The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1945-05-10
Sandy Takes Exception

Your editorial entitled "The YMC.A.
Goes Overheard" and your previous re-
marks along with the unfair differences,
prompts further explanation of the Incl
dent that Walter Winchell played up so
prominently in a recent broadcast The way
this announcement was given over the radio,
and the Interpretation that some folks have
given to it is a good example of how half
truth can be more damaging sometimes
than a complete falsehood When such a
thing happens, particularly at this time
when our nation and many of the families
are quite disturbed over the revelation Of
German atrocities, it is all the more I'M
portant that radio commentators and others
who have a stable listening and reading
audience should give rather careful conSid-
Grafton to what they say and write. In the
spirit of fairness and justice, would like
to point out several important factors that
you have overlooked in your interpreted
ton of the incident of the award of the
flowing cup" to the winning soccer team
in a tournament held in the German Prison
er of War Camp at Camp Clark, Missouri.
The award was made by the War Prisoners
Aid organization of the Y.M.C.A. Here are
the facts.
l. The flowing cup" in question is actual
y just a small trophy about five inches
high and worth about $3.50.
g. The Commanding Officer at Camp
Clark had been consulted and approved the
sending of this trophy to the Germans at
his camp.
3. The German prisoners in the United
States during the past several months have
voluntarily contributed more than $4,000
10 the Y.M.C.A. to pay for such items and
to help defray the general expense of the
service of the Y.M.C.A to all war prisoners.
4. Another important factor-the War
Prisoners Aid of the World Committee of
the Y.MC.A. is a worldwide neutral or
ganization, with headquarters in Geneva,
Switzerland, serving prisoners of war of all
faiths on both sides of the conflict since
World War II which began in 1899 Under
terms of the Geneva Convention the War
Prisoners Aid of the YM.CA provides edu-
cational, recreationai and religious materials
for military prisoners of war. However, the
only way this work can be carried on is
with the cooperation of the governments
and military authorities concerned.
5. This service to American prisoners of
war In Germany would not be possible ex-
cept for the fact that the War Prisoners Aid
of the Y.MC.A. has been providing a SIM
liar service for German prisoners in the
United States. There is not the slightest
doubt that the aid gwen American prisoners
in Germany would have been impossible
except for this service to Germany, con-
Quoted on a reciprocal basis by YMCA.
workers from neutral countries These
neutral workers are mostly from Switzer-
land and Sweden.
6. The fair treatment accorded German
prisoners by the United States government
has been the foundation upon which the
Red Cross and the YM.CA. have built their
service to American prisoners in Germany
AS an American citizen, and as secretary
of the Young Mems Christian Association,
have feeling of great pride for the serv-
ice of the War Prisoners Aid of the Y.M.C.A..
and for the fact that our government has
observed the spirit as well as the letter of
the Geneva Convention in dealing with
prisoners of war. The YMCA would fail
IN its duty and obligation as Christian
organization if it should do otherwise. Re-
cent evidence has revealed that there have
been some terrible breaches of the Geneva
Convention in which American prisoners
OF war have been the victims We cannot
deny that there have been atrocities against
American prisoners, yet it should be kept
In mind that up until recent months the