Evening star., 1949-02-06

tive voice of Axis Sally during the
war would like to preside at her
execution. Two others would like
to pin a medal on her.
That's the way it is with hun
dreds of letters pouring into the
Offices of attorneys on Goth sides
of the District Court treason trial
of Miss Mildred Gillars which be-
gins its third week tomorrow.
Ruled inadmissible as evidence,
the flood of correspondence none
theless emphasizes the keen interest
being shown throughout the Ma
ton in the trial. 1t also points up
the surprisingly large number of
persons who regarded the radio
rantings of Sally either as innocuous
or a blessing.
In the latter group are parents
of some of the soldiers Miss Gillars
interviewed in German prisoner of
war camps and broadcast their
transcribed messages.
Thousands of such messages were
relayed to anxious parents by
Charles F. Bender of Harrisburg,
Pa, who copied them from his
sf1ort-wave receiver.
- Wrote To Laughlin..
Mr.. Bender. wrote Defense Attor-
'iiey James J. 'Laughlin' that he has
about $50 pounds of letters of ap-I
from grateful families
who had Miss Giiiars' messages re-
layed to them from their sons"
MANY of these testify to the fact
that this is the first word We have
had as to the safety of oui son since
he was reported missing in action, ,"
Mr.. Bender wrote.
The voice which the Government
contends was poisoning our war ef-
fort had quite a different meaning
to Thomas S. Parsons. former 9th
Air Force B-24 gunner now studying
sociology at the University of Mich
igan.
Axis Sally was voice in the wild
|erness which 'unfailingly breathed
assurance to us that those life values
for which most of us were fighting
remained real and obtainable, and
that when the black today was past
a brighter tomorrow would hold for
us that brotherhood, love and human
dignity of which we almost despaired
at time" he wrote.
Suggests Medal for Her.
Recalling how men in the barracks
would sit and dream an hour after
Sally had gone off the air, Mr.. Par
sons thought a medal wrought of
the gratitude Of many men" might
be her just desserts.
But listen to Arthur D. Posa of
Maspeth, N. Y, once of the 350th
Infantry, 88th Division:
Axis Sally, in her broadcasts to
our troops in Italy during our first
battle, called us a bunch of blood
thirsty cut-throats, plus obscene ad-
jectives. and said we didn't fight like
gentlemen.
I'D be happy to serve on her fir
ing squad
There was another soldier who
landed on Anzio. He said he would
be glad to spring the trap or pull
the electric switch at Sallys execu-
ton.
In the defense fan mail" is let
ter from John j. O'Connor, former
Democratic Representative from New
York, whose anti-Roosevelt pre-
cepts made him the lone victim of
the purge of 1888.
Told Son Was Alive.
1t was Axis Sally whose broadcast
informed him his oldest son, John,
was still alive in 1914, Mr.. O'Con-
nor wrote.
"Of course, If she is guilty of
treason she should be punished ac-
cordingly, but she should not be
tried or punished for treason if any
attempt to get even with her or
satisfy pressure to prosecute her for
any other reason, unless that reason
is openly disclosed and constitutes
crime" Mr.. O'Connor added.
Mr.. O'C'onnor said there was a
widespread feeling that 'other So
called treason trials, such as those
held in Boston not so long ago, do
not sit quite well with our people
They have sort of feeling that
those so charged were tried, not for
really being traitors to their coun-
try, but because they were quite vi
cious and unusually outspoken in
their attacks on certain individuals
and groups"
The letters keep coming, like the
one from an excl who found
Sally's programs delightful
pleasure" and one from a soldier
who charged her with giving away
his outfits position in North Africa.
Entertaining But Ineffective.
From New Orleans, a veteran of
the italian campaign recalled how
entertaining, but ineffective, Axis
Sally was.
II would like to state further
that If this woman is sent to her
death or to prison for a long period
of time it will only prove how stupid
the American people are, for the
L ILL