Doughboys Abroad

Last week American soldiers overseas:

In India:

> Resigned themselves, while taking Indian girls to the movies, to taking her mother--and sometimes the rest of the family--too.

> Counted the days till the return from the hills of the pukka mem-sahibs--the blithe daughters of British officialdom.

> Received monthly pay of 195 rupees (60 rupees more than the pay of some British sergeants who support families).

In England:

> Told Queen Mary, through Master Sergeant Daniel Dullea, that doughboys thought well of England (see below).

> Were happy to hear that libraries serving American field forces will be stocked with "Westerns," other pulp thrillers, and comics.

> Wondered whether the arrival of Tokyo raider, Brigadier General James Doolittle, indicated action over Berlin.

>Watched Lord Halifax eat a doughnut at a Red Cross canteen; heard the Halifax bass harmonize on Deep in the Heart of Texas.

> Commented on ancient British castles. Corporal Donald Schievone noted approvingly that while his castle barracks were eerie and ghostlike, the lord "is very friendly and doesn't wear his coronet around the castle." To Private Louis Egizi, castle camping made him think of Chicago's medieval-style water tower. Said Egizi: "These Britons can't really copy our old Chicago landmarks."

> Cussed a U.S. Army Headquarters dictum that required a three-month cooling-off period for soldiers who want to marry British girls.

> Learned to be closemouthed. Queen Elizabeth, on a tour, asked an Army nurse: "How long have you been in this country?" Said the nurse: "Not very long." "And where are you stationed?'' said the Queen. Again the nurse considered carefully. "Not very far from here," she said.

In Australia:

> Waited eagerly for 57 varieties of swing arrangements furnished free by U.S. name bands to a soldier orchestra.

> Heard a waitress crack, when a soldier complained of cold soup: "No wonder. It's been waiting for you for two years."

In North Ireland:

> Found that "half eight," means "half past eight."

> Received orders not to stop trucks near farmhouses, to keep the natives from offering their scarce food rations to the hungry soldiers.

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