Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 August 1943 — Page 11

osier Vagabond |

SOMEWHERE IN SICILY (By Wireless) —Our have found Sicily on the whole perhaps a ; g better than North Africa. Certainly the people ay just as Ariendly, if not more so. So ‘this whole £ Wing. seems kind of ridiculous, ‘when you sit down

and think about it Here these people are our ‘enemies. They declared war on us. We had to come clear over “here and fight them—and now that we're here they look upon us ‘as their friends. If anything, their attitude is more that of a liberated people "than was the case in French North “Africa, and they seem to look to ‘us more eagerly for relief from their hunger. In several of the : smaller mountain towns our .troops ected by signs saying “Welcome,” in English, ‘on the Ya of buildings, and American flags ve: fluttering from windows. ofr course there are some Sicilians who treat us as enemies. There has been some small sabotage, such ; cutting our phone wires. But on the whole the ] 8 certainly are more for us than the Arabs of Africa were,

Land Wonderfully Fertile

SICILY 1S really a beautiful country. Up here 10 the north it is all mountainous, and all but the rugged. of the mountains are covered with fields g orchards. Right now everything is dry and buimed ; as. we so often see our own Midwest in dry summers. They say this is the driest summer in years. > Our ceaseless convoys chew up the gravel roads, : the dust becomes suffocating, but in springtime Sis must’ look like the Garden of Eden: The land ndeffully fertile. Sicilians would not have to be poor ‘and starving if they were capable of organizing and using their land to. its fullest.

By Ernie Pyle Driving over Sicily you have. a feeling of far greater antiquity than you get even from looking at the Roman ruins in North Africa. Towns sit right

smack on the top of needle-point mountain peaks. They were built that way in the old days for pro-

tection. Today a motorcar can’t even get up to many|

cf them.

The houses are of a cement-colored stone, and they so blend into the mountains that often you can’t}:

see a city at all from a few miles away. In the remotest and most ancient town you'll find that half the people have relatives in America, and there is always somebody popping up from behind every bush or around every corner who lived for 12 years in Buffalo or 30 years in Chicago. Farming is still done in Biblical style. The grainthrashing season is now on, and how do you suppose they do it? Simply by tying three mules together and running them around in a small circle ail day long while another fellow keeps throwing grain under their hoofs with a wooden pitchfork: +

Want Shoes, Not Money

WE HIT Sicily in the middle of the fruit and vegetable season, The troons went for fresh tomatoes like sourdoughs going for gold in the Klondike, Tomatoes and watermelons. I've never seen so many watermelons in my life. They are mostly small round ones, and do they taste good to an old watermelon devourer like myself? Also we eal. fresh peaches, grapes. figs and even mulberries. At first when we hit a new: town the people in their gratitude guve away their fruit to the troops. But it didn’t take them long to’ learn, and soon they were holding out for trades of rations or other army stuff. The people don’t want money. When we ask them to work for us they say they will but that we must pay them in merchandise, not money. The most sought-after thing is shoes. Most of the people are going around in sandals made of old auto tires. I believe you could take two dozen pairs of G. I shoes and buy half the island of Sicily.

Inside Indianapolis By Lowell Nussbaum

“you TAKE YOUR paperhangers, nowadays, when and as.you can get them, And most any paperhanger worth his salt can figure on at least one meal on the job. ‘Al Hoeh (pronounced hay), 259 W. 44th st. bribed a paperhanger with an early breakfast last Sunday. The fellow said he’d do the work on Sunday, only the restaurants opened so late on Sunday that he couldn’t get therein time to finish the job that day. Al provided the breakfast. . . . One of our agents is annoyed over the taxicab system. He got in a cab at union station around midnight recently. The cabbie picked up several other passengers, drove ‘them -here and there, letting the last one off on Central ave., collecting from each the full fare on the meter (without setting it back), then » northwest and took our friend home. When he asked our agent the full charge shown on the meter our agent felt like raising heck—but didn’t because the cabbie was too big. Nevertheless, he feels it an injustice to make him pay for traveling way out of direetion.

Around the Town

© A SMALL GREEN parrot disrupted work in the dac office at the I. A. C. Yesterday when it landed 2 window sill. ‘Mrs. “Dorothy Stout and Clara Ann M yers coaxed -the bird into the room and phoned nd the neighborhood in a vain attempt to find ite” owner. Finally, they turned it over to Denny Slowfoot of ‘the WIBC staff for safekeeping. . . . Seen at 38th and College: A man waiting on a car removed a compact from his pocket and, after looking up and ‘down the street furtively, powdered his nose. . . . Seen on Washington st.: A WAVE coming out of Marott's’ vigorously wielding one of those cardboard fans dispensed by Marott’s. . . . Our Ft. Harrison correspondent reports that the arniy now has installed netian blinds in the WACs' barracks. Somebody's

In London

LONDON, Aug. 10 (By Wireless) ~—A most revealing ‘index of the sinking state of Berlin's prospects is: the action of Stockholm in stopping the German troop trafic through Sweden to and from Norway. Sweden, the weathervane of the north, thus swings . around to a point more sharply in our direction., Perhaps this is . ‘a sequel to Sicily and Italy, and especially to the Russian offensive. Last spring in Sweden I heard much criticism of the government’s policy of permitting German troops to travel over Swedish railroads. Public criticism reached a point where the government had to explain in a secret session of the Riksdag, with Prime Minister a : Per Albin Hanssonn promising to oer end the traffic at the first éppor‘tunity: "Arguments over Sweden's technical right under ternational law to allow German troops to ross. her territory can be brushed aside. The realjc facts are that Sweden yielded to German presur Jn the summer of 1940 when Hitler was riding . _ Norway had capitulated. The allies had abanne d Nervi. Sweden was surrounded by the axis.

A Vass: Saved Shipping . GERMANY WANTED ‘to ‘save shipping by using edish railroads to take troops in and eut—osten- : = troesps on home leave, unarmed—though actually the privilege was used as a means of replacing 3 troops in Norway. Arms and war material Were carried on separate trains. Normally about 2000

n troops moved every day, half of them each , which meant saving several transport ships each

of ‘Norway. “The Swedish. govEinment, finding that there was no techniacl violation of neutrality in’ permitting this ; ement, yielded to German pressure reluctantly nder embarrassment, as Hansson said, accept as one of the burdens of the situation, |

ated a Birthday, I enjoy all such little When: any of us have reached the

' week-end. . . park. hotels ‘have béen ‘swamped with requests for |-

“always spoiling things, complains our correspondent, and we hasten to agree.

Vandals Stay Away

VANDALISM AND PETTY thievery seem to have vanished from the Warfleigh victory gardens since the gardeners established an all-night guard. One group patrols the gamer area until 3 a. m;. and another takes over at 3. .'. . With two Dr. VanOsdols in town, folks sometimes become confused. One, Dr. H. A. VanOsdol, is the nose and throat specialist in the Chamber of Commerce building. The other, Dr. Wesley L. Van Osdol, is the optometrist in the State. Life building. One day recently, Dr. H. A, phoned Dr. W. L. at noon and asked him to wait until a woman patient could get there. Seems she sat in the nose and throat specialist's waiting room an hour before she discovered it was the wrong office. , . , Bess

" Gutermuth wants to know why, “with so many bare

legs in evidence, there aren’t more old silk and nylon hose being turned into the salvage boxes for remaking into powder bags and parachutes?” We don’t know, unless maybe folks have forgotten about the cam-

paign. Oh Happy School Daze

JUST FOUR MORE weeks of vacabion, kids, so you'd better make the most of it. School resumes

Tuesday, Sept. T—the day after Labor day. Teacher |

meetings will be held Thursday and Friday, Sept. 2 and ‘3; 5. Schools Supt. Dewitt Morgan planned to spend ‘a couple of days’ vacation over the coming week-end at one of the state park hotels but found no prospects of a reservation until after Labor .day. So he and Mrs, Morgan finally got reservations at a Chicago hotel where they can have a quiet, restful .. Marc Waggener tells us that the state

reservations this summer, many from ouf-of-state applicants. . . . A. H. Thompson, business secretary

.of the Y. M. C. A, goes on, vacation this week, while

Parker Jordan, general secretary, was due back from vacation today.

By Raymond Clapper

The Norwegians were bitterly critical of that concession. The ‘continuation of the troop traffic was one of the chief causes of a deep alienation of the two Scandinavian countries. The traffic has also been one of the contentious points in the economic relations between the: allies and Sweden. Immediately after the Stockholm decision to abandon the traffic was announced, the Norwegian government, through Minister of Foreign Affairs Trygve Lie here, issued a statement mellowing the Norwegian attitude toward Sweden and praising the favorable turn now occurring in relations with Sweden, He said the chief obstacles in the path of sincere co-operation between the two countries had been cleared.

Allied Ring Tightening WHAT IS happening is that a pro-allied ring is forming more tightly around Germany. Sweden's action is a plain notice of defiance to Germany, notice

that Sweden is laying her chips on our side. Sweden’s

wish, to dé that was clearly evident to any visitor in Sweden last spring, even high government officials saying privately that only the fear of Nazi retaliation held Sweden from renouncing the troops traffic then. Obviously the Swedish government—which has throughout the war followed a most cdutious and timid policy—now feels perfectly safe in making this move to’. clear her self-respect and satisfy allied {man wishes at the expense of Berlin. The threats which Von Ribbentrop has been notoriously making to the Swedish minister in Berlin no ‘longer have effect, The oily work of Hans Thomsen, German minister to Stockholm, has. failed completely. . His job was to hold Sweden in line, and this is a Spectacular: defeat for his mission in the north. It means that Sweden is now clearly orienting her policy toward the allies, on the heels of the readjustment already going on toward close commercial relations with Russia, as well as more friendly political relations, ‘The walls of Hitler's fortress are cracking all around now.

By Eleanor Roosevelt

Tipit going 10: New: York City today, to. meet opel’

or*two people who have been trying for some time

“to see me. It is always a» question whether ® is

easier for me to come and stay for a few days in New York City, or whether it is better to have people come to Hyde Park. On the whole, I have decided

By JESS

going, Mr. Dumbjohn?” Lowly Plebe: “To class, First Classman, severely: Mr. Dumbjohn?” Lowly Plebe: “From the

over. They have come fiom Africa, from the Aleutians —from the army, the navy, the air force, some with medals, some with stripes and some as officers—to serve ‘their country as plebes ‘at West Point. They have come out of battle, some with enemy blood on: their hands—not to get away from war but to make themselves of. greater service if war ever again strikes their native land. They have come. like -the plebes who preceded them-—without ‘a horse, a wife or a mustache,” dispensing with money, jewelry and decorations’ as they enter this fortress: of democracy. 3 Like ‘ other :plebes, they soon learn. discipline. and humility and that, while a strong back and keen brain are essential, so, too, is a sense’ of humor. They never speak without permission; they never ask questions, never . take short cuts or stroll down ‘Flirtation Walk. They must learn what 14,000

WRONG MOTHER HEARS OF DEATH

Navy Error Reveals Son Is at Hospital in Brazil.

An error in navy department casualty records has revealed to Mrs.

her son, a merchant seaman, is in a Brazil hospital recovering from

v veporiedly. {rom Indunapolis, was killed, Mrs. Hart's son is 21-year-old Gilbert Russell Hart. : “Today's merchant marine casualty report. listed as dead Oiler Emil Kristian Hugaas, and gave his mother’s name as Mrs. Ethel ‘Hugaas, 25 N. Walcott st. Mrs. Hart said that her son, also an oiler, was on the same ship as Oiler Hugaas, but due to confused casualty records she had réceived

the notification of Oiler. Hugaas’

death and his insurance papers. The local Western Union office

reported. that the Hugaas telegram is still undelivered, a canvass . of

Ethel Hart, 25 N. Walcott st, that |

an accident in which another sea- |;

Plebes Must Go Through A Heartbreaking Grind, ~ But They Take It Proudly :

(Second of a Series)

STEARN

Times Special Writer WEST POINT, N. Y., Aug. 10.—There is a classic gag at West Point these days which goes something like this: First Classman, severely: “Where do you think you're

sir.’ : es did 3 you come from,

Solomons, sir.”

While the gag ends there, with the upper classman presumably gasping for air, the records shows that West Point is a magnet for America’s fighting youth the world

the Solomons, from North

have learned before them—that West Point is more then a military academy; it is a national investment in character, and that, while a mistake is eolly; a lie is unforgivable. For weeks they live as “beasts” in Beast Barracks, drilling till they are ready to drop,’ and at night, frequently, .they start up uneasily and drill in their sleep. . x 8 = "

‘Proud ‘of Class

THEY TAKE their place quietly, unpretentiously—these 178 army plebes—with the rest of the 1100 plebes who came into West Point last month—and may the Lord have: mercy.on the plebe trying to‘ coast along on his war record, for nobody else will. They are proud of this new class at West Point. It has shown that it can take it.. With the

wartime course cut from four to _ three years, in the urgency for

junior officers, the plebes are now getting the firing training which cadets once had 'io wait a year

for, and ‘next week or so they will be off to Pine Camp, N. Y,, to participate in actual battle maneuvers, Last year at this time 30 plebes

had resigned, unable to stand the terrible grind, but only one plebe has resigned from the current crop. : This is the class’ which, with two weeks of West Point behind it, marched in dress review before, such critical notables as Gen. Henri-Honore Giraud and his staff. With yearlings busy at their tanks, guns and bazookas and first classmen .as busily flying or teaching, the plebes were drafted for ‘the reception for the French commander, and they varied the day like veterans. “Giraud thought we were stu fing’ him,” an officer recalled, smiling. “We had quite a time convificing him ‘these boys were plebes, on their first parade. I'm still, not" sure he was convinced.” f+ oo nn = No Rest Cure WHILE BOYS aren’t being killed at ‘West Point today, as they . are «elsewhere, the academy is nevertheless the worst place in the world for a fond mother to send her son: for a rest cure. In the fact of a grueling make-or-break grind. during their first two months ‘the average plebe .drops anywhere: from 10 to: 15 pounds, ‘and this is ‘equally true of the men. coming in from the armed: forces.

Mrs. Mary Busord to Help

Rehabilitate Handicapped

Mrs. Mary Busard is going to help rehabilitate Marion county’s 32,000 handicapped ‘people and disabled veterans of this war. Mrs. Busard, who is secretary to Miss Marian Cox, executive secretary for the Marion County Society

for the Crippled, also is a housewife

who does her own work,

The young secretary-wife, who

The , county ‘organization has’ | started housecleaning at the build- |

ing and are preparing to furnish a waiting room, auditorium and workshops for disabled workers. “We already have offers from several local firms to make dis play cards, box drawers and cardboard containers for capsules,” Miss Cox said. “We also expect ‘to get war contracts.” “Equipment from the war plants can be transferred to our workshops here or to the residences of home-| bound persons,” ‘she

. she'll direct. rehabilitation,

Mrs. E. R. Lindesmith, 5602 ‘Central ave.; Mrs, E: P. Everett, 5846 Winthrop ave.;’ Mrs.. Charles B. Agness, 5856 Central ave.; Mrs. Howard. R.

Williams, 5660 “blvd;

sylvania st.; Mrs. Mort Martin, 5621

onl cent of |N. Pennsylvania. st., and: Mrs. Bert per. ‘any 3a. andiapped

C. McCammon, 1001 E. 58th st. ‘Miss .Cox formerly was with the

oder coployment ev: Ch

Mrs. L. Lynn Logsdon, 3444 N. Penn-|

. Dress reviews ate few and far between at ‘West Point today as our future Pattons, Eisenhowers and MacArthurs gird for WAT,

West Point: Citadel of Democracy.

While virtually all of the battlescarred plebes have emerged from the army, the navy manages to be capably represented by Thomas A. Williams, 21, of Beckley, W. Va. who captained a destroyer’s gun crew and fought his way ashore in a minesweeper at Casablanca.

Young Williams has seen men ‘die~~his own men and the enemy’s—and he has killed men, but he has never before seen anything - like West Point at war. Never before, he says, has he strained so to keep going. “You know .you're not going to be killed here,” he says, earnestly, “but they drive you until ‘you're half dead. It's as tough as any“thing I've been through.” : Before accepting ‘his "appointment to West Point, Williams talked -it over with his captain, an Annapolis man himself, Somebody, the navy man - agreéd, has to carry on after this war, fortifying the nation against the future, but why West Point? Why not Arp?

» »

Heart Was Set

BUT, LIKE 2d Lt. James Benton, 18,.of Birmingham, Ala., who sacrificed his commission. for a plebe’s dungarees, young Williams had his heart set on the birthplace of great Americans — of Grants, Lees, Shermans and Per+ shings. Like young Benton and others, . Williams had "to decide for him-

DENIES 37 CARS| ‘SPUDS’ DUMPED

FDA Director Says Throwouts Less Than Normal Spoilage.

‘CHICAGO, Til, Aug. 10 (U. P.).— Less than 1 per cent of the total

'|6422-car government purchases of

potatoes have been dumped because of spoilage, ‘E. O, Pollack, regional

{director of the food distribution

administration, said today. Pollock branded reports /that 37

sorted and moved out, except for the 1% cars -actually -dumped, he

He said the facts about the gov-|

ernment’s part in dling the potato crop are: hen re

self where his duty lay, and he concluded that he could be of greater service to his country as a West Point product.

Other cadets—the plebes of last year, the present yearlings—have gone through the . same inner struggle—whether to’ stay at the Point ‘or plunge into the war. Cadets with fathers at ' the fighting fronts have been doubly tormented, but, curiously—possi= bly logically—they were the first to recognize the national -neces= sity for them to become men enough to train soldiers. - Impatient as; he once was for action, Cadet ‘William Clark, 18, son of Lt. Gen. Mark ‘Clark, now sees that

training, though, retains a !'sneakingfglesire to get into the thick of if. MontHs ago, with his father everywhere hailed for paving the way to North Africa, the son wrote . overseas for guidance. | , Busy as he was, General Clark promptly fired back. -As a cadet himself during’ the last war he knew his son’s problem, but, more, he Knew the nation’s problem. West. Point, he wrote, with its tradition of duty and honot. Joust always go on, and men must sacrifices so’ that it shall fi? “Get your training first,” he wrote, “and then you will be

' ready to serve.”

“And -- besides,” he observed, “this war will probably last long enough for you to get into it”

NEXT: Spirit of West Point.

North Side Gives 5 Loads of Cans

- North Indianapolis stepped up the salvage campaign by donating five: carloads of tin cans ysterday, “More people seem to be preparing cans,” Luther E. Tex, city street ' commissioner, - said after city trucks gathered: the contain ers north of . 16th st. ; ; Collection on the north side will be completed today and the area south of 16th st. will be canvassed tomorrow and Thursday.

DEFERMENT LOOMS FOR SHIP WORKERS

LOS ANGELES, Ang. 10 (U.P) .— Maj. «Gen, Lewis B. ‘Hershey, nas=

on the same basis as aircraft work ers.” ‘Deferment will be. ‘granted; hows. ever, only if the industry can prove it * necessary, he told a cénsored meeting of draft boayd members. Discussing the Ta a ed, ne raising = the ‘quota “of Negro; in fuctees,

HOLD EVERYTHING EE TE