Calling All Fronts

Americans who have listened through radio's well-meant, sometimes brilliant but often talky, overdone, and unrealistic attempt to propagandize the war since Dec. 7 had something to stand up and cheer for last week: The Army Hour. A brand-new, 60-minute Sunday afternoon show put on by the U.S. Army, it had the welcome ring of authenticity.

Army Hour is a worldwide show with a worldwide cast. It is designed for three fronts: the U.S. (over NBC), the United Nations, and the U.S. troops abroad (by RCA short-wave radio). Last week all three could hear something of what the others were doing.

From Chungking, one of Brigadier General Claire L. Chennault's pilots described recent exploits of his famed Flying Tigers. His best news: one entire flight of Jap bombers annihilated. From London, two pilots of America's Eagle Squadron, flying with the R.A.F., spoke pleasantly of their life and adventures. One (Pilot Officer Jack Mooney) had just returned from ripping one of 18 Messerschmitts apart over France. Said the other (Fred Almos): "It's a good life; it's an exciting life, and we like it.'

For most Americans at home, this was the first direct word from their soldiers in the field. The men in Bataan, Australia, the Middle East, Iceland, Ireland also had their innings. For them, as well as the home front the Army put Secretary of War Stimson, Lieut. General Lesley McNair, commander of the Army Ground Force, and the commanders of the four U.S. home armies on the air. Their soldierly words, though guarded, managed to convey a reassuring outline of the growing U.S. Army.

> A Fort Meade private (Frederick Gaither) came on the air with his partner, a Garand rifle named "Stinky," and discussed its make-up and accomplishments with Sportscaster Bill Stern. This was an easygoing, informative skit, especially for anyone unaware that U.S. soldiers now carry armor-piercing rifle ammunition to drill through the belly of enemy tanks.

> There was also time for sentiment, hitherto the stumbling block of U.S. radio propaganda. Army Hour managed it without slopping over. Its brief drama of a World War I veteran seeing his son off to World War II was just about right. Said he: "If we'd finished the job when we were there, you wouldn't be going now." Said the son: "You had your April the sixth; we've got our December the seventh. . . . This time we're going to fix it so this thing can't ever happen again. . . ."

The show was a good first try. It was a show that anyone but Axis sympathizers could enjoy. It had information, guts, a good musical score, and the best dramatic material extant (the fighting fronts themselves) to draw from. If its makers use these priceless, uncensored gifts wisely, they may have the hit show of the year.

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