Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-10


And yet a good novel is alW
general theme has been used.
tional war novels, one from til
the German side:
FIRE MISSION, by William
Mulvihill (Ballantine; $3.50.
THE GENERAL, by Karl
ludwig Optiz, translated from
the German by Constantine
Fitzgibbons John Day: $3)
No two war novels could be
less alike, aside from the di-
vergence of their national
points of view.
From Both Camps
Fire Mission" a young
American writer's first novel,
is the story of an artillery
hattery's role in the Battle of
the Bulge. If a better account
of combat as it seemed to the
average soldier has come out
of the war, I've missed it.
The General" is a satire
and yet one close to reality. 1t
is a portrait of what must
have seemed to the author a
typical German division COM
mander of the old school, a
regular in the Prussian tradi-
ton.
Mr., Opitz, a Bayarian. en-
listed IN the French Foreign
Legion at II and saw active
service against Germany. in
Africa and in France, in the
second World War. But Mr..
OpitZ, knowing the language
and the people, has been able
TO project himself persuaSively
into the narrator, a German
MOO, who drives the generals
car in the closing days of the
war and afterward is his chief
retainer. secretary and valet.
Black Market
The narrator quite unknown
to the general. who lives in
his own militariStic world. is
carrying on an affair with the
generals daughter. The old
noncom and the girl have
made lot OF money Just after
the war, first by distilling IL
legal Schnapps, then by vari-
Gus black market activities.
Thus the general, unaware of
where the money comes from
as he sinks deeper into his own
dreams Of grandeur, is able
to live in something approach
ing accustomed comfort.
1t is not so much that the
general lives for the exaltation
OF the fatherland. though ne
repeats all the patriotic
cliches. II is more that ne
exults in the glory of war it
self. For him military science
is sheer poetry. He loves
flowers and all growing things,
and yet killing in war he APP
proves as a beautiful thing.
When Germany is defeated. he
hopes at once that Germany
can side with her recent
enemies to fight Russia.
Horror Picture
He wouldn't hurt a dog or a
cat. But he comments to his
old sergeant: Lice infected
with typhus - drop millions
and millions Of them on the
enemys cities. And atom
bombs IN cargo ships Sink the
ships in the enemy's ports be-
fore the outbreak of war.
Set them off at the proper
time by remote control. Or
scatter radioactive dust from
high flying planes into air
currents which would carry the
dust to the enemy's country.
Longe-range rockets could
carry loads Of Colorado beetle
and other such pests. Then
there are cholera-infected
rats which could be smuggled
in. And locusts could be used
TO spread various plant
diseases.
A Stunning Satire
Finally one day the doctor
takes the daughter aside.
Your father, whom we all
respect so deeply. is suffering
from manic Oppressive insan-
ity. It is the occupational
malady Of military men"
And the general is led
away. thinking the war min
istry has sent for him to give
him a new command.
THE General" is a stunning
satire.
To return to the American
novel, Fire Mission" is a
STRAIGHTFORWARD narrative OF
the fighting in the Bulge. with
the focus shifting from man to
man.
We observe the battery as it
feels relatively safe miles be-
hind the infantry. But an OBJ
scrvation officer must 20 for
ward with the infantry. and
several men must accompany
HIM. help him find what is
needed to phone back the
range and the corrections of
position. This Is highly haz-
ardous service.
Why They Lost
Then there comes time
when the men Of the battery.
experiencing their first battle
=. Hunt Y.,. g..