Letters: Letters, Apr. 4, 1932

"Only Pleasant Features"

Sirs:

The women of the world owe a debt of gratitude to Publisher George Putnam and to TIME for the reproduction of the photograph "Living Death," TIME, March 21. The picture of a well-groomed British officer in his uniform, close cut hair, firm lower jaw, straight gazing brave eye—and NO FACE between; caption quoted from army dictum: ''only the pleasant features of war."

It is an insult to the courage of Gold Star Mothers to insinuate that they whose Sons rest in "lovely cemeteries" would be willing to hold back any measure that may help to inculcate the grim actuality of war.

It must be remembered that there are also innumerable women who for long years have been feeding, dressing, guarding an army of derelicts, armless, legless, blind, faceless, gas-etched trunks, and shellshocked, insane minds. You may not often see one. They are kept close, cherished from indecent display, but they exist and THEY are the army of martyrs.

This is the physical side. There is besides the mental horror of remorse of the murderer who killed without hate, "by order."

The statement, "pleasant features of war," is an insult to the minds and hearts of all civilized human beings.

MRS. ANNA KINGHAN

Erwinna, Pa.

Sirs:

TIME'S characteristically veracious report of Mr. Putnam's efforts to obtain sanction from the War Department for the use of pictures from its files illustrating the horrors of war is excellent in its frankness. That General Carrs refusal to acquiesce to the scheme should be based on the preservation of Gold Star Mothers' memories seems, however, a trifle lame as an alibi. Granted that the patriotic side of wars should be preserved, it is still unnecessary, foolish, harmful to prevent the public assimilation of truth. May the book, however grisly, impress citizens who pay millions in taxes for wholesale slaughters past and present, with the necessity for peace and the frightfulness of the combats that their taxes support.

RODERICK McKENZIE

Princeton, N. J.

Sirs:

The War Department also has a "moral obligation" to the Gold Star Mothers of future wars, and I am sure that the mothers whose sons were killed or—worse—maimed, in the World War, would be the first to say: "Publish Mr. Putnam's book, or any other book that will help to outlaw wars."

There have been too many war movies, showing handsome heroes with a decorative bandage on head or hand, attended by beautiful nurses in starched uniforms, and not enough publicity of the kind of picture shown in your last issue (TIME, March 21).

Nothing can impress the horrors of the last war on the next generation like a book of that kind. These kids didn't live through the horror, and only know the glory rightly due the heroes, who suffered and are suffering still.

MRS. MARK A. COOPER

Rome, Ga.

Sirs:

Your issue March 21, 1932, Army & Navy— ". . . only atrocity pictures are excluded." How do you differentiate atrocity pictures from the kind you mention? In other words, what are atrocity pictures?

W. C. WlLKES

Atlanta, Ga.