The Modock and the Oozlefinch

Sirs:

When discussing Brigadier General James H. Doolittle [TIME, June 1], you state: "He was an early member of the Quiet Birdmen, the group of flyers who set themselves apart from the kiwi, an almost extinct flightless bird, and from the 'Modock,' legendary aviation term for a 'bird that flies backwards to keep the dust out of its eyes.' "

We believe TIME has erred. On Feb. 20, 1942, long before TIME mentioned "backward" birds, The Range Finder, Camp Callan publication, presented the "Oozlefinch," mascot of the Coast Artillery, which for years has flown backwards to keep the dust out of its eyes; and also because the bird is not interested in where it is going--it wants to know where in h-- it came from.

Furthermore, we members of this command would challenge any airmen to produce an authentic copy of a "Modock" and would then compare it with the authentic Oozlefinch to prove the erroneous statement of TIME. . .

Enclosed please find copy of Artist John Zane's version of the sacred property of the Coast Artillery, the "Oozlefinch".

CAPTAIN EARL W. PORTER Camp Callan, Calif.

> Ornithologists insist that the Modock and the Oozlefinch derive from a common ancestor. The Modock's first migration to the U.S. was noted early in the 1920s, when the Quiet Birdmen insisted that they were no relation to either the kiwi or the Modock. The kiwi's natural habitat is New Zealand.--ED.

Less Tingle

Sirs: So we feel exhilarated! [TIME, June 15, on the possibility of a bombing raid on San Francisco.] Sure, exhilarated at the prospect of getting a splash of lewisite--even a feeling of elation at the prospect of seeing arms, legs and torsos flung into the treetops. You guys make me sick . . . almost as sick as I'd be after a whiff of noxious Jap gas.

We in San Francisco are feeling the same feeling that a chicken might feel as it looks up from the block--and waits for the ax.

Sure--we tingle--and our great day will be that one when we smash the living bejesus out of the Japs.

PHILIP STEARNS San Francisco, Calif.

Goggle-Eyed

Sirs: On the same page, you describe two people as "spaniel-eyed" and "beagle-eyed," TIME. June 15.

This leaves me goggle-eyed.

E. D. TOLAND Concord, N. H.

"Loony Soony"

Sirs: TIME'S rhymes--"legal eagle," "able stable" --will contrive to drive me loony soony.

Please cease.

A pleader reader.

MARGARET MILLER Ann Arbor, Mich.

Nazi Best

Sirs:

It has been called to our attention that a recent issue of TIME has commented upon the identity of "Guess Who," the Berlin propagandist, as being Robert Henry Best, "of Sumter," Sumter County, S.C.

We have had inquiries from all over the U.S. relative to this man. Records indicate that Robert Henry Best is a son of the late Rev. A. H. Best, who preached for one year (1896) at the Methodist Church at Zoar, a small country community in Sumter County about ten miles from this city. His father was transferred after that one year from the "Lower" to the "Upper Conference" of the South Carolina Methodist Church. It is possible that he was born in Sumter or Sumter County in 1896, which would make his age at the present approximately 46 years.

It hardly seems probable that, if Best were personally trying to identify himself, he would describe himself as "of Sumter." He must have moved from Sumter County with his family before he was a year old, and we cannot discover any record of his having visited here since that time. Robert Henry Best, the United Press correspondent, graduated from Wofford College, in Spartanburg, S.C. in 1916. . . . Although he lived in Spartanburg as a young man, he has not revisited that city since 1920. . . .

Whether it is actually Best who is working for the Nazis, or some other person using his name, has not yet been indisputably established. We understand that the Berlin broadcaster "Guess Who" has what seems to be an unmistakable Southern accent.

The fact that he claims to be "of Sumter" is one reason for suspecting some substitution by the Nazis. . . .

WARREN T. KING Executive Secretary Sumter Chamber of Commerce Sumter, S.C.

> It is generous to assume that the Nazis were using a substitute for Best, but his voice was identified by fellow correspondents who heard him broadcast. William L. Shirer, who knew Best in Vienna, thought the soft cafe life had changed him. "Best, like few other American foreign correspondents, stayed too long in Europe. Unless you came home sometimes you began to go European. Best never came home, even for a brief vacation." TIME merely said that Best was a South Carolinian. Said he in his biography written for the internees' paper at Bad Nauheim Spa: "Born Sumter, S.C., 4/16/ 96; Wofford College (Spartanburg), B.A. '16 . . . Abroad since 1922. . . ." --ED.

Doctored Anthem

Sirs:

I just received from my partner, James Norman Hall, a bit of news that may be of interest to you. Hall is in Tahiti, and he wrote me on May 7:

"Here's an interesting news item that appeared in last night's Presse: [translation] 'Marshal Petain has modified the text of the Marseillaise. In the future the verse following the refrain: Their blood impure shall bathe our thresholds soon will not be sung. Petain probably thinks that these words could offend the Germans or the partisans of collaboration. Words to replace those eliminated have not yet been chosen.' "

Who wants his national anthem doctored to soothe Nazi ears? We've got to win this war!

CHARLES NORDHOFF Santa Barbara, Calif.

P.S. Of course Tahiti is for De Gaulle.

> The verse cut out: What does this band of slaves want, These traitors, these plotting kings? For whom are these infamous tortures, These chains prepared so long ago? These chains prepared so long ago? Frenchmen! Oh, what an outrage for us! What violent feelings this ought to arouse! We are the ones they dare to think of returning to slavery!--ED.

No Connection Sirs:

. . ."One of the speakers at the convention was Marshall Field, backer of Chicago's Sun and New York's PM. He urged the Negro press to go easy on the race issue. The advice was interesting, since he is also the backer of a Negro paper, a four-month-old Harlem tabloid called The People's Voice (to which last week he extended 'another $25,000 of credit')" [TIME, June 15].

I am deeply sympathetic with the efforts of the Negro press to improve the lot of the Negro. Nothing so impairs the moral position of America in the present war as our treatment of the Negro population, and every sincere effort that seeks to ameliorate the present status of the Negroes should be encouraged. The conclusions here stated are, I take it, axiomatic to all loyal and understanding Americans.

This brings me to the excerpt quoted above. I have no connection whatsoever with The People's Voice. I did not extend during the "last week'' before your issue of June 15 "another $25,000 of credit" or any other amount. The People's Voice is printed on the presses which print PM, but under a contract which requires that such printing be paid for in the usual way. Bills are due and payable 15 days after charges have been incurred and there is no arrangement for any other credit to The People's Voice. . . .

Marshall Field New York City

> To Marshall Field, apologies for an evident error. TIME'S statement was based on information that apparently came from the horse's mouth: Publisher Adam Powell told TIME'S correspondent covering the Negro publishers' convention that Mr. Field was indeed his backer and had at luncheon only the day before extended him "another $25,000 credit."--ED.

Knifing in the Back

Sirs: I wonder if John L. Ulmer (TIME, April 27) knows what he is talking about [in a letter saying, "If these people (the Japs) were allowed to go about their business as honorable, law-abiding Americans, no doubt the majority would behave as such."] In Alaska a couple of well-respected and honorable Jap-Americans proved that they were capable of "knifing in the back" the land of their adoption.

One a native of Seward: he had lived there for years, owned several business establishments, and was treated with respect; was found to be operating a short-wave station which was sending out intercepted messages, information, weather--anything of importance--to his fatherland.

The other: a resident of Alaska for over 30 years, well-known and liked . . . was operating a restaurant in Valdez. . . . For reasons of his own he imported an oversupply of Jap dishwashers, cooks, second cooks, bakers. This superintelligent help would stay a few weeks, then disappear to be replaced by a fresh batch. Each employe was armed with a Leica or similar high-powered camera and spent most of his time away from his work taking pictures of the surrounding country.

About this time Pangborn was arrested, detained and fined for flying over Japan on a round-the-world flight.

Reader Ulmer underestimates the foresight and capabilities of respected Jap-Americans.

A. M. ELMER Gulkana, Alaska

No Amateur

Sirs:

I had . . . seen the article in TIME, June 15 [about Thomas Benton's musical get-togethers]. . . . TIME couldn't have handled our music any better. The only sour comment came from my son T.P. who said, "What the hell do they mean by amateur. Didn't I get $10 an hour for playing?" . . .

THOMAS H. BENTON Chilmark, Mass.

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