The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-11-20

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One friendly observer just back
from England describes London
probably quite accurately - as
the Verdun of the present war.
London is the battle on which
the outcome of the war may de-
pend. But the difference is that
the punishment at Verdun was
born by seasoned troops, while wo-
men, children, civilians and supply
factories remained far behind
the lines. In London the situation
is Just as If women and chill
dren, hospitals, and munitions
plants were right up in the front
line trenches.
Under this bOmbardment, all
observers, the courage of the
British people is heroic in the
extreme. Watchers remain on
the roof-tops while bombs rain
around them at the rate of one
minute. The watchers are sup
fused TO spot Dombs as they fall,
since more and more bombs are
now of the delayed action va
riety, and have to be carried
off to an isolated place before
they explode.
The watchers laugh, joke and
call out from adjoining roof-tops,
but they never leave their posts.
During the night many people
cannot sleep, so they take cat
maps in the daytime. You see Lon
don stenographers sleeping in
strange places, sometimes at their
desks, sometimes in corridors. And
there Is complete tolerance on the
part Of employers toward sleeping
employees.
ENGLAND LOOKS TO U. S. A.
Despite this heroiSm, the Ameri-
can public might as well look the
facts squarely in the face-namely
that few people in Great Britain
would continue this suffering If
they were not confident that very
vigorous, major help was coming
from the United States.
In fact, most of the British peo-
pie, much as they are suffering,
do not have any full idea OF the
danger which the Empire faces.
Two main categories Of information
are held back from them: ~ the
amount of damage done to fac
tories, especially munitions works;
and (2) the terrific toll of Brit
ish shipping.
In a general way, of course.
It is realized that Hitler's plan
is to starve out England while
still continuing to subject Lon
don to tragic air-raids. But
most of the population have little
idea how desperately the Empire
today needs ships.
NOTE - Britain has now re-
ceived in trade or for cash 80
U. S. destroyers and 80 old Ship
ping Board vessels. But the time
is not far off when new requests
for U. S. ships will be forth
coming.
HULL'S SQUIRRELY FRIEND
When the Secretary of State goes
to call on tn, President, some
times he is escorted across the
street by socially ambitious grey
squirrel named Pete.
To get to the White House, Mr..
Hull has only to cross West Ex-
ecutive avenue. Park Policeman
Ed Costello is there to stop the
traffic, and hopping along be-
hind Costello comes the squirrel.
The last time Secretary Hull
crossed the avenue, he noticed
his beady-eyed escort, and said
to Costello. "Wh0's your friend:"
That's Pete" said the officer.
Another day when Hull came
out Of the State Department at
lunch time. he found Ofiicer Cos
tello and George Klenk. chauffeur
to Sumner Welles. staging an act
with Pete. The squirrel was Jump
ing from the arms Of one to the
arms Of the other. on call. Fas-
cinated. Hull watched for five
minutes before he drove off to his
hotel.
Klenk Is worried about Pete's
street-strolling habits. "That little
beggar Is going 10 get killed some
a. u raalfs, mas rafiaar thar,