Evening star., 1941-12-27


reputation as a as1sasssS aa''s e4
reporter on it. Henry MeLemors.
Since war came to this country
have talked to hundreds Of persons
from half the States and almost
without exception they admitted
that, frightening as bombs were.
their curiosity was stronger than
their dread of what the bombs
might do.
In New York the AFRAID sirens
acted as tonic on the populace.
It resulted in a civic reaction COM
parable to the horns and whistles at
midnight New Year If a visitor
from another world had arrived
while the sirens were footing he
might we'll have judged from the
actions of the people and the ex-
preSsions on their faces that some
national festival was in progress.
You may doubt me if you care to,
but the general feeling over the
false alarms was not one of relief,
but one of disappointment. Every
one had run into the streets or
onto the roofs in the hope of seeing
with his eyes a dogfight in the skies
or a plane with a Rising Sun en-
blem and a slant-eyed pilot sweep
ing down on Broadway.
Instead of being alarmed, the
citizens who lived near possible mill
tary objectives such as a bridge.
power plant. etc, were very SNUG
about the whole thing and rather
pitled their acquaintances whose
houses or apartments were tucked
away in safer spots.
One family know actually put on
airs because IL dWelt in the shadow
Of the Fifty-ninth Street Bridge and
within bomb bounce from a major
power plant.
This is surely place planes
would drop bombs on" the head Of
the house said with touch of pride
IN his voice. If there is any action
we are sure to see it"
He said he was toying with the
idea Of holding a sort Of open house
/ for few months IN order that his
friends wouldn't miss ANYTHING if
anything happened
Please don't interpret this story as
an attempt to justify this attitude
or praise it. 1t undoubtedly is darn
silly. but it exists nevertheless. May
be few bombs will cure it. but until
they are dropped the AFRAID war
dens are going to have the toughest
sort Of time.
! Take this town I'm in right now,
/ Florence, S. c. DO you think Flor
ence is happy because it is miles in.
land. doesn't boast any particular
military objective and. therefore, is
very safe from an air raid? No, in
deed. In the lobby of my hotel in a
barbecue place I went for dinner. in
the corner drug store where bought
| cigarettes, I asked q dozen or more
citizens how they felt about being
in such a safe spot.
They actually resented having
/ mentioned Florence as a particu-
larly safe spot Almost as one man
| they made it plain that, although
| Florence may not be a direct OBJ
/ jective, it stood pretty good chance
| of being hit if invading planes got
to this country.
We've figured the citizens said,
one at a time and at different places,
that, if plane got slightly lost and
| had TO tighten its load. this is a per-
feet place for the pilot to get rid of
| his bombs. We're pretty we'll on
the alert here. We're in just about
as much danger here as the folks
are anywhere else"
The people everywhere I have
| been have the same attitude as the
ForentianS. if that is what the
/ people in Florence are called. The
/ tone of their voices warns you not
to question them. You might just
as well tell them their town water
is polluted or that their grade
schools are inadequate, as TO even
hint that they are safe. They have
made up their minds they are
going to see an enemy plane, even
if they have to arrange an excursion
trip to the coast to do it.
Maybe this whole attitude is
foolhardy. Maybe it works against
unity in defense precautions. But
honesty compelS me to tell you that
love it. Who in the world is ever
! going to lick nation made up of
individuals who. deep down in their
hearts, are not only not afraid. but
who want not only little, but plenty
of action?
You know. know, and before long
the world will know, that when it
comes to taking it we're second only
to dishing it out.
! Distributed by McNaught Syndicate, IncD