Letters

"I'm Happy

Charles Grant '39 has been on active duty asa navigator of a large bomber since February.His squadron flew to Australia in April andin succeeding months has completed manymissions including present action in the Solomons and New Guinea sections. Following areexcerpts from Chuck Grant's letters to hisfather which were published earlier in theAlumni Fund Class Bulletin "'39 Out!" editedby J. Moreau Brown. The letter follows:

X guess this time it's been about a week since I've written to you. It's almost impossible, to keep track of time since no days have any especial significance. I'm in sort of a cycle now and I just go round and round without much change. There'll be a mission which will take two or three days—sleeping on a plane wingmosquitoes, tropic heat—eating canned beef, cold, by the light of a kerosene lamp or in the dark—to bed at 7:30 and up at 4:30 nervous excitement—navigating at 14,000 without oxygen (not for long, though) and being really tired.

I think I can honestly say that I'm getting pretty tough—it really surprises me. I haven't been sick for a minute since that Saturday afternoon in Washington when I sort of went under. You know, I enjoy every mission more than the last. I don't know that I should use the word "enjoy" but I'm astounded how little I mind them. One thing is certain. The kind of fighting we're doing is the best kind there ever was. It's clean and sporting and thrilling. It's too bad wars can't be settled this way As far as I can see the navigator is the most fortunate member of combat crew. He is so busy coming and going from a target he can't take time to worry. I'm sorry for the co-pilot and gunners. In combat the navigator and radio operator take turns at the belly guns or holding the fire extinguisher. The latter is usually my job.

A lot of things about a raid are amusing. One thing is the use of the inter-phones. Ordinarily we are very formal—"Navigator to Pilot"—"Go Ahead"—"How long before we reach the target?"—" Yes, Sir," etc. But once we get there form goes oitt the window. The buck private tail gunner will yell in a highpitched voice to Lt. Crosson (through the phones) "Bank the blank-blank plane quick so I can strafe that ack ack down there!" Whenever anyone gets a Zero he doesn't keep it to himself. On the last mission both Stislow (tail gunner) and Johnson (turret gunner) shouted over the inter-phones, "By God, I just got the S. O. B."

Our bombardier, Sgt. Smith has the best view of things whereas I can see practically nothing. He keeps up a running commentary in the inter-phones which reminds me of Graham MacNamee describing the Indianapolis Speedway Races. His voice will come over the phones, blurred against the pounding of our engines and the racket of our machine guns. For twenty minutes hell drone on, "All right, see those two back there? See them? Watch 'em, Johnny! Watch 'em, Stis! Watch 'em, Mac! That's right. Keep 'em off. You're doing good. Watch 'em! Keep your eyes open! Watch it now, they're coming in—HERE THEY COME!—That's right-That's right, etc., etc." You can imagine the navigator's feelings standing there with the fire extinguisher and just listening. Once in a while a Zero will appear to hang in the air right outside my window. I actually look on this as a treatsort of as if I were seeing a rare bird or animal —not so rare though.

Everyone kids me about the dropping of our bombs. I'm not blood thirsty but you can't blame me for being curious to see where they hit. Slowly and majestically the bomb bay doors swing open. I can tell you the most exciting moment for me is when Jerry Crosson hollers,"OPEN THOSE BOMB BAY DOORS." As they open there is a great rushing of air and everything seems much noiser; and for once the navigator can see everything belowthere's jungle—nothing else. Then the yellow bombs start to fall. They seem to hang in the air just like in the movies—still nothing but jungle below. But now you can see the ackack—stuff that looks like Roman Candles (37 m/m) .50 Cal. tracers, and a few mushrooms of big stuff. Still over the jungle and all bombs released! And then suddenly, there's the runway and there are Big Jap Mitsubishis—twin motors with multi-colored wings—and our bombs haven't hit yet. And then whoosh—the bomb bay doors tremble shut and I never know first hand how we did. When we get back and are being questioned by the intelligence officers they always laughingly ask, "Did you see 'em hit this time, Chuck?" And I have to admit—"No, they shut those doors too quickly on me again."

The best part is our last ride back to our own base in the wilderness—to our mountains and cool brook and temperate weather. I could navigate that run in my sleep. Sometimes I fly the ship for as much as an hour while Jerry fires the tail gun, the radio operator sits in my seat and puzzles over the drift meter and George Roth (co-pilot) acts as captain of the ship. And then back home again it's a rush to the "G" box in the mail tenta swim—and then about 12 hours of sleep. Then a couple of days in town—movies, golf (27 holes yesterday) and tennis (got a match on this afternoon). Some day we'll get to go way South to the big cities. You can't blame me for looking forward to that.

Maybe I shouldn't have given you so much detail but I think it's just as well to have it for the record. And I guess you can tell from the tone that I'm really happy

Coffee-Shop Strategists

Mr. Dankert has explained the "inspiration" for his poem in a recent letter to the Editor: "As you possibly know, a group of Dartmouth economists, including myself, meet with a high degree of frequency at the Inn Coffee Shop and there discuss a wide variety of subjects. One of these subjects relates to the very important question of war strategy. The poem tells the rest of the story."

They meet in conference each day, With seldom an omission: A master board of strategy! (And that's no supposition).

They give advice to Nimitz and Mac Arthur, King and Wavell, On military matters and On matters that are naval.

They figure out the methods to Defend remote Alaska With ease—as though it were as near As Kansas or Nebraska.

They chart the course the ships should take In going to Australia. They show how vulnerable are The steel mills of Westphalia.

They chase the raiders from the deep Atlantic and Pacific. Their plans are novel, one must grant, But also most specific!

They outwit Rommel and his troops (Including the Italians). They baffle Goering, with his planes (His ribbons, braids, medallions).

They drive the Japs from Singapore With very little trouble. They have them leaving Java and Malaya "on the double."

They tell, in detail, how to push The Germans out of Russia, Across the Don, and Dnieper to The very edge of Prussia.

The Master Board of Strategy, With seldom an omission, Meets daily and defeats the foe (And that's no supposition).

Professor of Economics

Hanover, N. H.

Wheelock Memorial

To THE EDITOR:

It was my privilege to attend a round up of Dartmouth men at the Boston City Club the night after the Harvard-Dartmouth game last fall.

John Abbott of the Class of 1891 was asked to preside and did it with that good sense and natural leadership that made every one comfortable. The men attending were mostly of the '90s. Although one was present from the Class of 1883, Alfred E. Watson and James Newton of the Class of 1886.

The company had such a good time that I am wondering if a group including men of a decade would not be a happy party once or twice a year.

There were two men present who brought the group anecdotes of Hanover life covering a long period of years. These men were James W. Newton 'B6 whose memory of Hanover life dates back to 1866 (77 years) and Walter Davis Cobb, of the Class of 1891! Their anecdotes were most interesting.

Mr. Newton has shown much interest in creating a suitable memorial to our great and courageous founder, Eleazar Wheelock. I hope some day his earnest efforts may bear fruit and do credit both to the founder and Mr. Newton who has initiated the movement.

Dartmouth Family

To THE EDITOR

If an outsider were to read this letter, he would say that it was prompted by the grandson of Ike Paul. But I did want you to know how much I appreciate your poem published

in the November issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE which I have not only read but copied. You may be interested in knowing that my brother, Kim '44, is now a cadet in the Navy Air Corps in training at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He has therefore joined a host of other Dartmouth brethren who have either entered or completed their training. With a step-brother also "somewhere" Dad has three in the service and will shortly have two more ready as 'teeners.

Company "C" R. R. C.,Fort Devens, Mass.

New C & 0 Head

PRESIDENT RAILROAD SYSTEM

CARL E. NEWTON '20 was last month elected president of The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company, which controls through stock ownership The New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Company and the Pere Marquette Railway Company. Each of these three roads is an extensive Class One system in itself but it is intended that the three roads continue to benefit to the fullest possible extent through joint operation. However, in view of the increasing volume and complexity of the problems arising out of the necessity for maximum devotion of rail facilities to governmental needs in the war emergency, and for other reasons, it is felt that each of these roads requires the attention of a full time executive.

Mr. Newton has been a director of The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company since April, 1942. In selecting him the directors had in mind the excellent operating personnel of the Road and the fact that the major problems affecting the interests of the railroads and their security holders today arise in the fields of law and legislation, governmental relations, war requirements, labor relations, public relations, taxation, railway consolidation and many others in addition to operations. Problems in these fields are of increasing complexity and scope, and call for special abilities which in large measure are outside the experience of specialists in railroad operations.

The new C & O president has organized and handled legal, business, tax, anti-trust, administrative and reorganization matters affecting the electrical products, motion picture, oil, phosphate rock, aviation, chemical and other industries. He has been closely connected with important railroad matters since 1938.

CARL E. NEWTON was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, on August 22, 1898. In 1918 he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, and received his B.S. at Dartmouth in 1920. At Dartmouth he majored in economics and political science, was Phi Beta Kappa, president of the senior class and member of Paleopitus. On graduation he was awarded Rhodes Scholarship from the State of New Hampshire, and in 1922 was awarded Honours B.A. degree in Jurisprudence at Oxford. The following year he was awarded the Bachelor of Civil Law Degree at Oxford. Later he did special studies in administrative law at Harvard Law School.

His first law association was with the law firm of Rearick, Dorr, Travis & Marshall, of New York City, counsel for various railroads. From 1925 to 1927 he was Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of New York, serving under United States Attorneys Emory R. Buckner and Charles H. Tuttle. Governor Alfred E. Smith appointed Mr. Newton in 1928 as Special Assistant Counsel to Gubernatorial Commissioners Hon. Townsend Scudder and Hon. Clarence J. Shearn, in the investigation of affairs of Queens Borough.

From 1929 to 1933 he was associated with the firm of White & Case, 14 Wall Street, New York City, with a corporate and financial practice. In 1931-1932 Mr. Newton worked in the Paris office of this firm.

From 1934 to the present time Mr. Newton has been a member of the law firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Lumbard, 2 Wall Street, New York City, and Bowen Building, Washington, D. C, in charge of business and financial work.

This firm was formed with former associates of Mr. Newton in the Department of Justice: Colonel William J. Donovan, former Assistant to the Attorney General, in charge of anti-trust administra- tion, and now chief of the Office of Strategic Services; George S. Leisure and J. Edward Lumbard Jr., both former chiefs of the Criminal Division, United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York.

Mr. Newton is a member of the bars of New York and Washington, D. C., and of the Supreme Court of the United States, and of the Inner Tem- ple, Barrister-at-Law, London, England.

CARL E. NEWTON '20