Two Grand Slams

Sirs:

In days past on shore duty, I lost consistently at bridge, and at one time became a well-known loser at the University Club in Washington (a den of wolves ever on the alert for new lambs). Last night my partner held 13 spades. The circumstances were a bit unusual.

We were at sea, searching for subs. We had experienced fair luck for some days. Shortly after sunset last night, word came down to wardroom over bridge voice tube that contact had been made. We took station for depth-charge attack. . . . The sub was close aboard, less than 200 yards distant, on our starboard hand. The contact indicated a well-developed one, of the Nipponese variety (very popular with our ships). . . . The sub was sluggish in her movements--she maneuvered slowly, endeavoring to stay within our turning circle, and cross our wake. After a bit of maneuvering, we made our turn, estimated her course, and attacked. A short dash at full speed, a good barrage in the approved spot, and the attack was finished.

Back in the wardroom, we felt like a quiet celebration. It was our first sub of the day, and our first big one in some days. . . . Someone suggested a bridge game. We started it--our first in nearly three months. My partner, a young ensign from Chicago, maneuvered expertly until the bid was seven spades, doubled and redoubled. He laid down his hand--13 spades.

WINSTON BROWN

Executive Officer

Destroyer in the Pacific*

"Now More Than Ever"

Sirs:

Please keep on sniping at silly American censorship. . . . We need truth now more than ever, so please don't let us down.

Thanks also for your sense of humor. Your portrait of the rubberless American and his family in the near future was a riot.

MARY M. STINSON

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Mother's Appeal

>In TIME'S Dec. 29 story on Dumbo, which designated that blue-eyed baby elephant "Mammal-of-the-Year," TIME quoted Vladimir ("Bill") Tytla, Disney staff artist who conceived Dumbo's face, form and character. "Most of the expressions and mannerisms," said Artist Tytla, "I got from my own kid. There's nothing theatrical about a two-year-old kid."

Some weeks later TIME received the following communication from the kid's mother, who is, of course, Artist Tytla's wife.--ED.

Sirs:

When I am approached by an eager acquaintance who asks, "Is it true your child resembles an elephant, Mrs. Tytla?" (with the same expressions, incidentally, as the gossiping elephants in Dumbo), I am compelled, like poor Mrs. Jumbo, to waddle off, as I mutter to myself, "A wit, no doubt." However, being fully aware of the havoc that can be wrought ... on an impressionable small child, I am appealing to you, as a mother, to right this terrible wrong. (Besides, we have no space left in which to store the tons of peanuts that continue to arrive daily.) Therefore I have taken the liberty of sending you a photograph of Peter. . . .

However, thank you. Peter has made a terrific hit with the small fry and they even allow him to ride his own tricycle. . . .

ADRIENNE TYTLA

La Canada, Calif.

Nisei in Service

Sirs:

I am a Nisei, an American citizen of Japanese parentage. Like many other Niseis, I am in the service of my country. This war has hit us harder, probably, than any other portion of the American society. It has caused suspicion to be cast on us, not because we have done anything of a suspicious nature, but because of our race. Let me assure you that we know and love only one country. . . .

We Niseis are willing to fight and to die if necessary for America and the principle for which it stands.

HARRY A. TAKAGI

Camp Grant, Ill.

An Author Objects

Sirs:

... I was grateful, as any author would be, for the picture and for the space given to my book [Design for Power; TIME, Jan. 5]. But the review was a nasty and smart-aleck piece on a book which even the New York Times finds "earnest," "illuminating," and the best "overall interpretative survey in print." I do not question TIME'S right to print, if it chooses, in the interest of the general amusement, such a wholly misleading and unfair review of a serious book. I feel, however, that in such cases the author is entitled to a few lines of space for a reply. . . .

FREDERICK L. SCHUMAN

Williamstown, Mass.

>Let it be noted that however much the New York Times book department may praise him, the Times has not yet agreed with Professor Schuman in advocating 1) Union Now; 2) immediate abolition of the "political independence" of nations; 3) the crushing of "secessionists or rebels" and the liquidation of troublesome "classes, factions and pressure groups"--and a number of other radical measures, all of which made TIME'S reviewer cry, "Whoa!"--ED.

Hughes-ovka

Sirs:

In the controversy over Marshal Timoshenko's ancestry (TIME, Jan. 5), there is one factor deserving of attention. Timoshenko's birthplace, Stalino, was not just "a small town called Youzovka" but a very English town, the first and one of the most important English industrial centers in pre-war Ukraine. The name Youzovka is itself English--a Russian spelling of Hughes-ovka--after its founder, a Welsh ironmaster named Hughes.

O. J. FREDERIKSEN

Assistant Professor of History and Government

Miami University Oxford, Ohio

>TIME, Jan. 5, reported a Welsh schoolteacher's statement that Timoshenko's father was a Welsh technician living in Russia. The claim is dubious, but Professor Frederiksen's interesting point tends to support it.--ED.

Letter & Spirit

Sirs:

Our attention was called [to an article in TIME'S Radio section for Dec. 29] which puts Smith Bros. in a rather bad light.

Upon investigation we find that the announcement in question over station WMPS, Memphis, Tenn., was part of a national hookup. Naturally this announcement was the same all over the network, and we send you herewith a copy of just what was said.

We believe that in all sense of fairness you should do something to correct this impression.

W. W. SMITH

President

Smith Brothers Inc. Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

>TIME reported the indignation of James Coleman Hanrahan, peppery manager of WMPS, over what he considered a too close hookup of radio commercials with war news and national defense. Mr. Hanrahan objected that the Smith Bros. commercial said: "Here is a late important news bulletin: use Smith Bros. cough drops." The announcement actually was: "The news, presented by Smith Bros. Looking for relief--from a cough due to a cold? Get Smith Bros. cough drops. . . ." When TIME rechecked, Manager Hanrahan contended that the intention was more important than the exact wording--ED.

"Remember. . . ."

Sirs:

Those of us who away back in 1898 "Remember the Maine" wince every time we now hear "Remember Pearl Harbor."

Would it not be more apropos to say, "Remember when we cast our Pearl before the swine."

CORAMAE HALL GAVETT

Seattle, Wash.

*Name and home base of Executive Officer Brown's ship withheld by request.

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