Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1944-02-17

of Rotterdam" Over here in the
United States, an accomplish to a
crime is punished the same as the
actual criminal. You are very
right Dribbles, and 1 wish that all
the people here in the United
States felt the same way. There
are entirely too many persons who
are sorry for these Germans. My
opinion is that those who have
shown us no mercy deserve none.
1 would like to warn the young
soldier to whom you wrote, that
when he feels sorry for his German
prisoners again, to be more on the
alert and suspicious of their &C.
tions. The German soldier is tricky,
and he is no coward either. Many
of them would try to make a get
away if there were signs of their
meeting with success in their ven
ture. Nor would they hesitate to
slip a knife blade between their
guards ribs, take his rifle, and
start to use it if they were given
the opportunitq. And if one of
them ever started, he would have
plenty of help. Then if rioting
prisoners were shot, that would be
an international incident, and Herr
Gobels is hoping for something of
that nature. So you had better
watch your men, young soldier. Try
and remember, you just can't af-
ford to trust the motives of these
men, who at their very moment
still consider themselves your
enemies. The fact still remains
that you are their enemy also
even out there in Nebraska.
Sorry for the editorial outburst,
but I just had to unolad it. Now
you know that I'm feeling better.
So long now,
Pud
Marshall A. Clough
United States Veterans Hospital
Newington, Connecticut
Glad to hear from you, old friend.
Dribbles hopes that you are getting
along famously up there at New
ington, Connecticut. One thing
quite sure-if you were feeling in
good shape, you certainly would
not be staying there. Your mother
showed me your wife's picture one
day when I called upon her, and 1
know that you would be back with
Laura if your condition warranted.
EEither that, or you are quite out
of your mind. Pud, you sure can
pick 'em, and as nice as they are
pretty, if all reports are true. So
you know that your job is to get
well as son as possible. I am glad
to know that your mother sent you
some copies of The Smyrna Times,
and I hope that she will continue
this friendly act as long as posi-
BILE. 1t is always a good thing to
keep up with what's going on back
in the old Home Town area, even if
you are far removed from it your
self. Fact is, the farther you are
away from home, the more every
thing pertaining to home means to
you.
Pud, it's nice to know that you
share my opinion regarding Ger
man prisoners. The people of this
United States have always been
noted for quickly forgetting the
bitter experiences of the past, once
the crisis is over. This mass char
acteristic is true in both domestic
as well as international affairs.
Many times it has cost us dearly to
follow on with this line of thought
Perhaps. after this war is over, we
will have learned our lesson the
hard way. say t he hard way,
because this war, and the terrific
burden it will place upon the peo-
pie of these United States should
never be forgotten. Perhaps it
won't be. I said, perhaps.
Here's hoping that you will be
out of the hospital soon, old friend,
and may the best of luck go with
you. Keep in touch with this col
umn and let us knw how things go
for you.