Evening star., 1942-11-13

foot.
Papa taught me always to let
Johnny get up after I had hit him
before I hit him again. Papa taught
me that when shooting marbles for
keeps I should always match an
agate against an agate, and not try
to palm off a CLASSY taw for a high
grade shooter.
My sisters taught me the proper
use of the knife and fork, and my
brothers instructed me in the art
of wearing hand-me down clothes
with a casual fair. I might add
that I ran the casual touch little
bit into the ground.
There were times when it was
touch-and-go as to whether I would
be voted the most casually dressed
adolescent in Georgia, or be picked
up as the most exposed youngster
in the State.
This bit of biographical back
ground is offered simply to show
that the author (cries of Hear!
HearD is not a blackguard running
wild midst the social graces, How
soever land you get to from me
that the word is obsolete and hasn't
been used since Godfrey Chaucer
fell off his horse on the way to Can
terbury) no matter how much
man knows about chivalry and
courtesy, modern military etiquette
is bound to bewilder, befuddle and
bifocal him.
I will now exhibit a few exhibits,
if you will excuse me for not having
a synonym for exhibits at the tip
Of my tongue
Exhibit A: Radio Toxic says the
invasion Of North Africa by United
States forces is an ungentlemanly
act, and possibly illegal.
Exhibit b: Radio Rome says the
success of the American invasion of
of the United States in sending SUI
perior forces of men, ships and
planes. Rome made it quite plain
that it considered these tactics un-
fair, unethical and un-Fascist
Exhibit C: Radio Vichy says that
for the United States troops to shoot
a Frenchman on French territory is
the same as shooting a Frenchman
on French territory, and besides it
might aggravate the senility of Mar
shal'Petain.
Unfortunately, all the Stiffness OF
military courtesy is not confined to
the Axis powers. England and this
/ country have contributed their bit.
You must have seen the pictures Of
! the alfresco party that England's
Gen. Montgomery gave Gen. Thoma.
second only to Rommel In Ger
many's Afrika Korps. Gen. Mont
gomery had no more than captured
Gen. Thoma than he flew back to
his headquarters in the desert and
started toasting rolls and scones and
seeing after the tea, for the party in
Gen. Thomas honor.
X X
Now, so help me, tough old Ike
Eisenhower-and this must prove
my point that military etiquette Is
stranger than an interior decorator
in the Marines-Ol' Ike, himself, Is
"entertaining" Admiral Darlan.
II I can read between the lines,
Ike has brought out the best family
napery and silver, torn up his coffee
ration card. and promised the cooks
an extra two bits If the food is extra
good.
This, mind you. for a man who
has proved himself to be one of the
worlds great double -crossers. A
month ago Admiral Darlan was uni
versally accepted as a Laval with
gold braid. Now he is playing gin
rummy with one of our top COM
manders. I only hope that Gen,
Ike is using his own cards when
dealing, and not the Admiral's deck.
What do you think the Germans
would have done with Gen. Mont-
gomery If he had happened to fall
into their hands? What do yo,f
think would have happened to Gen,
Ike If he had been captured? ,-
still maintain that this country
and England are determined to
come out Of this war with the "E,
pennant for department, If nothing
else.
distributed BY McNauEht Syndicate, Inc,