1924*

Here's a letter from Ham Fish via Charley Holbrook (apologies to you, Charley, that it hasn't appeared earlier):

Dear Charley, Well, Napoleon, here we are in the wilds of Australia and now pretty much settled in but I can't say that I exactly relish it even though the country is quite interesting. It's very similar in many respects to America. People are quite English, especially in their voice. Rough and tough most of them, and hate pretense. Good fighters, the men. As for the women, I haven't had firsthand experience, but they tell me they are quite lovely, and love Americans. Movies are a year behind, almost, yet the houses and sound, etc., are exceptional. Best seats are balcony in lounge, whereas the orchestra, called stalls, are the cheaper seats. No night clubs, of course, and the hotels are the principal places of gathering—s P.M. in the lobbies, which are the lounges, and where drinks served before dinner, and coffee after. Quite a nice custom. Drive on the left which is quite confusing. Abbreviations personified, especially in the Military. Stores selling tripe compared to U. S. and now it's ration cards. Gasoline rationed severely. Whiskey—Scotch mostly—and sodas sans ice, the National drink, but that's getting so low that beer is next, and it's warm and flat, but served by cute barmaids—in fact I rather think a Pub gains its popularity by the maid who tends the bar. We are still smoking American cigarettes but don't know how long that will be.

May 4 issue of Life and Colliers had pictures and write-ups of our convoy. Should you have those issues, I'm on the docks in one picture. Getting the DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE regularly, and mail fairly well, though it's all a bit spasmodic, more or less. Magazines are at a premium and then it takes you back to the last century in style. In a great many ways this country is about 50 years behind us, but if we do nothing more we will have given them plenty of ideas, and most of the lads from the states are far from bashful about suggesting. I keep pretty well but the avoirdupois gets me from lack_ of exercise, as I'm behind a desk most of the time. Sleeping quarters are comfortable and food fair, though lack milk and eggs to a great extent. Electricity is 220-40 cycle, but fortunately I ferreted out a converter so can shave with the shavemaster. Soap is tooth paste mostly, and a good many little items called luxuries have become a minus factor, but after all, there is a war on—and believe me it will be worse as time goes on. I wish I could tell you what to expect but I can say, Charley, it's going to be VERY tough going—even for you back there.

Thanks, Ham, for a grand letter about conditions down there. Thank you, too, Charlie.

From George Traver a letter from Mrs. Arthur S. Graham:

Lt. Graham just returned from a month's training at Fort George Meade, Md. He has been Ist Lieut. AUS here at the New Orleans Port of Embarkation since Aug. 13. On Oct. 18 he was sent to the Fort George Mead special service school and after a month's training returned to the Port of Embarkation here. He is now Asst. Special Serv- ice Officer at the Port.

By the way, Col. Robt. Bradish (a Dartmouth man) is head of the Medical Centre there. My husband volunteered into the Army July 31, receiving his commission 11 days later. We are both happy in his assignment. He is proud to be helping, and I am doing my bit each day in the war effort.

Thank you for your letter, Mrs. Graham. Dr. H. Pennington Haile spoke at the Ace of Clubs at the Hotel Vendome on "Total Victory."

Dana Haskin writes: After I left Dartmouth I spent about eleven years with the New England Transportation Co. a New Haven Railroad subsidiary—on various jobs from bus starter ta Superintendent of Operations in Providence covering all of Mass._ and R. I. —later managing Victoria and Berkshire Motor Coach lines between Boston and New York and ending up at New York City as Superintendent of the New York lines division, covering New York-Boston bus passenger service. In June, 1936, I entered government service as a District Supervisor—Bureau of Motor Carriers,—and have been at it since Jan. 1, 1942, I was transferred to Providence having charge of the field office of the Bureau of Motor Carriers of the I. C. C. and also serving as Local Allocator Officer for the Office of Defense Transportation. Since March, 1942, in charge of rationing of Commercial Motor Vehicles; thus, we have gotten into a Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde setup without choice on our part. I am located at 1017 Industrial Trust Bldg., Providence, R. 1., and cover all of R. 1., Mass., up to Worcester, and roughly across Route 44 to Plymouth and all the area in Mass. below this.

Thanks for your kind wishes regarding my health, Dana and all the news.

Incidentally, brethren, your Secretary is rapidly recovering from serious illness, at 839 East Main St., Sarasota, Florida. I will be here until April 1, so drop me a line with some news. Any classmates in Florida who can make Sarasota be sure to pay me a visit.

Good old Red Newell, by Air Mail Letter from Panama, says (end of December):

It has been a long time since you heard from me, and a great deal has been going on both here and elsewhere in this mangled world. There is not much I can tell you without becoming mixed up with the Censorship. I have been here almost eleven months now, and so far am still unsuccessful in bringing down the family. During Aug. and Sept., it looked as though a passport would be forthcoming, but we were turned down flat, and the struggle will be renewed early in '43 with, however, what I fear is little chance of success.

A lot of hard work has shown good results among the three Isthmian branches of the banks, and were it not for the unfortunate family situation,! should feel well satisfied. The cost of living is sky high, but there will probably be less actual scarcity in most lines here than in the U. S. A. before long, according to recent reports from the North. Best wishes for the Whole Year of 1943.

Good to hear from you, Red, and many thanks.

Don't forget to put the Fund over early and often. Help Bob in every way possible. An early contribution means less work for the agents and lieutenants.

Secretary, 45 Chestnut St., Wellesley Hills, Mass