Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 December 1942 — Page 11

somewhere in the Unifed States.

This long coastal plain stretching across North Africa, between mountains and sea, is, ‘as I've said before, very much like parts of our own Southwest. It's bare of natural trees, but it’s not exactly desert. In fact, it's very fertile and almost: wholly under cultiva- ~ tion. The soil resembles red clay, and

is a: regular gumbo after rain. The Arabs raise some oats, and

I've seen some uncommonly long but most of the land is in vineyards and

is slightly rolling, and you can see for 2S D miles or more. The fields are HE 4% This msn West of Liem ave

‘oping soldiers have had their first olives right from the trees and , I should say, biting into them rather 1: tiem, for they try it only once. There most violent spitting, spluttering and you ever saw. It seems that an olive has d in brine before it's edible. ck and ‘beautiful on the trees, but they

By Ernie Pyle

cleanliness of the farming country, even though I can’t say the same for the cities. The fields are im-

maculate. There is no refuse” or squandered growth| $

or-stuff lying around, as on so many American farms.|

The Arabs do all their farming with horses, which seem to be in good shape. But you seldom see one of those beautiful -Arab steeds that you read about in “Sheik” books. : Out in the country you see many herds of goats and sheep, usually tended by little children. We've seen cute little shepherdesses, not more than eight years old, in hoods and nightgown-like dresses, who smile and make the “V-for-Victory” sign as you pass.

Strange, but Friendly and Happy

THE ARABS ARE strange people. I can’t pretend to know anything about them yet. They are poor, and they look as tight-lipped and unfriendly as the Indians in some of the Latin countries, yet they're friendly and happy when you get close to them. I still. haven't got the religion question straight. Some Arab women wear white sheets and hoods that cover the face, except for one eye sticking out. The soldiers call them “One-Eyed Flossies.” But they are in the BHNOERY. Most of the women show their faces. As far as I can figure out, the ones who cover. their faces are the severely religious. The rest are good people, but they don't observe the ancient customs and restrictions. Just at sunset yesterday we passed a team and a wagon carrying a whole Arab family. The man was down on his knees and elbows at the edge of the pavement, facing east toward Mecca, but the women and children were sitting in the wagon just as usual. One of our party wisecracked, “I guess he's making a deal for the whole family.” That was the only Arab I've seen praying.

e Indianapolis By Lowell Nussbaum

EN, chairman of the state highway ved a pretty nice Christmas present. anything from his son, Bob, in any father, was worrying about him. eve, he got.a letter from Bob. He reported he was over in Africa, with the commandos, And he has been promoted to sergeant. . . , Albert J. Wedeking, another highway commissioner, has a friend who is an army captain. The captain brought a detachment of 150 men through here by train not long ago and stopped off long enough to eat. He took the. men to a downtown restaurant. When he got the bill, it was for 160 men, and the waitresses showed sales slips for that many. But when he back to the train and counted them,

' SHARE-THE-RIDE business has its comGeorge W. Williams, 5712 Kingsley dr. k. (Public_Service Co. of Indiana) daily des a load of passengers with him. Among Mrs, Forrest Lassiter, 5636 Kingsley, who Gas Company. It's still dark when they a little after 7 a. m. Last Monday, Mrs. jalked over to the Williams home and ng to Mrs, Williams while Mr.. Williams r out of the garage. He drove right past Lassiter standing there. She thought he intended to pick up one of the other return for her. But when he didn't, she to the bus line, Mr, Williams realized ppened when he got about a mile away id back. En route back, he passed his

King

ishington

IGTON, Dec. 31.—Some caution may be i here with regard to suggestions appeartches from London that Gen. de Gaulle be charge of a French government to be set up

Evidently the plan is regarded with favor in London, because it was outlined in dispatches following a meeting between Prime Minisfer Churchill and Gen, de Gaulle. At first glance the idea is appealing. It is appealing on ideological . grounds. Gen. de Gaulle is a "fighting Frenchman who struck out from the ‘very first against the axis.” He never surrendered and never collaborated. The British government took him up and backed him as the rallying standard for the French people. Admiral Darlan out of the way, it is sugt the time has come when Frenchmen can under Gen. de Gaulle as head of a French t with its temporary seat at Algiers, pendtime when victory would enable it to move

: French Assets at Stake

[ME THIS de Gaulle government would pl over all French colonies that are not in Presumably the proposed French govern‘being recognized as the legitimate governFrance, would take title to the vast amount French assets held in the United States and

a French government now and set it up s in Algiers would impose a kind of unity

colonial affairs, and in that sense is a de-

other hand, it has to be considered that if national government were set up now in

JGTON, Wednesday.—Mr. Jo Davidson's itor Norris is a wonderful work of art, as

lines which time has etched into his “face. A great artist has reproduced them, letting the spirit . shine through and giving in lasting form the personality of his subject. |

The dinner to Senator Norris, given in New York city last night,

was more than just a tribute, it was a plea from almost every speaker to continue “the leadership in private life which the senator has given during his public career. It is wonderful to have been in is fe for such a long and to come

large buttons to catch in the machinery. _should - either be short, or, if you prefer them long,

see her, so she turned back. Pretty soon, she saw him going past again, toward tpwn this time, and again was unable to get his attention. She wound up by taking the bus and getting to work quite a bit late. In case she needs confirmation of hér excuse for lateness, here it is.

Is This 1943?

DR. GAYLE WOLFE, the dentist, says he’s going to keep his office locked up tight all day Friday. Either that or take his telephone receiver off the hook, That’s because his number is LI. 1943, and he doesn’t want to spend the day picking up the receiver ‘and hearing wags ask: “Is this 1943?” -. . John Mellett, whose hair was red before it began to fade and turn pinkish, couldn't say “no” the other day when three boys drove up to his house, 336 Ripple rd., and offered to sell him a loa¢ ofjywood. All three of the boys had red hair, They made a sale. ... Seen and heard on Monument circle: Two girls, arm in arm, whistling at a nice looking young sailor as he passed them, He marched right along, looking neither to the right nor the left.

Rainy Day Tip TODAY'S BEST TIP to “rookie” car riders: Don’t stand too near the car switches these rainy days or you may get splashed with muddy water from head to foot as the switch switches automatically. It happened several times at the corner of Pennsylvania and Washington the other day, and probably a lot of other places, too. . . . Add hardships of war: L. A. Krebs, exalted ruler of the Elks, I$ sending] out cards notifying the brothers that the usual “free Saturday lunch” is being ‘discontinued because of conditions and the food problem. , . . Jimmy Carvin (Power & Light) has been promoled from lieutenant to captain in the air corps, out at Chico air field, Cal. Bet he’s really strutting now. . . . Lieut. Spencer Trudgen, the research director for L. S. Ayres, has been promoted to a captaincy (field artillery), somewhere in the southwest Pacific,

By Raymond Clapper

- Africa, it would move into France when the Germans

were driven out. It would become the government of France. Those constituting the proposed de Gaulle government would have acquired a vested interest in this government and would have consplidated themselves by virtue of being recognized by the united nations and by having title to the assets of the French empire. They would move into France in an entrenched position,

Would People of France Accept?

THE AMERICAN POSITION: thus far has been that any arrangements should be {emporary, that the people of France should have opportunity at the end of the war to choose their own government, and not be handed a government that had been set up by the allies. The question is whether the people of France would be ready to accept such a government set up in Africa and transferred over after the Germans had been driven out. About that opinions differ. Tliere are those who doubt that such a government would be acceptable. . That's about the line of difference that is developing—as between those who would set up a French government now under de Gaulle and those who would defer formation of a French. government until the end of the war, continuing the present arrangement in Africa of military control working through existing local governments on the spot. My own instincts all go with the de Gaulle people, and my hunch is that the weary, beaten people inside France will be ready to welcome the leadership of

‘such a courageous man whose flame of French patrio-

tism never blew out during the storm. Yet there is a lot I don’t know about it. It is all delicate business. Perhaps it is a little like the recent second-front talk. We might be wiser to take it a bit easy for the moment and not kick up too hot an ideological family quarrel.

By Eleanor Roosevelt

future, you had better write to the National Safety Council in Chicago for this bookle, It will give you good advice on what to wear. J

Some of the things are very obvious, but we prob-|. .ably need them. No jewelry, particularly no rings,

should be worn. Low-heeled ;shoes will allow you to fill your daily stint with less fatigue.’ Wear goggles and a cap which completely covers your hair, and which has a visor broad enough lo warn you when your head is getting too near any part of the machine. ‘Slack suits, jumpers and dresses should all be loose and comfortable, with no lopse tabs, belts, or

tight-fitting. These suggestions stress the fact that a woman can still look extremely attractive in her working clothes, but that the object in going to work is to produce as much as possible. I have another letter from a dressmaker, who says she has designed a dress which will conform to the

- WPB desire to use less cloth and to cut down on the

variety of styles, which the big. dress shops are now a basic dress,

9 ition by the R. AP,

oil. And it tastes the same.

XXll—The Destroyer Stands By

THE OIL AROUND the destroyer seems about two feet thick, solid oil. To me it looks like dirty black castor

A rope with a loop-at the end is tossed 30 feet from

the destroyer to us. We miss it. The rope is hauled back and again‘is hurled. Someone grabs it, but Graney tears

it out of his hands and roughly passes the loop over to me.

shouts at the destroyer. ‘“Heave up, heave up!”

“Of course. Don’t worry

about me. I'm all right.” And the men on the destroyer pull me off the edge of the Carley float. I sink underneath the oil, and for 10 feet while I'm dragged underneath the surface I feel I'm plowing my way through some kind of a solid wall. The : pressure "pounds at my head like a great rubber hammer. Then I'm beside the destroyer. A wooden ladder hangs over the side. “Grab hold — hurry!” someone on the de- Cecil Brown stroyer yells down. I try to reach the bottom rung and can't. It is four feet above the water. The gentle undulation of the oily waves brings me nearer. I make a lunge and get my right hand on the bottom rung. “You’ll have to help yourself,” a man on the destroyer calls. Down the side of the destroyer there are other ladders, and rope mats and nets; but I am afraid

if I lose my grip this time I can never make another try. A frenzied voice calls, “Hang on, hang on! But hurry!” I get up the ladder and four men drag me over the taffrail. The deck is ‘burning hot on my bare feet. They strip off my clothes and someone hands me a heavy woolen parka. I put it on, and one of the officers says, “Are .you all right?” © “Pm-fine,” T say. “Who has a camera on board this ship?” The officer doesn’t know, but he calls over another man, saying, “Find this man a camera. There must be one on board.”

“We have an American , war correspondent here,” he Then he waves and shouts,

He asks solicitously, “Can you hold onto the rope?”

THE RATING SCOOTS off, and

I stand there while Graney, who

has just been brought on board, keeps urging me to sit down and rest.’ . Hoe “There's plenty of time for that,” I insist. “I've got to get a camera.” . Graney empties the pockets of my cover-alls, bush jacket and shorts, and hands over the precious notebook in which I kept this account of the battle. I open the notebook, and see every page is water - and - oil - soaked but still legible. About a half dozen men are dead on the deck of the destroyer. Others are being sick from the oil. Some men are laughing and joking and inquiring after their special buddies. The hospital of the sick bay is jammed, and some of the dead are being carried out and laid on the deck. Men with blood on their faces are being carried back to the sick bay for attention. Still more survivors are being brought on board, and I snap pictures. I use up all the film. They find me another camera and I use all that

« film.

By then my feet are blistered from the hot deck, and I'm leaping from hot deck "plate to hatch, to another hot plate, to another hatch, as though playing hopscotch. The destroyer’s chief engineer, Frank McLeod of Southses, Hampshire, comes up and says, “I have a pair of shoes for you.” He hands over a pair of the “Suitcase Simpson” caliber “Those shoes,” he says, “were last

worn by one of the three sur- -

vivors of the Hood. I gave them to a midshipman when I pulled him out of the water.” He gives me an engineers’ logbook, too, for taking notes. The destroyer is the Electra,

I

8

“Still more survivors are brough

which took 1100 men out of tii: hell of Dunkirk to England.

. 2 B®

No Bitterness Apparent

THERE IS NO bitterness amo: these men this afternoon abou: the absence of aircraft protectio just regret that they've lost thei: ship. One man is wailing thu: he'd lost the pictures of his gi: friend, his mother, his dad.

Another says he’s lost his pe: knife, to which a third replies “Now quit your grousing. Each o us lost exactly the same thing--everything!” After about an hour, thre Brewster Buffaloes came roarin; over, sweeping 10 feet from ti: ship. The Japs are lorig gone I now.

In the steaming hot wardrooi of the Electra 40 or 50 officers a: « drinking tea. most all naked the waist. ‘The heat .is stifling. and’as we sit there—I taking notes—the sweat pours out of us as though we are under a showe As the sweat drips from me, ! remember how exactly 24 hows before I sat in the comfortable wardroom of the Repulse, talkin: with the officers of the battl: cruiser; and thinking of the British tendency to underestimate the enemy.

Some men sit at the table,

sn board, and I snap ‘pictures.

Brown snapped.

their heads buried in their arms. A number of them have bandages on their heads. Men are asking each other, “Did you sce So-and-So?” » E J 2 THE REMARKS I hear these: “The first thing I'm going to do is send a cable home.” “This is a terrible blow.” “I hope they've learned their lesson. We must have aircraft protection.” “Those Japs were bloody good.” “This shows that if a cetermined attack is pressed home, you can sink battleships.” “They'll get you every time without escort and aircraft.” “Did you enjoy your swim?” “I owe him two dollars. If Lke’s alive I'll give it to him. If Les dead he won't want it.” “I hear they're going to form us into a naval brigade, give us rifles and tell us. to kill some Japs.” “We'll handle those Japs yet.” I want to know about Cept. Tennant. One man speaks up: “I ’'saw him floating face down in ‘the w water! 1 can find no one who has seen the other war correspondent. Gallagher gone? I can’t believe it.

are

This is one of the pictures Cecil

Wales’ Fate the Same

DOWN THERE in the wardroom. I am told the sequence .of attacks on the Prince of Wales. . The attack was similar to our own. High-level bombers and torpedo-carrying bombers. With four torpedoes in the Wales, Admiral Phillips * said: “Tell the Express (which was then alongside the 'Wales) to signal to Singapore for tugs to tow us home.” It was obvious the admiral hadn't made up his mind that the ship was going to sink. I ask a lieutenant commander from the Wales about Admiral Phillips and Capt. Leach. : They were last seen standing on the bridge of the Prince of Wales. “The admiral and the captain stood there together,” the officer says. “They would not go. As we started away, Capt. Leach waved, and called out: ‘Goodby. Thank you. Good luck. God bless you.’ ” Then the water rose up to meet them, meeting and then covering them.

NEXT:~Filing the dispatch of the historic naval disaster, despite a typewriter taboo.

(Copyright, 1942, by Random House, Inc.; distributed by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.)

TRAFFIC TOLL HAMPERS WAR

At Least 18,000 Workers Are Killed in Year,

Council Says.

CHICAGO, Dec. 31 (U. P.).—The national safety council said today the same wartime Sriving that

low 1941 resulted in the death of at least 18,000 war. workers and injury of a half million others. Sidney J. Williams, public safety director of the council, the 1942 traffic deaths totaled less than 28,000, a drop of approximately 12,000 from 1941. ‘But from the standpoint of national survival,” Williams said, “the 1942 traffic casualties are a more serious loss than the larger casualty lists of previous years.”

Predicts Decline

Williams predicted traffic deaths of non-workers would continue to decline but.car pooling, deterioration of tires and brakes and an increase in drinking drivers would keep the total of war worker casualties nearly the same. He attributed the 1942 decrease to a decline in. driving because of gasoline and tire rationing and said the nation could not “feel too much satisfaction” over it. Cities reporting traffic deaths included: Indianapolis, 82 in 1942, 69 in 1941; Milwaukee, 43 in 1942, 50 in. 1941; Buffalo, 45, 66; New York, 692, 744; St. Louis, 96, 81; Washington, 79, 75; San Francisco, 76, 84; Pittsburgh, 81, 72; Chicago, 415, 554; Cleveland, 107, 122; Detroit, 207, 256; Baltimore, 118, 133; Philadelphia, 216, 271; Los Angeles, 287, 458,

GOERING CALLS FOR BLASTPROOF WALLS

LONDON, Dec. 31 (U. P)— Blastproof walls,r with windows sealed to the heighth of all eguipment, have been ordered by Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering for Germany’s factories, the Evening Star said yesterday, quoting a Berlin In an effort to cut down destruc. algo ordered that factory windows in new buildings be kept fo a minimum.

WPB O. KS HEAT GADGETS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (U.P.).— The war production board ruled

grates weighing 30 lbs. or less may be sold without preference ratings.

hich |Last week WPB permitted produc-

and | tion of such

grates. for a limited

estimated

yesterday that firéplace dampers or |

FUNNY BUSINESS

FENN WARDENS RUA SRA SEAN AARTTNRAN SKS AT IRIE IIIA 8

pgp To I" ait Hl Pn

«Ml ye ue Fede,

2-31

A

“I 1 1 . I Y Bh, 12 8) SERVICE, INC.

COR.

“I'm hanging ‘em upside down so they'll look right When I wake up New Year's morning!”

SEEK BLOOD DONORS IN HOME CANVASS

Air raid wardens in the 10th district will conduct a house-to-house canvass for blood donors during the week of Jan. 11. Details of the campaign will be discussed tonight at 8 p. m. when the wardens meet in the auditorium of school 58, E. New York st. and N. Linwood ave. : Plans for the drive were originated by Harold W. Brady, the district warden, and Ralph C. Werner, director of the Red Cross blood donor center. - Mr. Brady has named Chester O. Martin, 424 N. DeQuincy st., as campaign chairman. District 10 is bounded by Tenth st., Emerson ave. English ave. ‘and the Belt railroad.

SUPERMAN |

*

Yanks Are Given Marriage Rules

LONDON, Dec. 31 (U. P)~— United States army headquarters today outlined regulations for American soldiers wanting to marry while on duty in the United Kingdom. Soldiers first must: obtain. permission from their superiors, headquarters announced. They also must file an application twomonths before the wedding date. Married soldiers will not be al-

lowed special privileges or living arrangements different from those

provided single men.

‘SPONSORS CARD PARTY ‘The Old Age Pension: Program

[CID 3 will sponsor a New Year's

eve card party tonight in the McKinley clubhouse, 2217 E.° “Miehigan

* the program beginning st 8p.

'Y’ HERE LISTS HOLIDAY EVENTS

Open House Will Feature Football Broadcast

And Contests.

The New Year's day open house tb the Central ¥Y. M. C. A. will get mderway at 3 p. m. with the diaramming of football plays as the tose Bowl game is broadcast from ‘asadena. Also scheduled for 3 p. m. is the howing of films on various phases f the war effort. In an aquatic demonstration at :45 o'clock, swimmers will show nilitary drill, water combat and the ransportation of heavy objects. Hold Archery Contest ‘The Cardinal City Archery club 7ill sponsor an open city archery ournament at 4 p. m. at the ¥. M. nd gymnasium exhibitions of maze unning, games, commando tactics, ieeple chases, etc, are scheduled ‘om 4:45 to 6 p. m. The choir ‘om P. R. Mallory Co. will sing at :30 p. m. and a community sing ill follow. A girls’ basketball game between sams from El Lilly & Co. and ridgeport Brass is set for 7 p. m. un the game to follow, soldiers from

t. Harrison will meet a team from|:

iallory’s.

Several exhibits are to ‘be held] Ps 1 connection with the event. In-| gs luded will be one of a propeller|f wade at Curtiss-Wright. Army field | B§

itions and photographic and air iid equipment will be included In thers. Kvan Walker is chairman of aringements. .

SPONSOR WATCH PARTY

Silver Star Review 15, Women’s enefit association, will have a atch party tonight at Castle hall. rs. Lucille Johnson is in charge |

Human Hair Coat

New Nazi Attire?

LONDON, Dec. 31 (U. P.) —German civilians are wearing overcoats and shoes made from human hair in an effort to keep Nazi troops in warm winter clothing, the British ministry of economic warfare reported yesterady. Civilians in Germany have been forced to sacrifice 50 per cent of their own clothing needs because Adolf Hitler is determined that his ‘soldiers must be well-equipped regardless of suffering ‘on the home front, a ministry spokes‘man declared. German troops are better supplied this winter than last, when they suffered great hardship on the frigid Russian front, it was said. The. spokesman said that a new German clothing ration coupon, to be used beginning Jan. 1, “appears to show an increased. reduction in clothing.: The whole tenor of the card suggests that civilians will be sacrificed to supply the army.”

HOLD ny

rinse!”

--8y Joy Sage and Jos —-

RT DASHES FOR THE