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* THE SUN, NEWBERRY, S. C- MAY 28, 1943 Washington, D. C. SUBMARINE ANTIDOTE A history making event took place recently in the long war against the submarine. Official tests were made of the helicopter, which, despite op position of the navy, has been urged by officials of the army and War Shipping administration for anti submarine patrol. Within a few hours after the pub lication of a Merry-Go-Round story on this subject, a group of officials from Washington, including highly interested and highly placed officials of the British admiralty, British ship ping mission, and the RAF, stood in amazement, on the deck of a tanker offshore while a little airplane with a crazy rotary wing on top landed and took off frorp a deck space not more than twice the size of the plane itself. It was a Sikorsky helicopter, pilot ed by a boyish colonel who remind ed everybody of Charles Lindbergh in his younger days—H. F. Gregory, from Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, who knows more about helicopters than anybody else in the air force. Gregory made 24 landings on the tanker during the two days of trials. He operated under all conceivable conditions—when the tanker was rid ing at anchor, when she was run ning at 15% knots, when she was headed into the wind, and when she was running with the wind. The War Shipping administration, which supplied the tanker, had of fered to remove the mast, to provide a safer landing space. But inven tor Sikorsky scorned that as “too easy.” Accordingly, his plane was set down by Colonel Gregory in the space between the mast and the deck house, with only a 14-foot clear ance on either side. Far-Seeing ‘Eyes.’ To the British and American ship ping experts whose ships are going to the bottom every day, the sig nificance of this feat was inescap able. They firmly believe the heli copter can be used to supplement the escort vessels for the greater protection of merchant ships in con voy. It is too light to carry much strik ing power of its own, except a few rockets, but it can fly out ahead of the convoy, hover over the sea, spot the wolf pack, and report by radio to the escort vessels. This saves movement of the escort vessels, which in present practice have to maneuver constantly around the merchant ships, with heavy con sumption of fuel oil. Moreover, the helicopter, without firing a shot, brings alarm to the prowling submarine and causes the U-boat to dive. Earlier acceptance of the helicop ter was prevented by the navy’s bu reau of aeronautics, which contends that the machine is defenseless against the guns of a submarine. The defenders reply that the plane can dart about so crazily that it is too evasive to be easily hit. More over, helicopters can be built for $15,000 each, and the loss of a few would not be serious, compared with the loss of escort vessels. In any case, the matter has gone beyond the stage of argument. The War Shipping administration is determined to have helicopters, and if the navy won’t come along, WSA will make a deal with the coast guard to train pilots, and another deal with the war department to place the planes on its ships. • • • ARMT AND COAL MINES John L. Lewis would have got the surprise of his life if he could have had a dictaphone recording of the conversation of Secretary of War Stimson and Gen. B. B. Somervell regarding the use of troops in taking over the coal mines. Lewis had expressed public ap prehension that the army had a plan to seize the coal mines in case of a strike. Undoubtedly subordinate army officers did have such a plan in mind. But when Secretary Stimson sat down with Secretary Ickes, plus General Somervell and other army officers, the army expressed vigor ous opinions to the contrary. Gen eral Somervell, accused by some of wanting the army to take over all civilian activities, made this re mark: “The last thing we want is an is sue of the army against the people.” Secretary Stimson also expressed relief that Secretary Ickes, known as a staunch defender of civil lib erty, had been selected by the Presi dent to handle the coal crisis. He offered Ickes every co-operation but expressed the hope that he would not have to use troops. * • • CAPITOL CHAFF C. Freshman Representative Charles La Follette is the only Republican congressman who supported the President’s foreign policies in the last campaign. La Follette also has a libera] labor record. C. Radio Operator R. W. Dunn, who first received the coded message of an armistice November 11, 1918, is eager to serve again. He has en rolled as a junior radio operator in Pan American Airways Seattle school, preparing for Alaska serv ice. As Axis Troops Surrendered to Allies Covered by a Sherman tank, German prisoners prepare to move on after surrendering themselves to Allied forces in North Africa. A short time later all organized enemy resistance had ceased in all sectors, and an estimated total of 150,000 German and Italian troops had been taken prisoner, together with their commander. Col. Gen. Juergen Von Arnim. Vast quantities of guns and war material of all kinds were captured. Wash Day on Amchitka Island The only washing machine on Amchitka island—our newly acquired Aleutian island base—gets a rush of work, and not only on Monday. Gathered around, washing, helping and kibitzing are, left to right, Paul Duale, Warrensville, Ohio; Albert Kordyak, Chicago, 111.; John Wilson, Baltimore, Md.; Emerson Eagleton, Cleveland, Ohio; and Anthony ISal- vatorieldo, Newark, N. J. F. D. R., Churchill, Plan Final Victory With the trumpets of the great Allied victory in Tunisia still rever berating around the world, Winston Churchill, Great Britain’s prime min ister, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, met once more in Washington to further plan the “unconditional surrender” mapped out for the enemy. This was the first meeting of the two leaders since the historic conference at Casablanca. Shown at left is the President, and, at right, Winston Churchill, with his inevitable black cigar. Quints Hold Center of Stage in Launching Eighty thousand spectators packed the huge Butler shipyards at Su perior, Wis., to witness the floating of five brand-new Allied vessels—and also the Dionne Quints’ first appearance on American soil. The Quints, who acted as sponsors, are shown before a U. S. immigration officer. Best of Care Primary concern of medical corps- men aboard every navy ship is the life and health of shipmates. From the instant a man falls until he is borne ashore he gets the best of care that science can provide. This ma rine, wounded in a raid, is being carefully removed from a subma. rine hatch. Vitamins for Victory Bobby Zavattaro, five - year - old husky who was crowned “child health king” in New York, has taken to farming. Here he is shown work ing on his plot (in soil box) on the roof of the Children’s Aid Society building, where some 20 children are raising vegetables for vitamins and victory. Joan Culeton, four, lends 9 helping hand. It Will Be ‘Cooler’ Fear of cooling off in the “cooler” fills the face of eight-year-old Eddie Conlan as he looks up into the im posing figure of the law. A temper ature of 85 in New York prompted Eddie to cool off in the East river, but alas, the law put an end to that cooling thought. T. R. Wins Honors Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt makes his way through a slit trench, somewhere in North Africa. The general and his son were both cited for gallantry by the war do partment. whip both of them,” even though the “both of them” included Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey. Commander Tun ney never agreed with Mr. Brisbane. The commander was always quite certain that Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey or himself could take care of any gorilla that ever adorned a jungle or a zoo. We thought of this the other night as we stopped in front of Gargantua’s circus cage in “The World’s Great est Show.” The last time we saw Gargantua, about two years ago, his weight was announced at 450 pounds. On this last occasion his weight was given out at 600. At the moment, we wondered just what would have happened if Tun ney, Dempsey and Louis together had entered his cage to throw right and left hooks, plus straight jabs or right crosses. Tunney has always insisted that if you nailed a gorilla squarely on the jaw he couldn’t take a punch and a quick collapse would follow. That could be true. But tangling up with 600 pounds of cat-like quickness and jungle ferocity still leaves Gargan tua 1 to 3 in our book, or maybe 1 to 10. Slow Courting So far there is no early prospect of any little Gargantuas arriving on the scene. His mate is stiff in the next cage, where steel touches steel, but his trainer has been unable to detect any fondness on either side. “It may take another year,” one trainer said, “to bring about their friendship, and it may take longer. There's also the chance that Gar gantua might prefer his bachelor life on to the finish. We can’t af ford to take any such risk right now.” Gargantua apparently has a disposition composed almost exclu sively of vitriol and TNT. Pound for Pound The best pound-for-pound fighter in the circus, or anywhere else, is the black leopard or black panther. Here is a much smaller animal that even a tiger will detour. Lightning-quick, powerful, the black leopard has only one real pleasure in life—and that is to fight. “He is the only jungle animal who is always looking for a fight,” Frank Buck says. “Most animals only take the war path for food. The black leopard takes the warpath for fun. And he is tough even for a tiger, who will out weigh him more than Joe Louis will outweigh Beau Jack or Henry Arm strong. I found it general ly agreed among circus trainers that nothing now exist- Joe Louis ing on this earth, minus tanks or airplanes or machine guns, could handle a big, wild buff elephant. Here is one party that al ways gets a wide detour. So far as the United States is con cerned, “Bring-’Em-Back-Alive” Buck not only rates the grizzly bear far above any U. S. animal contend er, but he also gives him at least an even chance against the tiger and the lion. The grizzly is big, quick, power ful—and both mean and smart. He is well protected, with a thick coat of hair around the throat—barbed- wire entanglements that defy claws or fangs. But after looking over Gargantua again, it is still my belief that Messrs. Tunney, Dempsey and Joe Louis combined would spend an extremely uncomfortable afternoon or evening in his cage. I would like to suggest to Messrs. Tunney, Dempsey and Louis that if they invade Gargantua’s lair they ride in on the inside of a tank. Game Time One of baseball’s leading experi ments should be to find the right time to start a game that will suit the needs or desires of war workers without causing any absentee snarls. Cincinnati tried an 11:30 a. m. game on Monday and the result showed an improved attendance over the same Monday date in 1942. Ap parently there won’t be any big crowds through the week from Mon day on through Friday. But there can at least be an improvement. Grantland Rice Changing Times It was something of a jolt to set the Yankees moving into May with out a hitter among the first five in the American league. Apparently the power that once belonged to the big bats of Ruth, Gehrig, Meusel. Dickey and DiMaggio is now trans ferred to pitching arms. Manager Joe McCarthy, one of the most con servative, will make no predictions, but he will tell you he is satisfied. That coming from McCarthy is a hurst of optimism. THE LETTERS OF ALL-OUT ARLENE Dear Terry: It is nice getting your letter, brf I wish you would not gripe so much about conditions at home. How can we girls do our best in war unless we know that our husbands and sweethearts are contented and hap py? If you want to keep our morale up you men must do the best you can to keep the home fires burning while we are away at war. • • • I know you have tried to get into uniform and were rejected for phys ical reasons, and I think you should take it more philosophically. After all, this is, more than ever before, a woman’s war, and I am not sure it is the kind of struggle you should be in. Believe me, life in the army is tough and full of hardships, and you know very well how unaccus tomed you are to such things. • • • You must remember, Terry, that you have always taken life comforta bly. We girls have to get up at 5:30, drill hard and accept severe discipline. Some of us were talking about it only last night and there was much comment on just how much women should expect from men in modern war. • • • Many of the girls feel the same way I do about it. Mrs. Willoughby, one of the married women at this camp, for example, says that all she wants to know is that her hus band is looking after things at the house all right. She got word last week that he was eating out in cheap restaurants a lot instead of cooking himself up some good food at home, as instructed, and it un dermined her morale terribly, she says. Then there is Mrs. Druffle, an other married enlistee, who was do ing splendidly at camp and was in line for promotion when she sud denly went all to pieces. It devel oped that it was due to news from the neighbors that her husband, Geoffrey, was not taking the Pom eranian out for walks regularly. • « • I am more worried about you than if we were married, my deai. The ration news bothers me no eiid. Are you getting enough to eat? And are those places where you and I used to go for those lovely steaks and chops open now? I never eat here in camp without worrying about you, and I was tempted to wrap up a chop and mail it to you this noon. • • • Well, bear up the best you can, write me often and knit me a sweat* er or two. I know how lonely you must feel, but duty is duty. This is an all-out war and I am going all out in it. No other course is think able. You are my pin-up man, and it is the thought of what a nice boy you are that keeps my spirits up. * * • Take care of yourself, don’t wor ry too much about what the future may hold for me, and if you really want to bake me a cake go ahead. All my love, Arlene. • » • TO THE SPARS Twinkle, twinkle, little Spar, Pulling hard to win the war, Mastering the old half-hitch, Learning which boat-end is which. Qualifying with an oar. Always saying “hatch” for “door,” Knowing downstairs is “below,” Saying to a man “I’ll row!” Learning all that matters most Of affairs along a coast, Marking what the service teaches As important at the beaches. Twinkle, twinkle, little Spar, Finding what the few things are That a Coast Guard boy can do That a woman can’t do, too. • • • “New York’s 2,200 restaurants and 144 hotels have made a pledge not to raise prices above the April 4 to 10 level and to have no dealings with black markets.”—News item. Wanna bet? • • • “The Skin of Our Teeth” and “Dragon’s Teeth” are two Pulitzer prize winners, and it strikes us that the awards must have been made this year by the American Dental Association. • • • Elmer Twitchell, in fact, thinks that in keeping with the dental note, the prize for fiction should have been announced as going to “Drag on’s Teeth” by Uppers Sinclair. • • • Uncle Sam has at last got around to breaking with Adm. George Rob-- ert, high commissioner of Marti nique. This automatically releases ‘he entire script for comic opera. • • • Huh! “OPA Chief Prentiss Brown em phasized that the success of the program rests upon the American people. Hq called on them to re fuse to pay prices above the ceil ings established.”—News item. All right? A customer goes into a market, finds no attention paid to set prices and refuses to pay. What happens? The proprietor shrugs his shoulders. The customer notifies the OPA. Then he sits back to await ac tion. But in the meantime how does he eat?