The White Falcon - 14.03.1942, Blaðsíða 4

PAGE 4
THE WHITE FALCON
Published by and for the American Forces in Iceland.
Published under the supervision of G-2 Section, IBC.
PFC Edward E. Murray, Jr. Cpl. Rowland H. Dow, (USMC)
Managing Editor. News Editor.
/ '
PFC Peter T. Macy,
Sports Editor.
This paper has been passed by the Censor and may be mailed
for one cent.
A Note to the Press
From the wind-swept land of Iceland where servicemen of two
great allied nations live side by side and stand as one in being
guardians of this great Atlantic outpost which keeps open the
strategic lifeline between American and Britain, we ask the press
of both these great nations take cognizance of a vastly rich ex-
perience.
We speak now of patience and understanding. The plea is
motivated by the reaction given to articles appearing in American
and British papers whicli pierce into the bloody and mangled
mass of a war sector, hoping by so doing they might be able to
strike the core and rhetorically say: “This is what caused our
downfall.”
The American press lias been too anxious, too sharp in giving
criticism of war failures; too ready to point the finger of guilt to
an ally. Nor has the British press escaped this lust for prodding.
They point most recently to Java and ask whether American
military strategy was sound in that combat area.
America has been at war little more than three months. Yet,
history can record nothing but greatness and bold tradition in
these few months of conflict. England has been at war for more
than two years. Her small army has made the world its battle front.
Can we forget that after the fall of France when England was
forced back on its small island and nearby stood the armies of
Germany and Italy ready to pounce on it, when even Russia was
a doubtful country, and Japan threatened to attack—how this
noble country with nothing but a strong heart and mailed fist
accepted the challenge to her democratic way of life?
In 1939 America and Britain were babes of mechanized war.
Today—in 1942—we’re starting to wear long pants. Tomorrow
we shall grasp the steel razor and whittle the enemy. A transition,
in a great many respects, like that experienced here in Iceland.
We were the first American soldiers to be serving alongside
the British in a combat zone. It has been over eight months now
—first the marines and then the army—and time taught us not
to be too hasty in judging our allies. We couldn’t understand why
they were so constantly happy and cheerful. And they couldn’t
understand why we drove our trucks like madmen. Now we know
why they’re cheerful—their cause is so right. And they under-
stand our idiosyncrasy at driving now—because they’re doing it.
We have watched our commander standing beside their com-
mander as we maneuvered with the British on valleys and moun-
tains and we could see only one result—success.
Surely, if we who are to do the fighting can do it with mutual
patience and understanding, then, can not the press, whose trust
we so dearly need in these trying hours?
Do not ask, “who’s guilty?” Rather, ask, “have I helped?”
Sweets to the sweet. A box of candy arrived yesterday for Right
Flank (it was addressed to Murray, Dow, Macy—now they can’t
say I didn’t tell ’em). The box came from Mrs. Henry Matthews
of Lombard, Ill., whose son, Henry, Jr., is with the infantry in
Iceland. Thank you, Mrs. Matthews, the candy was delicious.
K
The AAASD (American Association for the Advancement of
Sane Driving) proposes three lane drives for motor vehicles in
Iceland. One for the jeep class, one for middleweight cars and one
for the ton and a halfs and over. This way they would run up
against their own weights and make the fight a little more even.
Sj>eaking of trucks—has anyone yet figured out which is the
front and rear of some of these British vehicles? A fat slice of
Spam to the winner.
K
Dizzy dreams—walking along the streets of Rinkeydink and
being whistled at and annoyed by a group of boisterous stulkas.
Mr. Sgt. .1. J. Coyne did a swell job on the new telephone dir-
ectory. He admits the only thing omitted was a statement: “any
resemblance to correct spelling is purely coincidental.”
K
The “blame” for this week’s column goes to Staff Sgt. Jim
Burford.
by 1st Lieut. D6ri
Hjalmarson
! SKCLANN.
HvaS er Jietta stora hus
jiarna? TaS er slcoli fyrir born
fra sjo til tolf ara. BaeSi drengir
og stulkur eru saman. f>a5 eru
atta bekkir i skolanum. Nams-
greinarnar, sem eru kenndar,
eru: reikningur, islenzka, mal-
fraeSi, rettritun, teikning, song-
ur, saga landafraeSi, heilsufraeSi
og leikfimi. Einnig er barna-
garSur fyrir litil born. Kennar-
arnir eru baeSi karlar og kon-
ur, og eru ])eir vel menu lafiir.
MaSurinn, sem stjornar skol-
anum, er skolastjorinn. Oil born
a aldrinum sjo til fjortan ara
eru skolaskyld.
TO SCHOOL.
What is that large building
over there? That is a school fgr
children from seven to twelve
years. Both boys and girls attend
together. There are eight grades
in the grammar school. The sub-
jects taught are arithmetic,
grammar, spelling, art, music,
history, , geography, health,
writing, reading, natural history
and gymnastics. There is also a
kindergarten for small children.
The teachers are both men and
women and are well trained.
The man in charge of the school
is the school superintendent. All
children between ages seven to
fourteen are required to attend.
Direct Mail With U.S.
Direct mail service between
the United States and Iceland
has been inaugurated, it was
revealed today. Previously all
mail between the two countries
was routed through England
which resulted in considerable
delay, taking as long as two and
three months for delivery. Und-
er the new plan mail wall be
delivered directly taking ap-
proximately three weeks.