Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 March 1944 — Page 9

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w ITALY, ict 13 miniature edition of W. C. Fields is what Sgt. -Gilford Muncy is. You should hear his story of the night he fell into the abandoned gun pit and

2 goulda’t get out because 1 oPuIN' fink Where Dove.

Muncy can't be much over § feet, and he is sort of pudgy and has very narrow shoulders, and his face has a wise, devilish, old look like one of the Seven Dwarfs. Muncy is 29. He comes from Hyden, Ky, up in the hills, and he wouldn't mind at all if you called him a hillbilly. In fact, he sort of trades on it. He talks just like the mountaineers in the cartoons. I think it sort of hurts his pride that he can't claim to have been a moonshiner. Everybody laughs at Muncy and with him, and everybody thinks he’s great. He likes people, and is uncommonly generous ‘and kind. It's a poor day he doesn’t survive at least one escapade that is

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THE GUNNERS’ tent which Muncy dominates is

.& sight to behold. It is often the scene of rioting ‘and deviltry. It is probably the most tired-out tent

in Italy. The top is full of holes. That's caused by their gasoline stove blowing up frequently. One wall has

. big adhesive patches on it, That's where a happy

guest tried to carve his initials in the canvas. The

back wall bears the marks of a nervous visitor who

went right through it one night during an air raid. ~The two outstanding features of Muncy’'s tent are the late evening meals cooked there and the fabulous stove, which has been known to blow up seven times in one day. Once it exploded just as a guest entered, and blew him clear out into the grapevines. The other boys had told me all about Muncy's stove, so one morning just as he was starting on a mission (he’s an aerial gunner) I introduced myself, and said I'd like to drop past that evening. and see his stove blow up. Muncy said: “We'd sure like to have you, but the stove’s liable to get contrary and not blow up tonight. Lots of times when we have company it don't blow up at all.”

Inside Indianapolis By Lowell Nussbaum

‘land cries of “Viva Il Papa” when

WHILE THE PLAY, “Tobacco Road,” was showing

i at English's-some weeks ago, the phone rang in the : theater box office. Stewart Parsons, the treasurer, + answered. It was a woman calling. “Are there any ! eats in the play, ‘Tobacco Road’?” she asked. “No.

Why?” replied Mr. Parsons, “Well,” explained the woman, “I'm bringing a party of women to the show and we're all afraid of cats.” + + « Mrs. Robert Magill came here from Chicago to visit her sister, Mrs. Robert J. W. Kinzel, 1811 N. Meridian and other relatives. Wednesday, the sisters went downtown and, on the streetcar going down they found a coin purse containing $2 and some tokens, “Lucky day,” commented Mrs, Magill. That evening when they got home, Mrs. Magill decided if wasn't such a lucky She found she had left her purse on the way home. It contained $35, her

order to conceal

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Fiction vs. Fact

. STILL MAKING the rounds is that old yarn about the “dead kitten in a shoe box.” yarn concerns the woman who, en route to a cemetery to bury her kitten stops in a downtown store and lays the box containing the kitten on a counter while she makes a purchase. While her back It has been

hony” The

up with the thief falling on the floor in a dead faint.

It reminds us of that famous phony about the

woman on the streetcar who got slapped for saying she was making so much money she hoped the war never ended. We bit on that one, and ever since then, we've been mighty cautious, so cautious, in fact,

Vote Bill Joker

WASHINGTON, March ,13—~A joker which may not be so funny to state treasuries has been dis-

. covered in the soldier vote bill now awaiting final

action by congress. It may complicate still further the problem of soldier balloting. Under a last-minute change in the bill made by the house-senate conference committee, states will have to pay postage for sending out instructions for voting procedures and lists of candidates. As originally provided, these were to be postage free, that is, paid for by the federal government. Free postage still is provided for post cards which the soldiers must mail back in order to get a ballot, - for mailing the ballots, themselves, -to the soldiers, and for envelopes in which the soldiers will mail back their ballots. }

Instructions Are Important

SOME STATES do not carry voting instructions on the ballots. This means that if they want to sent out instructions or lists of cancidates, they cannot put them in the envelope with the ballots,

unless they want to pay the postage on the whole

package. - Instead they would have to mail the instructions or lists in a separate package, making Just that much more mail, on which they must pay the >

postage. The provision for free postage for voting instruc-

My Day

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sunday.—In St. Thomas,

which is one of the Virgin Islands, we were met by

the acting governor, Morris F. De Castro, and his wife,

and army, navy and marine corps officers. I spoke

to the marines, coast guard and havy men, then stopped at the hospital, and then drove through the submarine base and into town, going to the army establishment where Puerto Rican soldiers are now stationed. I went to the Red Cross and to Capt. Ballsley’s home, where the civilian officials and the press met me, Then back to the marine corps base where we lunched in

one table to another in order to meet as many men as possible, Back to Puerto Rico, we landed at a naval base, visited some of the personnel and

iy Wilau—A Jaise

"$300 worth of chickens cooked on that old stovef

pet it confusing to show the films. Clifton read the item

the men's mess, and I moved from '

S80 I went over that night. The tent has a dirt floor which is swept out whenever they figure inspection is about due. ‘Muncy once had a fastidious streak in him, and decided to levy a 50-cent fine on anybody who threw anything on the floor, such as cigaret butts, apple cores, walnut shells, etc. Before the first evening was over he had fined himself $11.50. They have great feasts in the Muncy tent, Fried} chicken is ‘their special dish. They buy chickens from the village at $5 per chicken. “I represent

there,” Muncy said,

Failure of a Mission NOW AND then they have a steak. One night Muncy was in bed when one of his soldier friends came in from town feeling fine. He had with him three or four big steaks, “Where's your sledgehammer?” the friend asked.

“Over there in that pile of stuff, I reckon,” Muncy| _ sald,’ and went back to sleep.

Pretty soon he was awakened and here was this guy with all the steaks lying on the dirt floor, and just beating hell out of them with an eight-pound sledge. Then he threw them in the skillet, and Muncy had to get up and help share the feast. : “I've still got rocks and mud in my teeth,” Muncy says. To Muncy and his tentmates all Italians are “gooks.” They didn’t remember how they started that. It's not a term of contempt at all, for “Muncy loves them and they love him. He dressed up and played Santa Claus for them at Christmas, and he is always giving them stuff, We sat and talked and laughed until -almost lights-out, and finally I said, “Well, if the stove isn't going to blow up, I guess I have to go." So Muncy jumped up and said, “Wait a minute.” He turned off the gasoline, let the fire in the tinbellied stove die out and cool, then turned the gas on again. They let it sit that way a little while, and all the rest got behind boxes and things, and Sgt. Bohn got off as far as he could and threw a lighted match at the stove door. But as Muncy had feared, the stove was contrary and wouldn't blow up that night, They were all very humiliated.

that we've regretfully passed up some amusing if doubtful stories. For instance, a member of the staff told us ‘in all sincerity once about a neighbor of one of his relatives. This neighbor, a farmer, had been missing some chickens from his chicken coop for several nights, we were told, so he loaded a double-barreled shotgun and placed it beside his bed that evening. In the night, so goes the yarn, he heard the chickens raising a rumpus. From here on we quote: “Without bothering to put anything over his nightshirt, he grabbed the shotgun, hurried out to the coop and leaned over to peer into the coop. Just then his faithful dog came up behind him and put his cold nose on the farmer's bare leg. The latter was so startled that he accidentally pulled the trigger and shot both barrels of the shotgun, killing 12 fat hens.” Too good to be true.

Bible Is Saved

PVT. PETE MISCOI, formerly employed at Langsenkamp Brass, and before that at the Woolworth store, has written Home the story of an event he and some of his fellow soldiers considered almost a miracle. Pete is part of an outfit guarding a tiny Pacific island. He's second cook and fills in his spare time as a barber. It was about time for the mail plane to arrive and everyone was excited. And then something happened. The plane crashed and sank. Rescue boats were launched and managed to save three of the 20 or so aboard the plane. At dawn, boats went out again to search the area and one of the crews saw something floating. They Investigated and found a Bible. It had Pete's name on it. It was one his mother had sent him. . . , Some weeks ago we carried an item about a roll ot color movies sent home from China by Sgt. Clifton D. Chalfant, the point of the item being that, being unfamiliar with cameras, Clifton had taken about half the scenes with the camera held upside down. This made

and sends us a letter of explanation, all the way from China. Says he: “The fact some were upside down is easily explainable. China, being on the other side of the world, everything is just the opposite from what it is in the states. When it's night there, it's daylight here.” ‘The explanation sounds a little thin, but we'll accept it. . . . In his letter, Clifton says there's a good hometown representation in his bomber squadron—*Lt. Herman F. Ridenour, Sgt. James Caughey and Sgt. John Reynolds. We all have the same objective—Get this damn war over, so we can return to Indianapolis.”

By Thomas L. Stokes

tions and lists of candidates was stricken from the measure by the conferees at the tag end of their long and wearing ordeal over the measure, when someone

brought in the report that voting instructions for

New York state made up quite a sizable volume. Why; it: was asked, should the federal government foot the bill for such bulky mail? Nobody knew whether New York actually had any idea of sending out anything like this, That was before Governor Dewey had presented his plan for state ballots to the New-York legislature which, he said, would call for a ballot package weighing only six-tenths of an ounce, well under the eight-tenths of an ounce prescribed by the bill.

All Is Confusion

NOTHING CAN be done about the joker unless one branch or the other should reject the whole conference report and send it back for further: consideration. This is just another example of the muddling on the soldier vote bill. Confusion exists about some of its provisions. Already inquiries are coming in

from secretaries of state, particularly as to whether|

poll tax "and registration requirements are waived. No one is clear about this.

They were waived specifically in the existing law, passed in September, 1042, which would remain in effect if President :- Roosevelt vetoed . the pending

measure. For this and other reasons, the belief is growing here that Presidenit Roosevelt will veto the bill and, in so doing, seize the opportunity to reply to Governor Dewey's attack on the administration.

By Eleanor Roosevelt

young Puerto Rican woman who seemed particulary energetic. She showed me around the whole building and told me she taught in high school six hours a day, spent an hour at noon at the USO and returned there from 3:30 to 5 and from 7 to 11 p. m. In this USO I met two discharged veterans. One was in a hospital in Fiji last August when I went through, and I saw him there. ‘The other one was injured in Africa. Fortunately, both men seemed to be getting well and strong again, After our return to La Fortaleza, I had a last short interview with the press and we managed to be ready at 7:15 to go to the USO which is in the center of the town. It is a very beautiful building which was once “the Puerto Rican club.” We were invited to be the guests of the servicemen. Selected men from the various groups sat at the table with us and our food was excellent. The boys all remarked on how good it was, and said they enjoyed trying something different. This ends our stay in Puefto Rico. Of course we have not seen all the men who are stationed here but

By Ernie Pyle|

-

e Indianapolis

SECOND SECTION

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1944

PAGE 9

‘SPARE ROME, PLEA OF POPE TO BOTH SIDES

Broadcasts Speech Urging Allies, Nazis Not to Raid Holy City.

LONDON, March 13 (U. P)—} Pope Pius XII appealed once again to the armies battling for “the somuch martyred city of Rome” yesterday to spare the Eternal City. Speaking to a throng of Romans from a balcony overlooking rainsoaked St. Peter's Square—where the sounds of the Anzio beachhead guns sometimes can be heard and waplanes seen overhead — the pontiff said that to turn Rome into a field of battle or a theater of war would be “an act as inglorious militarily as it is abominable in the eyes of God and humanity.”

Cheers Halt Speech

“We therefore once more appeal to the clear-sightedness and wisdom of responsible men on both belligerent sides who would not associate themselves with an act that no motive can ever justify in the eyes. of history, but would rather turn their thoughts, their endeavors, desires and efforts toward a firm and lasting libérating peace,” he said. The Pope, speaking in Italian on the fifth anniversary of his coronation, was interrupted by cheering

he made this statement. His 19minute address was broadcast by the Vatican radio and recorded here. “In this specially grave hour for the so-much martyred city of Rome —torn in her living flesh, her inhabitants mutilated and hounded in horrible fashion, where sufferings have been most sharp and daily needs most pressing—Wwe pray anew, we beg, we implore all those who have the means to help, either with material contributions or with the help of active work, not to deny their efficacious support and assistance,” he said. The pontiff told the throng that “with towns stricken on nearly every continent by aerial war that knows no law or restraint—in- itself a terrible accusation against the cruelty of such fighting methods ~how could we believe that anyone should ever dare to turn Rome” into a battlefield.

Report Nazi Offer

Meanwhile, a Zurich dispatch to the Stockholm Dagens Nyheter— not confirmed by any other source —reported that the German minister to the Holy See informed Luigi Cardinal Maglione, papal secretary of state, Saturday that that Luftwaffe would abstain henceforth from pursuing allied planes over Rome and promised that German-anti-tank guns would be removed from the city. The Swedish newspaper report said discussions were proceeding between German authorities and the Vatican regarding railway transport of Nazi troops and war materiel through Rome—the reason the allies have bombed the Italian capital's rail yards. “Beloved Roman people,” said the Pope, “in the midst of a whirlwind of so many sufferings and trials, we recognize with bitterness of mind that any human help is unequal or inadequate to the extent of our sufferings, to alleviate which even the most. generous helping hand of Pman cannot suffice. “Therefore, beloved sons and daughters, lift up your eyes to Him who will give you your strength to carry your cross with warm faith and Christian fortitude—to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. To Him we wish to lead you.”

Foreign Envoys Listen

The Vatican radio reported that rain was falling just before the Pontiff spoke but the skies cleared just before he emerged on the bal-

eign ambassadors. After the address, radio Rome reported that the Pope ordered 50,000 hot meals served yesterday: to the poor and persons bombed out of their homes and that he also ordered distribution of a large sum of money to the poor.

DETAIL FOR TODAY ° Maggie’s Drawers

THE RED FLAG that is waved at a soldier on the rifle range when he hag completely missed the target after five shots is known as Maggie's drawers. This is never a welcome sight and, nine times out of ten, the recipient of Maggie's drawers will become adamant and demand a recount. If the soldier is lucky, the lads in the pits will find a nick off the

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|SOLDIER'S MOTHER

HINT CHANGE IN NAZI COMMAND

} Reliable Sources Say Two East Front Generals

Are Relieved.

LONDON, March 13 (U. PJ)~— Responsilbe sources reported today that the German commanders on the northern and central fronts in Russia—Marshal Georg von Kuechler and Marshal Gunther von Kluge respectively—have been relieved. They gave way to men said to be regarded as sound if not spectacular leaders. The reported shakeup in the Nazi command coincided with some of the most impressive Soviet army victories of the war in a front-wide campaign showing no sign of abatement. Gen. Walter Model succeeded von Kuechler as commander of the army group on the northern front, where the Russians had broken the blockade of Leningrad and smashed the Germans back into Estonia, the reliable advices said. Marshal Ernst Busch was said to have taken the place of von Kluge on the central front,

Led Nazis Into France

Pirst reports did not indicate whether the changes in command were caused by dissatisfaction or was a routine relief because of the strain of the campaign. Model was chief of staff of an army during the battle of France. At the outset of the Russian campaign he became chief of staff of the 16th army. "He was given the command of the 9th army before Moscow early in 1942. Busch served in the last war with infantry on the western front. He held various staff appointments prior to 1936, when he was given command of an infantry division, He was made corps commander in 1938 and took part in the Polish campaign. He commanded the 16th army in the battle of France which was cited for its part in the Sedan break-through.

HOLD EVERYTHING

favor tq ask you!”

Fathers’ Draft. ..

Pvt. Samuel T. Emmons , . . the draft came as a surprise to this father of four. ’

“After you get through with your |i homework, Junior, Daddy has a

'Sam' Emmons’ Case

Is Typical of Many Others.

By VICTOR PETERSON

SCORES OF Indianapolis fathers are passing through the induction center at Ft. Harrison and the tide is just beginning to flow. This reporter looked in on Samuel T. Emmons, who found himself to be Pvt. Emmons on March 3 with his wife and four children left at 717 Russell ave. to care for themselves. While but one case, he presents typical conditions when the husband and father leaves a childfilled home. Rapidly the war is striking closer and closer to the heart of America as fathers go into service. To many of these homes war was far away. The men were deferred because of dependents and in most cases their male children were too young for military duty. Now thousands of homes are feeling the heavy pressure of the finger of Mars,

Married 15 Years

“We have been married 15 years, and with four children it came as a bit of a surprise to find myself in the army,” he said. “I thought they would take fathers according to the number of children, Guess I was wrong. “But it's all in a day's work now, and I guess the family will get along all right. They will get $140 a month from the govmment and that's not so bad.” Back home they are accepting the change in their lives with the same philosophic attitude. The four children, Shirley, 14: Charlene, ‘13; Barbara Lee, 11, and Sandra Kay, 2, miss their father badly. Mr. Emmons was working nights before induction and he-had made it his personal job to wake Sandra in the morning when he got home.

Will Hold Home Front

“We intend to stay right here until dad gets back and I guess we should consider ourselves fortunate to have had him home so long,” said Mrs. Emmons. “I'm afraid that money will get a little short at times, but then we can cut down and the children will have to do without a few things. Maybe we have spoiled them, but we have tried to give them everything we could. “Of course ‘our greatest difficulty will be trying to get along without Sam. He was pretty much a family man,” she concluded.

MRS. BIBLER IS HOSTESS Mrs. L. D. Bibler, 4365 Central ave, will be hostess to the sewing circle of ‘Tarum court’ 14, Shrine auxiliary, at a luncheon tomorrow. Mrs. Margaret Schlegel is chairman.

Mrs. Samuel T. Emmons feeds

Shirley Emmons footer) was ready to go out when sisters Charlene and Barbara Lee (left and right) foped her in on helping with the dishes.

. Scores Here Enter Service

Sandra Kay, the Youngest of four

children. Sandra keeps asking, “Where’s Daddy?”

Air of Mystery

By S. J.

trating drizzle, and the tiny stoves

ready for the takeoff. All during the night, engineers them to discover any possible defects in engines or guns, and ordnance men have been filling their insatiable bellies with bombs. There is a note of benacing mystery about the scene. Fantastic shadows melt into the surrounding blackness as bare-handed, bundled figures move in and out of the glare of dimmed searchlights while working in the biting cold on these huge carriers of destruction. Early in the morning trucks begin carrying plane crews to a large Nissen hut in which the briefing station is set up. Hanging on one wall of the arched room is a map. Facing it are benches arranged in rows. Here the crews sit while the officer at the head of S2 explains their mission and the routes they are to fly. When the briefing Is completed, the men pass into an adjoining hut to put on their flying paraphernalia. Long rows of lockers fill the dimly lighted room, and while jokes are cracked and stories interchanged, dressing for combat begins. This is no simple process. For there are blue, electrically heated undergarments to be struggled into. There are fleece-lined leather jackets to go over the flying suits, and anti-flak vests over these. Also clodhopper—or cloudhopper—shoes, oxygen masks or gloves. Parachutes must be strapped on and leather helmets with their earpnones must be adjusted. As I watched Lt. Myers Wahnee of Fletcher, Okla, a full-blooded Indian, formerly a student of engineering but now a pilot, put on his complicated headpiece, he said to me, “My great-grandfather’'s war bonnet did not hold a candle to this. But then, he wasn't as civilized as we are.” While the men, are getting ready, the planes also are being looked after. - Engines roar as the heatingup process starts. Trucks rumble up to bombers and unload the fliers. At the same time, members of the ground crews, many of whom have

Grips Crews

Preparing for Bomber Raid

WOOLF

NEA Staff Writer A LIBERATOR BASE IN ENGLAND, March 13.—The mud is as thick and sticky as it was in France in 1918. There is the same-pene-

are just as inffective against the

damp chill. Dispersed over the “hard stands” are the giant Liberators

and armorers have been going over

congregate ~ around the control tower. Ambulances and fire trucks also draw ‘up, ready fo» any eventuality. I notice the Liberators beginning to crawl along the ground toward the head of the runway, so I climb a steep flight of steps to the control tower. The room,. about 20 feet square, with three walls mostly made of glass, is filled with a tenseness that is at once felt. Standing before a table on which are loud speakers and switchboards are S. Sgt. Llewellyn Watts of Shreveport, La., and Pfc, James Hickel of Irv ington, N.Y. The former holds a microphone through which he is in communication not only with the planes, but also with the ambulances and trucks. Hickey has a telephone glued to his ears and is in touch with the man at the start ing point Planes Take Off

The first plane roars down the runway and Hickel is told the time of its departure.” He shouts this out as he hears it and it is immediately written on the blackboard on which the planes’ numbers and pilots are aiready chalked. In rapid succession the planes take off. Whizzing by the control tower come the Wolf Pack, Ice Cold Katie, Doll Baby, Consolidated Mess, Sleepless Knight and others with equally droll names. Suddenly the loud speaker blares that the last plane off is leaking gas and is coming back. Watts and Hickey snap switches and give directions over the phone and microphone. The others in the room either rush to a balcony or press close to the windows. But the runway has been cleared and the plane lands with out mishap. At last, all have left for the rendezvous where they will take up formation with other squadrons from other bases. Then, with fighter protection, they will make for the target somewhere over

been up most of the night, begin to

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Germany.

DIES ABOARD TRAIN|

A mother, believed to be on the way to an Oklahoma army camp to visit her son, died aboard a New |} York Central train en route to In- |: dianapolis. yesterday. i The woman, identified as Mrs. |: Lucius Jenkins of Elvira, O., became ill after lunch. An army medical |} officer, a passenger on the train,|: was called and pronounced her dead. Her papers included a round- | trip ticket to Ardmore, Okla. and |{ showed that her son, Sgt. Lucius| Jenkins Jr., is stationed there with the army air forces. The body was taken to the city morgue.

_KERN TO DISCUSS ‘LABOR’ | Lu Charles Kern, president of thei% State Building Trades council, will speak on “Labor” at the Gyro clubs luncheon tomorrow.

STAR FACES OPERATION