Evening star., 1943-10-08
American Paratrooper
Tricks Nazis by Use
OF German Language
BY WALTER McCALLUM.

A Heidelberg educated American
Army sergeant, dropped by para
chute from an American airplane q
few hours before as part of an
American parachute infantry out
fit, used his knowledge of the Ger
man language to such good account
that he had the Germans obeyine
his orders and knocked off" sew
eral of them.
American parachute troops
dropped behind the German lines at
Avellino, l3 miles directly north of
Salerno and about rs miles east OF
Naples, in an effort to relieve the
hard-pressed 5th Army, stumbled in
darkness into German tank
bivouac. With the dash character
lstic of parachute troops they used
their weapons (bazookas, rifles and
grenades) so effectively that the
Germans, aroused in the middle of
the night, ran into their own cross
hre and many were killed.
Parachutists Confident.
The story came yesterday from
MAJ. Gen. Ellbridge G. Chapman,
commanding general of the Airborne
command at Camp Mackall. N. c..
VINO has Just returned from the Ital-
ian front.
The American parachute infantry
armed with weapons in which he
has complete confidence is more
advanced than the Germans" of
similar outfits because of advances
IN our technique and our thorough
training" he reported.
Gen. Chapman also visited Sicily
where airborne troops were used
against the defenders. He left WASH
1ngton today for Airborne Command
headquarters at Camp Mackall. to
put into effect some of the lessons
learned In airborne actions.
Gen. Chapman, in 1910 and 1911,
eaptained the University of Colorado
football team. He used gridiron
terms to describe the parachute in
fantry, L found the men like a foot
ball team preparing for the big
game, keen and eager to go and
after the action eager and willing to
60 again" he said. They are proud
OF the distinction they hold in the
Army and their position as para
chute troops. They have remark
able esprit"
Speaking with obvious pride. he
described the men of Airborne Com
mand as exceptionally good fight
ters. That is the result. the air.
borne commander said, of the meth
cd OF selection approved by the War
department., Of taking for parachute
and glider troops only chosen men,
who have been through strenuous
periods of training.
Weapons of Opportunity"
"Airborne troops are weapons of
opportunity" Gen. Chapman said.
There hasn't been 2 campaign ver
that the opportunity did not oc-
cur for use Of airborne men" Gen.
Chapman explained that both in
fantry dropped by parachute and
glider troops come under his COM
mand. Glider troops. however. were
used in an amphibiouS operation in
Italy, and not in their gliders. He
added that glider pilots will fight
with the troops when the motor
less troop carrying ships land. and
that every effort will be made to
return them to glider work as soon
as possible.
Gen. Chapman. holder of the Dis
Service Cross won in
action in the World War when he
led machine gun outfit. told of the
incident Of the German speaking
sergeant. in z pocket we'll behind
the German lines.
The men MADE contact with the
enemy End fought at distances be-
tween 80 and IS Yards he said.
This sergeant said in German to
the enemy. move to the right. A
German left cover and moved The
sergeant shot him down. Other