1940-09-14 — Page 13

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Saturday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

September 14, 1940.

The Little Understood

Colonel Who

The

GRIM stories are being told of the arrogant bearing and behaviour of our Nazi prisoners

of war..

Suggestions have been made that battalions of Polish troops would know best how to handle

them. :

The problem is not now. It arose in the last war, when it was solved by a mild-looking little colonel who understood the Germans.

A

BATCH of 1,000 German have been appointed to control prisoners of war arrived such a den of wolves.

But they could have saved at a Lancashire town in Febru-

their pity.

he understood ary 1915 to be interned.

They displayed all the im- the German character. pertinence of their race, laugh-

*

ing at the old soldiers who HIS first act was to have the mounted guard over them and behaving in ways that caused

some alarm to those living in step forward,"

mand. the vicinity.

Germans

forward a man who had refused threatened the sentry.

to perform his task and had even

"I do not appear to have made

myself clearly understood yes- where is the N.C.O. In charge

terday," Bald the colonel.

of this man's section?"

ti

The German N.C.O. was brought forward and promptly sentenced by Colonel B. to two days' confinement with bread- and water and a threat of fur- ther and severer punishment if any of the men offended again.

The real culprit was ordered back to his duty.

*

German prisoners paraded. WHEN the German N.C.O.4 "Non-commissioned officers, grasped the fact that they were was the com. to bear all the responsibility: for good behaviour and take all the punishment for misconduct they The German N.C.O.s stepped quickly made it clear to their men One of several Germans who attempted to escape was shot forward. The men were then with the aid of fists and boots- he lies buried in the local divided into sections and one of that they did not intend to suffer for.

cemetery-but this proved no the N.C.O.s placed in charge of the crimes of others.

In A very short time the only.

deterrent.

cach section.

by their own officers.

FEW months after Colonel B.'s

prisoners in appointment

ᄑ

"Now," explained the gentle punishment being meted out in the The camp commandant was a good-natured British officer who Colonel B., "each N.C.O, will be was that Inflicted on the men was more than half sorry for responsible for the behaviour of his prisoners. He did what he every man in his section. For could to earn their gratitude and any misbehaviour or indiscipline in any section the N.C.O. in respect, but, of courne, failed.

charge of it will be punished. out- "Dismiss." wardly mild and placid little colonel about the size THE prisoners dispersed to of the late Lord Roberts und their various duties wonder- trained in the same old Indian ing how the new rule would act school.

and for how long the new com- Those who saw him arrive mandant would be able to main- felt sorry that so amicable a tain his position.

HIS виссевног

•

•

gentleman-his principal Sun- They were not to wonder for day occupation was taking part long.

in Boy Scout activities-should Next day the guard brought

camo through

Yorkshire camp got out of hand. the Lancashire town in high jinks, that "they would kick the life out It was decided to send them to singing songs and seemingly greatly of any man who started any non- Colonel B.' for more of his special pleased with themselves;

sense there." treatment,

When some of the new arrivals The new arrivals

They were a bit mystifled when, Immediately on arrival, they were had tasted the reality of the threat drawn up on the parade ground and and had a few days for reflection in had the rules of the camp explained hospital the second 1,000 became as to them by the German N.C.O.a al- docile as the first, ready there.

By James Pygott

In fow days the whispered They were still more myrtilled words, "The commandant's coming,” when those meers, not over anxi- were sumclent to reduce the most to a trembling ous to take on new responsibliities, swaggering told them in most forceful German silence.

Hun

So Wendell Willkie Told Me..

"I

66T DIDN'T believe it would happen," said the fighting leader of the Republicans,, "and, I've so much sleep to make up that I can hardly believe. It has happened. But it's grand all the samel"

Wendell. Willkie had just suggested a meeting with Roone- velt to discuss their plans for America. Puzzled New Yorkers were saying "There isn't any difference between the Republican and Democrat 'platforms.'"

"The

"I'm all for mecting one's opponent," Willkie went on.

I aim to be prepared." more one knows about him the better.

"What do you want most "" "Don't go so fast," said Wendell

Willkie. "America I asked him.

"To beat Roosevelt," he re- wouldn't be any good to you. West of the Alleghany the country's solid The West for non-intervention.

plied without hesitation.

as it

now

ROSITA FORBES

the famous author-traveller, who has just returned from Canada, where she made 68 speeches for the National Council of Educa- tion about the war.

only one modern; A.A. gun in the whole of New York.

Moving Belt Army

"HOW

66OW long I began in what, must have been a forlorn voice, for Willkle interrupted:

"Don't

ho sald. get me wrong," "America has all the machinery and; the training for quick production. When Business comes in behind the Government and there is an end to all these quarrels between the White; House and the natural leaders of in- our war output will go right

"As a nation we are keyed to quick training and quick change. We can put six million or eight million men into a war of defence, and if the country decides it can best defend itself in an advance line on your side of the Atlantic it will not hesitate. The moving belt system but addicted to quick impulsive can be applied to men as well as

machines. speech, who doesn't think at the mo-

A few days ago she was in America dis- cussing the situation with Republicans and Democrats. At a country house she had several informal talks with Wendell Willkie, Roosevelt's Republican opponent at the Pre- sidential Election in November. "America's all set to admire you.

with the

His head went back in T char- would fight all right in the Pacific, acteristic gesture, and his mouth but it is not concerned turned up at the corners. He must Atlantic.

be well over six feet, broad-shoul- "Give Us A Chance"

dered, strong, but so quick of move

ment that he does not appear heavy.

His voice is gay, forceful and im-. It wants to admire you. mensely reassuring.

But you

must give us a chance. I'll say we blew trumpets over the Grat Spee

invasion. But

Bureaucracy Blamed and we're ready to do it again if

"That's only the beginning," said you smash an

the

the big man with the definitely com- ordinary farmer isn't keen on com-

forting manner.

"I

to get ing in Incun

America going_again."

"Business?" I suggested.

for a burtal," "If they're buried, we'll

be

the

next funeral," interpellated the son

"Works," he retorted. "We've got of the house.

millions idle and millions more too Wilde turned a friendly eye on disappointed and distressed, ond him-the man looks Bs if nothing cumbered by regulations and Gov- would disturb him. crnment their own.

interference to start

of

Wilkie has every gift in the way ment whether he can carry out all of appearance, manner and speech.. his promises."

He gives an impression of vigorous, stalwart reliability. He is young

I paused for want of breath and and vital and looks 38, not his 48. then hurried on.

ין

The One Gun

"No, I didn't hear that," said Wen- dell Willkle, "but it gives me a polní.

He has not the blinding charm ol Roosevelt. He does not carry you away with impetuous enthusiasm. He suggests reason, sense and con- sideration,

Fifth Column

For we should-with the best will "Aren't you concerned about Filth in the world-let you down fatter Columnists?" I asised, and quoted) than you let Abyssinia or the Czechs Hiller's words to me of a few years ago: "We shan't have to fight down if we came in unprepared. America, we can break it up inside Our Navy is pretty good; we bave whenever we like."

"Yes," retorted Wilkie, "I am

ofi "You're not telling me anything." he said. "I've been called a war- "America has grown up on private monger and a war-meddler who is enterprise and the inflative of the prepared to plunge the country into small business man. The New Deal' a blood-bath' and I've been called killed both. We've got to do the a stone-cold isolationist. I'm neither. Lazarus act for thousands who could I'm at American and I-think Brut earn and produce it they weren't of America, just as the Belgians did

and of Belgium

the French half-suffocated by bureaucracy."

France.

The troublo in Europe has been about the wor, but it was diff- that no nation except Germany was cult because every member of the quite certain whose war it was fght-

sonal ambition, an experimentalist, a A European Naval Attache in the, "Il tell you something," he re- family with whorn I was staying had ing. different ideas.

America shouldn't go in until man who would rather do the wrong party put in "We calculate you'plied. "It's my bellef any Republi- The son, about 20, used to make she's convinced that it is her own things than nothing at all, change have about 35,000 first-line troops can could boat any Democrat except furious speeches. "IT American war and until she has a chance of Democracy and the British Empire winning. At present sho isn't pre-able, adoptable, and, I think, sincere who might be able to stand a modern Roosevelt. With Franklin D. it'll be

in his hatred of Nazi-lam rind his war. The rest are really trained for a whale of a fight and I like are not worth fighting for," he said, pared to fight anyone."

NATURALLY, I wanted to talk

some fine pilots-but only a fraction of the machines we need; and the very much concerned, but if I am greater part of our Army is not clected they won't have a chance, trained to meet modern mechanical for I shan't wait for them to act,

I shall act first." weapons."

"Will you be elected?"

"then I don't see there's anything at Mr. Willide pushed a hand through desire to support the Democracies, military police work. And you've fight.

all in life." He had refused a large his rough strong hair. "And we're. banking account and run away to sending machines to fight 'em," he Join the Canadian Air Force. Un said, "and we'll send more. Don't fortunately, his sight was defective, you woITY!

But, despite the crashing of his air." Too Many Promises

dreams, he had secret schemes for volunteering as a gunner.

He Blamed Us.

Д "We've got to create

strong

America, united and prepared. We've got to be able to defend our- The boy's older sister had married selves on the Atlantic as well as the

a Hungarian who thought the Bri- Pacific. Then, maybe, we'll find it's tish had "let down" the French by in our own interests to fight your not having immediato conscription side of the Atlantic instead of ours. 17 to 70---in September 1930,

There's no division of opinion His younger sister was worlding about sending you whatever you for a Red Cross unit formed over want. I tell you I'm asking the scas and could only talk of com Allies straight out, What do you plicated fractures and gases which want? and sending it as soon sho described with inaccurate relish, possible. But there have been too Their Zather my host was 60 many promises which we could not appalled by the new taxation that he fulfi because we hadn't the material. was for ever warning his family of "The New Deal hos disorganised imminent disaster.

business and labour to such a degree

I remember Wilkie saying to him, that we can't promise quick produc You won't impresa na English- tion." woman with that stuff. They've got."

having nothing left but their

used

liver

to

Turning to me he added, with that smile of us which is as good wenpolas Roosevelt's charm, "and your lives are one thing you British

The V

Worst Picker

0#

66 ■ AVE you ever met the Preal-

Yead 2 A

dent?" he asked me."

How did he strike you?",

"A brilliant pollician, amit Tegge personality, a hurricane, 5 charmer

dove never haggled about who aimply can't help charml

America L Thinks deigentus for making snerples

HAT gave me a chance. Into the calls by spiritist pins

red by, thìa finalilin, the form

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