The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-04-20
Observations
Pentagon Building
Basis For Amusing
Capital Yarn
BY Helen Euary

It's told as truth. II it's fiction,
believe it anyhow. It's the kind Of
a story anybody likes to listen in
on
The scene is that fabulous Peuta'
gon building producer OF Have
you.heard-this-one? fables and line
officers. Begin the yarn at the Of
flee Of an unnamed sergeant Hes
the first step into that paneled
river front suite where the Top
Drawer Big Shots function grand.
~
The sergeant, a considerate fel-
low, often has to take a message 70
Lieut. Col Floyd II. Long, Jr It
isn't civilian cricket or Army ell
ouette to barge into an office that
hides behind a closed door. SO the
sergeant has cut a peephole IN the
door at about eye level. Simpler
than keyhole shopping certainly.
Thus he discovers a convenient mo-
ment for calling on the colonel
Lieutenant colonel Long is az
fected by the same hesitation as he
confronts the door WHICH connects
his office with that OF Maj. Gen.
Wilhelm d. Styer. So ne takes 10
the peephole which he has had cut
for a quick eye view OF MS superior
officer.
The superior officer, himself
wonders when he can properly il
terrupt HIS SUPERIOR but only un-
Ill he has looked through the peep
hole in the doorway leading to the
office OF his boss. Lieut.. Gen. Bre-
hon B. Someryell. commanding gen.
eral Of the Army Service Forces.
And General Somervell-I really
do hear this Is truth-cocks an in
quiring eye through the peephole
in the door opening on Robert Pat.
terson, undersecretary OF war. be.
fore he presents himself in person.
1t is reported that there are sim.
liar avenues OF light and informa.
ton in the Pentagon wing opposite
10 tina occupied by these gentle
men. II is even limited that the
chief OF staff OF the United States
Army. Gen. George c. Marshall,
has shall We call Il vantage point?
through which he anticipates the
Iaf IF ~
War Henry L. Stimson. And at what
does Secretary Stimson look? He
looks up the Potomac River toward
the White House
Perhaps that usual quadrennial
lag before presidential election day
explains the slowing up in our war.
time mood. Perhaps as a nation we
are too impatient 10 take a long
fight for victory comfortably.
Certainly the war hurrah is fad
ing. The beating OF the preliminary
tom-toms has quoted. And travel
ers report a distressing lack OF en-
thusiasm in all parts OF the country
In wartime activities. We like to
get things done in hurry in this
restless country.
Whatever the delay and blind.
ness in the human mind OF Wash.
ington. the capital itself has bios
somed hastily into its usual spring
beauty Some capitals MAJ nave
had handsomer and meiiower build.
ings before the war smot them
down. But ! cannot believe that any
ca pital has ever had more beautiful
flowers and trees than Washing.
ton.
So many bushes and plants are
shining in the April sun that you
can pick your fayorite. DO you pre-
fer the pink.nned magnolias? Or
the glowing forsythia? Or the teath-
cry cherry trees?
Which reminds me that a refu-
gee from Paris declares that the
gardens and parks OF the French
capital have never looked as lovely
as this year. The reason for this is
enteytaining. There is-absoluteiy no
gas &or anyone in Paris. There are
no automobiles. Not one little motor
tipping about, footing that absurd
French horn in all the confines OF
the city.
With no motor cars there is no
exhaust Of carbon monoIide fumes.
Therefore. the trees are sprouting
thick foliage and the Towering
plants have gone quite mad with
color The Champs Elysee is in :ete.
And speaking OF refugees, John
Pshle, director Of the War Refugee
Board, says he is determined that
the public shall know the truth
about the work Of his new organiza-
ton. He does find the United States
in a delicate spot, however, as It
tells other countries what 10 do
about refugees while itself refusing
10 let refugees into this country.
Sometimes ! wonder II we are as
noble as we imagine. There may be
a touch OF Uncle ShylocN in our
generous Humanitarian attitudes.