The Wilmington morning star., 1944-05-10
Bv ERNIE PYLE

LONDON. - by wireless) - I
can't seem to make up my mind
about London this trip.
Some say that they can see in
peoples conduct the strain of wait
ing on the invasion-that tempers
are short and nerves taut. Yet the
English seem to me just as i'm
perturbable as ever.
Some say the English have been
at war so long they've forgotten
about peacetime life and are re-
signed like sheep to the war drag
ging on and on. But don't sense
any such resignation.
It is certainly true that Britain
has adjusted herself to wartime
life, but that doesn't mean blind,
perpetual acceptance. People have
learned to get along. American aid
and years of learning how to do,
have eased the meager war life of
the early days. There is more food
now. and it is better than it used
to be. There are more people on
the streets, more shopping, more
Sunday strollers in the parks.
l had supposed the people would
look shabbier than year and a
half ago, but to me they look neat
err. And the physical city itself
seems less dreary than in the fall
of 1912
AS for short temperc, I haven t
seen any. Maybe it's just because
1 have been accustomed to the
screaming outbursts at each other
of the emotional Italians. But form
what I've seen so far the English
are as kind and polite to each
other as they always were.
All in all, my first impression is
that England is better, all around,
than it was a year and half go.
OF course spring may have some
thing to do with it. The days are
warm and the buds are out and
flowers are blooming, and every
thing always seems kind of wonder
full to me in springtime.
Every day the London papers
quote all the German rumors on
invasion. They print the predictions
of the German radio, and pieces
from neutral countries saying the
invasion will have to occur between
4::39 am. today and AL am. to-
morrow, or else be put off for a
month. They print pictures of Ger
man Notifications, and tell of the
sudden regrouping and rushing
around of German troops. They
conjecture on the thunderous ex-
plosions heard daily on the French
side of the Channel.
Since the only invaeion news We
have is what the Germans predict.
this echo from Germany has the
effect, upon me at least, Of a war
of nerves.
London is crawling with Ameri-
cans. both Army and civilian. All
headquarters cities are alike in
their overcrowding, their exagger-
ated discipline, and what appears
to be military overstaffing.
Some say London is as bad as
Washington. Some say it is worse.
I do know that the section where
American offices are most highly
concentrated is a funny sight al
lunchtime or in late afternoon.
American uniforms pour out of the
buildings in floods. On some streets
an Englishman stands out as in.
congruously as he would in North
Platte, Neb. Desk officers and
filters and WACs and nurses
abound.
Two things that amuse the Brit
ish are the pink trousers our
officers wear and our perpetual
saluting.
The American Army is very
strict about saluting here. Every.
body has to salute. Second lieu.
tenants salute other second lieu
tenants. Arms fail up and down
by the Thousands as though everv.
body was crazy. People lab each
other in the eyes saluting.
: On one short street much travel.