The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-11-08
rNd1ilaqaa,
Washington, d. C.
ON FLANDERS FIELDS

ON FLANDERS FIELDS
Germany allows no press reports
to tell Of the plight of France, but
this does not prevent refugees in
America from telling what is going
on.
A dramatic picture of French life
is brought overseas by the secre-
tary of the manufacturers associa-
ton of France, M. Robert A. Dor
Diet, who came in by Baltimore, and
was not exposed to general press
interviews. AS told the Merry-Go-
Round exclusively, this is his story:
There are no automobiles on the
streets of France, because there is
no gasoline. Supplies have been cut
off by the British embargo and lat
er the German.
There is a shortage Of all foods,
a complete absence of some. There
is no coffee, no tea, no butter, no
milk. Winter is coming and there
is no coal.
Some of these supplies are nor
mally available in France, but to-
day they are lacking either because
of interrupted transportation or be-
cause of confiscation by the Ger
mans.
Furthermore, the invasion Of ref
ugees-French, Belgian and Dutch
has reduced food supplies. So far,
refugees swarming all over the couri-
tryside have kept themselves alive
on the fruits and vegetables OF
southern France.
Fall harvesting and planting is
further disrupted by the absence OF
workers. A million French soldiers
are held as prisoners, and requests
for their release to work in fields
and factories have been unavailing.
Three times Vichy's Vice Premier
Laval went to Paris to appeal to
the German high command, and
even was refused an audience. Ger
many was too busy waging war on
England to talk about problems OF
peace.
COME'N' SEE 1T
II certain leading advertising
agencies can sell the idea to army
brasshats, the boys in camp this
winter will see star radio shows
with glamorous movie queens, ia
NOUS comics, popular crooners and
top bands-put on the air.
However, there is considerable
difference of opinion among army
chiefs on this novel plan. They are
agreed that the shows would be a
big hit and a morale builder, but
some of them question the COM
mercial features of the program.
If one class of sponsors, such as
cigarettes or automobiles, are al
lowed to stage broadcasts in army
camps, they contend that others,
such as patent medicines, might de-
mand similar privileges and couldn't
fairly be refused. They also argue
that no commercial performances
should be allowed in government
posts.
Proponents of the plan retort that
this would no more imply govern
ment endorsement of the product
than if soldiers in uniform attended
the same shows in radio stations.
Also, that it didn't matter who the
sponsor was so long as the show was
clean and star entertainment.
Civilian press aides in the
war department are strong for the
proposal, but their military asso-
ciateS are not.
A FINE TRIBUTE
Finest recent tribute to a United
States senator was circulated be-
hind his back, when "a colleagues
signed a petition asking Roosevelt
to appoint Sen. Henry Fountain Ash
urst to the U. S. Court of Claims.
There are only SO members Of the
senate, and IL were absent or ill
when the petition was circulated
proposing this reward for the sena-
tor from Arizona. Ashurst has
served that state for % years since
the first day it was elevated from a
territory to statehood. He was de-
feated this year in the Democratic
primary, largely because a weak
heart prevented him from going
home to campaign.
In addition to his old friend, Sem
ator Tom. Connally of Texas, the
person who helped get the record
breaking total of "a senatorial sig
natures for Ashurst was Mrs. Lionel
Atwill, daughter of the late Edward
T. Stotesbury and sister of Jimmy
Cromwell, now running for senator
from New. Jersey. A8&D
When the list was handed to
Roosevelt, he remarked: II wish I
could get "a senators behind me-"
se CAPITAL CHAFF
Edward n McCrahan World uoy.