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Show Jlldfliiixgi'm Washington, D. C. BOMBING OF ROME Pope Pius XII was completely cooperative with the Allies the first time Rome was bombed, but not the second time. Inside fact is that he called in Harold Tittman, American Ameri-can charge d'affaires to the Vatican, Vati-can, and protested in the strongest language. He gave Tittman a scorching scorch-ing scolding. Reason for the Pope's ire was that on August 11, Tittman had informed him that Rome could be ( recognized as an open city by the unilateral declaration of Italy. As a result, the Pope understood I that Rome was an open city and I apparently so informed Marshal ! Badoglio. The Pope was acting as ' intermediary for the Italian Government. Govern-ment. Both he and Badoglio, therefore, there-fore, apparently rested on Tittman's assurances and considered Rome an open city. That was why the Pope was so indignant when, despite his earlier conversation with Tittman, Rome was bombed again. Whether the State Department failed to communicate Tittman's message to General Eisenhower in order to head off the second bombing bomb-ing was something on which State Department officials declined to comment However, one explanation probably prob-ably was that a city cannot be declared "open" by a unilateral declaration. Neutral observers must j enter the city and definitely ascertain ascer-tain that troops, munitions works, airfields, and government offices have been removed. This had not been done following Tittman's first conversation with the Pope, and that was why General Eisenhower bombed Rome again. PRIORITY OF DANGER Behind the closed doors of the OCD in Washington, plans for the civilian defense of the country are being revised. The new plans take into account the decreasing likelihood likeli-hood of attack, and the growing public indifference to black-outs and bomb shelters. War chiefs insist the danger of attack has not passed, but they admit there is no point in whipping up the public to a frenzy of fear, especially in the safer areas. They have now divided the country roughly into three zones, with the following "priority of danger" 1. Pacific Coast, 2. Atlantic Coast, 3. Interior areas. The coastal areas are 200 miles deep, so that everything 200 miles inland is "interior" and relatively safe. The Pacific coast is regarded as more dangerous than the Atlantic, because the Japs are both uncontrolled uncon-trolled and unpredictable. When the revision is finally ironed out, public announcements will be made, and there will be a general relaxation of defense activities. But OCD will insist that the minimum measures of protection shall be ready for the siren. Decision to relax the program was difficult for OCD, since it meant a scaling down of personnel, and a loss of jobs throughout the organization. AIR FORCE DUPLICATION Advocates of a single air force point to the manpower saving that might be accomplished, right under the noses of the Chiefs of Staff, if army air forces and naval aviation were combined. On the edge of Washington, separated sep-arated only by the Potomac river, are the army's Bowling Field and the navy's air base at Anacostia. Both fields are equipped with many of the same facilities, and those facilities are manned by forces which duplicate each other. Each field has its own radio tower and radio staff; each has its separate sepa-rate communication staff, its own meteorological bureau and staff, its own medical staff, its own supply depot and a dozen other services required at a big air field. A single air force, combining both army and navy, would do away with this duplication both of equipment and personnel. ARMY RED TAPE Here is the type of letter which makes army men see red: "To Commanding Officer . . . Engrs., Atlantic Beach, Fla. "1. The following enlisted man, your organization, has violated uniform uni-form regulations: KovaL A., Private First Class. 32261814 . . . Engrs. "Soldier had his pocket unbuttoned. Place: 113 Pablo St., Jacksonville Beach. Time: 2125 (9:23 p. m.). "2. You will take the necessary action to correct this situation. By order of Colonel LeClune. "Fred L. Gassmon, CWO, "144th Inf., Adjutant." CAPITAL CHAFF When Elmer Davis received a cable in Morocco that FDR had spanked OWI's broadcast about the "moronic little king" of Italy. Davis sent back this telegram: "Maybe broadcast was a mistake but I still think the House of Savoy is a second class hotel." Tom Johnson of the Army Jeeps will pioneer the new Pan American highway through Central America. With a Jeep he expects to get through it several months before the road is scheduled for completion |