Letters, Jun. 22, 1942

Jinx

Sirs:

Is it carrying the TIME front-cover jinx too far to suggest that [the Gestapo's late Reinhard] Heydrich appeared very recently?

LIONEL W. NELSON Orlando, Fla.

> Just far enough.—ED.

Both Barrels

Sirs:

I have been in the U.S. Merchant Marine for over twelve years and had made plans to quit and go ashore this past March. The attack on Pearl Harbor ended all such pleasant thoughts for me.

Since then I have served, without complaint, in the Atlantic, Caribbean and the Pacific—wherever they chose to send me. I believe that it is my duty to serve my country in whatever capacity I am best suited and at present that is as second mate aboard this oil tanker. But, if some of these stupid politicians think that it is my duty to risk my life in order to fill the tanks of pleasure cars to the brim, they will have another think coming. I believe that they will soon find out that there are quite a few more seamen who feel this way. . . .

If oil rationing is neededקet's have it, with both barrels.

PAUL J. GENNUSA S.S. Herbert L. Pratt

Deliveries at Pearl Harbor

Sirs:

In your Letters column, April 13, a Mr. Daniels and a Mrs. Thomas complain of the current day-late deliveries of TIME in their particular sections. I am amused, and write not to complain but in hopes that Mr. Daniels and Mrs. Thomas may find some consolement in this: My four April issues of TIME were delivered on May 26 and they have been coming in this manner since December. Just keep throwing TIME in the mailbag each week and I'll thank you for it no matter when it finds its way to me.

R. E. BIRD, U.S.N. Pearl Harbor, T.H.

No Bitterness

Sirs:

As a supplement to the fine portrayal by word and picture of the man "with the tender eyes and jaw of iron" [Chiang Kaishek] in TIME, June 1, the following is quoted from one of the daily readings in our current quarterly. . . .

"A Red Cross official in China, who recently returned to the United States, tells of a visit he made to Chungking. . . . Seven times that day Japanese planes had raided the city and dropped bombs. The Generalissimo explained that they were trying to find out where he was staying. After a simple dinner the visitor was asked to remain for evening devotions. They knelt together, and first Madame Chiang offered a prayer, then the guest prayed, and finally the Generalissimo. He prayed for the American people to whom his guest was going, then for his own Chinese people, and finally for the Japanese people, whose representatives that day seven times —had tried to kill him. Here is a man in whose heart is no bitterness and no spirit of unforgiveness."

CHRISTINE H. KISTNER

Milton, Pa.

Sirs:

Congratulations on your China article of June 1. I hope that you will keep hammering home the China Question until the War and Navy Departments actively and efficiently aid the Chinese or until the American public demands that they do so. ...

MRS. CLIFTON COWAN Doddsville, Miss.

First for Once