 302, Danville. Eighty-nine other = scouts = re=ceived merit badges. Twelve scouts qualified for messenger service in the office of civilian defense. The fourth camp opens. Mon with 250 boys registered. Six will ‘be held this year.

payment of allowances to soldiers’ 3; |

will begin functioning in about a = week or less, a war department offi

‘other interested parties—cannot be

Class “A” consisting of |

Both classes of dependents may cation of the soldier involved. Pay-

continue at his option, since the