The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-01-29
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Ordnance is the haughtiest and
most hide-bound branch of the
army. So much so that it has been
the object of much bitter private
criticism by civilian defense chiefs.
But there is one notable exception
to this Ordnance rule. He is Will
liam Van Antwerp Kemp, a tall,
husky, dynamic engineer, who made
big success in private business
and volunteered his services when
the national emergency arose. Since
then, as an Ammunition division ex-
ecutive, he has been making his
tory, busting redtape in tradition
bound Ordnance.
There are many tales Of Kemp's
unconventional exploits. The latest
is one of the best.
Asked by a general to suggest a
manager for a new government
munition plant about to begin pro-
duction, Kemp recommended crack
expert who had been loaned to the
British to build plant in England.
He ought to be finished with his
job over there by now," said Kemp.
eff he is, get him." was the order.
From the British, Kemp learned
the expert had completed his work
and was available. So Kemp picked
up a phone and called the state de-
partment.
81 want to talk to the guy" he
said, "who gets guys back from Eng
land"
There was a gasp, but the operator
switched Kemp to someone who
asked him who he was and what
he wanted.
''I'm Kemp of Army Ordnance"
he said. There's a guy in England
we want to run an ammunition plant
for us. Get him back here right
away, will your"
Six days later the expert reported
to Kemp and left for his new job.
A few days later the general again
summoned Kemp, asked what had
been done about the expert.
cts all taken care of, general"
said Kemp. Hes been on the job
at the plant two days."
'How did you get him back here
so fast?"
''No trouble. I just called up the
state department, asked for the guy
who gets guys back here and he
arranged it."
Kemp" said the general severe
ly, "do you know who that guy in
the state department was?"
mo, SIR
'sHe was the undersecretary of
state.''
Note: Kemp has persistently re-
fused to accept an army commits
sion. Finally, pressed by the gen.
eral for the reason, he retorted:
''Some day may want to come in
here and blow up. If I do, as an
officer you could court-martial me.
But as a civilian, all you can do is
fire me. I'm remaining civilian"
JAP SCHOOL LESSONS
After three years probing of sub
versive activities, it takes lot to
excite Rep. Martin Dies, but the 9TH
er day the rangy Texan hit on a
discovery that took his breath away.
His committee has been making
a sweeping inquiry of Jap fifth
columning on the West coast, includ-
ing subversive teaching in japanese
language schools located all over
southern California. Investigators
found that from the primary grades
up students in these schools are in
doctrinated with militarism and the
theology of their Jap ancestors.
Primer books, for instance, are
filled with pictures of the japanese
flag and soldiers, accounts OF the
greatness of the Jap navy, and sto-
ries with titles like ''My Brother En-
listed in the Army"
However, the thing that stunned
Dies was a portion of story titled
Submarines. Although written sew
eral years ago, it was a perfect
description of the sneak Jap sub
marine attack at Pearl Harbor.
Printed in both japanese and Eng
ish, it read: "It is our duty to go
underwater when the enemy's bat
tleships draw near and sink Them"