Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 April 1943 — Page 9

SIA-The men who interrogate captured

prises have. interesting jobs. Jnguists, y have to be -wheedle

soldiers,

In addition to being good psychologists to

ey: never have any trouble getting the I Italians to talk, but unfortunately the Italians don’t know anything. According to interrogators they are a pretty sorry lot. Some of them didn’t even know they were fighting ‘against Americans till they got captured. One batch I know of thought we would execute them, and were pathetically ‘happy when they discovered they would live. The first thing they usually ask is to be allowed to write their families that they're all right, and of course ‘Permission is granted. Most of them keep diaries. All of them, Italians and Germans. alike, seem to have plenty of money in their pockets. The Italians all carry Catholic . medals and erosses, and are grateful on learning they can: keep these. Nearly everybody has a picture of

e or sweetheart or children, and these, too, they

are allow to keep.

Prisoners: Well Equipped

CA FEW of the captured Germans and Italians ‘ up norti had on’ thin ‘¢lotHing, and no. underwear at ‘all. ‘But most of them are warmly dressed and well * equipped. ' “The first thing our soldiers take away tfrom a: iGerman i8 ‘his mess kit. It is superior in “quality and ‘design to ours; is made of - steel, easy to rd Slean.n more compact, and even has a can opener

“The fans have a shovel that is quite a ‘gadget.

ormation out of reluctant German

3 ®t By Ernie Pyle It is small, sort of like a fireplace coal shovel. The shovel part is swiveled onto the handle, so that you can turn it down, lock it and the shovel then becomes a pick, Italian enlisted men wear as lapel insignia a tin star, exactly like the stars an, American general wears.

A know at least two generals now wearing these.Italian stars on their shoulders. And I heard of a pri-

‘vate. who pinned one on his cap unthinkingly, and

went around for an hour wondering why everybody in the army was suddenly saluting him.

Italians Glad .to Be Captured

THE ITALIANS are almost unanimously happy| to be captured, but you never can tell what a Ger-|

man’s attitude will be. Some are friendly, and glad to be out of it. Others are arrogant. They tell of one wounded German who came to in the operating room of one of our hospitals, and instantly came’ off the table swinging with both fists. Nurses say the wounded Germans usually are sullen and autocratic.

There is one conscripted German regiment made]

up of people rejected earlier in the war—men with one eye or one finger missing, older people, men. from occupied “countries. But mostly the Germans and Italians both are in-excellent physical condition.

‘The Germans get paid every 10 days, and nearly i - They are usually short of cigarets.. Often you'll see Amer=|

half their money is automatically sent home.

icans going past a batch of newly captured prisoners| :

and stopping to give them cigarets. Stories differ as to how the axis treats our prisoners. Some of those who have escaped say the Italians

are worse than the Germans. I know Americans who!

say they were treated courteously and considerately and others who say they'll commit suicide before theyll be captured again. I guess it depends on the individual who gets his hands on you.

Inside Indianapolis By Lowel! Nussbaum

3 AL HOEH (pronounced Hay) is the envy of his : neighborhood. Mr. Hoeh, who lives at 259 W. 44th ‘and “is ‘an’ auditor for the A.T.& T., improvised a “hotbed out’ of plywood and a storm window several “Webs ago. - And now he has lettuce and radishes Fi £ * ‘flourishing, and he’s been sami ‘ pling ‘ his: onions already. . . Mrs. Esther * Collins Broun, an - employee of the school board © offices many years, quit last Thursday and plans to spénd all ‘her time at homé. . . ,. Omar H. Sutt, baker '3-¢, leaves: for sea “duty tomorrow after: a ‘short furlough here. with his family... He . wears two stars indicating service’ in two major actions. . . . = Floyd ‘M. Luke, 1935 N. Alabama, =r : is. the man that raises and lowers -the agin on the flagstaff at ‘the head of Martin place, at 19th and Alabama.: More than a year ‘ago he took it. on himself to take up a collection among the - neighbors to buy the flag. Martin place was the site of old Camp Martin back in Civil war days. The flagstaff ‘has been there many years and at one time the flag was taken care of by the city when there ‘was a caretaker for the esplanade in that section.

Business Too Good el] -

THE FREE AIR ‘transportation business is booming out at Stout field. In fact, it’s so good it’s driving . the operations. office personnel just plain nuts. Everything was all right a couple of weeks ago, with * 15 or 20 soldiers a day dropping out there and asking to go along with pilots of the 1st troop carrier com‘mand on their trips here and there over the country. And. then Hamlin Welling of The Times’ staff wrote a story telling of the free serviee.. Then came the flood. Now the fellows at the field are getting more : ‘than 200 requests a day for transportation here, there ~ +‘and eyerywhere.. The operations office is just like Grand Central ‘station, . Besides coming out to the fleld in droves, the fellows wire from other cities, and _some even .call long. distance. One officer long dis- . tanced and argued his mother should have a free ride to California for ‘her: vacation. Whenever pilots make

Washington

WASHINGTON, April 1. sr was _writing up ‘some advance columns to run while I was on the way to Sweden when this letter came to our house from a young soldier in North Africa, who used to tend our Tose Bushes’ anid our:lawn. - - He wanted to be a scientist, and he prepared for college by attending night school. A few days after Pearl Harbor he -en« listed. He is an armorer in the air forces in North Africa. Ernie Pyle could get a’ good column out of him, Here is what ' ‘he says: $ “I have just finished reading ‘Miracle Hunters,’ by Paul de - Kruif, and I am sorry I read it. ‘It ‘made me long for my micro- > Hie scope and the peace of my room * rounded by my books. How I yearn ' qo Sr again to the Cosmos club and hear lectures by men ‘who are fighting nature, trying to ‘hér give up her secrets just as Pasteur and

others did.

A Soldier. Wonders Ww hy

“17 WANT to go back to college and learn the milHons of things I need to know in order to do the experimental work that I have had in mind for so

many years. * épifteen months I have been in the army. Why

Jllow that blithering idiot to cause sueh for cl this world? I guess this question has been asked time and again and I cannot see how any mortal can answer it. Evel tanks e one’s nerves jump, there is a Sune ot a I often go up into the hills and‘ look down upon the man-made instruments of death ‘they crawl across the landscape.

y Day

ny Kas., Sunday.—I left Washington Fri- . N, * this is where our weakness lies in our Whole educa-

a y-aftérnoon by train and reached Chicago Satur-.

morning practically ‘on time. I went in odi- ‘tey paid teachers, teachers who can take a more ac-

“ately to the Julius Rosenwald fund meeting, which

I had cone to attend, and spent the whole day’ at :

their office. : These meetings are very interesting. The executive ‘committee usually has gone over all the = recommendations first, but that does not prevent the recommendations from being carefully {iscussed by the trustees and mémbers present. The men and women on the board all seem to take an interest in the general

too had,” the ‘butcher said.

here ‘where the roar of planes and - the

rolling hills seem to look down with an

a trip, they take along as many military Passengers as they have room for, and the rest just have to swallow their disappointment. The number one victim of all the confusion is Capt. W. A. Somerby Jr., the operations officer, His message: “Have a heart, fellows!”

Feels Sorry for Us

EXCERPT FROM a letter written in North Africa recently by Timesman Lt. Tom Lanahan: “Judging from the sound of much of the mail, newspapers and 50 on, we often wonder whether to sympathize with the home front and even toy with the idea of sending you some sugar and toffee and similar items. But

.usually we just get a big kick.out of it. It’s kind of

a backhanded morale booster to know that everyone back home is giving out in his own little way. . . . We brought along a phonograph, so things are not 50 bad.. We were playing it one affernoon and had’ as a puzzled audience, three Arabs who never had seen such a thing. They kept a respectful distance while we played it. Then we put on the record, ‘You Are My Sunshine,’ Arabs were practically on top of the ‘machine, grinning broadly. Which proved, to us at ‘least, that hillbillys are an international brotherhood, and their music knows no language barriers.”

Make It for Fido

. ONE. OF OUR agents stood in line in front of one of the meat markets in city market the other day while the woman ahead of him purchased some meat. Then the woman asked the butcher for a soup bone. “Is it for family use, or for your dog?” the butcher asked. “For the family,” she replied. “That’s “It will cost you 7 points. But if it were for your dog, I could give it to you without points.” The woman thought a moment, then said: “Oh, well; never mind the one for the family. Just give me a couple of pounds of meat bone for my dog.” And he did—point free. . . Mrs. A. J. Freeman suggests that we ask all’ you folks to observe “Be Kind fo Animals Week” by refraining from giving young rabbits to children as Easter gifts. Frequently the youngsters unintentionally torture and Sometimes kill the rabbits.

‘By Raymond Clapper

amused contempt on my fellow men struggling and sweating and swearing as they clear fields for planes and build roads for the supplies that must go onward and onward. Day after day trucks, tanks and men go rushing forward as if it was the most important work on earth. “The Romans struggled through here, beating down the shrubs.and trampling the ‘flowers underfoot just as we are doing. The hills looked down upon them also and smiled. :

Foresees a Judgment Day

-“CENTURIES PASSED. Little by little the rains washed the soil from these everlasting hills and covered the things that man had strived so hard to build. Flowers bloomed and died, scattering their seed over the soil that year by year covered man’s achievement deeper and deeper. Only the mighty war ‘lords of those days are known to the. schoolchildren of today. The men are forgotten. “Why do these things happen? Is humanity like a small boy who busts his britches periodically as he grows? Or maybe we have strayed too far from the path of religion and have to be jerked back as a small dog is kept in place. “There sure will be a lot of ekpiining done on judgment day as to why millions of men, women and children had to suffer and die because of the ambitions of a few men.”

Is it or is it not worth taking any risk in trying|

to build ‘a peace that will free such young men as this from mass murder? . To do nothing, as some of our politicians advise, is to ask for it again. The baby boys are being born now to. provide the fodder for the next war. What possible common-sense objection can there be to taking a risk in going after a peace that will allow ‘the next generation to live?

Editor's Note: Raymond Clapper is on his way to Sweden, one of the few neutral “listening posts” left in Europe. This column is one of several he prepared before leaving Washington.

By Eleanor Roosevelt) =

training ‘teachers. This interests me because I think

tional system. We need better trained teachers, bet-

tive part in community life and who are given com= [plete freedom in the expression of their opinions. One of the letters which. 1 received lately concerns me very greatly. It comes from a Woman who has held a clerical position in the same office for more than 15 years. A short time. ago her ‘office merged with six others. She was retained, so evidently her work was good. She is the ‘assistant. toa man who had other work besides the work in- this

and in less than 5 seconds our|

5

By VICTOR PETERSON

NOT. ALL . THE heroes of - the .preserit. war are on the fighting fronts. In the area around Shelby and Raymond sts. there are many in the modest homes displaying service flags. Recently in front of Higgins’ restaurant,’ 2206 Shelby st, a motherly, middle-aged woman was talking bravely about “her Bob” to a friend." Her eyes were red but they were bright with pride. Bob had been reported missing. Shamelessly - we drew close to overhear the conversation. The mother was telling of the last letter received before the war department’s telegram arrived. ” EJ »

Soap and Cake

“BOB WAS so happy with what we had ‘sent him for Christmas. It wasn’t much ,’. , just soap, ‘wash cloths and fruit cake. But I guess they don’t get much: of that over’ there.

“He said, “To think this cake was made by you, Mom . . . way back home.’ ” :And then she said, “You know, if her boy is well and well fed, that’s all a mother cares about.” That seems to typify the spirit of the oldest to the youngest neighbor in that South side section. The students and faculty of school 34, 1410 Wade st., and of St. Catherine’s, Shelby and Tabor sts, are deep in war projects. Scrap paper, metal and war bond

drives are merely part of their .

activities. To 'top. the regular projects at She public school, Mrs. Leone Murages, teacher of 1208 S. St. ul st., has 42 grade pupils who devote their time to the Junior Red Cross. In their childlike manner, they cut out and’ draw holiday tray favors for haspital-

‘has grawrr in the halls.

* 1. With the “no admittance” sign over the door to fire station 29 for the wo duratio, firemen content themselves with a game of pinochle.- Facing the camera ‘and reading clockwise , are

Alonzo Riggs, George Mennel and W. E. Rinderknecht. 2. Leo Leach, 1542 Finley ave., chief janitor at school 34, inspects one of the wo cbanana trees he

After the first rationing registration, all registrars got half a banana apiece,

3. Every Thursday the women of St. Catherine’s Catholic church sew ‘for the Red Cross. Hard at work are ‘(left to right) Miss Nellie Toner, Mrs, ‘Emma Ward, Mrs. ‘Clara. Grote, Mrs,: Ann’ Gallagher and,

Mrs. Dorothy Wilson.

4. The shoe repair business of Grok American George Skoulas has increased 50 ‘per ‘cent since rationing. While business is good he worries about his folks in Nazi-controlied Crete.. 5. Shortening was the big concern of these coo kie bakers for the. U. 8.. QO. when. it was - rationed. But the rationing hoard came through with an allotment. At the most recent bake were (left to right) Mrs, Evelyn Borgmann, Mrs.” Doris Johnson, Mrs. Margaret Ray, Mrs. Florence Riby, Mrs. Flossie Bryant, Mrs. Betty Clark and Mrs. Vera Alexander, 6. Easter : tray ‘favors for hospitalized ‘servicemen are;made by the: Sinlor Red Cross: at school 34. Here Mrs. ‘Leone Murdock, sponsor, checks the work of (left to right) Virgll: Rutter, Lorraine Borgman and

Kenneth Rutter. !

“board came through with an al

lotment. The same thing happened with ‘shortening after a three-week wait. Baking ‘as ;many as 30 dozen

- cookies atime is done by-a group

of seven faithfuls. They are Mrs. Evelyn Borgmann, 1654 ‘Wade st.;

'Mrs. Doris Jolinson, 2608 Finley -ave,, * chairman; Mrs, Margaret Ray, . 2156 Na \

president; = Mrs. a ‘Ruby,

1418 Finley ave.; Mrs. Flossie Bry-

~~ ant, 2818 Villa ave; Mrs. Betty

particular office, so in practice she does a major part| 5°

of the work, but the man receives more than double her salary.. I know all the old arguments that a woman is supposed to be dependent on some man and that the Th SNS bo Tis mars because uf the people’ he

| rma.

Mrs, Emma Ward, 1014 LeGrande ave.; Mrs, Clara Grote, 1519 E

‘Raymond st., and Mrs. Ann Gal-

lagher, 1333 Wade st. president. As for the men. A: little over 8 year ago a.committee presented themselveS to Father J. M. Downey. “We want to do something for the war effort,” they said. | . So they proposed ‘their idea. “Father if you will announce from‘ the pulpit Sundays the number ‘of "enemy planes shot down

Your Blood Is Needed

April quota for Red - Cross Blood Plasma Center — 5400° donors. . Donors so far this month—

Saturday's quota—113, * Saturday's donors—112.

You can help meet the quota :

‘calling LI-141 for sn

3 closed ‘and the. windows of the

from the skies by American pilots we “will give you ‘one cent for each.” The church and’ war. became partners toward victory.. At the last count more than $4000 in war bonds had been purchased at a penny a plane. On ‘our way through the. busi-: ness district to. stop in for a’ chat with the men at fife station

29° we saw "several signs of the

times. Station’ Boarded ‘Up

A GAS: STATION on the northeast corner of Shelby and Raymond sts. was boarded up,

the pumps gone. Wagner's meat’ market, 2313 -Shelby st, was

Sweet Shop, 2219 Shelby st., were: whitewashed. Casualties of the war on the home front.

George Putt,

«The day of loafing . around. .

fire station in Indianapolis is over until victory. Putt explained it. “We're J taking a tip from the Englis When the big bombing ' started

over. there and fires were raging

over: the city, a lot of the rig couldn’t- even leave the house: '

“At the fire, hose would bureh 54:

the '‘pumpers stop and laddl break. It was sabotage. ‘Loafer

would drop ‘into the station and

put emery dust into the moto and cut the hose and laddersy That's why we aren't taking chances here.” They admit it was alittle lones some at first not having: thei§ old ‘cronies drop in, but they are becoming accustomed ‘to play

, pinochle by themselves now. i

» s 'R George Is Busy

THEN ONE said he had to pick. up ‘some: shoes at George's had night. So. we. went to vate George. ‘We found him at 2215 Shel st. The sign on the window’ George's Shoe Repair shop. It is operated by George Skoulas, native of Crete and an Ame since “1928. Since shoe rationing, his Las increased 50 per cent. that could be more than douk again if he could get help. “But a man can: do so much himself and that is all,” he § id, as he glanced at the clock:above a picture of him in his ; war I.Greek: uniform. ° And: so ‘from-native to: nat ized © Americans in this Sot side 'néighborhood ‘they. know meaning of war. Mr. -Skoul hasn't had -a word of news fron

_ his" parents’ or’ brothers and"

ters in Crete since the hordes; overcame its staunch - di te fense. A

HOLD (EVERYTHING .

There wns & “no admittance | :

sign over the door into the fire station. So we went in. Since, Sarit GAT re houses. |

RRR

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Re he be

coh

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ee,

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Fireman George’ |