Why We Behave Like Americans

Do U.S. soldiers in Britain always behave well? Official answer--both British and American: "Yes, of course. And even if they don't, we won't say so." But London News Chronicle Columnist A. J. Cummings broke this official conspiracy of politeness, touching off a lively press controversy. Needled Cummings:

"Statements have appeared in the press complimenting the Americans lavishly on their good behavior. . . . Uncritical compliments are not in accord with the facts. . . . There has been comment recently on what happens in the West End of London. ... In such places as Worcester and Peterborough the undisciplined conduct of American troops is causing considerable resentment. . . ."

Comebacks. Lord Beaverbrook's Daily Express immediately took up the challenge and began knocking down Cummings' story with testimonial letters from the places involved. Wrote Mayor Godsell of Worcester: "The behavior of the American troops is excellent. ... It is disgrace ful that such a statement should be made. . . . Misconduct in Worcester is negligible." Mayor Farrow, of Peterborough: "I am infuriated by this scurrilous statement. . . . The police have practically no trouble."

Unabashed, Cummings punched back: "American citizens resident in this country have called to thank me for breaking the conspiracy of silence about the behavior of certain elements of the American forces. . . . The great majority are a credit to their country. . . . The trouble with the minority is due . . . to the fact that the American soldiers have too much money to spend and too much time to spend it, and to a certain casualness in military supervision."

As a news scoop, the News Chronicle's scolding had a certain cold-muttonish quality. It would have carried more validity many months ago, when U.S. soldiers first arrived in the United Kingdom, and the Tommies certainly found them too cocky, too well-heeled, too fresh with the girls.

Drawbacks. On the other hand, the U.S. soldiers found British beer warm, British soldiers cold, British climate depressing. They are still inclined to think that the United Kingdom would be a far more livable place if it were more like the U.S. But the original tensions have relaxed a great deal, genuine mutual respect has developed between Tommies and doughboys; U.S. troops cause less trouble for the police than any other visiting force.

Whatever else he may have accomplished, Cummings set up a publicity man's dream background for the war's latest good-will publication, an eight-cent booklet, Meet the U.S. Army, issued by His Majesty's Stationery Office. Roughly paralleling the U.S. Army's Short Guide to Great Britain in purpose, this handbook on American character was written by pale, pensive Louis MacNeice, 35-year-old Anglo-Irish poet, author of Plant and Phantom, Autumn Journal, etc. Since the war MacNeice has bloomed as a top-notch BBC script writer. He acquired American background in 1939 and 1940, when he traveled widely in the U.S., lecturing on literature, and gave a course at Cornell for one term. Some of his book let's suggestions:

Food. "We should admit that, even in peacetime, English meals, on the average, were not particularly good. The average standard of cooking and eating in America was higher than ours, and it is a mistake to assume that all Americans live solely off tinned foods."

History. "It is high time that our schoolchildren were told that the Americans licked us at Saratoga in 1777 and at New Orleans in 1815."

Negro Problem. Better not discuss it with a Southerner unless he brings it up.

Sport. Americans "think of football in terms of "tactics and skill more than, as we do in the case of rugger at any rate, in terms of sweat and endurance. As with football, so with dancing; they regard it from the angle of technique."

Aspirations. U.S. soldiers "conceive of the jeep . . . not only as a means of winning the war but as a means of improving the peace, of getting to know their own country. . . . A remark often heard is on this pattern: 'When this war is over I am going to go back home and I'm going to marry my girl and I'm going to get me a jeep and I'm going to drive all around the U.S.A.'"

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