The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-05
Observations
German Submarine
Captain Respects
Hospital Ship
BY Helen Esssry

Maybe -iis is propaganda. Let US
not go into that Anyhow, it is a
hopeful sort OF story ana it is au.
thentic It arrived in Washington
direct from an Army nurse.
An English hospital ship. proceed
ing gallantly through dangerous va
tiers. came upon a little crowd OF
vretched men, struggling in the
sea after their ship. a mine sweep
er had been blown up by German
submarine
All OF the men we're brought on
board and cared for. Two OF the
poor fellows died that night. The
next morning a burial service was
being conducted on deck in the
manner in which burials al sea are
held.
The bodies OF the dead we're lying
IN the chute or slide through which
the dead are passed as they are slid
into the ocean. The captain OF the
ship was reading the last rites.
Most OF the ships company was on
deck.
Suddenly. almost within reach.
there appeared the periscope OF 3
submarine Then the submarine IL
self. in full view.
The captain was facing the enc.
my. But he continued 10 read the
solemn lines. His hands as they
held the Bible did not CULVER. Not
A single person on deck changed
position or appeared aware Of dan
ger.
German officers now appeared on
the submarines deck. They carried
motion picture cameras. and TO-
cused them on the burial service
and the group on the hospital ship.
For several minutes the Germans
continued 10 wind their camera
reels as their submarine kept pace
with the hopsi,al ship. The men on
the hospital ship hardly breathed.
They feared their last moment
had come It was impossible TO get
TO the guns to defend themselves.
Then, Unexpectedly. the Cboat
began 10 submerge. Slowly II disap-
peared. Now II was below the sur.
face. For more breathless. minutes
the people on the hospital ship
waited for the torpedoes to blow
them into eternity.
They waited and waited. Nothing
happened.
The submersible having done the
kind OF shooting she meant to do
at that time had gone. And the
captain OF the hospital ship, when
his sad task was finished. reached
for a pocket handkerchief. mopped
his nervously perspiring face and
said. Thank God for that much"
hope fourth termers won't see
this little yarn am about to report.
II is meant for Republican Chair.
man Harrison Spangler and Is very
respectfully submitted for immedt-
ate consideration.
The day before the arrangements
committee OF the Republican ma
tional convention met in Chicago.
] tried to find Chairman Spangler
and some OF his assistants in their
Chicago headquarters at the Stew
ems Hotel.
Finally, I caught up with an ele.
Vstor girl who sent me TO the fourth
floor. II was not the right floor.
| got the same elevator girl on
my return trip to the hotel in search
OF Information"
I'm sorry told you wrong
about the Republicans she said.
But ! got lot Of important meet
ings to know about"
"0h-h-h," answered in a hurt
voice. And don't you think the
Republicans are Important
Lady she replied as she
reached the lobby floor, Il really
can say al this time"
All OF my true stories today are
being pretaced by an apology. And
] do feel shade disloyal in telling
this one on the Vice President. But
"a certain gentleman OF terrific
importance says he is going to stop
guessing about the postwar world
now that Vice President Henry A.
Wallace has gone to China.
"Why?" 'Listen-are you forget
ting Henry is a soothsayer? Don't
you know that he will be consult
ing Tibetan lamas and monks and
prophets about the future OF the
world? And bet you also he takes
side trip OF two to Shangri-La.
Why. when Wallace gets back
from that little eastern tour. he'll
know all the answers. don't see
any reason for any OF the rest OF us
worrying about the universe after
the war. Let's just leave 1t to Hen.
ry."