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W. Earl Hall World War II stories, 1944

Letter #50

slug-Conclusions From 4
By W. EARL HALL
Globe-Gazette Managing Editor
Letter No. 50
Washington, D.C.--With my feet firmly planted on American soil for the first time for almost 2 months, I'm going to take time in this final letter from our national capital to jot down--without supporting evidence or argument--some of the overall conclusions based on my experiences and observations in England, Scotland, Eire and France.  Here goes:
1.  The war is being magnificently waged by the allies and Hitler's doom is irrevocably sealed.  It's only a matter of time--and not much time at that.
2.  The people of Britain have stood up magnificently against a bombing ordeal that would have caused a race less courageous to run up the white flag.
3.  America's fighters and the people of Britain, including her fighting men, have got along rather famously with each other, generally speaking.
4.  Gen. Ike Eisenhower, in a somewhat delicate spot, is universally admired by Britisers, both as a war strategist and as a military diplomat.
5.  Even by those who disagree with his political philosophy, Winston Churchill is universally idolized.  American does not have his parallel.
6.  While there isn't such a thing as a fat Britisher, the diet on the island has been adequate to preserve a rather high degree of general health.
7.  The manner in which the British have converted grazing lands and golf courses into vegetable and grain fields is little short of a modern miracle.
8.  If the robot bombs of the past 4 months had been in combination with the blitz bombs of 1940, there just wouldn't be any London today.
9.  You acquire a rather fatalistic attitude toward robot bombs.  Within a week I was going to the roof to watch them, not to a shelter to avoid them.
10.  One of the greatest sappers of British morale has been 5 years of nightly blackouts.  And they haven't been lifted as yet in London.
11.  Great is the contrast between London and Paris in war's physical scars.  You have to look for them in Paris; in London they're everywhere.
12.  If the temper of the man on the street in London prevails, there will be no easy peace for Germany this time.  He remembers too well the robot bombs.
13.  The stage is set for a socialist-labor government in the United Kingdom.  The people look forward eagerly to their first election after victory.
14.  War-weary Britain is facing the problems of reconversion to a peace-time economy with a surprising degree of courage and optimism.
15.  "What's Russia going to do?"  is even more in British thinking than in America's.  Britain, you see, is closer to Russia than we are here.
16.  Because they've seen and been a part of war at close range, Britishers are willing to go to any length to see that the next peace is lasting.
17.  Britishers universally grant the necessity of maintaining their empire structure--but they're not agreed as to just how it's to be done.
18.  The ancient lines of class demarcation in Britain, made fuzzy in the last war, are being all but obliterated in this conflict.  War knows no class.
19.  Paper shortage and censorship have combined to keep British readers from graphic, play-by-play story of the war had by U.S. newspaper readers.
20.  The government-operated radio of Britain (called wireless) is doing a rather good job of news dissemination but is a bit short on entertainment.
21.  Total war at its worst was epitomized for me as a newspaper observer in 3 places--London, Dover and Normandy peninsula, especially St. Lo.
22.  Whether we like the British or not--and I do--America and Britain are going to be tightly bound by fundamental mutual interests in the years ahead.
23.  Not the least of the bonds between U.S. and U.K. are our common language and our common heritage of Anglo-Saxon justice and Freedom under law.
24.  The average citizen of South Ireland wants to see Hitler beaten.  But he wishes it could be accomplished without being a victory for John Bull.
25.  The only "indispensable man" I know in this war is not named Churchill, Roosevelt, Dewey, Marshall, Eisenhower of MacArthur.  He's G. I. Joe.

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slug-Conclusions From 4 By W. EARL HALL Globe-Gazette Managing Editor Letter No. 50 Washington, D.C.--With my feet firmly planted on American soil for the first time for almost 2 months, I'm going to take time in this final letter from our national capital to jot down--without supporting evidence or argument--some of the overall conclusions based on my experiences and observations in England, Scotland, Eire and France. Here goes: 1. The war is being magnificently waged by the allies and Hitler's doom is irrevocably sealed. It's only a matter of time--and not much time at that. 2. The people of Britain have stood up magnificently against a bombing ordeal that would have caused a race less courageous to run up the white flag. 3. America's fighters and the people of Britain, including her fighting men, have got along rather famously with each other, generally speaking. 4. Gen. Ike Eisenhower, in a somewhat delicate spot, is universally admired by Britisers, both as a war strategist and as a military diplomat. 5. Even by those who disagree with his political philosophy, Winston Churchill is universally idolized. American does not have his parallel. 6. While there isn't such a thing as a fat Britisher, the diet on the island has been adequate to preserve a rather high degree of general health. 7. The manner in which the British have converted grazing lands and golf courses into vegetable and grain fields is little short of a modern miracle. 8. If the robot bombs of the past 4 months had been in combination with the blitz bombs of 1940, there just wouldn't be any London today. 9. You acquire a rather fatalistic attitude toward robot bombs. Within a week I was going to the roof to watch them, not to a shelter to avoid them. 10. One of the greatest sappers of British morale has been 5 years of nightly blackouts. And they haven't been lifted as yet in London. 11. Great is the contrast between London and Paris in war's physical scars. You have to look for them in Paris; in London they're everywhere. 12. If the temper of the man on the street in London prevails, there will be no easy peace for Germany this time. He remembers too well the robot bombs. 13. The stage is set for a socialist-labor government in the United Kingdom. The people look forward eagerly to their first election after victory. 14. War-weary Britain is facing the problems of reconversion to a peace-time economy with a surprising degree of courage and optimism. 15. "What's Russia going to do?" is even more in British thinking than in America's. Britain, you see, is closer to Russia than we are here. 16. Because they've seen and been a part of war at close range, Britishers are willing to go to any length to see that the next peace is lasting. 17. Britishers universally grant the necessity of maintaining their empire structure--but they're not agreed as to just how it's to be done. 18. The ancient lines of class demarcation in Britain, made fuzzy in the last war, are being all but obliterated in this conflict. War knows no class. 19. Paper shortage and censorship have combined to keep British readers from graphic, play-by-play story of the war had by U.S. newspaper readers. 20. The government-operated radio of Britain (called wireless) is doing a rather good job of news dissemination but is a bit short on entertainment. 21. Total war at its worst was epitomized for me as a newspaper observer in 3 places--London, Dover and Normandy peninsula, especially St. Lo. 22. Whether we like the British or not--and I do--America and Britain are going to be tightly bound by fundamental mutual interests in the years ahead. 23. Not the least of the bonds between U.S. and U.K. are our common language and our common heritage of Anglo-Saxon justice and Freedom under law. 24. The average citizen of South Ireland wants to see Hitler beaten. But he wishes it could be accomplished without being a victory for John Bull. 25. The only "indispensable man" I know in this war is not named Churchill, Roosevelt, Dewey, Marshall, Eisenhower of MacArthur. He's G. I. Joe.