Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 February 1943 — Page 15

“Hoosier Vagabond

i CA FORWARD aie IN FRENCH NORTH | | AFRICA-- (by wireless)—Lieut. Jack Ilfrey is the _ leading American ace in N orth Africa at the moment, However, that’s not my reason for writing about him.

ma In the 8 first: place, the, theory over here is not to Ag is become an individual fighter and

e shoot down a lot of planes, so being | an ace -doesn’t mean so much, In the second place, some-

frey hy: this evening, with fate pulling the strings the way she does. | So I'm writing about him largebeesiise he is'a fine person and less typical of: all boys 7: our deadly fighters. x Iifrey is -from Houston. ‘His father. is cashier of the First National bank. Jack is only 22. He has two younger sisters. He went to Texas A. & M. for two years, and “then to the University of Houston, working at the » same time for the Hughes Tool Co. He will soon have been in the army two years.

He -Mows Em Down .

IT 1s HARD to conceive of his ever having killed anybody. For he looks even younger: than his 22 ' §ears.. His face is good-humored. His darkish hair is childishly uncontrollable and pops up into a little curlicue at the front of his head, He talks fast, but his voice is soft and he has a very slight hesitation in his speech, that somehow seems ‘to make him a gentle ‘and harmless person. | + There is not the least trace of the smart aleck or Wise guy about him, He is wholly thoughtful and sincere. Yet he mows ‘em dow. Here in Africa Ilfrey has been through the mill He got two Focke-Wulf 190s one day, two Messer-

SHOE REPAIR shops around town are doing a land office ‘business since. shoe rationing was anBounced, In all the shops there are big piles of distable looking shoes, many of which look like hey were—and probably were—dug out of attics and basements. At Jeast one shop has - quit accepting shoes for half-sol-ing for ‘the present—just too busy with other repairs that take less time. One young woman gasped and started to protest when in- - ‘formed her shoes wouldn't be ‘ready for several weeks. “Sorry,” ‘the clerk told her, “but if you know anything about repairing shoes, take off your coat. You've got a job.” She departed. . . . Speaking of rationing, there's a sign on a|grocery out at 10th and erson reading approximately as follows: “No limit anything. Buy what you ‘want while you can get it.” ¢

It's an Old Story

WHILE DIGGING through some bound volumes of Harper's New Monthly magazine, Mrs. Easley Blackwood discovered a story to the effect that the “shortage of coffee ‘“owing to the interruption of .com- _ merce by war has induced the employment of a great many substitutes such as roasted turnips, chicory roots, burned corn, peas and other substances.” The date was August, 1870—during the Franco-Prussian war. The magazine went on to explain that asparagus

Com walle orivse.

lain

- ing he was going to be tardy, dashed across Capitol:

seed, containing. caffeine, had been found to give results: that - “can scarcely be distinguished from that of coffee of the finest quality.” . . . A traffic news. bulletin issued by School 43 warns pupils “when late, DO NOT run.” If tells about a boy who, know-

at 40th without looking. The policeman and traffi¢ boys had left their posts. A bus driver saw the boy running down the 40th st. hill and, looking in his _ sear view y mar, saw & i coming rapidly in the

: ¢

Washington

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 —Absenteeism in war plants has become so high in some localities that war production board officials feel that something must: be done to bring it down. Some kind of competition’ Hay be inaugurated, or an incentive award like the “E” pennant for production. These absences, rather than strikes, are the present drag cn production. Surveys indicate that Los Angeles the rate is around 10 per cent of absenté®s. Other important preduction centers hit figures about as high. Detroit and Rochester, N. Y., are among the worst spots, so the, data here indicate. Two per cent is considered a

body else might be ahead of Ilgitar duck in a cloud.

‘on everything I had and try to get away.

are questionable.

men, And he has another kill that has not yet been confirmed.

He hasn't had all smooth sailing by any means.

In fact he’s very lucky to be here at all. He got caught in a trap one day and came home with 268 bullet holes in his plane. His armor plate stopped at least a dozen that would have killed him, Jack’s closest shave, however, wasn’t from being shot at. It happened one day when he saw a German ack figured the German d emerge at the far end of the cloud, so he sooted along below to where he thought thei German

d pop out, and pop out he did—right smack into :

- almost.

Neither man fired a shot, they Jack

tically by inches. were so busy getting out of each other's way, he was weak for an hour afterward.

ntic Did You Say?

THERE IS NOTHING “heroic” about Lieut. Ilfrey,

oe both kicked rudder violently, and they missed |

- He |isn’t afraid to run When that is the only thing,

to do. He was telling about getting caught all alohe one day at a low altitude. Two Germans got on his tail. “I just had two chances” he says. “Either stay and fight, and almost surely get shot down, or pour Iran a ‘chance of burning up my engines and having to land in enemy territory, but 1 got away. Luckily the engines stood up.” Ilfrey, like all the oihers here, has little in the way of entertainment and personal pleasure. I walked into his room late one afternoon, after he had come ‘back from a mission, and found him sitting there at a table, all alone, killing flies with a folded newspaper. And yet they say being an ace is romantic.

Inside Indianapolis Lowell Nussbaum

second lane of traffic. The alert bus driver instantly signaled by blowing his horn frantically. The motorist heard the warning, saw the boy and swerved enough to miss him by a hair’s breadth. The bus driver then got out and led the youngster to the school door.

Around the Town

ONE OF OUR agents thumbed a ride to town with a motorist the other day. The driver stopped and picked up three wemen, also. One of the women said that a few minutes earlier a car stopped a short distance beyond her, then was backed up to where she stood. Thinking she was being offered a ride, she started to get in the car.¥*Whoa,” said the driver, “I'm not going to town. I just backed up to get a look at that house.” , . . During g very formal meeting in the Second Presbyterian: church Tuesday evening, a bird appeared from somewhere and performed some

.acrobatic flying in and around the rafters that would

have been the envy of our military pilots. It zoomed and :Swooped for about an hour and a half. But so dignified was the meeting that not a single speaker referred to the intruder. .-. , John Kleinhenz has coined what he thinks is a good slogan for the tin salvage campaign: “Be @ real AmeriCAN.”

It's “a Grand Pown”

HARRY BASON, the pianist at WIRE, has received a letter from Erie Garside, one of the honor pilots sent over here by the British and who visited Indianapolis last May. From over in India, the R. A. F. flier writes that Indianapolis is “a grand town . . . which, incidentally, was voted the best town we were

in” . .. Lieut. John Barnett, branch public relations

officer for the Indiana naval district, will leave here in April for Princeton, N. J., where he will take his

sea indoctrination. Prior to the war emergency, he| .

was public relations director at Butler university. . .. Pvt. John Reilly, 2012 Koehne st., is home on furlough from Camp Campbell, Ky. . . . Sign on-a station wagon in a parking lot: “Esterville Farms— Bellie Aikers.”

By Raymond Clapper

hibitions in the country. Absence because of illness must be allowed for,

-and unavoidable family emergencies such as sickness

‘or death in the household or among relatives. Furthermore, some of the statistics undoubtedly Sometimes a person who quits a job is carried for the remainder of that week as an absentee, to simplify bookkeeping. Short lay-offs because of lack of materials may result in absentee figures on the payroll . account. Those should ‘properly be blamed on management rather than labor.

Feel Pressure After 48 Hours

NOBODY HERE expects less than 2 per cent of absenteeism in a plant, and perhaps more must be

By Ernie Lyle ( schmitt 100s Yatiotiier day. His fifth victory was over r a twin-motored Messerschmitt 110, which carries three |.

with his baton. voice of his ‘cello.

tras at Barcelona, Madrid, Athens, N aples, Milan, ‘Cairo, New York, Philadelphia and, of course, here. Parronchi’s quick, sensitive and devoted response to all of the signals of Sevitzky’s baton seems to sum up the attitude of the orchéstra toward the conductor. . The players respect Sevitzky. Although that professional distance, so deeply rooted in orchestral tradition, exists between the conductor and the players, they like him. They tell with pride about his insistence on immaculate, inter.prétation of scores, his drive toward musical excellence, his refusal to accept anything less than “clean” playing. Musicians are sensitive people. Perhaps they have to be in order to be good musicians. The most demoralizing situation that can crop up is a feud between musician and conductor. It destroys the delicate balance and rapport, without which no orchestra can exist very long. In the Indianapolis symphony orchestra, there are no feuds. If there are personal differences, musical disagreements, they are not expressed. Sevitzky is the boss. There is no mistake about that. : » » ” NEW MEMBERS are relieved upon coming here to find that Sevitzky is not the drillmaster they heard he was. He is strict. He demands the best the individual player has to’ give. But he is never harsh nor vitriolic. As one player summed it up: “He never swears or calls us

dogs. ” When a passage is fumbled dor.

CANADA LOWERS AUTO MILEAGE

‘Gallons Per Year, Except 1 To Haul Workers.

Supply Minister C. D. Howe told the house of commons yesterday that Canadian motorists will be limited to 120 .gallons of gasoline for the year starting April 1, unHess they can Prove “yocational necessity.” The dominion’s estimated 1,220,000 non-commercial automobiles will be given an “A” rating, entitling owners to 40 gasoline coupons good for three gallons each. At an average of 18 miles to the gallon, pleasure cars thus will have sufficient fuel for 2160 miles. When gasoline rationing was introduced in Canada last April 1, passenger cars were placed in the basic "“A”. category allowing them

" approximately enough fuel to drive

5000 miles. Under the new plan, commercial vehicles also will be included in the rationing system.

| SYMPHONY ORCHESTRALV : By RICHARD LEWIS £ ~~ BETWEEN BENJAMIN B. PARRONCHI, first cellist with the Indianapolis symphony orchestra, and Fabien ‘Sevitzky, conductor, there is a subtle exchange of as the orchestra performs. Sevitzky speaks to Parronchi | Parronchi answers with the baritone Whatever it is they discuss on this ethereal plane, they seem to be in harmonious agreement. : “A concert artist in his own right, Parronchi, native New Yorker, once played a command performance before Pope Pius XI at the'Sistine Chapel, Vatican City. Having studied in Europe, he has appeared as soloist with orches-

ideas

April 1 Limit Calls for 120]

OTTAWA, Ont., Feb.12 (U. P).—|§

ing rehearsal,

music stand to bring the orchestra to attention. “That,” he says, shaking his head, “should not happen in this orchestra.” The players themselves characterize Sevitzky as a good showman. They are particularly happy about the orchestra’s reputation among outstanding soloists who appear here. The visiting artists always welcome the ‘opportunity to appear in Indianapolis. Some of them consider our symphony as one of the best collaborating orchestras in the country. As Artur Rubinstein commented: yesterday: : “When you rehearse with the Indianapolis orchestra, the rehearsal keeps improving.’ That is not always true of other orchestras where rehearsal sometimes makes things worse.” There is another characteristic of Sevitzky that his players admire, his patience with new compositions and his willingness to

' give them a hearing during re-

hearsal. Sevitzky plays at least one American composition at each concert, but the orchestra has played hundreds of them at rehearsals. . 2 ” 2

- Money Troubles

NO MAJOR symphony orchestra is worthy of the definition un-

less it manages to have periodic financial crises. Our own orches-

tra meets this test adequately. It .

is now having a crisis revolving

‘about the question: To be or not

to be. : : Whatever its merit musically, a “major” orchestra is defined as one which operates on a budg-

State Guard to Hold Dance at Armory

On the state guard dance committee are (back row, left to right) Capt. George M. Binger, chairman; Capt. William Mathis, Capt. Carl B. South Jr. and ‘Capt. Harry Montgomery; (front row, left to right) Capt. Charles Angleton and Capt. Donald Cook. Maj. H. O. Wolfred also is on the committee.

Feb. 20 Fete Will Feeturs

when a . player : muffs a solo or when a section ° sounds ragged, -Sevitzky raps his

Howard Harrington . . . tenor and business manager. :

ot of $100,000 or more annually.

Our orchestra’s budget runs about $135,000. For a major orchesira, that is not a big budget. + Loss ‘of the eastern: tour season, on. which the orchestrd would

‘have played Boston for the first time; gas rationing which has‘cut out-state attendance to the van-

ishing point and a tremendous slash in heavy donations which have bulwarked the orchestra against adversity in the past have conspired to place the organization in a precarious position. One shove in the wrong financial direction, and it may be done for. They don’t discuss that over at the Murat offices, but it keeps thém up nights sometimes. People wonder why the orchestra can't make ends meet through ticket sales. The answer seems to be that no orchestra of symphonic size has ever been able to support itself by selling seats. The New York Philharmonic society stretches a hopeful palm out over the nation every Sunday afternoon, pleading for a dollar or two from radio listeners. It is no wonder that orchestra business managers complain of having recurring nightmares. Symphony orchestras have walked financial tight-ropes for hundreds of years, except where they have been state supported.

”

Taking a Collection

HUB OF THE orchestra’s financial activity is calm, large Howard Harrington, a gentleman

» 2

Induction of New Recruits

The secondgbattalion, third regi-]

There will be no admission charge

"vals presentations was

|DESTROYERS PRAISED

tempting offers elsewhere in order to stay: here, he seems to worry more’ about. the orchestra folding than anyone. else. If inundation were imminent, it would be all the business office people could do to prevent Sevitzky from running out on the street and taking up a collection. In six years, Sevitzky has built up a phenomenal orchestra and he knows it and is intensely proud of it. He has said that he will never leave it in its financial extremity and he means that, He identifies : himself with orchestra thoroughly. Once he told a critic: : “I do not care what you say about me, but please, about my orchestra, do not say bad things.” ‘Harrington started out as a. tenor in Boston. . From tenor to business manager wasn’t such a big step. He represented a Boston artists’ bureau one, year at the end of the music season when things were slow on the vocal side and amazed himself by selling more artists’ recitals to clubs and college groups than any. other salesman in the outfit. Presently, he became a ‘partner in the business. He still is a partner, It was in that capacity that he was asked last year Frank Miner (Lieut. Miner, U. S. N. RJ), former manager, to handle the orchestra's 1943 New England concert tour. This is the tour which was cancelled by force of transportation difficulties. ‘Harrington knew Sevitzky from the conductor's Boston days. As " director of the Metropolitan theater orchestra in Boston, Sevitzky had held a @ntest for young singers. He was looking for a bass, a tenor, a contralto and a soprano ‘to sing the quartet from ~ “Riggoletto” in costume.

Harrington Won’

OUT OF HUNDREDS of contestants, Mr. Harrington was selected as the tenor and that started him on a musical career which has been subtly intertwined with Sevitzky’s activities. Sevitzky had organized the New Hampshire music festival in the early 1930’s and one of the festi“Aida.” Harrington won the part of Rhadames in the opera through competition.

2 8

BY NEW COMMANDER

BOSTON, Feb. 12 (U. P.).—Destroyers have proved themselves the

Benjamin Parronchi , ¢ o first ‘cellist.

The role of Amneris was being sung by Edna Merritt. She became’ Mrs. Harrington. . Now ‘Harrington is here man- | aging’ Sevitzky’s orchestra and all ! this is the result of a contest which Sevitzky staged 12 years ago. ~

Fight for Survival

THERE ARE two plans for keeping the orchestra solvent. One is .to have it included on’ the school city and civil city tax rate which would make the orchestra a municipal institution and would insure its continuance and ex-

* pansion for years to come.

Enabling legislation for this proposal is ‘now pending in the legislature. The plan would raise about $50,000 ‘annually, $25,000 coming from the civil city budget and the other half.coming out of the school budget. As far as the civil city budget is concerned, the sum of $25,000 is equivalent to a half cent on the tax rate. The other plan is to broaden the base of the orchestra’thrdugh the selling of low-cost memberships which entitle holders to special privileges. ; At the moment, the orchestra is fighting for survival.

_ THE END

BURMA SMASH URGED BY MAY

Chinese Soon een Without Supe plies Until ’44 if Drive Is Delayed.

By ROBERT P. MARTIN United Press Staff: Correspondent CHUNGKING, Feb. 12.—Chinese authorities today offered statistics on enemy war losses indicating that the allies have been unsuccessful in their efforts to cripple Japan’s sea and air power seriously during the first year of war. ; At the same time, these sources warned that unless the offensive in Burma was launched before th beginning of the monsoon in May, a major drive would have to be postponed until October, thereb; greatly reducing China’s chance of again receiving supplies over the Burma road until late in 1944. © The only way to surmount this obstacle would be to concentrate - on all-out transportation of supplies 3 by air, it was said.

List Jap Tonnage

Figures here indicate Japan lost approximately 1,250,000 tons of shipping .during the first year ‘of

expected if hours are made longer under the new presidential order and the other drains on the civilian working force. When men and women are pushed more than 48 hours a. week, they begin to feel the pressure for a frequent break and are apt to take a few days off every little while. But conditions such as those reported by manpower officials in Maryland certainly are unnecessary. Three of the largest war plants in the Maryland area have had man-hour losses in given weeks equal to 16 or 20 per:cent of their working force. Pay days are followed in most plants by a sharp jump in absences. The records may show illness given as the reason for a majority of absences, but who ever heard of a fellow coming back after taking Monday off and reporting that his absence was due to a Whangover? The record of labor regarding strikes has been ex-

ment infantry of the state guard, will hold an informal dance and entertainment Feb. 20 in .the guard armory, 711. N. Pennsylvania st. The dance will begin at 9 p. m. with Chick Meyers’ orchestra providing the music. At 10 o'clock there will be a flag ceremonial followed by the induction of % large number of recruits. These men will be known as the “General Weimar class” in honor of the recently appointed acting adjutant general, William P. Weimar. Gen. Weimar will administer the oath. A grand march, led by Governor and Mrs. Schricker will follow. The entertainment is scheduled for 11 o'clock.

reasonable amount of absenteeism, and 10 per cent is considered out of bounds. Some time ago President Roosevelt indiseated at a press conference that he did not think absenteeism was a matter of any consequence, although at the same time the data in the hands of fis own war manpower commission pointed to a most serious number of absences.

Panicky Hoarding Doesn’t Help

{ | THOSE WHO take a complacent view of it, the . f Professional defenders of labor in every argument, say that many causes contribute to absenteeism and that you ean’ discuss it in blanket terms. They point out that’ women workers must have sonie time to do family shopping and to run rationing errands. And they will have to take still more time ‘off for that if non-working wives do not stop their

for the dance but only members of the guard in full uniform and their wives or friends will be admitted,

the committee said. The -dance committee appointed by Maj. Howard Bates, is. as follows: Capt. George M. Binger, chairman; Capt. Donald Cook, officer of the day; Capt. William Mathis, master of ceremonies; Capt. Harry Montgomery, reception committee; Capt. Carl B. Sputh Jr, ‘medical officer; Capt. Charles Angleton, aid to Governor Schricker. Maj. H. O. Wolfred, superintendent of the armory, is acting as ex-of-ficio member in charge of decorations, seating arrangements, etc.

most versatile fighting craft of world war II, Rear Admiral Robert {A. Theobald of San Francisco said

All motor vehicles will be required to carry windshield stickers indicating their ration rating. Service station operators must check the stickers against the ration books of the purchasers. Howe said there was no guarantee that the value of the coupons will not be reduced. Owners who can prove their need for travelling more than 2160 miles will be granted extra . coupons.

Need Hyman for New Polio Test

war with America and Great Britain, But she captured over 1,000,000 = =: tons of shipping along the China l 3 coast when the war broke out to yesterday ‘as he assumed command |g, oment the 5,000,000 tons she als {of the first naval district. ready had. In an interview, the 59-year-old] A Dutch captain told me the : naval officer said fie hoped to spur|Japs probably captured an addi‘destroyer and cruiser construction |tional 500,000. tons of Dutch shipin New land shipyards because |ping. “they are the most important ves-| Reports indicate the enemy has sels in war.” raised considerable tonnage from Admiral Theobald said destroyers|the sea, both at Hongkong sand have proved themselves the “most|Singapore — the sinking of many multiple ‘action vessel and that ships consisted only of opening seathere is practically nothing you can | cocks. Divers have closed the seaask them to do that they haven’t|cocks, pumped out the water and done.” floated the vessels.

silly, panicky hoarding runs at the stores. That was so bad right here in Washington that big department stores had to ‘appeal to the public

not to jam their stores.

pe ‘Washington, of all places: where they ought to know. ‘better, put on one of the most disgraceful ex-

My Day

; WASHINGTON, fF hirsday- Yesterday afternoon,

department of ‘agriculture, Where the “clothes clinic”

was giving an exhibition in the beautiful patio. This

Was sponsiied Joindy by the freaiury bond sales and the department of agriculture. ~The combination is easy to under-

cellent: The loss of work from strikes has become negligible. But from slowdowns and from absenteeism it is serious, so government production people say.

And now with the pressure on for manpower as it has!’

never been on before, excessive absenteeism becomss an increasing burden on the manpower pool.

By. Eleanor Roosevelt

were the most encouraging models, but that is true even when you buy brand new clothes. There were two young girls who bought new material and who made themselves two of the loveliest coats I have ever seen. - Last evening I met with a group of members of the newspaper guild and had a very pleasant time in

old clothes, you have more money

to put into war savings bonds and _ stamps. Mrs. M. L. Wilson, wife of the

parade, which lasted for nearly an hour. None of the models were very old, but they were fat and

thin, and some were very young. A little 4-year-old ‘showed

off a suit made out of Ris father's do

should advocate young people leaving school before they finish their high school courses, Of course, I do not advocate anything of the kind. I knoWw that in many young people have left high school be-| cause they Sie Boil By what they are doing. Sout very much Jf there i use in any person staying ‘in high school, unless. the

offered excites their surioelly ‘and ars th on ;

WHITE PLAINS, N. J., Feb. 12 (U. P)—Dr. William A. Holla, Westchester county commissioner of health,. appealed today for a “human guinea pig” to test the theory of two scientists that the n house mouse is the carrier of infantile. paralysis. .Dr. Holla . said" tests must be made on a human being td establish the theory that the virus

previously had expressed the be-

‘by contaminating food in ‘markets and homes and leaving €X= crement. < Meanwhile, however, one of the nation’s leading authorities discounted Dr. authority, who: ‘cannot be identi-

‘which infects human beings, he lief that mice transmit the virus

“Holla’s belief, the

Copyright, fy 1943, by The, Jatanapalis 7 Times LONDON, Feb. 12—The Beveridge plan for social insurance and allied services will be -debated in

parliament at . its next sitting, following the introduction this

week of a vague. motion approving!

the plan. . Arthur Greenwood, labor Ep and former: chairman: of the 8OV-

fled because he is in the navy, he

Washington Gives,

| Professor Shock

WASHINGTON, Feb.12 (U.P). —Prof. Alvan D. Oderkirk of Iowa State college, leaving Washington after five months as a war agen'y, official, said tcday that he was shocked at the constant struggle

for power that goes on here.

‘“If people around the country knew about things that go on in

their capital, you can bet your | last. dollar they wouldn’t stand

for it,” he said as he prepared

to leave for home tonight.

Oderkirk has been acting head of the office of price administra-

va-| tion's poultry and egg division.

Admiral Theobald, who formerly commanded. U. S. destroyer forces in the Pacific, said the Japanese were “worthy opponents” but that hor overall naval strength is better and every time we meet the enemy we are farther ahead.” :

REPORT NAZIS BUILD

FORTS IN MOUNTAINS

LONDON, Feb. 12 (U. P.)—The| Norwegian government in exile re-|: ported today that the Germans

were building fortifications in the interior of Norway, in case an allied invasion hurls them back from

fications are not impregnable, and intend to try to hold on to inland areas and .mounfain passes, a said.

spokesman HK The Germans also anticipated at-|

PENSION UNITS TO MEET

and the Matinee Musicale trio will play Sunday at 2 Pp. m. for the

soring the meeting.

HOLD ‘EVERYTHING