Evening star., 1942-07-17

Henry MeL<more. this department
is sick and tired Of reading Of the
courtesy and thoughtfulness Of Nazi
submarine commanders after their
U-boats have shot hell out OF craft
and left the survivors swimming
around in burning oil, or hanging
onto flimsy RATS hundreds Of miles
at sea.
1t is weary until death Of reading
stories Of how these toughest OF all
Nazis are really pig-boat Lord Ches-
terfields at heart, and can scarcely
hold their monocles In their eyes be-
cause Of tears and sympathy for the
poor seamen they have inconveni-
enced.
Such stories are German propa-
ganda Of the highest sort. If Herr
Goebbels, himself, were editing the
American papers he would ask moth
ing more than that such accounts be
prominently displayed. 1t must de-
light his black heart, back there in
Berlin, to rifle through . stack Of
American newspapers and see stories
where Nazi commanders are painted
as tall, handsome, Immediately clad
gentlemen. who, when an enemy ship
has been torpedoed, gracefully sur
faces his ship and then comes on
deck to inquire as to the health. Of
the survivors.
Il 4 i
And such accounts are common
In American newspapers. There have
been stories OF how the NaZi COM
mander has offered survivors ciga-
rettes and beer. There have been
stories of how the commander has
given the survivors directions as to
how to reach land, handed them
bottle or two of water and waved
them . gay cheerio as his U-boat
moved away-to prowl on. other con-
voys.
The latest account told OF how an
injured United Nations seaman was
taken aboard the U-boat and given
first-aid treatment by . German
physician.
The U-boat commanders never get
any the worst of 1t in the news
paper accounts. They invariably
speak Maurice Evans English and
have something Ike this to say:
Dear old boys, SO sorry. Really.
too bad We had TO let you have the
torpedoes, but this Is war, you know.
OIL turnip, 80 you'll forgive US, I'm
sure"
Nuts to such stories. Mr.. Davis
and his boys who are in charge of
censoring the war news should put
q stop to such obvious German
propaganda. And, at once, too.
It is pretty obvious that the
phoney gallantry Of the U-boat
commanders was cooked up tn Ber-
lin, long before the commanders
ever put out to sea. We have had
enough proof of German heartless-
ness and brutality to know that
these occasional bits of decency on
the part Of their omcers are strictly
for show and are about as genuine
as fire sale or gold brick.
Come to think of it, there isn't
much gallantry in q U-boat COM
mander bringing his boat to the
surface and giving survivors of his
attack the old Hello, chums," busi-
ness after he has let them have 1t
amidships with all his torpedoes.
That Is about the same as Q host
at dinner party beating his guests
to pulp. throwing them out into
the street, and then running oat
to serve them their after-dinneR
coffee as they stagger around.
bruised and bloody. It's shout ths
same as hitting fellow over the
head with . crowbar and then
worrying whether or not he has any
aspirin to take.
So. let's quit running stories about
nice, friendly. Mani submarine COM
manders. Let's hate them for what
they are-cold, efficient, ruthless
murderers who, more than any other
group, are slowing down our war
effort.
A few more accounts Of how
charming and gracious they are, and
the more sympathetic Of our citi-
zens will be knitting socks for the
poor dears.
distributed by MeNausht Syndicate. Incl