Evening star., 1946-01-29
Manila Nurse Asks AnnuIment
of Marriage to Mai. Wermuth
One-Mon Army Says
He Is Not Acquainted
With Woman
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
MANILA, Jan. 29.-A Bataan
civilian nurse today asked an
nulment of a marriage she said
she had contracted December 7,
1941, with Maj. Arthur Wermuth,
famed "one-man army" in ig-
norance of the fact he had pre-
viously married in the United
States.
>un Traverse City. Mich, Mai.
Wermuth said the alleged mar
riage in Manila us news to me.
don't know a thing about it. I
want to fatty deny it. right
now.D
The annulment petition, filed in
the Manila courts, was signed by
Mrs. Olivia Josephine Oswald Wer-
muth. Maj. Wermuth, who recent
ly announced he probably would
seek a United States Senate seat
when he leaves the Army. said he
didn't even know her. Maj. Wer-
muth married Jean wilkins Of Chi
cago on June /, 1882
Miss Oswald, who has been using
her maiden name since she learned
OF Maj. Wermuth's marriage, said in
her petition that she married him
after a whirlwind courtship, on the
roof garden of the Great Eastern
Hotel In twilight ceremony the day
before the Japanese bombed Manila
An Army chaplain whom she
named as H. Stainback performed
the ceremony, she said, and her
honeymoon was spent in the tragic
setting Of Bataan. where Maj. Wer-
muthe earned world renown as the
slayer Of at least 116 Japanese be-
fore he was captured.
Saw Pictures in Manila Papers.
Maj. Wermuth had been ordered
back to his regiment within "a hours
after her wedding, her petition con-
tinued, and the tall, attractive bru-
nette, now Is, joined him on Bataan,
acting as civilian nurse. After the
surrender, she followed the death
narchers to Camp ODonnell-h
ing to aid him.
Her deep red-brown hair glinting
in the sunlight, she told interview
ers today that she first learned Maj.
Wermuth had wife in the United
States when she saw pictures of the
hero's return home in Manila papers
late in October At least two in
cluded pictures of Maj. Wermuth's
American wife. .
When the major was liberated
last September, the annulment pc
tition asserted, he came to Manila,
and lived with Miss Oswald until his
repatriation. She expected him to
return to Manila after a visit with
relatives in America.
She told interviewers she was
stunned and unbelieving when she
first saw the pictures of Mai. Wer-
muth's American wife, but that after
she had confirmed that marriage,
she decided to file an annulment ac-
tion, to make clean break and start
Ia new life.
Prayed for His Safe Return.
Manila newspapers had carried
her own picture September II, after
she was informed of Maj Wer-
muth's liberation, and quoted her as
saying she had been praying and
hoping" for his safe return.
Filipino veterans of Bataan con-
firmed her presence there, telling
interviewers they recalled her work
among the wounded.
While being interviewed, Miss Os-
wald bounced suddenly from her
chair in a downtown Office to hail a
passing Philippine Army major who
wore Bataan campaign ribbons
After their happy 15-minute reun-
ion, she said it was the first time
she had seen him since the Bataan
surrender, and that each had be-
lieved the other dead.
Miss Oswald currently is employed
by the United States Army here,
working as receptionist.