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Col. O'Dell's efforts have contributed much to improving GI menus in the Theatre. The freezing and flying of food to troops in the forward areas was made possible by his conviction that the Army could do the job despite almost overwhelmiong obstacles. |
READIED FOR TOKYO Ground crewmwn ready bombs for loading into B-29 Superfortress on Saipan, Marianas, new American springboard for attacks on Tokyo and other Japanese industrial targets. (Radio photo) |
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Fresh bacon for breakfast and tasty hams for dinner - an I-B dream up till now - is about to become a reality. Still limited production is on the upgrade. However, Base General Depot No. 2, the GI people responsible for bringing the beautiful pork vision to life, say that there will be enough ham produced to supply most forward areas with lush Christmas dinners. The U.S. Army supervised piggery in Calcutta is housed in a maharajah's former palace, complete with muraled walls and swimming pool. Fattened on waste from soldier mess halls, the pigs are thoroughly examined by the Depot Veterinarians to guard against disease. From procurement of the animals to affixing the final stamp of approval on the finished smoked hams, GI inspectors are ever vigilant.
Ambulance Driver Lights Cigarettes With Rupee Notes By MOSCRIP MILLER - War Correspondent - LOOK Magazine Joseph N. Smith, 42, a New York bank clerk for 21 years until he joined the American Field Service as an ambulance driver less than a year ago, has become the big money man of the Burma jungle where he is attached to the British 14th Army. Joe, whoe home is 312 Albermarle Rd., Brooklyn, literally has money to burn and frequently for effect will light his passaengers cigarettes from a burning ten Rupee note which should be three dollars American money. The joker is that his great horde of Burmese bank notes was issued by the Japanese government. Although the money is hard to spend on his side of the lines, it has a very definite souvenir value and Joe is practically back in the banking business - all on the cuff. In fact it was his old banking instincts which led to his discovery of the cache with its thousands and thousands of Rupees in various denominations. As Joe tells the story the British were pushing south of Tamu, pressing the Jap hard ahead of them down the Kabaw Valley. Joe was following along in his great lumbering ambulance over trails that were hardly passable. He was to contact a newly established casualty clearing station. Actually, Joe got lost and by accident happened upon a hastily abandoned important Jap camp. He took a look around and noticed a few bank notes which apparently had been dropped in flight. Joe decided that this place had probably been headquarters of what would be the finance officer in opur language and on a hunch dug into some freshly turned earth in one corner of the basha, And there it was. He doesn't know why. American Commando pilots, assisting in the evacuation of wounded, are his most avid customers, says Joe. But he is glad to pass out some of his Jap lettuce for souvenirs. "I guess I'd be a millionaire on the other side of the lines," said Joe. "But after all, what's money! Here, have some."
As China hastens last-minute changes in her political and military leadership, suppose we take a look at the admittedly bad strategical and tactical position in southwestern China: Having secured a north-to-south land link-up in China, the Japs immediately plunged into what has every appearance of being an attempted knockout blow against Nationalist China - the same blow seemingly being aimed at nullifying present Allied successes in northern Burma where there is early promise of being able to open up the overland supply route from India to China. Japanese columns set out from Paoching toward Chihkiang, and from Liuchow toward Kweiyang, in a double-barreled thrust that could easily turn into threats against Kunming and even against Chungking itself. The columns from Liuchow are making rapid progress, and Kweiyang today is defintely in danger. Kweiyang itself is important as a communications hub. The supplies that reach Kunming go by road to Kweiyang, from which point they go north to Chungking, and in other directions to the various other Allied installations important in operations in southwestern China. If Kweiyamg falls, as well it may, thyen gthere are still alternative routes from Kunming to the Chinese Capital of Chungking, however it would be senseless to deny that a crippling blow would have been struck at our supply channels in China. The threat to Kunmiong will be very real if Kweiyang falls to the Jap invader. Between the two points there is comparatively fine highway along which the enemy columns could speed to the west to knock off Kunming and bring to naught all our efforts in Burma to open up the Burma Road. Likewise, Chungking itself could be reached in a drive north from Kweiyang. What are the chances of Japanese success? Let's be frank about it. If the Chinese armies do not offer more determined opposition to the new thrusts than they have brought to bear in the recent past, then there is little reason to hope for the safety of Kweiyang, Kunming or Chungking. It has been proven time and again thst Chennault's gallant Fourteeth Air Force can not do the job alone; ground opposition to the foe is an absolute necessity. And this has been sadly lacking. On the brighter side, the very recent political and military shake-up in China offers some reason to believe that more decisive efforts may be put forth by the Chinese armies. Soong's added stature in the Government may well herald active cooperation with the Communist forces, which are strong enough to make a vast difference in holding the Jap at bay. But action - if it comes - must come now. Japan is on China's ten-yard line. In Burma, the outlook is as good as it is bad in China. Our forces have driven far below Bhamo. Pinwe fell to our side in the railway corridor this week, the Japs have been pushed back toward the south as far as Chefang in the Salween Sector, and on the Central Front Kalewa has been taken. Let's consider that Northern Front in Burma where we have but to push the Japs southward for a very short distance in order to control the old Burma Road and establish that land link-up with China; From west of Namkham to approximately Chefang, the Japs still are in possession of the Burma Road. Two factors make their position difficult. One of these is the fact that forces pushing at them from the west, north, and east are definitely superior; the second factor is the threat to their L of C that is now becoming possible as Chinese units drive southward from Bhamo. A flanking move to the east by these elements would cut off the foe's supplies and render him an easier victim. It is not too much to hope that the old Burma Road may be cleared within a few short weeks. Elsewhere in Burma the situation is equally good. Progress is being made toward Mandalay from three directions. And while we are employing but a small part of our potential power to win our present successes, the enemy on the other hand is scooping his too few reinforcements from the bottom of the barrel in the country and appears to be withdrawing his various headquarteers to Bangkok and Rangoon. |
Resident of the CBI Press Club in Calcutta, The "Colonel" has become a military aiuthority after listening to dozens of war correspondents expound their personal theories for winning the war. Now he takes an active part in the Press Club's conversation marathons, vigorously presenting his original ideas, gathered from the fourth estaters. The "Colonel" was presented to the Club by War Correspondent John Grover of the Associated Press and busies himself in his spare time snatching tiny green flies which he relishes with great delight. He is adept at fly-snaring and the more numerous the insects the happier he is. He is a member of the Resus family. |
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‘Funsafire’ Opening Two-Week Local Run
After playing in almost every theater of the war, "Funsafire," USO Unit 289, arrives in Commandtown next week for a two-week run of the local installations, opening Tuesday evening Dec 12th at the General Hospital. Leading the new group as MC is Benny Meroff, who has been producing the wacky and hilarious routines of the variety show for the past six years. Working with him is dancer Kitty McLaughlion and his stooge little Charlie Mariano. This latest edition of :Funsafire" is chockfull of talent. One of the featured performers is Jack Gwynne, a magican, who has hit the top in the vaudeville and night club circuit in the last few years. Co-starred with Gwynne is Joe Jackson Jr., son of one of the greatest comedians in the history of the stage. The name of Jackson will bring a nostalgic gleam into the eye of the comparative oldtimers in the Army, who will never forget the inimitable routine of Joe Sr., who died in harness several years ago during a show in New York. Young Joe is a star in his own right and was a sensation with his bicycle act in the "Icecapades" in New York. In addition the show has Jerry and Jane Brandow, who supply the dancing for the troupe; Veteran Camp Show entertainer Edna Kenyon plays the xylophone; Betty Huntington, late of Detroit's Club Casarova, does the vocals, and Lee Silvern backs up the whole show at the keyboard of the piano and accordion. The show will open locally on Dec 12th at the General Hospital, and will play Camp M on the 13th; Staging area, 14th; Camp H, 15th; Burra Club, 16th; Buffalo, 17th; Air Depot, 18th; Camp T, 19th; Camp Hq., 20th; B. ATC, 21st; Camp A, 22nd; Rest Camp 1, 23rd; Double D Air, 24th, and close their run at the Race Course on Christmas Eve. |
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DARJEELING HEPCATS Providing the swing and sway for GIs at Rest Camp No. 2 are Pvt. Joseph W. Hortiz, pianist, Philadelphia, Pa.; Pvt. James C. McDonald, accordionist, Frankfort, Ind.; Pvt. Joseph Krokenberger, saxophonist, Philasdelphia, Pa.; Pvt. Fritz Witti, base, Minneapolis, Minn.; Pvt. Joseph Shubelko, guitarist, Phillipsburg, N.J.; Pvt. Jacob Rosenbaum, trumpet, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Pvt. Domenck Schirrippa, drummer, Shinnston, W. Va., and Pvt. Paul Ruggiero, vocalist, New Haven, Conn. |
ARMY REC CENTER OPEN FOR UNIT RESERVATION Reservations for the use of the spacious dance floor at the recreation center at 3B Outram Street are still available, it was revealed by the Special Service Officer today. It was also learned that two new concrete tennis courts and basketball courts will be opened for the use of teams practicing for the regular league season, as well as for league and challenge games. Organizations or persons who desire further information concerning the use of the Recreation Center contact Sgt. Sal Fiore at Base Special Service Office, or call Cal 6250. |
MEETING IN THE MARIANAS Brig. Gen. Haywood Hansell, Jr., right, commanding geberal of Saipan based XXI Bomber Command, discusses future Superfort blows against Japan with Brig. Gen. Emmett O'Donnell, left, who led a recent raid on Tokyo, and Lt. Gen. Millard Harmon, center, XX Air Force deputy commander. (Radio photo) LEAPING BOMBER Given an extra boost by jet propulsion units, an American A-20 light bomber takes off in a hurry. The units help lift heavily laden olanes into the air after only a short yake-off run. The USAAF has been experimenting with auxulliary jet proplusion units for four years. SLEEPY SWEETIE Lovely Margret Early - could use a little shut-eye - but fails to have a sedative effect posed in this manner. To get on with the story, however, Margret appears in the new picture, "3 is a Family." |
HELICOPTER RESCUE Securely seated in a special harness lowered to him while he struggled in the sea, a shipwreck victim holds onto the rear wheel of the helicopter as it slowly carries him shoreward. The device is being used by the U.S. Coast Guard. NEW GUN ASSEMBLY Improved tail gun assembly saves morw than 200 pounds in the weight of the American B-24 Loiberator bomber. The installation, replacing the power-driven turrent formerly uised also increases the cone of fire from the tail position. The weapons are .50 calibre machine guns. HIGHWAY BIRTHDAY The Alaskan Highway, cut through the rough, sometimes frozen terrain of the west coast of Canada, was completed one year ago last October. Now a military safe year-round supply line to Allied out-posts and bases, the highway was built in eight months by 10,000 workers. Covered with packed grtavel, it stretches from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, in Big Delta near Fairbanks in the heart of Alaska. |
TRAVELING TECHS Charts, graphs, cut-away models and mock-ups are some of the props used by S/Sgt. Martin G. nDeSmet, Chicago, Ill., and other specialists traveling with a Mobile Training Unit bringing the latest mechanical data to the ICD-ATC mechanics working on C-46s. (ICD-ATC photo) CHENNAULT PRESS CONFERENCE Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault, second from right, CG of the 14th U.S. Air Force, talks with American war correspondents at his headquarters in China. The 14th continues battering the Japs in Canton, Homg Kong, and on the Salwen front despite the loss of airbases as a result of the Japanese drive in southeast China. JAIN TEMPLE Mecca for thousands of GI sightseers in Calcutta aand worshipping place for the followers of the prophet Paresnath, Jain Temple offers a typical example of Indian architecture, Many of Calcuuta's welthiest and influential merchants are numbered amomng the Jains. (Photo by Pfc. Mort Weinstein) |