Detestable Precepts
Sirs:
In my recent overseas editions of TIME I have noticed letters in which the old opinions are voiced on a lenient peace for Germany. Such conceptions of the peace fail to take into consideration the frame of mind into which Nazidom has thrown the German people.
Since the American conquest of Nazi Germany, my buddies and I have noticed the many respects in which German actions and reactions have manifested their complete belief in the rule of power. To set before them suddenly the principles of a democracy based on Christian precepts would be as detestable to them as our accepting Shintoism in America. To such calloused minds it is a must that we show an iron hand in the first stages of occupation. Only with the passage of "healing" time can the Germans be cleansed of the cancer of Naziism. The invalid is not immediately healed upon the doctor's arrival. We stopped dreaming when we entered this war. Let's not start the process all over again.
(CPL.) JAMES NEWMAN % Postmaster New York City
Too Many Points
Sirs:
We've had many arguments on the fairness & unfairness of the point system [for discharge of overseas soldiers], and this was the result of our discussions. We agreed on everything except:
1) Too many points are given for children. Three kids make 36 points, for which a single man will have to go through seven campaigns. Sure, a man should be given points for kids, but not twelve--that's too steep.
2) A man in the rear receives a bronze star for a job done well. A man at the front receives the same for doing something at the risk of his life. They should have two different ribbons with different point value. If risking your life is worth five points, we don't believe the same should be received for a job done well in the rear.
3) For each month in the States one should and does receive one point. For each month overseas, two points. But for each month in the front lines one should get three points. The combat man doesn't receive what he deserves in comparison to the rear echelon. We know just what the chances are of a combat man getting through a long period of action without getting wounded or killed, and we Tank Destroyers consider ourselves damn lucky to be still alive after all that we've been through in the past ten months. MEN OF THE 773RD TANK DESTROYER BATTALION % Postmaster New York City
TIME & General Falkenhorst
Sirs:
On the 13th of May a German general in full dress uniform, carrying three large but very dilapidated suitcases, walked into the command post of the 42nd Rainbow Division, which was then located near the Austrian border northeast of Salzburg and announced that he wished to surrender.
"My name is Falkenhorst," he told the guard who stopped him, but he was not greeted with the expected sign of recognition.
Recognizing him as a man of rank, however, the guard turned him over to an aide to Major General Harry J. Collins, the division commander. . .
An interpreter was called and the German general was taken in to see General Collins. Standing at stiff attention the German this time made sure that his identity would be known.
"I am General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst, the former commander of all the German land, sea and air forces in Norway," he an nounced. "Your famous TIME magazine had my picture on the front page, and they described me as the master of land, sea & air." In the course of questioning by General Collins, Falkenhorst later explained that he had received a copy of TIME, containing his picture, from a friend in Sweden. "That is a very excellent magazine," he declared, "and it was a very satisfactory article about me -- very satisfactory." Falkenhorst, who said there was never any doubt in his mind that Germany would lose the war under the leadership of that "mad man" Hitler who fought the "most insane" war in all history, said he was relieved of command in Norway on Dec. 18 and a Nazi Party general put in his place. He then went to Prussia, but fled from there to southern Germany to escape the advancing Russians. The inclosed picture was taken during his interview by General Collins.
HUGH C. DALY
Lieutenant
Public Relations Officer Headquarters 42nd Infantry Division % Postmaster New York City
P: Let Reader Falkenhorst read more carefully in the future. TIME [May 13, 1940] did not call him "master of land, sea & air." TIME said that the campaign he organized and led "was a masterpiece of organization as well as cunning surprise," that he "had proved himself a pitiless war lord." Said the caption under his picture: "He got there first--can he stay there last?"--ED.
"Americans with Japanese Faces"
Sirs:
As one of the thousands of American Japanese in the armed forces of the U.S., I would like to thank those numerous Americans who are continuously extending their right hand of fellowship to us: such men as Lieut. James L. Spencer Jr., Lieut. Wolcott Ely, Lieut. Robin W. Gray, Lieut. Eugene C. Rice of the U.S.A.A.F.; and PhM 2/C Donald C. McCane of the U.S.N. [TIME Letters, May 28]. . . .
No matter what the problems and prejudices that may lie ahead, we Americans with Japanese faces will not falter, but will glory in our work of building America as the nation of nations. And to those named above, may God bless their devotion and loyalty to their fellow men and to their country.
GEORGE AKI
Captain, U.S.A., Chaplain Corps
% Postmaster New York City
Mackerel Note
Sirs:
You say: "A mackerel cannot see or touch itself, thus has no idea what sort of creature it is" [TIME, June 4]. But if you'd ever swum around in a school of mackerel the way I have, taking notes, you'd know that each mackerel looks at the thousands of others and figures that he's pretty much like all his neighbors.
JACK CLUETT Greenwich, Conn.
Tomato Surprise
Sirs:
SORRY TIME SHOT FROM THE HIP IN REPORTING MY INTERVIEW WITH GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK IN CHUNGKING [TIME, JUNE 11], HERE FACTS I FEEL TIME HONORBOUND TO PRINT IN CONTRADICTION YOUR SURMISE MY DISPATCH "ALL WRONG." FIRST, REGARDING AMBASSADOR HURLEY NOT HAVING BEEN CONSULTED IN ADVANCE ABOUT CENSORSHIP PROPOSAL. THIS HAS ALL THE IMPLICATIONS OF A TOMATO SURPRISE. FOR YOUR INFORMATION AMBASSADOR HURLEY, ON THE CONTRARY, WAS PRESENT THROUGHOUT DISCUSSION WITH GENERALISSIMO ABOUT CENSORSHIP. IF MR. HURLEY THOUGHT ANYTHING ABSURD HE DID NOT THINK SO UNTIL 24 HOURS LATER. OTHERWISE, OBVIOUSLY, HIS RESERVATIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN DISPATCH. SECOND, YOUR REFERENCE VICE MINISTER OF INFORMATION HOLLINGTON TONG AND ANY "MISUNDERSTANDING" IN CONTENTS DISPATCH. IT HAPPENS MR. TONG HIMSELF SERVED AS INTERPRETER FOR GENERALISSIMO IN THIS MEETING, WHICH IS A GOOD WAY TO KNOW WHAT GOES ON. THEN, AS THE CHIEF CHINESE GOVERNMENT CENSOR, MR. TONG PERSONALLY READ, CENSORED AND OFFICIALLY PASSED MY DISPATCH WHEN WRITTEN. CHIEF CENSORS DO NOT DO THINGS LIKE THIS CARELESSLY IN CHINA. . . .
HENRY J. TAYLOR
San Francisco
P: Let Correspondent Taylor note that, despite his "intervention," China's censorship situation is unchanged. Says Hollington Tong: "I did not censor facts. It is not my part to question whether facts are correctly reported or not as long as the censorship regulations concerning security are observed. It is not my job to edit copy."--ED.
Gratified Canadian
Sirs:
I couldn't resist the urge to tell you how much I appreciate TIME. Your two pages of Canada at War makes my Canadian heart swell with pride. Too long, in my estimation, have the Canadian people hid their light under a bushel, and it has taken an American magazine to tell the world what they have been doing. As a Canadian, thanks.
J. E. MINER Comber, Ont.
The Right Rose
Sirs:
For three weeks TIME persists in error. While the overwhelming number of American and British newspapers label the Wehrmacht Chief of Staff as Colonel General Gustav Jodl, TIME [May 14] exclusively calls him Alfred. His wife (according to published reports) says it's Gustav.
A rose by any other name would smell, but let's get this stinker right.
WILLIAM P. MOLONEY Lieutenant (j.g.) U.S.N.R.
% Fleet Post Office
New York City
P: TIME has him right, according to the German Army list, which SHAEF accepts as official. SHAEF cannot understand how he came to be called Gustav, thinks it may be one of his middle names.--ED.
Pin-Up General
Sirs:
Allow me to nominate your cover of June 4 as the nicest of the year. Surely General Wedemeyer must be an unusual man to have such a face: a little amused, a little shy, extremely intelligent, altogether likable. Marvelous eyes.
If I were the pin-up type, I'd have this photograph of him ahead of Gable--or even General MacArthur.
(MRS.) J. V. COOKE
Denver
This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.