THE PROGRESSIVE OPINION U. 5. War Prisoners Seek 'Escape' in Camp Doings Yanks Like Plays and Develop Liking for Soccer Football, but Letters From Home Greatest Source of Cheer. By BAUKHAGE News Analyst and Commentator. t ' V,-- WNU Service, Union Trust Building, Washington, D. C. It is not often that we get direct communication from Americans in Germany, and so I am not ashamed to say that when I perused a com-munication from that source, I did not at first recognize what the fre-quently used abbreviation POW stood for. Comparatively few Americans know the meaning of those three letters; perhaps none know what they mean to the POW himself. POW is prisoner of war. Accord-ing to the latest figures I have from the war department there are now 41,234 American soldiers, sailors, marines, merchant seamen held by the enemy! The officials of the Red Cross know exactly what the conditions are under which those prisoners move and live and have their being in Allied prison camps in Germany or in the more than 40 hospitals lor Allied wounded in the Reich or occupied countries. They have regu-lar reports from the International Red Cross representatives who visit the camp regularly. The Red Cross says in effect: "So far as we know, the Germans have treated Ameri-can prisoners in accordance with the Geneva agreement.' That is all it says. But even if the Germans live up to both the spirit and the letter of the Geneva agreement, the lot of the prisoner of war is not to be envied. Recently, I studied some of the newspapers issued by men in the prison camps. Some have been released for publication. Others have not. Not that those withheld revealed any dark secrets of suffer-ing. Quite the contrary. They simply prove what Kipling said about men who live in barracks not growing up to be plaster saints, and some of the humor might be a little, shall we say, unsaintly. The reason for this is expressed In the word escape. There are two kinds of escape which a prisoner thinks about. One is a safe y through the barbed wire and past the machine guns and quick-trigge- r . sentinels. If he is wise, he doesn't spend too much time on such cogi-tation. The official advice to POWs is "don't try it." The other kind of escape is defined by Webster as, "mental distraction or relief from the bondage of reality or routine; as, literature of es-cape." ' The somewhat highly seasoned humor of some of the jokes and car-toons in the prisoners' papers are, technically speaking, "literature of escape," this and the description of things they do to provide escape from the monotony of prison life. Yank Ingenuity Shows In Stage Productions sources when possible, usually fabricated out of sheets and men's clothing." The newspaper (a typewritten sheet) says that "scenery, furniture and stage properties have been con-structed from wooden Red Cross boxes and burlap, covered with magazine paper and painted with cold water paint." In another item, the paper com-ments that "the handy man is the hero of the camp." Of course, there are sports, but limited ground space makes base-ball impossible in this particular camp since a homer over the fence is irretrievable. The boys have learned to like soccer, learned from their English comrades, as a form of what they call "mass murder." Softball is a favorite sport, and with the arrival of fencing foils, fencing. There are some classes, but they are not dealt with in detail. Another nostalgic diversion was described although not admitted as such, since no note of sentimentality enters the sheet. It was a baby con-test, the entrants photographs sup-plied, presumably, by wives from home. A "Miss Stalag Luft III" was later to be selected from the pic-tures of wives and sweethearts. The schedule for a typical day runs like this: POWs Day Lehutmfy But Monotonous The day starts at 10 a. m. with roll-ca- ll (following a breakfast of coffee, bread and jam). Then calis-thenics, showers for the few desig-nated that day (they go in lots of 24), classes, library, cooking sched-ules (the men take turns at the culinary arts). Mail (if there is any) is distributed at noon. Last roll-ca- ll comes at four p. m., then a few turns around the perimeter of the camp, supper, bridge and poker (for cigarettes). Then "some good talk, much foolish dreaming' before mid-night sends the Kriegie to bed with the hope ever that the new day brings peace." Of course, in this little typewrite ten journal which has had to pass the German censor, there is only here and there a hint of certain inner feelings toward the hosts; one-not-on the showing of a Ger-man film speaks of a "none too spellbound audience." It is difficult to get an intimate view. of a prisoner's life from these brief notes or, indeed, from the let-ters the prisoners write home. But those persons who have read all the confidential reports and also many letters passed on to them by rela-tions tell me two things: one, that, generally speaking, American pris-oners in German camps are not badly treated and are not in want; second, the first months are the hardest. Most prisoners build up some kind of "escape" mechanism and manage to keep up their spir-its and morale by adapting them-selves to their environment. Naturally, the question is fre-quently asked: "What are we doing for our prisoners in Germany?" The thing they want most is pro-vided for most of them letters from home. The next are the food pack- - As always, the drama provides one of the easiest and most effec-tive mental distractions and I am told that the time, effort and in-genuity that is put into the learning, producing, staging and costuming of plays by these men is remarkable. "The Kriegie Times," issued by the American airmen in Stalag Luft III, in Sagan, Germany, which I have before me as I write, is per-haps not typical because it was an edition especially for the home folks. But it has a story on page one headed "theater" which begins with the statement which started me off on this topic. It says, "The Kriegie (local nickname for war prisoner) is assured of 'escape' in the theater." Then it explains that in order to accommodate the whole camp in an auditorium which seats only 20 per cent of the members, five performances of each play are given. And they include real drama. The article records as recent pro-ductions that sure-fir- never-di- e farce, "Charlie's Aunt"; "Our Town," the popular American play, nostalgic and easy to stage be-cause it requires no scenery; "Tobacco Road," a popular, earthy . piece with a run longer than the re-treat from Stalingrad; "The Man Who Came To Dinner," whose ap-peal perhaps lies in the fact that "the man" couldn't get away, either; and "Flieger Frolics," an original musical comedy. (Flieger is flyer in German.) "Female costumes," it is ex-plained, "are hired through German ages wnicn are paid lor by tne army, packed by volunteer work-ers and shipped by the Red Cross from their four shipping centers, two in New York, one in Philadel-phia and one in St. Louis. Most of the packages, assembled like motor cars on a moving line, are packed by loving hands that group which bears the scars of war as deeply as the combatants themselves, and described prosaically in army lan-guage as "the next of kin." These packages go, one for each prisoner, every week. The prisoners also can receive personal packages every 60 days. They get books and other prescribed articles. The Red Cross has eight ships ol its own which, up until recently, have been landing regularly at Mar-seille, where packages have been shipped in sealed cars to Switzer-land. These goods went through un-molested. Lately some of the ship ments have been made to Lisbor and on smaller shuttle vessels. The disruption of traffic ir Germany has recently interferec with the system. Other routes are being planned. SEWING CIRCLE NEEDLEWORK - Soft-Weig- ht Jacket and Bonnet Shopping Bag of Crochet Cotton ifts fi $0V-':-.-.-. Carry "Rations" $&$fcS IJNBLEACHED string, houj, hold twine, crochet cotton wil c'i?;;);'-.- . make this folding bag .'v't;'V: Take it to market in your purse, 'iVi1;: It's strong enough to hold a raft J groceries. V&.,V'.'-V,:.- ' To obtain complete crocheting "JgKlij tions ,or the String Marketing Bag (p, SVV tern No. 5499) send 16 cents in coin, ;u name, address and the pattern number. Due to an unusually large demand u current war conditions, slightly more tin is required In filling orders for i lew I the most popular pattern numbers. Send your order to: SEWING CIRCLE NEEDLEWORK 149 New Montgomery St San Francisco, Calif. Enclose 15 cents (plus one cent te cover cost of mailing) for Pattern No Name: Address Crochet Jaeket and Bonnet A CUNNING baby jacket and bonnet can be crocheted in a very short time and is the perfect new baby gift to have on hand when you receive a birth an-nouncement. Bonnet and jacket sets- are always welcomed by the mother, no matter what the sea-son is, as babies do wear these soft-weig- little jackets in all but the very hottest weather. The set illustrated is done in a rather loose crochet stitch so that a lacy effect' is obtained. A very simple beading is crocheted at throat and at wrist so that pale pink or blue satin ribbon can be used for ties. The bonnet also is of very simple stitch. To obtain complete crocheting Instruc-tions for both Baby Jacket and Bonnet (Pattern No. 5519) send 16 cents in coin, your name, address and the pattern num-ber. FIavor Delights Millions Imm phacigb "Tin Grains ir Great Foods- "- jtfitftffiry, r pi Ij Kellogg's Corn Flakes bring you 'iW'" J nearly all the protective food elements I III of the whole ft fS grain declared essential 1 1, If f 7 IkssJI 'HAKES if. yl A- - Preserve the American Way of Ufe By Buying United States War Deri HINTS FOR HOME BAKERS " Tender, Crusty Rolls without Kndfcj! Make ihem nkhFleischmanrisyello JYfr the only fresh yeast wHh more KE& BREAO W Msugar Yeast 2 tan , 1 cake Fleischmann's ' cup lukewarm water l egg, beaten cup shortening 3u cups flour IVi teaspoons salt and sUgai 5 Dissolve a separate bowl; add boumg water vvne dough, Wours. Add flour to majre 2 to beaten egg; mix well. m Pce dougn in greased bowl, $&SL B Pinch off dough and fill V, ut melted shortening. Cover advle.t ovenat 425 F. for 2 until light, about 2 hours Remove from pan immediately. Maltese I; .. 1 . . : . I -v :4 - ""r-- 'J!' '"" ;;" ' ! SPRfE) NEW WARTIME EDITION OF FLEISCHMANN'S RECIPE BOOKI j V--y- T'03."1 f' your free copj - - ' Nam fihrnan-- ', newly rX ' 0f?X43 "ozena of easy recipes for Address I bread, rolls, desserts. Address I Yy Standard Brand,, Grand Cen-- Town or City Co"'- '- I tTJ tral Annex, Box 477. New Ij WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS Nazi Armies Fall Back in France; Hitlers Hold on Balkans Shaken; Lend-Leas- e Totals 28 Billion ,m I,. Released by Western Newspaper Union. - (EDITOR'S NOTE: When opinions are expressed In these columns, they are those of Western Newspaper Union's news analysts and not necessarily of this newspaper.) r f- ' " " ' " ' Zri Carried on wounded Allied aoldiera arrive at Myitkyina Burma, for tranafer to hoapital plane. AGRICULTURE: Seek to Avoid Glut Looking forward into the postwar world with all of its economic prob-lems, the War Food administration has sought to develop a procedure designed to avoid the accumulation of vast stores of surplus foods which might constitute a market threat when hostilities cease. Under WFA plans, the agency now buys food only for foreseeable de-mands, and declares that anx com-modities required for relief in liber-ated countries will first be with-drawn from surplus army and lend-leas- e stocks before purchases are made in the domestic market. In establishing a surplus sales division, which is to sell current food stocks when demand is high to make room for fresh supplies, the WFA has set up machinery for fu-ture disposals. World Plans Drawn up with the avowed ambi-tion of improving the efficiency of farm production and distribution, and bettering the economic condi-tions of rural populations, plans for a permanent international agricul-tural organization have been sub-mitted for approval to the 44 United Nations by their food conference committee. To act in an advisory capacity only, the proposed organization would consist of a governing body in which each nation would be rep-resented, with efforts directed to-ward promoting research, spreading information and offering recom-mendations. Other objectives of the pian in-clude the elevation of nutritional standards throughout the world, and the development of agriculture as a contribution to an overall economic " expansion. PACIFIC: Bombers Active With thousands of Japanese troops stranded on the enemy's string of outer defense islands from the Solomons down to New Guinea, Gen. Douglas MacArthur's air command concentrated on the bombardment of shipping lanes through which sup-plies might seep to bolster the sag-ging garrisons. At the same time, Adm. Chester Nimitz revealed that navy planes continued their attack upon the stra-tegic Bonin islands, which lie ap-proximately 600 miles from the Japanese mainland and just above the U. S. occupied Marianas, in an effort to soften up these stepping stones to Tokyo. In pressing their bombardments. General MacArthur's airmen ranged over Mindanao, important basing point for enemy shipping in the southern Philippines. Fatherly Marines POSTWAR PEACE: Powers Confer Meeting In the quaint, bid Dum-barton Oaks estate in Washington, D. C, representatives of the U. S., Britain and Russia began momen-tous conferences on preserving post-war peace, with emphasis on the need of force as an ultimate re-source. China was to join the con-ference after the Reds had finished (heir tallrc sinnp I-- - Stt0 ygijgjoj Russia is not at war with the Japanese and is unwilling to discuss repressive measures against them. Accepting the in-vitation of Secre-tary of State Cor-de- ll Hull to discuss postwar peace EUROPE: Nazis Pull Back As fast - moving Allied forces pushed the Nazis back throughout all of France, German spokesmen hint-ed that Hitler's high command planned a withdrawal to the Reich frontier so as to concentrate the greatest number of men on a short line. But even as the Nazis fell back, iwift armored thrusts by the U. S., British and French continued to llash at the harassed enemy's flanks nd threaten his encirclement from the rear, and clouds of Allied planes roared over the battle-line- s to dip low and gun the retreating German tolumns. With the bulk of their forces crowded in the area immediately north and south of Paris, the Germans put up their stiffest rearguard resistance in this re-gion. In southern France, Lieut. Gen. Alexander M. Patch's Sev-enth army fanned out quickly in all directions, with only scat-tered bands of enemy troops standing up briefly to slow the Allied drive. After capture of the great French Mediterranean port of Marseille, American engineers went to work rjuickly to restore facilities damaged by the Germans and enable the Al-lies to funnel supplies quickly to their armies in the south. Use of Marseille's installations would re-lieve the troublesome practice of landing supplies on the sandy beaches in shallow-draf- t craft Armistice arrangements for the Serman evacuation of Paris having fallen through. Free French armored columns were compelled to fight through a screen of Nazi defenders to liberate the city, with heavy U. S. aowitzers backing up Gen. Charles ie Gaulle's troops, and helping to break enemy resistance. Occupation of Paris with its 3,000,000 people in need of food and fuel for utilities, posed a supply problem for the Mlies. Turbulent Balkans With formation of a peace govern-ment in Rumania, Adolf Hitler's grip on the turbulent Balkans frew unsteadier, with Rumania's de-tection threatening to topple Ger-nany- 's whole southeastern front. John F. Dulles plans, Gov. Thomas E. Dewey sent John Foster Dulles, his advisor on for-eign affairs, to the capital to con-sult on the conferences. Hull issued his invitation after Dewey expressed concern that the major powers might overlook the interests of the smaller nations. Although the conferees were said to agree on the principle of employ-ing force to suppress future aggres-sion, plans under discussion called for the use of force only after meas-ures for peaceful settlement had failed. ANTI-TRUS-Railroads Named Charging maintenance of non-competitive rates, prevention of im-provements and facilities of west-ern lines, and suppressing develop-ment of other forms of transporta-tion, the government filed an anti-trust suit against the Association of American railroads; the. Western Association of Railway Executives; 47 railroads; and the investment houses of J. P. Morgan and Com-pany and Kuhn, Loeb and Company. Focusing its attention on western rail operations, the government de-clared that establishment of higher rates in that territory than in the east placed it at a competitive dis-advantage, retarding its economic growth. The government also claimed that movement of perish-able commodities has been delayed by unwillingness to speed up sched- - ! jr . L' As I ' fy-- 4 1 ' w X y , 1 As young King Michael an-nounced his country's willing-ness to accept Allied peace terms, Russia called for Ru-mania's expulsion of German troops from her homeland, or a war against Hungary to clear the latter from Transylvania, as the price of armistice terms. Even as Rumania acted to quit Sermany, Bulgarian peace pro-posals reportedly were forwarded to he Allies, who were said to have Insisted upon the Bulgars' withdraw-al from all occupied Grecian and Jugoslav territory as one of the trmistice terms. To prevent any peace factions rom obtaining a grip in Hungary, he d regime dissolved ill political parties, including the ronservative elements. luss Pressure Figuring in the Balkan countries' iwing toward the Allied camp was ;he Russians' power-hous- e drive searing down from northern As the Reds hurled their might t the enemy lines, they bored down on the Galati Gap between the n Alps and Black sea, bar-ring the way to the heart of Ru-mania and the Ploesti oil fields, from this region, there was short going before the Reds would reach the Bulgarian frontier. ules, and efforts have been made to stunt the development of truck and water transport. In naming J. P. Morgan and Com-pany and Kuhn, Loeb and Company in the suit, the government charged that they controlled major railroad financing and possessed substantial industrial interests in the East. LEND-LEAS-Aid Mounts Declaring that continuation of lend-leas- e was essential for speedy victory until both Germany and Ja-pan were brought to their knees. President Roosevelt revealed that the U. S. share of such assistance approximated 28 billion dollars up to July 1, while other countries con-tributed in excess of 3 billion. Of the 28 billion dollars, Britain received over 9 billion; Australia and New Zealand, 1 billion; Africa, the Middle East and Mediterranean. 3 billion; Russia, almost 6 billion; China and India, lVz billion, and Latin America, 172 million. As an indication of the gigantic contribution U. S. industry has made to the war, figures showed that this country lend-lease- 11,000 planes and 300,000 trucks and other vehi-cles to Russia; 6,000 planes and 9,900 tanks to Great Britain, and 4,800 planes, 51,100 tanks and 73,000 trucks and other vehicles to the Mediterranean area. Having been removed from hillside dugout on Tinian island in the Pacific, these native children were scrubbed clean by but fatherly U. S. marines, then outfitted with new clothes and sent to rear areas. WAGES: AFL Wants Boost Declaring that the President pos-sessed the power to raise wages, and that the stabilization act call-ing for a balance in the nation's economy afforded him the grounds for such a move, the executive council of the American Federation of Labor asked for abandonment of the "Little Steel" formula, limit-ing pay increases to 15 per cent of the January, 1941, level. At the same time, the council char-tered the International Office Work-ers union, which would embrace a vast number of white-colla- r em-ployees, who, as a class, have felt the squeeze of rising living costs more than any other group, since most wage increases have been en-joyed in the heavier d industries. In appealing for higher wages AFL President William Green de-clared: "The working men and women of this nation have been made to suffer from a maladjust- ment that exists between wages and cost of living. This 'maladjustment has broken and depressed their peacetime standards of living. . . ." U. S. LAND More than 34 million acres have been acquired by the federal gov- ernment for war purposes, exclusive of land taken over by the Defense plant corporation, according to Sen- ator O'Mahoney of Wyoming. The war and navy departments have stated that 6,750,000 acres of their holdings are surplus for post war purposes. Of this, 1.576,000 acres are tentatively classified as good ag- ricultural land, 2,197.000 acres as grazing land, and 2,107,000 as forest tracts. Town of Vigils Cundiyb, New Mexico, is Hi only town in the United States ii which every inhabitant bears thi same family name, which is Vigil All male members of the 25 farm lies are direct descendants of I Mexican who settled there several generations ago. B R I E F S . . . by Baukhage Special diet packages go to our men in German POW hospitals. : As soon as a prisoner is captured in Germany he is taken to a transit camp where a Red Cross "capture kit" is waiting. Since he usually doesn't take his baggage with him into Germany, especially if he ar-rives by parachute, he gets brush, comb, razor and such necessities. ! Many of the German prisoners oi war captured in Normandy havt volunteered to help with the har-vest in Great Britain. All major youth organizations an cooperating in the drive to raise at army of school-ag- e milkweed poc harvesters in order to get milkweec floss needed to replace kapok in lif( jackets for the armed forces. HIGHLIGHTS. . . in the week's news USE OF AUTOS: A recent survey iiscloses that 74 per cent of car jwners are driving their autos less ;han half the peacetime mileage. This reduction has come about Ihrough shorter and fewer trips rath-- : er than the laying up of cars for the duration. Gasoline and tire ra- - tioning have combined with patri-otic motives to lessen car use, the Survey continued. i TRAP SHOOTING: Capt. Joseph Hiestand of Hillsboro, Ohio, has once again won the North American clay target championship in the 45th' Grand American Trapshooting tour-nament held at Vandalia, Ohio. This is the fourth time he has captured the award, the previous occasions being in 1935, '36, and '38. He broke 200 straight targets to lead the field of entrants.