Evening star., 1942-07-19
British Good Pay Offer
Causes Big Rush Of
Italians 10 Surrender
English Even Permit
Prisoners TO Send
Port Of Money Home
Ry HELEN LOMRARD.

! Washington has become for Brit
ish officers on rest furlough what
the French Riviera was in the last
war. The United States now Is the
nearest haven for weary British Of
fcers who deserve change, abund-
ant rations and other amenities Of
life.
Some of those who were in the
thick of the Libyan battle last year
are now arriving in Washington,
They are not on complete furlough,
however, but remain in touch with
the American War Department and
with ofiicers for whom they are
painting the picture OF modern war
fare In the desert.
Both charming and terrifying II
the refusal of many OF these Brit
ishers, who have seen the hardest
kind Of service. to recognize that
Hitler.s war is lethal In conception
and In aim. They still look on war
as sport and defeat as q lost
inning. They are ready TO give
full credit to their chief opponent,
Field Marshal Rommel. for his dar-
ing strategy, but are prone to be
over calm about the far reaching
implications of his successes.
Italians Induced to Surrender.
This attitude Of the British officer
caste, so dangerous when dealing
with the Nazis, has been highly
successful in connection with the
Italians. The British have per-
sistently refused to hate the Ital-
ians, even during Mussolini's Chin
niest" days. The officers who fought
II Duces men in Libya declare the
soldiers are nice fellows" and their
commanders behave like gentlemen.
Most Of the Italians are home
sick for their families and native
land. Nearly all Of them have lost
heart in q war that has ceased
to be an Italian war. A rumor
spread by the British that Italian
prisoners would be put on the same
pay schedule rs the British army
quickly brought results.
When the news was confirmed
that Britain was exceeding the re-
quirements Of international law and
actually was giving italian prison.
ers the same pay as that Of its own
omcers and men, there was some
thing OF rush, with no intent to
assault, towards the British lines.
Duce Bans Money Transfer.
Italian privates who received
what in American money would be
a compensation of about S. a month
were willing to stop exerting them
selves in the burning desert and to
lease their leisure to the British at
the attractive price of $40 q month.
Even some of the officers found that
the accident of being captured by
the enemy was not complete dis
aster. An Italian colonel who re-
ceives roughly about $1,000 q year
would flnd himself colrteously
treated by the British captors and
paid an English colonels salary.
The Italians were taken to camps
near Cairo or Alexandria before be-
ing transferred to India. As soon
as the captives got their pay checks
they would ask permission to 70
into town. Through the local branch
OF Swiss bank they would send
part Of their pay checks to their
families in Italy. The British loos-
ened up on their strict exchange
control and permitted italian OH
GERS and men to send a substantial
part OF their pay back home.
This practical application Of the
old adage that you can catch more
flies with honey than with vinegar
began to alarm the Nazis. When
the number Of Italian captives con-
tinued to mount last spring II Duce
was requested by Berlin to issue an
order forbidding the transfer of
money home by prisoners In the
hands of the British.
CReleased BY the Bell Syndicate, lne.1