Evening star., 1940-08-08
Stoegerer
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Stoegerer
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30 to London on a special mission,
the details Of which I'm not at lib
erty to disclose.
Danger in Blackouts.
Once in London it seemed to me
those blackouts they have were po-
tentially more dangerous than the
bombings at that time. To drive in
darkness was like trying to tell a
black suit from a red one in a pitch
dark closet.
I came back across on the first
of May and was transferred to the
Royal Canadian Military Police
Force, assigned to duty at Camp
Borden, Ontario, the rendezvous of
the I'd Division, now in active service
on the other side.
Though on routine military police
duty. had a chance at Borden to
get real look into the training
facilities at this, an exemplary
training camp. The overwhelming
shortage of supplies and everything
else which goes along with an ade-
quate training program was almost
unbelievable.
I can truthfully say that in the
mechanical units there was no
training beyond map-reading and
the principles of fighting-and little
Of the latter. I heard there were
only IL tanks for training use in the
whole of Canada. I didn't doubt it
in the slightest.
Parliament Blamed.
1t was my understanding around
camp that the deplorable shortage
of military necessities was due to
some members of Parliament whose
thoughts apparently were in line
with those of our Reynoldses and
Nyes, who enjoy being isolationists
and refuse to do anything about lack
of military preparedness.
The people in Canada seem to
realize that what the United States
does is our own business, but most
of them will tell you we ought to
open our eyes to our own perilous
position.
I'm almost forgetting I no longer
have the legal right to say I'VE" and
"our" in reference to the United
States, so back to my story.
About the first of June, my bum
leg, which I injured four years ago
in an automobile crackup IN Texas,
started acting up on me. A med
ical oficer sent me to hospital in
Toronto.
And that was the beginning Of the
end,
Given Honorable Discharge.
stayed in the hospital for week
and then was sent back to Borden.
There they called me before a medi-
cal board for an examination. On
June 18 was notified had been
dropped to e category-which is
about the same as saying, "You amt
in the army now"
Surely enough, I was sent to a
military depot in Toronto, and on
June>27 they gave me an honorable
discharge on the ground that was
medically unfit for service under
existing standards.
Two days later, after had man
aged to buy myself an automobile, I
headed for the border in civilian
clothes. An inspector at the border
unfortunately detected q kit bag in
the back of the car and refused to
allow me to cross until q special
board of inquiry could be called in
Montreal.
The board met on July and de-
cided had ex-patriated myself and
furthermore was an alien without
possession OF an unexpired visa, I
was not told I could appeal the de-
cision nor was advised in any way.
Couldn't Get Aid.
A visit to the American Consulate
brought me nothing. I figured they
might find out for me what the boys
who fought in Spain did to get back
in the country. Wrong again. I
got no assistance whatsoever.
then went to Ottawa and had
chat with an assistant to the
American Minister But he informed
me there was nothing / could do,
except attempt to be admitted to the
United States as an alien and follow
the resultant red tape and routine.
All this time, as I seemed to get
farther and farther away from home,
I was figuring on way to slip in.
felt like fellow trying to saw his
way into jail.
knew the Justice Department
had sent my description throughout
the East, at least, when I joined up
with the army. I also knew I would
be in hot water once got back In
the States. But I was going to get
back If 1t was the last thing ever
did.
Left For Vancouver.
My best bet, was certain, would
be out ON the West Coast. So used
what little money I had left to catch
train to winnipeg, and from there
hitch -hiked to Vancouver.
I caught q ride to the border out
side Of Blaine, WASH, and made
ready to face my hrst barrier. II
eams IA ths person 2 vefy akable