Evening star., 1943-03-12

and cows that yielded the most but
| terfat between June and August:
also medals for debating and for the
best Christmas tree decorations, but
none for out and out bravery against
enemy action.
So had hoped my first test in
raid would come at a time when I
was in a fairly safe place and I
would be able to determine quickly
how many white feathers were in
my plumage. But Germans are not
very thoughtful. They came over
after dark and caught me riding
through Leicester Square in a taxi
cab. What is worse, they caught me
old cuss with walrus mustache
who felt the best way to defeat
Goering and the Luftwaffe was to
ignore them.
Pretty, Amt IT."
II there is any merit in his plan.
then Goering was defeated because
| SliC diiFCl olloWCd ilAS liluSl Gov Ollly
occasionally and then by poktng his
head out of the window, exclaiming,
Pretty, amt it?" What he thought
was pretty" was super Fourth Of
July with bursts Of anti-aircraft
shells, brilliant flares dropped by
the enemy raider, and crimson
streaks of tracer bullets as British
night fighters got the bombers in
the sights.
There Is no use saying that I was
comfortable and snug in the taxicab
because that would be a great big
lie. London's anti-aircraft guns
raised tremendous racket. They
roared increasingly. There would
be rocket guns which would go OF
with a vicious "ssssswish," like mon
ster childrens sky-rockets. Then
would come thunderous "voom'
from another type Of cannon.
My driver stuck his head through
the glass partition separating the
driver from the passenger and VOL
unteered the comforting informa-
ton that the sound of falling bombs
is exactly like that of rocket guns
firing. Can tell the difference at
ALL" ne said. 1--WE used to be able
to tell when bomb was falling near
us. Now we don't know whether it
is bomb or one Of our boys letting
loose at a bomber"
Thank you," I said. Much
obliged, you make me feel much
better"
British Enjoy Fireworks.
All this time we were travelling
toward restaurant where planned
to eat because some one tipped me
of it didn't serve Brussels sprouts.
The lights on the car were out and
the city was smothered In blackout.
Walrus Moustache drove at q mad
rate.
What do you think found when
shakily arrived at the restaurant.
The doorman out front was blowing
his whistle for cabs Customers
were impatiently standing under the
awning complaining of the lack
Of transportation. Other customers
were gazing skyward, enjoying the
free fireworks that only needed a
Niagara Falls display to make an
American think he was back to the
State fair.
Inside the restaurant one would
never guess that the Germans were
dropping bombs Patrons were
ordering as usual. Walters we're
tip-toeing about. The band was
playing swing music. Dancers were
swinging about the floor.
This was not because they were
ignorant of what was happening.
No one that is able can be ignorant
Of London sirens. They start far
off in the distance and finally moan
like all the wildcats in the world,
with paws caught in washing
machine. The roars of guns shake
the windows and rattle the building.
Raid Makes Waiter Happy.
My waiter was very happy on
account Of the raid because it en-
abled him to win 10-pound pool
on when the Germans would come
over London. For more than an
hour the guns pounded. Then came
the all clear and no one paid any
more attention than they would to
torch song by band singer.
Next day I grabbed the London
Times, expecting to see tremen-
dous story about how London
blitzed and bombed the Nazi raid
ers. 1t took me Is minutes to find
any mention of it. Then, sand
wiched between the story of the
burial Of late speaker of the
House of Commons and an article
about Finland's hopes for peace, I
found it. Just two lines, nothing
more.
1t read, "An alert WAS sounded
in London last night. Gunfre was
heard and the all clear was given
soon afterwards"
This slight mention hurt me
deeply just when I was congratu-
lating myself on my bravery under
fire and my admirable conduct In
the face Of danger. The London
Times dismissed the entire thing
with shrug OF the shoulders as
something not nearly so important
as crocuses now blooming In Hyde
Park
When are you supposed to get
scared In this city2 When you
wake up in the morning and find
an unexploded land mine using your
toothbrush and after shave lotion?
I would like to know!
Distributed by McNausht Syndicate. Ine.)
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fame YOu can't huild n h0use With