Monday, Dec. 25, 1944

Restoration Period

Wide-eyed Britishers last week were getting a new glimpse of a typical American hurry-up job. In London's Camberwell, Battersea and Lambeth boroughs, they watched some 3,000 U.S. Army engineers mow down whole sections of blitzed houses with bulldozers almost overnight.

But, to the admiration of the spectators, reporters and photographers, the G.I.s did even better as builders. Assigned by General Eisenhower fortnight ago to help bombed-out Londoners through their housing crisis, they had their first temporary hutment erected by last week. Equipped with plenty of concrete mixers, they laid seven foundations while a British civilian crew on an adjoining lot laid two.

The outfit is composed of about equal numbers of seasoned veterans and green replacements. While awaiting transfer to France, they will continue what they consider a happy assignment -- though they would "rather be in action." They work, in battle dress, eight hours a day, have evenings off, do not have to bother with time-killing hikes and menial chores. More thoughtful soldiers also regard the project as a worthy contribution to Allied unity.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.