Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 December 1944 — Page 21

(Ernie Pyle is

WITH U. 8. STH ARMY FORCES AT ALSDORF,. Germany (Delayed) ~-Although it would probably be a mistake to draw any conclusions as to how the German people as a whole will react to defeat, the extreme docility of the enemy in that small area of

the country now occupied by allied °

forces has greatly astonished ‘our military government authorities. Both Maj. James H. Kelly, Chicago, allied military government director of public safety in this coaling mining district of Alsdorf, and his immediate superior, Lt. . Col. Clarence “Richmond, Baston, Mass., admit their amazement at the German disposition to. subservience, as demonstrated in this district of some 6000 population, scattered among half - a - dozen villages. “I spent two years with the army of occupation in the Coblentz region in the-last war and they were the same way then,” Maj. Kelly said. “I had figured that because of the efforts of Hitler's gang to indoctrinate them with hatred against everything we stand for they might be hard to handle this time. But they are not. They step off the sidewalk to let you go by, tip their hats to’ officers and click their heels and stand at attention as smartly and respectfully as they would for one of their own brass hats.”

Follow Troops Closely

LT. COL. RICHMOND agreed with Kelly. But he pointed out that so far the Germans who have fallen. into our hands are mostly those who either refused Nazi commands to evacuate their homes and move inland behind the battle lines, or were so lightly valued by the, Nazis that they weren't even requested to evacuate. When Richmond and Kelly first moved into Alsdorf the foremost battle line was 200 yards beyond. Maj. Kelly has a 10-ounce lump of shrapnel, which came flying’ through his bedroom window, as a souvenir of his first night here. Like all German villages in the wake of our advance this one is badly battered. There is a good deal of misery and hunger among the civilian population, many who bear telltale red skin blotches, a signal of serious malnutrition. Though & score of underfed cows manage to provide a

Inside Indianapolis By Lowell Nussbaum

OVERHEARD OX a Central bus—two girls: of high school age talking: “Why, he can even make bubbles on the end of his tongue. He's sim-ply amazng!” . .. One of our agents Observed over at 34th and Clifton the other day what appeared to be a new high school fad. A girl had a roll of three-quarter inch ad--hesive tape with four or five feet unrolled. The unrolled portion was covered with pennies. She was carrying it around apparently to collect more. . . . Greetings to T. D. L. and to all others afraid to sign their names. Sorry we had to throw away your contributions. You see, distrust breeds distrust. -And we don’t trust you, either. _ Cateh on? , . . Here's one for the “misplaced pity” department: While waiting for a streetcar at Ohio and Illinois, one of our agents observed with pity a small newsie— about 10 or 11—who was hobbling along on crutches. The lad seemed to have a hard time in walking. And then he came to an icy spot in the sidewalk. Standing up straight, the lad placed his crutches under ‘one arm. Then he took a run and slid across the ice. It was so much fun he did it several times. His fun over, he got back on his crutches and hobbled pitifully into a nearby store, there to sell his papers. . , . Prom the Japanese relocation camp at Swifton, Ark. the local Boy Scout headquarters received a request week for a book. It’s “Adventuring for Senior Scouts.” Fred Schatz says he thinks the internee requesting the book is the same one who wrote several months ago asking for a sewing kit.

56 Cents Worth of Dog

FRED PHILLIPS, Marion county salvage director is entertaining an unexpected guest. Mr. Phillips was called to the express office the other day. There he found, addressed to him, a crate containing one dog’

World of Science

REPORTS FROM RUSSIA of the successful development of a serum that may prolong life has again raised the question about the nature of old age. Is it physiological or pathological? [To put it in terms that the layman may find simpler, are the ravages of old age the inevitable outcome of the basic nature of the human body or are they due to the inroads of disease? What can be done about the problem depends largely upon the . eventual answer to this question. For if the ravages of old age are inherent in the body, we are faced with one kind of a situation. But if they are due to disease, the problem is a much more hopeful one. Dr, Howard Karsner, director : of the Western Reserve Univer“sity Institute of Pathology, tells me that he is in“¢lined to view the situation as pathological, In other words, he believes that the degenerative conditions of organs and tissues, so often met with in old age, ‘are not so much due to aging itself as to various diseases.

Shortens Healing Time

THE RUSSIAN researches . which have precipitated the discussion are those carried on by a group of Soviet investigators under the leadership of Dr, A. A. Bogomolets. These studies resulted in the so-called anti-re-teular cytotoxic serum for which numerous claims have been made. The Russians say that it shortens ‘ the healing time of wounds and fractures and that it. has possibilities for use against cancer and high

WASHINGTON, Thursday There is no subject today which I think is creating more interest than our housing problems.

1 am getting more and more plans sent me which ight be termed. Jdeas and Gfeams 1of the Iuture

* party and was carried on its rolls as a "member in

"to Col; Richmond, some of the most useful co-ppera-

1 Behind the Tings

on vacation) _

little milk for children in direct need, the population: is living principally on potatoes. We are bringing nothing in to mitigate conditions. Richmond and Kelly are leaving the administrative civil functions to local authorities as much as possible. A burgomeister with 20 years experience is still holding his job and to all appearances co-operating furiously although he was himself a member of the Nazi

good standing.

Civilians Distribute Food

TO THE BURGOMEISTER ‘and a committee, composed of priests and other clergy, doctors, and one or two farmers, the American authorities largely leave the problem of distributing. what. meager food supplies are available, and finding shelter for citizens returning to the area, and refugees from other towns | in the immediate zone of battle. The district's biggest coal mine, whieh under the | Germans produced several thousand tons daily, is operating under the same management, and though production is now hardly more than enough to make the enterprise self sustaining, oTtpu is increasing steadily. The Germans carried away all able-bodied German miners, leaving behind a wretched collection of halfcrippled slave workers of Russian and Polish hationalities. These men tell shocking stories of German brutality which included the practice of making them work stark naked to stimulate them to ceaseless uctivity as the alternative to freezing to death. The regulation which puts the biggest burdens on the military police seems to be the ban of “fraternization” between G. L.'s and civilians, It is as difficult to prevent infractions of the non-fratérnization-rule where it concerns frauleins as it is to enforce the one which makes the G. I. liable to a $60 fine for giving a lifesaver to a hungry wrchin in the street. The high command has ruled that the order must be unflinchingly applied. . So far it has been enforced to the letter here. A Catholic. priest, who predicted we would find churchmen throughout Germany devoutly thankful to be rid of the Nazi regime, also assured me that most civilians detested the Nazi ideology. According

tion his government had been afforded has been by priests. ¢

of uncertain ancestry. The dog, named “Solo,” had been shipped to him by his daughter, Betty, who received her wings as a WASP Dec. 6 at Avenger field, Sweetwater, Tex. The dog had attached itself to the squadron while the girls were training. And when they had to leave, they couldn’t bear to think of leaving it behind. So Miss Phillips just up and shipped it to papa~—COLLECT. The express charge, we're told, amounted to $20.56. Fred describes it as a case of “Fifty-six cents worth of dog and $20 worth of express.” The Phillips already had a dog, “Laddie,” and there was some question whether “Laddie” would welcome a new pet. But {hi way things look now, “Solo” is going to get along okay and have a permanent home. . . . Indianapolis Railways’ boast, about the number of its old-time employees has been challenged already—by the Indianapolis Water Co. The way they figure it-'at the water utility, 25 per cent of Indianapolis Railways employees have been with the company 20 years, while the water company can boast 30 per cent.

Pity the Poor Postman

WE'LL BET Uncle Sam’s ‘mail carriers are looking forward to next week with dread. And when we think of the mountains of last minute holiday mail facing them, we can’t blame them. All of which leads up to the admonition: If you haven't mailed out those Christmas greeting cards yet, do it right now. Don’t make life any tougher for the mail men than necessary. We'll bet that if it were left up to vote of postal employees, sending of Christmas greetings would become a penal offense, with 10 years in ¢he dungeon for each card mailed. . . . Mrs. Frank E. Scherrer, 3359 S. Pennsylvania, has a nominee for the title of “Holiday Heroine.” She is Miss Alice Krick, secretary to Dr. Boyd of the Children’s clinic. Miss Krick, believe it or not, has all her Christmas shopping completed and the gifts wrapped and ready for the great day. Fact is, she was through several days ago. Wish we could say the same about our own shopping. Oh, well, there's always Christmas eve to do it.

By David Dietz

blood pressure and that it may prove generally useful for the prolongation of life. According to the Russians, the serum works by keeping the connective tissue of the body in a healthy state.

20th Century Discovery

KENOWLEDGE of the importance of the connective tissue may be regarded as a 20th Century discovery in analomy. Every organ and tissue of the body is enveloped in connective tissue. s However, the claims of the Russians have been received by medical men in this country with a mix~ ture of skepticism and curiosity and a feeling that they do mot want to go on record concerning the Bogomolets serum until they have had the opportunity to test it out for themselves. It is obviously difficult to arrive at a conclusion, At first glance the claims seem pretty wild. But on the other hand we know that Russia has made tremendous steps in medical research over the last decade and that the nation pioneered in the study of blood plasma and other important fields. Dr. Bogomolets has a number of substantial accomplishments to his credit. Dr. Karsner points to the large number of infections to which man is subject for one of his reasons for regarding the ravages of old age as pathological. “Other animals do not suffer from the variety of diseases that man does,” he says. “The dog, for ex#inple, is free from practically all diseases except intestinal parasites, distemper and rabies. Occasionally a dog will be found with cancer in advanced age. “Cattle, as a general rule, are subject to only about two diseases, brucellosis and tuberculosis. They have two other diseases, but only rarely—actinom-

yeocis and anthrax. Tymors of any type in cattle|

are rare.”

By Eleanor Roosevelt

to the best that we can give them in the way of living space. The American Academy of Arts and Letters in New York City is holding a city-wide essay contest,

among the high schools, on how our national capital |

hE 88 gB§

‘ByB J. McQuaid

SECOND SECTION

‘DAY IN COURT — Joan Barry ReadytoTell Story Today

By VIRGINIA MacPHERSON United Press Staff Correspondent HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 15.—Joan Barry was ready today to tell her story for romance with §b-year-old Charlie Chaplin, She charges he is the father of her baby daughter. Attorneys for both sides rushed completion of a jury to decide if it is true, A tentative panel of eight women and four men filed into the box. Charles E. Millikan, Chaplin's attorney, and Joseph Scott, T7-year-old lawyer for the redhaired Miss Barry, sounded them out on how they felt about unmarried love. » » » BOTH MILLIKAN and Scott said they hoped to get together on 12 jurors today and plunge into the business of deciding if

Chaplin fathered Miss Barry's curly-haired daughter, Carol Ann. Millikan said he will prove that the freckle-faced former Brooklynite, who later became Chaplin’s dramatic protege, had relations with several other men. To support his denial, Chaplin’s attorney. will introduce a blood test in which three doctors compared the comedian’s blood with that of the infant and decided they were not father and daughter. on » » SCOTT, the father of 13 children, said the blood test was “cockeyed” and that he intended

the bahy shall have “her day in court.” “This trial is not concerned with Miss Barry’s chastity,” he shouted. “All we're interested in is establishing Chaplin cas the father of this innocent baby.” Scott figured it would take “about 10 days” to get a decision, Millikan agreed with him—for almost the first time during the three-day trial. » » »

THEY GOT involved in a series of legal skirmishes yesterday, with Millikan pleading unsuccessfully to have Judge Henry M. Willis either toss the paternity suit out of court or try it without a jury. Judge Willis refused. beamed. Millikan glowered. Chaplin appeared briefly in the morning but was on the witness stand only long enough to give his name and address.

Scott

As he opéned his mouth to con-

tinue, the two attorneys clashed in a battle over who was going Yo pay $25 a day for the baby's transcript of the trial.

Gets His Award After 44 Years

EAST LIVERPOOL, O., Dec. 15 (U. P.).—Charles Craig, 67-year-old veteran of the Spanish-Amer=-ican war, figured today that it's better late than never. The war department has just advised Craig he was awarded the purple heart for wounds received 44 years ago while a sergeant in the U. 8. army. Craig was cut on the head with a bolo and shot in the shoulder while fighting the Aquinaldo insurrectionists in the Philippines in 1900.

e Indianapolis

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1944

Hot Spots in Europe in n the Wake of Liberation

mark protests against Pierlot, Cabinet; Left-Wings accused of attempt

| movement demands | EE in, § reform of returning government; longexiled Red Leader Thorez returns from Ruta with slogan W, First. pe

ai “ of Count pal as premier fans new strife flames; Italian Fascist purge demanded by Socialists,

GREECE: CTIITH reeks battle | ELAS, who seek to seize government; Britain pledges | support to Papandreou’s

The map shows hot spots in Europe where civil strife has broken out or bubbles hotly beneath the surface.

THEY" RE AFTER YOUR MONEY ...NO.2 iB Victims Protect Confidence Men

(Second of a Series)

By ALBERT FANCHER Scripps-Howard Special Writer

NEW YORK, Dec. 15.—Today's confidence men are such smooth operators that they often turn their victims against the law that would protect them. “Confidence men are well named,” says William F. McNulty, assistant attorney general of New York state. and a specialist in exposing: these frauds.. “We've had a lot of trouble with them, particularly with the oilroyalty ‘swindler. At least half of our complaints this year have to do with this type of security racketeer, ” » “ “THERE ARE, of course, many legitimate dealers in oil royalties. I'm talking about the glib-tongued artist who mulct their unsuspecting victims out of profits, ranging anywhere from 50 to 1000 per cent, in transactions in which the dealer incurs little or no pecuniary risk. “These fellows specialize in swindling elderly women whom they meet at hotels or cocktail parties. “They take the women out to dinner; then wine and dine them and, in the process, completely win their confidence.” I

HOW effectively they do this is shown by the following story: At 11 o'clock one morning, Mr. McNulty’s phone rang. A teller at a midtown bank was on the wire. Two men had just presented for payment a $3000 check, drawn on the account of a certain woman depositor. The teller thought the men “didn’t look quite right.” He described them. “I'll send someone up there right away,” promised Mr, McNulty. The detectives spotted the’ men as .old hands at the game. But the $3000 was only the first payment on a deal which would have robbed the woman of ten times that amount, » . »

“WE TOLD the woman about the men and what they were up to,” said Mr. McNulty. “But she wouldn't believe us. She insisted they were ‘fine young men,’ and demanded their release. So strong was their hold on her that she even accused us of ‘persecuting’ them. : “We couldn't prosecute without her testimony. But we took those men to Grand Central, saw that they bought tickets and got on a train—and warned them not to come back. “It was the best we could do.” ” »n »”

WINING and dining is a favor-

ite build-up with swindlers who |

specialize in fleecing elderly women. Many of these women are strangers in the city; some are widows, without much experience in handling the money left them, ° They are easy prey for suave, attractive’ ‘and convincing scoun~ drels who make a business of meeting them. “We've had a number of cases like that ” said McNulty. “In each case we knew what the men “were up to; we even had their records. But we couldn't convince their inténded victims (that we were telling the truth, The women in« sisted there had been some mis take.” » » » ONE confidence man ingratiated himself so successfully into his victim’s good graces that she allowed him to “value” her securities, which he had graciously agreed to accept in exchange for an interest in an oll Yoyalty, at his own appraisal of $3700. In return he gave her an ofl-

royalty interest which he had bought, only 10 days before, for $260. He reaped a quick 1280 per cent profit of $3450. If his victim had taken the precaution of talking with her banker, or any reputable stock broker, befure the swindler ‘got her money, she probably wquld not have been duped. ” » » © “THERE'S only one thing to do,” according to Mr. McNulty, “Ine vestigate before you invest. Deal only with people you know; never with strangers, however plausible or pleasant.” If more people would follow that

A TRAITOR SUFFERS THE

advice, there would be fewer swindles and swindlers, and more money saved in war bonds and other sound investments. But it isn't easy. . - »

ONE confidence man went all the way to South Africa to meet his intended victim and win his trust. He succeeded to such an

extent that, when he returned to New York, he carried with him a |

formal power of attorney over the victim's brokerage account. With ‘the ald of this power of attorney he was able to engage in an “unloading operation” which netted his wife, his sister-in-law and himself a profit of $30,000.

JITTERS—

Quisling Needs Another Drink Quite Often in These Days

By NAT A. BARROWS Times Foreign Correspondent

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 15.—~Within his own befuddled mind, Maj. Vidkun Quisling of Oslo—the original Quisling—already is get~ ting part payment on what Norwegian patriots intend shall be his punishment for betrayal, It does not take a trained psychologist to realize that Vidkun Quisling is sufferjng acutely from a bad case of jitters, . ,The underground never lets him forget that his number is coming up the first chance the patriots get. . ” "n . WITH THE arrival of each new miniature coffin to a Quislingite or a member of the Nazified parliament, Quisling clutches the bottle for another stiff drink. A Norwegian patriot who has seen Quisling within a matter of days tells me that he is drinking more heavily than ever, He is talking nonsense about the new order. He has gained weight to a point where he now can be called a , fat man, » » »

THE QUISLING mail contains

subtle reminders from the under~

“A CHAIR BOTTOM TOP OF THE CHAIR, PAUL THONNEY, D/x/e.

ground of what is happening to traitors. The Quisling doorstep is marked with skull and crossbones, or the Nazi swastika, overshadowed by the victory V, In fact, says my underground informant, “Quisling goes about looking like a man afraid of his shadow—and well he may.”

Corrigan's Son

Chip Off Block

- LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15 (U. P.). —Harry Corrigan, 1%-year-old son of Douglas (Wrong Way) Corrigan, is following in his dad's footsteps, A few weeks ago Harry accidentally k a drink out of a bottle of household poison. He was saved by the use of a stom-( ach pump at a receiving hospital, Last night, he got the wrong bottle again, and wok 8 swig of camphophenique, His famous father, who flew from New York to Ireland when he said he meant to fly to California, again rushed Harry to the hos-( pital for the stomach pump treat-

= |

Times

PAGE § 21

Labo Revision of Social Security Bills Studied

By FRED W. PERKINS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15—~The main pusher in the house of representatives for social security expansion said today he is willing to drop or compromise some con= troversial parts of the program 80 that others g can be salvaged. ‘This was the first public developme nt promising cone gressional action next year since the “omnib¥s” social security bills were introduced 18 months ago. Nothing has been done on them since—not even committee hearings. Representative - Dingell (D. Mich.), house sponsor of the legislation, said there is a possibility the “big bill” may be split into several sections when the subject is placed before the new congress opening in January, or. that an - amended ail-inclusive measure may be tried again, giving the house ways and wmeens committee a chance to determine which portions it is willing to consider and which it prefers to ditch, ‘8 2 . “THE Wagner-Murray-Dingell bills contain some proposals with wide public backing and some others that have stirred up strong. group - opposition—enough to endanger the whole program Mr, ell said he considers some form of public health and hospitalization insurance, with wage earners helping to pay for it, as No. 1°on the list of items that should be made part of the law. But, he declared, he isn't a believer in “socialized medicine.” and what he has in mind is a simple system under which a poor man could get money fo pay for medical or dental attention or hospital care when he or his family needs it. No private "physicians or dentists would “work for the government” directly, under his ideas, but ‘there would have to be supervision for the system from medical men of the U. 8, public

We, the Wom Even Santa Suffers From War Lethargy

By RUTH MILLETT IT WAS their first visit to

in wartime, it seems, even a Santa may not be of first rate quality. This one was “out to lunch.” Yes, “out to lunch” the saleswoman said—but he ought to be back in 15 minutes, ® = = AND SO they waited, probably going over in their minds the things each had decided-to ask for—boy’s things for the boy and girl's things for the girl, for they ‘were big kids this year and knew that boys don't play with dolls and girls don't ask for footballs. Finally, Santa — who couldn’t have known with what impatience he was being awaited—returned from lunch, Just a few minutes later. He settled down in his big easy chair and beckoned to the little boy now first in the line of children waiting to be heard. . ” ” SANTA said, “Hello, son; what's - your name.” And the little boy, awed until his voice sounded indistinct and far away, said “Petey.” “And what de you want for Christmas?” said Santa Claus in 8 hurried, weary way. “A big gun like Mikey’'s got,” sald the little boy. “All right, where do you live?” asked the man in the red suit— who sounded as though he might be taking information for a ration book. ». TN i didn’t listen ‘while"the little boy explained. He ° "wis too busy reaching for a comic