Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 June 1943 — Page 11

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ianapolis

Hoosier Vagabond

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, North Africa (By | Wireless) —Men and machines have both now passed . their shakedown period in this war—at least here in } North Africa. Men who weren't up to their jobs have largely been culled out and given different work. There are still some inept ones in office jobs, but among the line troops the mill of experience has pretty well ground out the weaklings, the freaks and the misfits. And it’s the same with machinery and weapons. Some things have proved themselves almost useless. Others have: turned out s0 perfectly that the engineers would have to scratch their heads to think of any change in design. In the mechanical end of our Africa war three American ‘wehicles stand out above all the others. They are

the jeep, the GMG two-and-a-half-ton truck, and the

Douglas DC-3 cargo plane. «The DC-3, known in the army as the C-47, is the Workingest_ airplane in existence, I suppose. It lifts’ incredible loads, and takes terrific beatings from ough fields, hard handling and over-use. Almost any ilot will tell you it is the best airplane. ever built. - The GMC truck does the same thing in its field. 1t. hauls big loads, it is easy to drive and easy-riding, and the truck driver can do praetically anything with it up to an outside loop. It seldom gets stuck, and Af it does it can winch itself out. The punishment it ‘will take is staggering.

The J eep Does Everything

AND THE jeep—good Lord, I don't think we could ‘eontinue the war without the jeep. It does every‘thing. It goes everywhere. It's as faithful as a dog, | 4s strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat. it con- | stantly carries twice what it was designed for, and

By Ernie Pyle

still keeps on going. It doesn’t even ride s6 badly after you get used to it. . I have driven jeeps thousands eof miles, and if I were called upon to suggest changes for a new model I could think of only one or-two little things. One is the handbrake. It's perfectly useless—won't hold at all. They should either design one that works or else save metal by having none at all. And in the field of acoustics, I wish they could somehow fix the jeep so that at certain speeds the singing of those heavy tires wouldn't sound exactly like an approaching airplane. That little sound effect has caused me to jump out of my skin more than once. Except for those two trivial items the jeep is a divine instrument of wartime locomotion.

Find Service With a Smile

ONLY ONCE in my long and distinguished jeep career have I ever had anything go wrong. That time the gears got all mixed up and the thing wouldn't come out of low gear. It was while we were still fighting around Mateur. Our road was under heavy German shellfire, so the only thing we could do was take off crosscountry and make a wide circle around the shellinfested area. We drove through shoulder-high barley fields, along foctwide goat trails, up over hills, down steep banks, across creeks, and over huge rockbeds. Then just as we hit the main road and were out in the free gain, this gear thing happened. We still had 20 miles ahead of us, and there was nothing to do but keep on going in low gear. Luckily we hadn’t gone more than a mile when we saw a little sign - denoting an ‘armored force repair dept. We drove in just on a chance, and sure enough they said they could fix the jeep. They not only fixed it but gave us supper while we waited, and were extremely pleasant about the whole thing. That's better service than you get in the States.

Inside Indianapolis By Lowell Nussbaum

A COUPLE OF city firemen are helping to solve \the local labor shortage. Also the high cost of living. On their off days (they work 24 hours and are off 24) they work-as bellhops in a downtown hotel. Probably

make more hopping hotel bells than they do fire bells. . . . Summer is here for sure—no fooling. Sign No. 1: The circle monument founfains are operating. Sign No. 2: T olumbia club has installed its summer canopy. Sign No. 3: Three small boys were swimming in Fall creek yesterday near the Keystone ave. bridge. Sign No. 4: Two women have been observed sunbathing atop the Spink Arms annex. . ,. Incidentally, one of our spies reports seeing a man take his dog 3 for a constitutional on the annex roof, The dog seemed satisfied, too, even though there aren't any trees up there. °

Croquet vs. Golf

4 ONE OF OUR AGENTS reports passing the South ‘Grove golf course Sunday afternoon and observing a family group playing croquet. They had set up their own. croquet set right on the golf grounds and seemed to be having a fine time. . . . Another of our agents tells us that everything in connection with his imminent induction seems te ‘occur on special dates. For instance, he took his first blood test Christmas eve, ook a second one Good Friday, his induction notice was mailed on his birthday (May 25) and the induction date falls on his parent's 50th anniversary (June 5). Maybe he'll get his army discharge on Hitler's funeral ay. . . . George M. Gahagan, president of the Central Publishing Co. and harness race authority, says he’s going up to the Board of Trade and

Sweden

| STOCKHOLM, June 2.—It is impossible for anybody in the warring world to imagine the placid life here in the long summer sunlight of Sweden, Here it is difficult to realize that in the world outside

there is the taut agony of the war of nerves. There are no nerves here, especially now when everyone is outdoors living in the sun. In Sweden you get to wondering what the meaning of life really 1s. In America we strive intensely, the whole atmosphere is one of competition, of struggle to improve one’s station in life and spandard of living. Here there is a high standard of living, and on the whole the people lead a life that normally fulfills the average desires quite adequately. Yet there seems to be a kind of static contentment about it that I should think would pall on Americans accustomed *to a more intense struggle. Americans cep raising their sights. While we have often de ored this as: trying ‘“to.-keep up with the Joneses,” may. be the yeast of life that any nation, Ike ay ‘Individual, should have.

Nation ‘Moves Into the Sun’

. TO THE eye nothing could be more inviting than i life that Swedes live now in these long summer i The whole nation moves out into the sun. g People eat in the sun in outdoor cafes. On a Suny afternoon, or at lunch time during the week, you gee young people and old people sitting on the steps ‘of the state theater or of the art museum, or on’ benches around the downtown parks, all with their faces turned up into the sun. "This very day thousands of families are” moving out into the country. Because of the long dark winters, Sweden makes the most of summer, with such

My Day

WASHINGTON, Tuesday—I was back in Wash-

ington early yesterday afternoon. The house seems strangely quiet after the departure of all our guests. We had tea for a few guests, and dinner on the porch yesterday. I think just now, the south porch of the White House is a wonderfully pleasant place to sit. The honeysuckle on the steps leading to the garden below is in full bloom, and 4 big magnolia tree, planted by = Andrew Jackson, which shades the porch on the west, is just bursting into flower. They are the most enormous cups of white fragrance I have ever seen. I love this tree, and every y wait for its flowering with n anticipation, and it never disappoints me. To the people \whe live in the south, it is probably a commonplace, but to me ‘these great, white, cuplike flowers are one of the events of my year. y press: conference today, which was moved to ; floor in the movie room during the prime : rned to the Monroe room on ) indication of our

meet Bill Howard, the board’s executive secretary. Twice in one week, folks have stopped him and thought they were talking to Mr. Howard.

The Cop Paid Off

THE FOLKS up at Monticello] are snickering over the misfortunes of a certain Indianapolis police sergeant. The sergeant, we're told, took his sister up to his cottage at Monticello, driving his sister's car. Leaving his sister at the cottage, he drove into town and took aboard a few drinks. Slightly befuddled, he drove the wrong car back to the cottage. Meanwhile, the woman who owned the other car noticed it was gone and notified the sheriff it had been “stolen.” As the sergeant drove back into town, looking for his sister's car, the sheriff nabbed him. The woman who owned the other car was waiting and demanded that the sheriff arrest him. Finally the sergeant managed to placate her by paying her a couple of dollars to cover the gas and oil he had used,

The Bicycle Fad Re

REMEMBER WAY BACK when most everyone in town was busting a hamestring to get a bicycle to ride to work and save gasoline? Well, lots of folks did get bikes, and some of them did ride to work— once or twice. But most of them gave up the idea after the first spell of aching leg muscles. Now you seldom see an adult cyclist. . . . S. C. Koby of the Indiana inspection bureau looked out a window in his C. of C. building office yesterday and saw, down on Trimble’s Corners, a couple of rubbish collectors loading their trash truck with the license plates motorists had contributed to the campaign. A phone call to the corners resulted in the men restoring the plates to the pile. If you haven't turned in your front plates yet, do so now. They're being salvaged to make next year's plates. You can leave ’em at any filling station, Remember—iront plates only. Keep the rear ones.

By Raymond Clapper

emphasis on vacations that for a few weeks business almost comes to a standstill. The many lakes, rivers and inlets of the Baltic provide ideal vacation spots. But foreigners are excluded from some areas, for military reasons. The government has posted in the Grand hotel a list of summer places to which foreigners are permitted to go.

All Life Is Placid

LABOR AND management are going along placidly, with no strikes for 10 years in most industries, and with labor accepting the formula of adjustment that gives it only half of the increase in the cost-of-living index. In ‘contrast to the turbulent labor relations in America, labor here is docile, and accepts the judgment of union leaders, who seem to work on good terms with management. August Lindberg, head of the labor federation, is very much like William Green in personality and outlook. I dbo not mean to imply that there is no initiative on the part of industry here, as there has been a fast advance in production of wartime substitutes of many kinds. Also, Swedish businessmen not only think about post-war problems and possibilities but are working on them. For instance, Axel Johnson, the wealthiest and biggest businessman in Sweden, is experimenting with seed potatoes to help fill his ships to Latin America, where they will go for meat and coffee and other commodities, after the war. Johnson is building refrigerated cargo ships and tying them up for use after the war. But life as a whole in Sweden seems far more placid, without the striving we know in America. This raises the question whether a nation is happier when contented or when driving in a hard struggle. ! In America we know that men often are least ‘happy | when they have made their pile and retire to * ‘enjoy ! life.” Possibly the same thing may apply to whole peoples as well as to individuals.

By Eleanor Roosevelt

I introduced the two leading women welders of the country to the ladies of the press this morning. The champion is Miss Very Anderson, and the run-ner-up is Mrs. Hermina Strmiska. The contest took place in Pascagoula, Miss. They met in competition,

rules for the welding contest were carefully carried |

out, based on time and quality. People evidently like to know what the soldiers are writing home, for whenever I quote a letter in my column more come in. The following was written by a boy of Italian birth, though long since an American citizen, to his parents-in in-law in California. “Well, here I am in Africa, feeling like a million dollars. We are well taken care of, eat well and sleep well, in houses. We do a nice day’s work, then have recreation. This evening we played soft ball, then played some records. Am getting along just fine and believe me, I'm mighty grateful that I am an American. I know than ever now what we have to fight for. I y wish every one felt as I do about it. I wouldn't give one tiny point of our stars for all the world except America. you and your wonderful dinners. Will Pl them when I get home, but not until this is all over.

.| turned in their front license plates

ALLIED LAPSE PUT ITALY IN CAMP OF AXIS

Simms Recalls Era When Mussolini Stood Alone

Against Hitler.

By WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS Scripps-Howard Foreign Editor WASHINGTON, June 2.—Fascist Italy’s days are numbered. And so are Benito Mussolini's. Thereby hangs the most tragic tale in the axis gamut. For Benito never wanted to pal up with Hitler any more than the Italian people wanted to go to war on the side of Germany. But the. tragedy of Mussolini and of Italy is also our tragedy—the tragedy of the united nations. Had we played our cards right, Italy today might have been on our side. Ten years ago Italy was just as opposed to the rise of a powerful Nazi Germany as were Great Britain, France and the other powers. When Hitler had Chancellor Dollfuss murdered in 1934 and first tried anschluss with Austria, aly did something about it while Great Britain and France only talkéd. Mussolini sent 48,000 picked troops to Brenner pass and suggested to Hitler that the moment the Nazis crossed the Austrian frontier from the north, Italian troops would march on Vienna from. the south. And Hitler stayed out. Duce Warned Hitler As far back as 1925 the Duce had warned Berlin that “Italy would

never tolerate such a patent violation of treaties” as the annexation

of Austria would be, because, he |§¥

went on to add realistically, it |} “would frustrate Italy's victory of 1918 by weakening the national frontier on the Brenner.” And that remained one of the cardinal points of Italian foreign policy for a dozen years. By 1936 two irreparable things had happened. . Japan had taken Manchuria and Italy had taken Ethiopia. Both represented inexcusable blunders on our side. The Manchurian blunder led to Pearl Harbor and Ethiopia threw Mussolini into the arms of the man he probably hated—and still hates— namely Adolf Hitler. In the minds of Henry L. Stimson—then secretary of state—and others closely ‘associated with the Manchurian incidents of 1931-32, there is no doubt at all that Japan could have been stopped had Washington, London, Paris and the League of Nations~really tried. It was clear, at the’ beginning, that Tokyo was cautiously feeling her way. She stated at once that just as soon as the “bandits” who were causing the trouble along the south Manchuria railway had been punished, everything would return to normal. Japan Untouched

This was the first major defiance of the league or the China treaty authorities. And Japan got away with it. Three years later Italy tried it in Ethiopia and she got away with it. But while Britain, France and the league fell short of bringing enough pressure to bear on Italy, they. brought enough to give rise to bitter resentment and pave the way for the rappprochement with Germany which followed. Had the powers stopped Japan in Manchuria, Mussolini would never have dared attempt his coup in Ethiopia. He would have cast his lot with Britain and the rest and helped them hold Hitler in check in Austria, eastern Europe and the Balkans. He had ample reason to fear a powerful Reich even more than did Britain and France.

Italy Doomed _

Now Italy is tottering. Mussolini’s doom is almost certain. Why he went over to Hitler makes no difference. Statesmen shouldn't! make mistakes.

Js Good,

rns in Tour

Of Nation's Food Bowl

Into the nation’s Midwest “food bowl” went Phil Stong, author “State Fair,” to talk to farmers and farm leaders—and to report on their wartime problems. This is the first of a series of dispatches

from the author, famed for his novels of farm life.

These articles

reflect the situation in mid-May before the recent floods and excess

rains throughout the Middle West.

VERY EARLY ONE morning several years ago, Thad Sherod’s store in Keosauqua, Iowa, burned to the ground. With the splendid timing that accidents usually show, Thad had neglected to renew his fire insurance for a few

days.

Later in the morning a neighboring tradesman met

Thad, whistling, on ‘the street and, wishing to express sympathy, as Midwesterners do, without blowing his top off about it, slapped Thad on the shoulder and said, “Hi, fellow—how things going?” “Fine,” said Thad, “fine. I had breakfast, and it ain't time for dinner yet.” This, I found last week in traveling through what is variously known as the American “Food Bowl” and “The 8 r e a dbasket,” is about the attitude of everyone concerned Phil Stong ity agriculture, from staff headquarters in the department of agriculture down to the shock troops on the individual farms, with regard to both the problem of food production and the related problem of farm labor. ”

Proud of Record

THE FARMERS are proud, and justly so, of their record last year when they produced sub-' stantially more foodstuffs than ever came out of American land before. With 9 per cent less manpower and 14 per cent less horsepower (animal and motor) than they had in 1918, they produced 40 per cent more food than they did in that previous “war year. They expect to produce still more this year, though the results are subject to some unpredictables—the weather in 1942 was almost miraculously favorable; the machines were one year's wear better than they will be this year; most important of all, perhaps, there was no serious shortage of experienced farm labor. There is no serious shortage now, in the corn belt, but as the banker in Keosauqua, Iowa, told me, “We're not hurt yet, but if ‘they take just one more farmer out of the county we will be.” ” ” 2

Promise Ample Food

WITH EVEN moderately favorable conditions there will be more pigs, fattened cattle, wheat and foodstuffs in general in this country next December 7th than there were on the day of Pearl

” 2

NAVY PLANS DINNER FOR CITY PRINGIPALS

Lt. Cmdr. Carl G. Olson, officer

in charge of the naval aviation

If they do, they must stand or) cadet selection board, Chicago, will

fall by them. The Duce, therefore, Speak at a dinner to be given toand his whole Fascist crew, are on morrow at the Columbia club for

their way out. But, say world statesmen, there is a very vital lesson in all this for those whose job it will be to preserve the peace of tomorrow. And it is this: A stitch in time saves nine, jnternationally no less than in the home. Stop the Manchukuos and the Ethiopias, the Austrias and Czechoslovakias, and the rest won't { happen.

PLEASE PASS THE PLATE—FRONT ONE

City police were ordered today by Police Chief Beeker to “politely advise” all motorists who have not

to do so at once. This is in compliance with the OCD request for the plates, which are to be processed for use as 1944 plates. The CCD is the receiving agency for them.

| principals of Indiandpolis public and parochial schools.

The dinner is being given by the

board in appreciation of the cooperation shown by the school heads during the enlistment of 17-year-old high school seniors and graduates for navy pilot training.

Other speakers will be Lt. H. D.

Penfield, board executive officer, and Ensign John Bissell, recruiting officer in Indiana. Official Navy motion pictures will be shown.

The naval aviation traveling

board will be at the local navy recruiting station from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. Saturday to give preliminary examinations to eligible 17-year-olds.

EMERGENCY CORPS

- MEETS TOMORROW

The first meeting of the 15th dis-

MEDICAL DISTRICT 47 WILL MEET FRIDAY

The emergency medical district No. 47 will meet at 8 p. m, Friday in the Brookside community house. The program is in. charge of Mr. W. E. Williams. Miss Lilly Burres is district chairman.

COFFEE BURNS CHILD

Judith Anne Griffith, 15-months-old, was taken to City hospital late yesterday after receiving burns when tipped a pot of scalding hot coffee on herself. Her mother, Mrs. Bertha Griffith, ran with the child to the police station from Je home at 307 E. Washington st.

trict emergency medical corps in

its new location at the St. Pauls Lutheran school, 743 Weghorst st., will be held tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock. 7) All persons wishing to enroll in the first aid courses may do so by contacting Mrs. Irene Flick, GA6661.

STAMP CLUB MEETS FRIDAY AT 7:45 P. M.

The Indiana stamp club will meet Friday evening in the blue room of the Antlers hotel at 7:45 o'clock. This is the last meeting of the season for the club, and Daisy Voyles, secretary, requested that and| members planning to attend bring

Harbor. many cans in the grocery stores, of course, but as far as bread and meat are concerned, the country will be amply provided to feed its - people, in and out of the armed forces, and to make increasing contributions to its allies. If there had been no war the “shortage” of foodstuffs in this country would be one of the most catastrophic surpluses the farmer has ever suffered. The wheat surplus is expected to increase. this year. Nearly 7,030,000 hogs were slaughtered last December, the largest number in history, and about one for every fourth family in the country, even counting the part of the family in the army or navy or marines or WAAC Cs, etc. Nebraska and Kansas have increased their hog production tremendously; they began the year before Pearl Harbor. Iowa, which usually leads the country in hog production, increased its brood sows 30 per cent last year.

Hogs Sold Fatter

IN TERMS OF food, there are not quite half as many hogs as people—again including = armed forces—in the United States. A brood sow that does not produce three or four tons of potential pork a year is not esteemed. Ten years ago hogs were sold at.200250 pounds to get the best price, but now they are sold at 350-up; so a sow that averages a. litter . and a half a year will furnish the sprouts for about the tonnage mentioned. (Of course, a good many old stags and lard animals are sold at weights running up to a ton or more. The prize winning boar at the Iowa state fair in 1932 weighed just about the same as my Plymouth sedan.) : The cattle “situation is somewhat the same, as far as the economic incentive is concerned. At the moment, beef sells about onefourth higher—i. e.,. 14 cents against 18 cents in very rough figures without regard to grades —than pork, but a sow will produce three times more poundage —and these figures are only approximate and subject to criticism—in one year than a heifer will in three. That is, if there is plenty of feed. There happens to be plenty of feed. ” 2 ” THE IMPROVEMENT of farm: ing in this country over the past

Watch Out for Summer Thieves

Detective Chief Jesse MecMurtry today said police will begin a concerted drive against “seasonal thievery,” that type of subterfuge flourishing in warm weather when open windows facjlitate break-ins.

In pointing out that “open houses and increased shade” are factors exciting the fancy of a certain variety of prowler who loafs all winter and works all summer, Chief McMurtry asked citizens to co-operate by hiding valuables “where they might not be found easily.” | The chief asked residents to report immediately the presence of “suspicious persons found lurking around neighborhoods and sitting in parked cars,” and reminded operators of business establishments to keep money in safes rather than in cash drawers or filing cabinets.

HOLD EVERYTHING

, 3.will sposper

There will not be ae.

“Sa Battle of the Food

Crop Outlook Author Lea

A long stretch and a deep sigh . + . and the farmer starts his day’s work in the half-light of dawn. . . . He and his hired hands will have milked 20 cows before breakfast,

20 years is—one Jooks for the -

y word and the word is not there— but “incredible” comes closest. But the figures speak for themselves; and with fewer resources in power and personnel than in 1918 the American farmer achieved his greatest output last year, and broke the figures of 1916 by 40 per cent, under good conditions, but none that were significantly improved over those of 1918. This country will never go hungry, unless the gestapo takes its food. The very providence of food has made us impatient about any direction in provision. Rationing, ceilings, questionnaires, temporary shortages in the local grocery store provoke people who were accustomed to buying anything when they had ‘the price, and who find now, when they have the price and the. greatest amount of food in history, that a puchaseable steak is hard to discover. : “It’s going to the army” is no answer. The army ration and that of the other forces is bigger and better than the average militiaman ever enjoyed before, but the differential doesn’t account for a “shortage” in our most reductive year. The hoys

BUTLER TO HONOR, GRADUATES OF .1893

Golden - Legion awards will be}

presented to members of the 1893 graduation class of Butler university at-the annual alumni day program Saturday afternoon on Fairview campus. : Alumni remaining from the class of 50 years ago ‘are: Mr. and Mrs. Jedse L. Brady, Oroville, Cal.; Harry 8. Brown, Arkansas City, Kas.; Edward H. Clifford, East Mecline, Ill; Will -D.. Howe, Mt. Kisco, N. Y.: Mrg.. W.° Frank Lacy, Los. Angeles, Cal.; John Minnick, Chautauqua, N. Y.; Frank P. Williams, Wabash; Julia R. Fish and Dr, Daniel W. Layman, Indianapolis. The program will begin at 4 p. m. in the chapel of the College of Religion, with music by the ButlerJordan Philharmonic choir and the annual business meeting of the alumni ‘association. There will ‘bé no. alumni dinner this year. A re-

view of the 52d college training de- |

tachment stationed at Butler will be-given at -2 p.m. at Jordan hall.

Prowler Routed By Girl's Screams

MRS. MARY PARRISH, 3031 Kenwood ave. was awakened early today by a prowler, who demanded that she keep cuiet. She did, but her daughter, Mary, 16, also was awakened and screamed. ' The prowler fled with= out obtaining any loot. Ernest C. Smith, 52, of 438 E. Market st., reported that he was beaten and robbed of $150 near his home. He blamed two men who saw him get change for a $20 bill in a nearby tavern.

CARD PARTY ARRANGED

Old-Age Pension program group a card teXKiniey chit

weren't living on oxygen in all the years before they put on uniforms. » ” » “LEND-LEASE” is another and better explanation, but a” glance at the shipping tonnage figures available so far during this war as compared with the foods normally exported by, the United States, does not subtract to a “shortage.” The civillan population eats more because it workers harder. An automobile uses more gas at 60 than it does at 35. The details can be considered later, but we can work from one fairly evident conclusion — Amer- ' ica will win the war and it will adjust the peace with the greatest food resourees and depots the world has ever known. The gold reserve is a speck— the conservation of our land (“paying farmers not to farm” as they called it a few years ago)— our great grgin reserve, our po-

have made the housewife and the grocer impas tient, but they have made the nation secure for the war and most secure for the peace.

'Request Sugar In Person'—OPA

APPLICATIONS for purchase certificates for home canning sugar must be pagsonally taken to local rationing boards, officials said today, explaining that the district office is being “stbmerged” with applications clipped from newspapers all’ over “the

state. ide When this happens, the appli

"cations are returned bo the send-

ers with instructions’ to take them to the local boards. The procedure for getting home. canning sugar is almost the same. as it was last year, except that consumers get five pounds for eéch No. 15 and No. 16 stamp in war book 1, to meet immediate needs.

PILOT, INSTRUCTOR . KILLED NEAR PERU PERU, Ind, June 2 (U. BP). — Bunker Hill naval air base.authorities . today. investigatted the crash of a training plane which took the lives of a. student pilot and; ‘his instructor. The. two men were Bisign I Burton Willis McCormick, 21, Anderson, Ind, and Aviation ' Cadet Richard Warren Shultze, 18, Crestwood, N. Y. They were killed instantly last night when their plane crashed -on - Strawfown pike near Pe while on a routine training g .

McCormick is survived by - “his

Avidow, Mrs. Virginia “McCormick,

Walton, Ind, and Shultze his mother, Mrs. Walter Shul

Crestwood.

FIRST AID MEETIN SET First (aid for burns will. be dis cussed (at an emergency med)