Evening star., 1943-08-27

There have been thousands Of
such pictures printed showing
peasants lining the streets, clappings
their hands, cheering, laughing.
dancing with Joy. and pelting the
soldiers with flowers and gifts.
almost have been led to believe
they don't do any other work but
stand around the streets waiting for
= conquering horde to come roaring
in from the suburbs.
Sheer Joy IN Welcoming.
From a fairly close study of these
propaganda pictures I feel the people
in North Africa get more sheer en-
joyment out of welcoming invading
armies than any other group.
I remember the Axis pictures Of
the German and Italian arrival In
that section and they reminded me
OF Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Gay
throngs filled the streets and laugh
ing children stretched out hands to
receive gifts Of sweets from the men
who, only a few hours before, had
been dropping bombs and artillery
shells on and about their homes. t
When the Allies overcame the
Afrika Korps and stormed into Tunis
and Bizerte. the populace was right
there, ready with a whacking good
reception. More dancing. More
pelting Of tanks with flowers. More
laughing and shouting and 24-karat
happiness.
The reception given our troops
was even better than the 0ne given
the Axis. probably because the people
aad had the practice and knew which
way to turn their heads to get the
merriest side of their faces into the
lenses.
Happy Over Lambasting.
The Sicilians have been a mighty
close second. They were right there
with the fruit and flowers, with
every tooth showing, when the Al
lied troops came in. The Sicilians
were so happy about the lambasting
they took from the Allies by air and
sea that am bold enough to re-
construct a conversation that took
place in the home of an average
Sicilian family just before our
troops marched VIGOROUSLY In.
Papa Sicilian; Hot dog. Are
they beating our brains out!" !.
Mama Sicilian: isn't it grand
papa, to think that everything we
have lies In ruins. and that the dear
darling enemy will soon be at our
door,"
Baby sicilian: "Oh, goody,, goody,
now I'll get tootsie wootsie roll."
Papa Sicilian: "Hurrah, let's ali
get dressed In our best clothes and
go down to meet those good. kind
people who are about to CONQUER
our homeland" /.
They All Love . Parade,
There is tremendous roar Of
bombs and mortar shells.
Mama Sicilian (picking herself of
the hoor): Thank goodness for that
explosion. That means the enemy
can't be far away. And you know.
papa, how we all love a parade" Z
Papa Sicilian: Where is grand4
ma? She won't want to miss this
holiday"
Mama Sicilian: She's in her fox
mole where she has been for the pa st
three days. Her house is gone, and
her farm Is ruined. But she'll be
as tickled as all the rest of us when
she hears the good news that our
country has fallen" 9
fapa, mama, and baby leave ths
house, help the old lady out of thg
1oxhole, and all troop merrily into
town. There, after throwing kisses
at the first tanks that rumble ina
they have their pictures made bv
the oficial Allied photographers.
The picture will show them sigeline
and simpering over having lost their
home and the war. -
Ihe camera doesn't lie. No, I
know 1t doesn't, but I'm beginning
to have my doubts. =
distributed By McNaurht syndicst. In. q
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