Evening star., 1944-10-15

ent, and l always carried satchel full of cash
amounting to around $500 900. Usually, had sup
ply of chewing gum and candy along, too never lost
dollar in all that time, but was always missing
some of my candy supplies"
One month after the invasion of Normandy, a
Finance Officer landed with 10000 francs to begin
paying off small claims of the French farmers for
property damaged or used by troops. When troops
were quartered in houses. the owners were paid IL
francs night. If stables were used. the rate was
about half franc per man. Finance officers arc
also settling on the spot in France battle-dam-
age claims against the Army ranging up to $50,
but higher claims will be left until later.
Similarly, in our operations in the South PACING,
the Army and Navy have had to cut down American
owned coconutp palm plantations to make way for air
strips or other construction, but they have kept
careful count of the trees destroyed that settle
ment can be arranged with the American owners.
A celeasl's Odyssey
FINANCE officers frequently figure in missions of deep
secrecy and adventure, like the colonel who took
off fight halfway around the world on less than
two hours notice in order to speed more than $5OOOOO
to the Southwest Pacific - not for the payment OF
troops the purchase of supplies, but for smuggers!
1t was during the last bitter days of the Bataan
campaign. The Navy had been smuggling limited
quantity of supplies to General MacArthurs men on
Bataan in submarines, but the high command in
Australia decided that it must increase the flow to
sustain the fighting strength of our weary forces
The owners of a few small island trading ves-
sells, who knew the Philippine waters well, were
willing to undertake running the Japanese
blockade. The only hitch money. The smugglers
were asking for cash payment in American dollars
maintaining that while the Australian currency was
perfectly sound at that hour they did not know how
far the japanese might advance, and if Australia fell
its money would be worthless.
1t was shortly before o'clock when word reached
Washington that at least $5OO.OOO would be needed,
since the Army commanders hoped to get substantial
shipments through Bataan Calls were put in to the
big Washington banks, and well over half the cash
was rounded up Calls then went in to Jacksonville,
Fla and other major cities of the south, and arrange
ments were made to have the rest of the money in
Jacksonville by early evening" colonel was desig-
mated to deliver the cash in person.
journeys End
By rwo O'Clock messengers began shutting around
Washington getting the huge sum together. Shortly
before pm the Colonel was whisked to Washing
ton airield and stepped aboard huge transport
plane, carrying with him an inconspicuous-lookmg
satchel filled with cash. At Jacksonville, the transport
paused while the Colonel picked the second satche
then pushed on to Natal, Brazil. where it took of
across the Atlantic, Africa, the Middle East, lndia
and on down to headquarters in Australia.
The Bataan campaign reached its tragic end before
much of the money could be spent. But the remainder
of that sum became the first payroll of the Army Air
Forces when the Allies began building for the offensive
which will soon carry them back to the scene OF that
heroic last stand. Inc E"0
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