Counsellor
Sirs:
The following is an editorial from the [Detroit] News today:
HE DOESN'T CHEW
"Our attention has been called to a sentence in TIME magazine's article on Senator Vandenberg and neutrality law revision:
" 'On strategies, Vandenberg constantly counseled with aging, astute Jay Hayden, of the Detroit News, who often shifts his tobacco quid disgustedly as he blue-pencils the reek from Vandenberg's rhetoric.'
"Mr. Hayden admits that like most mortals he ages a little every day and hopes the process will continue for a long time to come. He does not, however, chew tobacco. Nor does he own a blue pencil, he reports, nor has he ever used this or any other kind of writing instrument to revise, delete or otherwise collaborate in a Vandenberg speech.
"We have no objection to Vandenberg consulting with Mr. Hayden, if he wants to, and are sure that, if he does, he will get good advice.
"We do object, however, to TIME magazine's sentence, which the uninformed could read as implying a Bergen-McCarthy relationship between the News and Vandenberg, or, for that matter, vice versa. We are all fallible, but TIME magazine too often is both fallible and--well, call it carefree in its handling of facts."
Shame on TIME!
FRED GAERTNER JR. Managing Editor
The Detroit News
Detroit, Mich.
> Shame on tobacco-chewing, blue-penciling, taradiddling Jay Hayden.--ED.
Real Rugged
Sirs:
I may be wrong again, as usual, but from where I am sitting, it looks like the second world war will simmer down to a community argument between England, France and Germany, and may be over before we realize it. When the war is over and the soldiers return home, they will find a surplus of guns and ammunition and a shortage of food and clothes. When that time rolls around, don't you think it would be a good idea for Mr. Roosevelt to call his congressmen in and say: "Boys, we've spent several billions trying to help the poor and downtrodden get on top where the big fellows are (or used to be) but it don't seem to be getting us any place. What do you think about turning this relief business around by voting a few billions and turn it over to business and industry (such as is left) and say: Here she is, boys; get busy and see what kind of job you can do making rugged individualists of yourself. Get real rugged! All New Deal rules are out of the window! I don't care what you do so long as you are honest about it and make a lot of jobs, but you've got to make jobs real quick and hire all these fellows. When you get 'em all at work, I'll see to it that you get a square deal at every turn in the road. All I ask is that you make jobs, be honest, and I'll not complain about the profits you make."
Wish you would please tell Mr. Roosevelt about this.
J. J. JACKSON
Tulsa, Okla.
Yes sir, Boss
Sirs:
I like the explanation of this war given by "Boogaloo" a happy-go-lucky Negro as he talked with my husband. Here it is.
"Boss, I tells you what I thinks about this here war. Germany, some back, she starts a crap game, threw an eight, then falls off. Now she wants her money back and starts grabbing. The mistake was when she first started grabbing not knocking H-- out of her.
"Yes sir, Boss, if we fights I go. Ise rather be a slave to my folks than to the Germans."
MARY J. PHILLIPS
Darien, Ga.
Alone
Sirs:
To The Isolationists:
Dare you shackle the arms of Saint George
and Sainte Joan,
Fighting to keep all freemen free?
Who will be with us when we face, alone,
Their destiny?
H. C. N.
Hanover, Pa.
My Say
Sirs:
Your sister publication, LIFE (Sept. 25) reports that 83% of the American people want the Allies to win the war, while 1% want a German victory. I belong with that 1% so please let me have my say.
I want Germany to win the war, but at the same time, understand, I want the United States to stay out of it. So does Germany. Hitler knows the United States will be the deciding factor in a world war, and he also knows we cannot fight on his side, for that reason he wants us out and he is right. . . .
Once Germany is established as the first nation in Europe there can be peace in Europe. Until then, never. Those who know Germans know they are a peace loving people, but once take away from them what they think is theirs, and you'll see the best fighters in the world. The German race is the greatest of our civilization. Compare them with the English and you'll find that in art, in war strategy, in every occupation Germans are superior. I believe Shakespeare himself was of German origin, was he not? Correct me on this. I would like to know. . . .
Now about the U. S.--why our country is so goddam pro-British is more than I can understand. I fear our present sentiments would cause Washington, Hamilton and Patrick Henry to blush with embarrassment. We licked the damn English once, now why the hell do we have to pal around? If we do go in again it will be a bad mistake. One man can keep us out. I think most of us are willing to admit now that Franklin D. Roosevelt is our greatest president. If he keeps us out of this war, he will go down in history as the greatest leader of men of all time. If he does not, he won't.
Who the hell am I to say all this? Well, I'll tell you. I'm an American of German origin. Like Hitler I'm a poet, and no editor pays any attention to my manuscripts. But I'm German enough to keep at it until I've had my say and then I'll quit.
In TIME (Sept. 25) you admit being stumped as to an equitable solution to the European situation--given an Allied victory. Of course there is none. But with a German victory there can be a solution. You may not like to believe it, but it's the truth and to risk a banality--the truth hurts.
RICHARD MANLEY
Passaic, N. J.
>The truth about William Shakespeare's ancestry is that it was English. --ED.
Contribution
Sirs:
I trust that you will consider this a TIME-worthy contribution to International etymology:
hitler (hit'ler) n (G) A falsehood uttered or acted to deceive. Syn. lie, untruth.--v.i. HITLERED (hit'lerd) HITLERING. To utter a falsehood with intent to deceive; tell or act a hitler.--v.t. To affect by hitlering, as, he hitlered himself out of trouble.
W. B. SMITH
Charlotte, N. C.
> Do readers agree that hitler should follow those other improper nouns, lynch and buncombe, into the language?--ED.
Started
Sirs:
. . . Peace has got to be as exciting as war, it can't be just neutrality, it has got to go deeper and farther and become the motivating force behind every American living in this United States of America.
Will you refer me to the right place that I might either offer my services or get something started. . . .
DORIS PALMER OLNEY
(Mrs. Richard F.)
East Glastonbury, Conn.
> Reader Olney has her pick of 39 national peace-seeking organizations, all loosely coordinated by the National Peace Conference (8 West 4Oth St., New York City).--ED.
Delicious Party
Sirs:
Here's a letter, just received from a friend, which describes one woman's life in England in the days just before and since the War. Many another TIME reader might like to read it.
RALPH W. SPRAGUE
New York City
Dear Ralph:
We were a delicious party enjoying the long-delayed summer sun of 1939. The warmth and sun seemed like a miracle after struggling through weeks of rain, thunder and cold. Uncle Jimmie, debonair, middle-aged Captain Royal Navy, Captain R. C., Royal Army (young and crossed in love), in charge of anti-aircraft defenses of part of London. Sylvia and her boyfriend, Roger and the rest of us. Lots of jolly friends gathered together for tennis parties, evening parties, and so forth--and after a particularly ridiculous evening which will stand out in my mind forever as one of the bright spots of life, an evening when this mixture of old, middle-aged and young went to an early show in Bournemouth and where, to amuse the young, we partook of a "supperette." The superior female who waited upon us, as it were at the tips of her gilded nails, started the most hopeless giggles amongst us. . . . We had to leave a terrific tip to soothe the lady's wounded feelings. Home in cars, stopping en route at all the al fresco concerts at the pier and along the cliffs, singing snatches of popular songs with one lot and moving off to another to sing and tap dance in the background. . . . The town was still "en fete" for its hordes of visitors, and everywhere colored illuminations reflected in the sea on this lovely night. 10:30 at home--children to bed and a comfortable chat with the elders over our cup of tea and plum cake. We all resolved on having the same party next year and prayed that the party should be blessed with sun and warmth.
I wakened next morning with my telephone crashing in my ear. "Hello," said I sleepily.
"Jimmie speaking" was the reply . . . and went on, "I say Kate--have you read your Times yet?" "No, I haven't--why?" "The news looks bad--Russia and Germany have signed a pact. I'm leaving here today and getting back home. It looks bad I tell you and I want to see my uniform is alright." "Well give me a ring before you do go to say 'Goodbye.' " "Alright, Kate--Goodbye." Sank back in my bed and that dull thud, thud in the head overtook me, the thud of wondering, imagining and trying not to wonder and imagine--the thud that has gone on continuously since that morning to this. Captain R. C. got his recall telegram and left, too. The next day was our village regatta on the river finishing with a burst of lovely fireworks on the river--the thud telling one as we watched, those explosions may be bombs and gun fire by next week . . . and they were.
Yesterday, September 20th: Whilst I could still get petrol I raced 76 miles to spend a day and night with my own child. Did I speed! At least when I could, for everywhere on roads and country lanes, one was constantly meeting the troops, lorries, vans, tanks, and fatigue parties. . . .
. . . With characteristic British "refusal to be moved attitude," we all changed for dinner, although it meant sitting in a very cool sitting-room afterwards, without a fire and washing in a pitch dark bathroom, as they had not gotten their curtains back from the cleaners and we couldn't show a light. (Curse Hitler!) . . .
. . . And then I said "goodbye" to my child and fled for home again. Two days before war was declared, the Southampton children were evacuated. Jenny assisted the doctor for two long days inspecting heads, teeth, etc., before these children were sent to billets. We got four--aged 12, 10, 8, 6.
Jenny became nursing sister in charge of the health of the 300 evacuees in the village. Some job! Air-raids we may have, but sick and ailing children one has always. So my car is used to fetch and carry them from the doctor and to take her to minister to them in their homes. I, for my sins, find I am representative of the Wives and Families Association of those serving. In peacetimes (Oh long forgotten times!!) I have really nothing to do, but now!! It is a terrible legal job and I have to see landlords, to wage unequal battles on behalf of these poor women whose allowances do not admit of the high rents in force here. . . .
Well to go back, the days of waiting in suspense were grim. I smoked even more furiously than usual and bit my finger nails. However, there were tons of practical things to do, amongst others to get the necessary covering for windows in case of air-raids and we have 62 windows and sky-lights!! I was determined "Adolf" was not going to put me to great expense, so wonderful and fearful are our contraptions and it takes half an hour every night to shut up the house. . . . Black and blue paper, drawing pins and torches soon ran short. By law, we have to reduce electricity and gas by 25%, so we crawl about these awkward passages and strain in the dark. And last week, sick of miserable women unable to make ends meet, crying on my neck, and sick of other peoples' children and longing for my own, I jumped into my car and went to a lovely French film in Bournemouth. Just three weeks after our lovely evening and the "supperette." On coming out of the movies, I fell headlong down the outside steps, luckily into the arms of another pedestrian groping in the dark. He laughed and I eventually got to the garage. Every light obscured! The journey home was a nightmare, one could see nothing. But I did enjoy the cinema. I am going tonight--twice a week whatever happens, is my slogan.
Our four evacuees are charming with delightfully clean habits, thank goodness. But some poor wretchs' experiences have been grim. Woolworth has queues of people buying mackintosh sheeting!! There are humorous moments in every situation. One when the Police Sergeant came at my invitation to inspect my windows at night, to see whether they complied with regulations. He fell down the conservatory step headlong into the plants, tin helmet and gas masks and all and I had to pull him out. . . . Gas masks I find an insufferable nuisance and I always forget mine.
We have made no provision for air raids. To lie quietly in my bed is my intention--as I did in London all through the last long weary war. . .
. . . Well, Ralph, I never thought humanity could be so senseless. But here we are! Ever since Russia and Germany joined forces I have felt as though I have been on an extraordinary journey, say to Mars--that life and the earth had ceased to exist. I keep touching things to be quite sure I am on earth. But the joy of light in the mornings as one wakes up is too wonderful, and even Hitler can't take that away!
K. S.
Hampshire, England
> TIME welcomes letters from the war zone if they make as good reading as K. S.'s.--ED.
Nomura's Eye
Sirs:
Two eyes had Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura when he came, one eye had he when he left, but no eyes did he leave behind fighting in Shanghai (TIME, Oct. 2).
Hostilities had ceased in Shanghai weeks before Nomura-san and several other ranking officers in the army, navy and diplomatic service were killed and wounded. No Chinese shell reached them. A Korean bomb did.
The Japanese were celebrating the Emperor's birthday in Hongkew Park. No foreigners except a few newsmen and military attaches were invited. The Japanese community, including Koreans, were the guests. Japanese marines, gendarmes guarded all entrances and gates to the park, kept a close watch. Occasionally they frisked a man. Unfrisked was a Korean patriot who came in carrying what looked like a Japanese thermos bottle slung from his shoulder. (Thermos bottles and canteens are standard equipment for Japanese and subjects on holiday.)
On the central platform were General Shirakawa, commanding Japanese Expeditionary Forces to China, Ambassador to China Shigemitsu, Admiral Nomura, commanding the Japanese Third Fleet, and several other army and navy men, consuls and vice-consuls, Woosung Road bigwigs.
The Korean eased up thru the crowd, stepped out in front, tossed his "thermos" bottle on to the platform, turned to run. BANG! Several on the platform slumped to the floor. Stunned, the crowd held back a second, and then like a wave, rushed in on the Korean, began tearing him to pieces.
Officials most badly wounded were General Shirakawa, who later died, Ambassador Shigemitsu who had to have his leg amputated in the succeeding weeks, the last time by the Emperor's personal surgeon sent from Tokyo, and Admiral Nomura, whose eye was peppered with steel splinters, later had to have it removed. Others on the platform came away with painful injuries and cuts, but none was permanently disabled.
The Korean was rescued from the mob by quick work of police and marines, rushed off to Naval Landing Headquarters.
MALCOLM ROSHOLT
Rosholt, Wis.
> Reader Rosholt, onetime news editor of the China Press, thanks for a newsmanlike account of Admiral Nomura's lost eye.--ED.
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