The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-17

New York, Feb. 17-It seems to be the general experience of most peo- pie that move about New York to be Vlslbly affected at the seeming lack of protection against sabotage in clined persons who could easily ap- proach places that are recognized as vital to the war program.
 There have been many remarks about the predictions that the Laf- ayette or Normandie would never leave New York. I believe however that this could be laid to idle talk of the thousands of people who spoke after personal observations which caused them to come to the conclusions that it would be cinch for an enemy to cause enough dam age to prevent it's sailing though I doubt that even the most vivid alarmist could have visioned such a holocast as that which actually hap pened.
 I was very much interested in the attendant excitement on the day of the fire. That very morning some friends of mine were all adither because a taxi driver had informed them that force of one hundred thousand men had just arrived at the Philippines to aid General Mac Arthur. He said one American plane had doWned 35 Japanese planes and that the turn had come. He stated the radio was blaring forth this in- formation all morning, and l will say that for time we were quite elated. The news seemed of such great importance, we decided to verify it through a call to a New York newspaper. Disillusioned we moved or for lunch. Later we engaged another taxi driver who started to tell us about the big fire on the Normandie. He said that two hundred men were trapped be- low, the hoses had been cut and the beat seemed doomed to total loss.
 Recalling the experience of a few hours before I asked the taxi driver for his feelings in the matter. He admitted being downright mad about I the whole situation. T wouldn't 1 trust any one man not even my own brother, with a job of protecting ! something so important as a means of transportation for soldiers at this critical time," he said "If it was l a case of carelessness would arrest or court martial somebody or every body for their participation in the | nf uyhnr tha f ship was supposed to be heading, and who will be sacrificed by this disaster" He continued in the same vein of anger which could be be eX- 1 pressed by his yen for firing squad that would also wake up a lot of | people to the need of being on the alert in factories, shipyards and other places that are important to the conduct of the war.
 We wondered who was starting all this propaganda for the morning experience made us think it just an- other and less probable story. One of our party made mental note o1 the taxi drivers name to check up
 Some hours later we again heard the story and this time we knew 1t to be true.
 It does not require an experienced observer to realize that industry has failed generally to properly protect it's huge investments by employing guards. These men could look out for intruders and also keep an eye on people employed.
 Mayor LaGuardia no doubt has some auxiliary police plans to help safeguard the city generally. Busi- ness however, ought to make some moves to help itself.
 It was the first week of the new year that the writer suggested tc city officials a plan that would helr