The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-01

The German and Italian armies
used the Spanish civil war as a
testing ground for modern war
fare; but the U. S. army has rele-
gated Americans who fought in
Spain largely to work battalions.
Milton Wolff wls a major in
command of b. alton OF the
Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the
Ebro offensive. Later he en-
listed in the U. S. Army, was sent
to officers training camp at Fit.
Benning, Ga. There regimental
commander Col. Thomas r. Gibson
treated Wolff cordially and a
story of his Spanish experiences
was written up in the camp news
paper. His qualifications were
rated excellent. He qualified on
map reading, compass work, night
problems.
QUERIED ABOUT SPAIN
"Then," says Wolff, suddenly
the axe fell. 1t was certainly not
routine procedure for flunking
men out. was supposed to see
Regimental Board, which is
routine; but after hanging around
all clay, I was called in to see
colonel. He asked me about
Spain, the labor movement, Brook
wood school-straight stuff. I
gave him straight answers.
Knowing something was
funny went in to see my COM
pany commander and asked him
what the score was. He said
he didn't know. Subsequently
my battalion commander, regi-
mental commander, and the In
fantry school commander told
me the same thing.
"This was about a week and
half before graduation. The last
of the men to be flunked out
had already left. / completed
the course, which ended four days
before graduation. The last few
days are used for signing final
forms, uniforms, graduation re-
hearSals.
Then I knew something phoney
was going to happen. I signed
none of the final FORMS. Again
I went up to the chain of COM
mand and got the same replies.
They didn't know.
Finally was shipped to Fl.
Mcclellan, Ala, and was as
signed to the NEEDLES Medical
Corps. will probably be here
for the duration, despite the
fact that War Department or
der says that only lib men would
fill these services"
Meanwhile, War and Navy De-
partments desk jobs in Washing
ton are crowded with blue bloods
from the Social Register who never
saw rifle, but had no trouble
getting telephone commissions
you can see through them but
they protect from the draft.
MRS. ROOSEVELTS PUP
Here is one of Mrs. Roosevelt's
stories which she tells on herself.
In London it is customary for
the English police to give a
code" name or pseudonym to
every distinguished visitor which
can be used by radio police cars,
without the Nazis picking up the
name from the ether waves and
knowing who is in London.
So when Mrs. Roosevelt arrived,
Scotland Yard suggested that she
adopt a code name, since her
| presence in London was still a
secret. With typical Rooseveltian
humor she chose the code name
Rover.
One of the first things Mrs.
t.Josevelt wanted was to visit her
son Elliott. SO she started to
his office in an Army car, equipped
with two-way radio. While
driving there, the cars radio in
formed the First Lady that Ell
lott, not knowing of her arrival
had left his office.
Mrs. Roosevelt didn't know
where to find him. Finally she
suggested that a message be broad
cast from the car that she was
looking for Elliott. However, tC
use the name Elliott Roosevelt
on the radio would Immediately
tip off the NaZis regarding his
whereabouts, would also give hint
that she was in London.
SO Mrs. Roosevelt proposed q
code message.
Lets broadcast this" she
said. Grover has lost her pup"
NO SYMPATHY FOR SILVER