The White Falcon - 27.11.1943, Page 2

2
Pvt. Spada Wishes For Second Chance
To Run Razor Over Benito’s Throat!
Now barbering his way through
his third war, youthful Pvt. Le-
onard Spada of an IBC Infantry
unit has a great many memories
of action and bloodshed.
But his greatest thrill came
far from the front lines when
he was a member of the Black
Shirts in Italy. The big moment
came the day that Benito Musso-
lino walked into Spada’s camp
and ordered his hair cut.
Spada, who was born in
Brooklyn, lived there until he
was seven-years-old, when he
went back to Italy with his par-
ents. Three years later he was
ushered into the Black Shirts,
not because he wanted to join
but because they wanted to train
some hoys as barbers.
It was some six years later
that the Mussolini episode came
about. Benito was visiting
camps throughout Italy, making
inquiries of the men. II Duce
asked Spada what his job was,
and when he was told that the
job was barbering, Benito sat
down in a chair and ordered
a trim.
Asked if he remembered what
Benito had to say at the time,
Leonard grinned this week and
replied, “He asked me how I
liked being in the Black Shirts.
What could 1 tell him?”
Although Spada, a dark-haired
lad who grins easily, has never
been on the front lines, he was
with Italian troops who fought
in the Spanish Civil War. He
also handed out many a hair
cut to the troops of Mussolini
who marched so “bravely” into
little Ethiopia.
During the ' Ethiopian camp-
aign Spada many times saw Mar-
shal Badoglio, now head of the
Italian government. But Leon-1
Pvt. Leonard
Spada of Brook-
lyn, N.Y., a ton-
sorial artist from
’way back, tells
his customer,Sgt.
Ellis Young Jr.,
how he barber-
ed such notori-
ous figures as
Benito Mussolini
and his hench-
men when he
was in Italy.
Spada was with
Italian troops in
the Spanish Civ-
il War and also
during the Ethi-
opian campaign,
cutting their hair
as usual.
Warring: Fronts
ard regrets to say that he never
cut his hair or gave him a shave.
He saw the Pope on one oc-
casion and also got a number
of looks at little King Victor
Emanuel.
It was in 1939 that Spada fin-
ally was able to get away from
the Fascist regime and discard
his black shirt forever. He wrote
to an uncle in Brooklyn, who
promptly forwarded him money
to come back to the land of the
Dodgers — and freedom. He was
inducted into the American
Army a year ago.
Spada studies all the news-
reels, magazines and newspap-
ers picturing the action in the
Mediterranean theater these
days, and is especially interest-
ed in the shots which show
Yankee troops in Palermo, Sic-
ily, where Leonard lived for a
long time.
For seven years Leonard has
been out of touch with his moth-
er and father. He keeps hoping
that he will hear from them.
Proud of being an American
soldier, Spada grins and wishes
that he could once again draw
a razor across the throat of Ben-
ito Mussolini.
Bombings
Accounts from Europe yester-
day stated that Berlin was “still
a city pf living horror” following
two of the most devastating at-
tacks of the war by Allied bom-
bers. These attacks levelled great
sections in the heart of the Nazi
capital, left the house of Adolf
Hitler minus a roof, rendered
Foreign Minister Von Ribben-
trop homeless and severely da-
maged Berlin’s railway stations.
The latest assaults in the re-
lentless air offensive against
Germany isolated Berlin from the
rest of the country as far as tele-
phone and wireless communica-
tions are concerned and stopped
rail traffic altogether at many
points.
The two evenings, which saw
blockbusters pour down in un-
precedented volume to tear Ger-
man morale to shreds, litter
streets with shattered glass, send
hundreds of buildings up in
flames and bring business to a
standstill, were followed the
next night by an harrassing at-
tack by speedy Mosquito bom-
bers.
Western Europe ,also was sub-
jected to fresh air blows this
week. Swarms of Allied bombers
and fighters droned across the
channel to blast enemy targets
in France and the low countries.
And heavy bombers from North-
west Africa struck at points rang-
ing from the Bulgarian capital
of Sofia to Nazi U-boat pens at
Toulon in France.
Italy
Hectic Week Confronts Cast
As ‘Doughgirls’ Opens Tour
An ambitious itinerary con-
fronts the cast of “The Dough-
girls” next week when the pop-
ular IBC three-acter departs
from the White Rose theater for
a four-day stand in the Western
Sector.
At least six performances will
be presented during the brief
‘China’ Film
To Be Shown
In Campaign
The campaign for funds to aid
suffering Chinese opened Thurs-
day and the response from Serv-
icemen in Iceland “is gratifying”,
according to sponsors of the mon-
ey-raising drive. The local col-
lections will end Dec. 7.
Sponsored by the United China
War Relief Committee, the appeal
is part of an international pro-
gram to send food, clothing and
medical supplies to the thousands
of homeless and starving Chin-
ese. The IBC committee consists
of Chinese men serving in the
American forces.
“China,” co-starring Loretta
Young and Alan Ladd, will be
shown at several IBC theaters.
The movie houses to screen the
film include Belvoir, Tripoli, Red
Cross Rec Centers in Reykjavik
and the Western Sector, White
Rose, Polar Bear and the theater
near the Base Post Office.
A contribution box will be
passed through the audience at
each of these showings. Units
not scheduled to have the picture
in their theaters are asked to con-
tribute in their orderly rooms.
Any amount may be given and
donations; pre entirely voluntary,
tour, with the possibility that ad-
ditional matinees will increase
the number to seven or eight.
Tentatively,, four evening shows
and two matinees are planned,
but demand for tickets may nec-
essitate added performances.
Last night’s capacity audience
helped ring down the curtain on
the successful 12-performance
run at White Rose theater. More
than 6,000 soldiers, sailors and
Icelanders have seen the laugh-
provoking farce since opening
night, and they have been un-
animous in their plaudits.
“The Doughgirls,” a vehicle
that would produce laughs if the
cast just sat on the stage and
read from scripts, is further en-
chanced by the talented perform-
ers who improve with each per-
formance. It definitely is the most
hilarious stage offering ever und-
ertaken by members of the IBC.
What’s Doing?
MAIN CLUB
Monday—1500 — Snack Bar.
1600 — Classical Record-
ings.
2015 — Movie.
Tuesday—1400 — Tin Crafts.
2030 — Dance.
1900 — Camera Club.
2015 — Movie.
Thursday—1500 — Song Fest.
2030 — Dance.
Friday—2000 — Midwestern
States Night.
2015 — Movie.
CLUB 21
Monday—1800 & 2000 — Movie
— “China.”
Tuesday—1900 — Basketball.
AVednesday—2000 — “Dough-
girls.”
Thursday—1430 & 2000 —
“Doughgirls.”
Friday—1430 & 2000—“Dough-
girls.”
Saturday—1430 & 2000 —
^Doughgirls.”
The most encouraging news to
come out of Italy in several
weeks yesterday told of a stirr-
ing victory by Gen. Montgomery’s
Eighth Army at the Sangro river.
The entire German Army in that
sector was reported in retreat
following a smashing British at-
tack along a 9,000-yard front.
Taking full advantage of a
break in the weather and excel-
lent cover from the powerful Al-
lied Air Forces, Montgomery’s
veterans penetrated the Nazi de-
fense line to the depth of one
mile. More and more reenforce-
ments plunged on across the San-
gro river as Montgomery’s men
worked to enlarge their bridge-
head.
Heavy casualties were inflict-
ed on the enemy by the British
Infantrymen, who were backed
up in their advance by a thun-
derous artillery barrage. Al-
though the Nazis are continuing
to fall back along most of the
front, desperate rear guard ac-
tion is being thrown up.
On the Fifth front only spora-
dic artillery exchanges were re-
ported.
One of the most destructive of
many air attacks on Nazi-held
territory in Italy this week was
aimed at the northern port of
Turin, which was the target of
British Wellington night bomb-
bers.
Weekly Radio Schedule
TODAY
1300-1530 — News Headlines; All-
Russian Symphony; This Is
The U.S.A.; Xavier Cugat and
Tommy Dorsey; Front Line
Theater; National Barn Dance.
1600-1700 —■ Command Perform-
ance; Charlie McCarthy.
1800-1815 — News Headlines &
Music.
TOMORROW
1000-1045 — IBC Chaplains’ Ser-
vice; Hymns From Home.
1300-1400 — News Headlines; The
Army Hour with IBC Talent.
1630-1700 —Mail Catl.
MONDAY
1600-1700—American Symphony;
Jazz In America.
1800-1815 r-n News Headlines &
Music,
2200-2400 — Dinah Shore; News
Roundup and Sports Page;
Jack Benny; Richard Crooks;
All-Time Hit Parade.
TUESDAY
1600-1700 — Music of The Mast-
ers; This Is The U.S.A.; Fred
Waring.
1800-1815 — News Headlines &
Music.
Roundup and Sports Page;
2200-2400 — Harry James; News
Paul Whiteman and Dinah
Shore; The Family Hour;
Freddy Martin.
WEDNESDAY
1300-1355 —Salute To Iceland.
(No other American broad-
casts scheduled because of the
observance of Iceland’s Inde-
pendent Pay),
THURSDAY
1600-1700 — Symphony; Music To
Sing With; Janet Blair’s Per-
sonal Album.
1800-1815 — News Headlines &
Music.
2200-2400 — Ted Lewis; News
Roundup and Sports Page;
Command Performance; And-
re Kostelanetz; Harry James.
FRIDAY
1600-1700 — Ravel’s Music; Arts
In America; Fred Waring.
1800-1815 — News Headlines &
Music.
2300-2400 — Antia Ellis’ Personal
Album; News Roundup and
Sports Page; Jascha Heifetz,
SATURDAY
181)0-1815^ News Headline and
Music,
Russia
Marshal Stalin yesterday an-
nounced the capture of Propoisk
by the gallant Soviet Army, fol-
lowing a week which saw the
Russians check furious German
counter-attacks all along the
bloody battle-front.
The action in Russia was
especially furious in the Zhitmor
sector, where the Nazis threw in
several mass tank assaults, using
seventy-tonners. But the Rus-
sians held—there and elsewhere
—and the Germans lost heavily,
in tanks, equipment and men.
Pacific
American Marines and Army
Regulars carried out mopping
up operations in the Gilberts in
an attempt to widen the scope
of the American offensive in the
Central Pacific.
In the Southwest Pacific Ame-
rican Naval forces scored anoth-
er victory when they sent four
Jap destroyers out of a flotilla
of six to the bottom. The action
took place off Rabaul. The Ame-
ricans sank the four with gun-
fire and torpedoes, damaged an-
other but couldnot catch up with
the sixth, which raced away, ap-
parently unschathed, when the
action got too hot.
Allied war planes were report-
ed yesterday to be bombing the
Rabaul section for the two ships
still afloat.
General Stilwell announced
that U.S. 14th Air Force fight-
ers and medium bombers were
actively suporting Chinese troops
in the Tungting Lake area.
Expert Debunks
M/th Of German
Radio Ability
The old myth about the Ger-
mans being terrific on technical
subjects and the building of fine
machines doesn’t hold true in
the field of radio. Captain James
P. Lipp of the Signal Corps says
that German radio equipment is
five years behind American
equipment.
Captain Lipp is back from
North Africa, where he had a
chance to see the enemy’s radio
equipment and to interview Ger-
man signal corps personnel. He
found that the German sets were
not sufficiently dust-proof or
water-proof. The operators seem-
ed well trained, but not much
good at making repairs.
The captain said that some
German sets were sealed to prev-
ent the German operators from
tampering with them.
‘Miracle Metal’ <
Heals Wounds
Army medical authorities this
week released details on a new
“miracle metal” which is being
used to sew up nerves and bones
ripped by shrapnel or bullets.
The metal is tantalum, and it is
Used in the form of wire, plates
and foil.
Tantalum wire is so fine that
it can hardly be seen by the
naked eye. Army doctors say that
after they sew the broken ends
of the nerve together with the
taltalum wire they can watch the
progress of healing with X-rays,
for tantalum, being a metal,
shows up black on the plates.
The metal has no reaction in
the human system and it doesn’t
lead to any harmful effects,