Smyrna times., 1944-10-12

Americans are smart dQultS. How
smart, is just a matter of opinion.
Democracy has it's challenge now,
if ever it had before, and I'm now
wondering just how many of our
people have their eyes closed.
In signing off. I'll give you my
answer. Were the prisoners of war
guarded by those G. Us who orig
inally captured them, then you
would see quite a difference.
Sincerely,
Sgt. Leslie G.. Silpath
A. S. N. 32076319
A. P. o. 729, c Postmaster
Seattle, Washington
balance of address on application)
Well, Sergeantl Since by your
own admission you do not write in
frequently, what do you say to do
ing just this very thing more Of
ten, This nice having had this in
teresting little visit with you. We
trust you'll return again soon.
First of all, please accept my
hearty congratulations on your ad-
vancement in rank. Good going
Sergeant, here's hoping that things
up, and out, where you're now sta
toned are progressing favorably
for you and the rest of the Boys
with you.
AS to the prisoners of war situa-
tion, the American Legion in var
ious sections of United States has
definitely taken what you would
term a proper stand on this issue.
Perhaps the publicity attached to
their protests may have favorable
reaction. Let us hope so.
I certainly agree with yod, "were
the prisoners of war guarded by
those G. rs who originally captur-
ed them, then you would see quite
a difference" This is now true to
a certain extent, and in some cases.
Some of Our Boys who have re-
turned from active duty on foreign
soil are now stationed at P. w.
Camps here in the States. Some of
the camps are still guarded by men
who have never smelled burning
powder except in practice maneuv-
ers. Sergeant, it makes quite
However, this does not
tell the entire story. The apathy
of the average civilian American,
and National policy for treatment
Of prisoners of war, carries it even
further than the Geneva Conven-
lion has ruled. And don't you think
The German P. WIS don't know all
about the Articles of War, each
and every one of them. Apparent
y, this subject has ben drilled into
hem so that they can, in many
cases, quote it from memory. 1
1oubt very much if 2 percent of
Dur Boys can remember the first
lew pages. This all proves one
hing. The Germans have put a
ot of stress on the subject, and
nave instructed their men to insist
On their rights, as listed in the
Geneva Convention Treaty. I have
talked with some of the
'ellows who have been guarding
German prisoners of war confined
n the Eastern Coast area. They
Ill tell the very same story. Ger
nan P. w. are not to be trusted.
Case histories have proven this,
,ut we can't go into that in this
column.
Les, you write about the Dog
Tags that are fastened to wooden
rosses over on foreign soil. Son,
t is your sacred duty, you and
bout ten million service men like
'ou, to always remember these
rosses. When this war is over,
nd you Boys come back to the
states, keep these crosses in mind.
ten million Americans, with the
elp of other Americans, cannot
nake us realistic Nation, then I
Mss my guess very badly. Sure,
t will mean a lot of work, and
QUILL have to keep on working al
gays. The job of protecting all
hose things which we Americans
old most dear, calls for a lot of
fort being expended by a lot of
eople, all the time. Once man
las served his Country in time of
var, he should find the task of pro-
ecting the welfare of his Country
n times of peace much easier. Just
ecause a G. 1. has an Honorable
from the U. S. Army, it /
loes not mean that he can forget |
Il about those sacred things for
which he fought, and many times
ave portions of his life's blood for.
he future of America, both of to-
ay and tomorrow lies in the
ands of the people. We can be
My as great as we plan to be.