Evening star., 1943-08-16
2 Soldiers Give u. S. 7OCents
To Make Debt Even in Dollars
Treasury Receives Variety Of Gifts
From Americans and Foreigners


The soldiers who sent the Treas
ury 70 cents to round of the
national debt to an even figure are
only two of the thousands of
Americans and foreigners who have
made outright contributions to
Uncle Sans war chest of more than
$4,000, 900 in cash and a variety of
objects ranging from wedding rings
and old coins to a sled and seven
dog team and an eight-coach rail-
road train.
Two Army privates, the Office of
War Information reported today in
roundup on war contributions to
the Government, noticed that the
national debt at the end of the fiscal
year June 80 was $104, 4,2O4 .022, ,068. 10.
1nclosed please find 10 cents to
be applied to this debt" the men
stationed at Brunswick, Me-, wrote
the Treasury. I'VE gladly contrib
ute this sum in order to round off
the figure to an even number Of
dollars"
Gifts Received from Abroad.
Contributions to Uncle Sam have
been made by. Americans in every
walk OF rich and. 1oor, 4
young children tdcws, motfefs of;
servicemen, and those who are too.
old or physically unable to Eerve
the country. Gifts for 1sswatting
the Japs" or Kicking the hell out OF
Hitler" have come from Cuba, Mex
leo, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and
other Latin American countries and
from Great Britain and Canada.
Refugees fortunate enough to escape
Germany have made donations,
while former German soldiers who
We're decorated for bravery In the
last war have contributed iron
crosses to defeat the Nazis.
Some donations were sent directly
to the Treasury, others to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, while many were
addressed to Uncle Sam, Washing
ton, D. c."
Taking stock of the free-will Of
ferings that have poured in, the
Owl reported that the Treasury
Department has received and ac-
knowledged more than 10000 con-
tributions since the war began.
One Gives $4,000.
The largest single gift to date has
been $25,000. But in many cases,
members of labor unions or church
congregations, workers in Govern
ment Offices or war plants, or stu
dents in school classes have pooled
their funds. One such group gift
amounted to 100000.
Treasury books show about $4 4,423,-
600 in cash has been received. The
treasure of generations has been
given, and many gifts bear labels of
Germany, Italy and Japan and are
accompanied by requests that the
articles be sent back to those coun-
tries by the most effective route
from American guns.
Many mementoes of the last war
are sent, including the iron crosses
and the "Gott NIT uns" brass belts
brought back by the doughboys of
1918. There are boxes and cans of
old coins and medals from remote
parts OF the world, gold pieces, silver
and bronze plate. Numerous we'd
ding and engagement rings are in
cluded, quaint ornaments and silver
and gold watches of another day.
Many donors are in the class with
the Davenuort Gowa) storekeeper,
who has sent a $40 check each week
since Pearl Harbor. An elderly resi-
dent OF Coral Gables, Fla, has sent
in 500 each month since early 1912
A little girl in Cincinnati sent a
dollar on March II, 1912, and has
sent the same amount each month
since. Each remittance is addressed
to Mr.. Roosevelt.
Apologies for Delay.
''I'm sorry that I didn't write to
you sooner" the little girl wrote
after one installment was late, but
I'm sure that you understand. I've
been having such hard school work.
I'm in the sixth grade and it's get
ting harder. I'm doing everything
I can to help win this war. My
cousin will be going overseas soon.
He can't wait to get at those Jap
anese and Germans.
Many gifts arrive from outside the
United States. A Peru radio dealer
ordered an Illinois firm to deduct
10 per cent from all his orders to
be given the Treasury las a modest
contribution Of my firm to the cause
that your country is defending"
A small boy in Massachusetts,,
limited in funds but anxious to
help buy supplies to beat the Japs,
sent President Roosevelt a letter
containing cents.
During the last two years, volun-
tary donations have increased dur
ing the income-tax paying month
OF March, owl reported, explaining
that many persons whose incomes
are too small to be taxed have been
making contributions in lieu of
taxes.
From Soap to Rolls Royce.
Among the sundry articles in the
Treasury Departments gift harvest
have been bells, whisky, rubber,