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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1944)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1944 TEL JOURNAL, PLATTSMOUTH, KEBLACXA PAGE THREE 4 Plattsmouth Soldier Writes Of New Guinea Cpl. Joe Kvapil Tells of Island Where Americans and Australians are Fighting iand five feet hight, whose kick is as dangerous as a stallion's, to the beau- itiful yellow and red plumed birds iof paradise The feathers of the para jdise birds v'ere once the basis of a weauny iraue, uuui me government stopped the killing of these birds to save them from extinction, so I was told. Around sundown tlocks of noisy white cockatoos circle over roosting trees. There are dozens of kinds of parrots and pigeons. On New Guinea lives the beautiful crowned In a very interesting letter to Miss pigeon, a smoky gray bird as big as Josephine Rys, Cpl. Joe Kvapil tells j a small turkey and deliciuos to eat. of life in New Guinea and a descrip-jThe megapode, or brush turkey, is tion of that once lovely land that j also good eating, it buries its eggs lias been the scene of much of the in large hillocks of earth. Oh, how Pacific warfare: jl would like to take a parrot back !My first view of Xew Guinea is-, home with me when I leave this land was from the blue azure sky as 'place. Although there have been we came in from Australia over the thermometer readings in the sun as amazing Coral Sea. The Coral Sea high as 125 to 135 degrees the tem is a magnificent sight at first 'perature along the coast in New glimpse. The water, the day we Gnmea rarely rises higher than 93 were flown over it was a.deep blue, degrees in the shade or sinks below a blue that reminded me of a Royal 72 degrees. Inland it becomes in blue ,lhe shade that royal gowns creasingly cool the higher you climb, are lined with. The recent corona- There is plenty of rain, especially tion of George George VI was the ' from November to March. When it stinging example of this shade in rains in the island it really does use. The sea from above, is in my rain, even though the downpour opinion one of the seven wonders Ooesn't usually last long. You can of the world. The Coral beds are 'Lear the rain coming from a long in some instances miles and miles way off, heavy and dull just as if in length. In some spots they are someone had turned on a whole lot well below the surface but can be of shower baths, and when it hits seen in all their splendor through it is like a wall of water. As a re the crystal clear water. In other nilt the rivers have a nasty habit places the coral breaks through and of rising 10, 20, or even .50 feet in the icy-like simmering waters a short time. Campaigning in this break over and causes to form the . island is no picnic. We're often oddest shaped breakers caps that I have ever i either tne Atlantic or Pacific coast , lines of the United States. The white caps dance and twist to a strange New Guinea are covered with dense rain forest, hot steamy jungle, with eerie green twilight. In drier places, however, there are sometimes stretches of open grasslands or savan nah. This tropical grass, usually course and from four to six feet high, in the distance looks like wheat. Natives in some places burn the grassland once a year as a method of hunting wild game. The rain for est, with its tall trees, occasional vivid flowers, tangled lianas, and interlocking maze of roots, seemed lifeless at first, but we realized that it is teeming with life. The island, like nearby Australia, has various kinds of Marsupials, that is pouched mammals. There are several types of small kangaroos in New Guinea, none of them more than three feet high. The commonest ones are tree climbers. Other Marsupials ere wooly, slow-moving creatures like the cuscus, about the size of an opossum. There are many types of bats, including the giant flying fox es, fruit eaters with a four foot wing spread. Rats are plentitul too, som-i over two feet long. There are many varieties of snakes including poison ous kinds. Some of the big lizards look quite t.gly but are harmless. The place here is alive with ants, cockroaches, flies, wasps, sand flies and other bugs. Scorpions and centi pedes many times hole up in our shoes or clothes. Colorful butter flies include the giant bird winged variety. The most striking creatures in this region are the birds. Their voices in the early morning sound like a regular jazz band. There are hundreds of kinds ranging from the Lig black flightless cassowary, four and white- steamy and sweaty and muddy; in seen along , fact conditions are about as bad a.-? on any battle front in the world But the island is not bad by any means. The native islanders, too, are just as anxious as we are to have the Japs thrown out. Bombs and guns have wrecked their houses and gardens, killed their relatives, and made many exiles from their homes. So long as we do nothing to shake their confidence in us, they give us every help possible. It obviously makes a great deal of difference un der conditions of jungle warfare if the local inhabitants are friendly rather than hostile. Friendly natives have saved the lives of many of our airmen who have been shot down in isolated places. Many natives have fought bravely on our side, and some have received military decorations. Others have helped as guides, car riers and stretcher bearers or have given food to soldiers temporarily cut off from souces of supply. Some time ago a friend of mine and I drove to "the American cemetery in the area I am stationed at. The plot of ground where 22 of the fallen heroes lie is beautifully arranged and neatly kept up. Each grave bears a shining white cross. At the top of each cross is nailed tne deceased sol diers dogtag. About the center of the cross is lettered in black paint the name of the soldier, the state where he came from, his serial number, the rank that he held at the time of death and the date of his death. Overlooking the cemetery is a flag of -he United States. Fortun ately there is no one from Nebraska who is buried in the cemetery. Of interest that I haven't mentioned in many of my previous letters is the fact that a woman who calls herself "Madam Tojo" (The Japanese propagandist) keeps us well informed of the action concerning us that never occurs. For instance, at one of the times that we were bombed she stated over the radio (and we can get Tokyo real well over the radio here) that a certain number hit on the ground. All her figures were fantastic. Incidentally, ensorship for bids me to disclose the figures she broadcasts. In other words the Japan ese propaganda is just exactly that, just propaganda and nothing else. On Dec. 5, 1913 "Madam Tojo" threatened to bomb us on Dec. 7, 1943 to a greater extent than Pearl Harbor and vowed, as usual, that the Japs would retake the large part of New Guinea which we now hold, but they never showed their greasy smiling faces. "Madame Tojo" speaks the most perfect English. She pro bably was born and raised in the United States and educated in one of our best universities. What I mean to say is that the "old lady" really spreads it on. If you recall, a large part of the Japanese success in winning their war with Russia several years ago was purely propa ganda. 1 can't tell you where in New Guinea I am stationed at but I be- Buffett Enters Race In filing for the Republican nom ination for congress in the Second District, Congressman Howard Buf fett issued the following statement: "Eighteen months ago, I became a candidate for congress under ex tremely unfavorable circumstances. I was politically unknown and with out office-holding experience. I had no organization no financial back ing, and no support from special interest groups. "Campaigning among the people, I found they shared my hope for better management in Washington The spontaneous enthusiasm and support of the people brought about a victory at- the polls. "As your representative, I iav tried to keep faith with you. I have vigorously opposed the bungling that delays victory and the return of your loved ones. I have fought against in flation and bureaucratic controls. : ney crusn the honest man and a- low the bootlegger,- chisler, and Mack marketer to run wild. Only a return to free and honest business methods in America can prevent moral collapse. "If reelected, this fight to save freedom in America for our soldier boys and our children will be con tinued."' Iieve I can say that following the news reports of New Guinea action you may arrive at a conclusion. Holy Week Services plans for building an adequate and suitable program was begun. Easter this , year falls on .April 9th. Holy week services therefore will be Monday through Friday, ;pril 7th. Thid will be a citywid.; observance in which all the church es and all the people are invited to participate. Anyone having any sug gestions for the services will please refer them to the president of the club, Orville Neilsen. Henry J. Van Dusen, writing in the Saturday Evening Post of Janu ary 29th, says the churches of Europe "thought to be soft ar.d brok en have turned out to be Hitler's toughest opposition in occupied Eur ope." He says further, "Today in these countries the church is the only unintiinidated voice of truth, the only unshattered champion of the oppressed and persecuted." "The Church's one foundation i Jesus Christ, her Lord," without Him there is no hope for a better world. Passion Aveek this year, more than ever, should be reverently observed by all liberty loving people." At its last meeting the Business Men's Ad club voted to sponsor an otner downtown Holy eeK service. Thiele, Nehawka: Elizabeth Henn ii.gs, Plattsmouth; Earle Auiick, Plattsmouth; . Mollie Gobelman, of I'lattsmouih. Boy Scout News November Term Jury List B. Yv Gioson, Weeping Water; George Bern, Plattsmouth; John J. Toman, Flattsmouth; Myrtle Robert son, Eagle; Cora Campbell, South Eend; J. A. Boyd, Murdock; Ida Patton, Plattsmouth; Nellie Spanp; ler, Plattsmouth; John V. Hend ricks, Plattsmouth; Virgia Pearl Boy Scout Troop 267 met last night ;tt 7:"0 p. rn'. in ihe basement of the First Christian church. The scoutmaster, eighteen boys, and Rev erend Tiienilcr were present. We came to attention at 7:30, gave the scout law, sang "America" and then gave the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flar;. We began our business meeting. All of the scouts are sup posed to bring their equipment for the merit b.ulge show next week. Two of the new boys, Bobby Cappell. and Tllen Hamilton, passed all of the re quirements to became a Tenderfoot scout. This gives us a total of six Cole, Flattsmouth; Anna J. Ramh, jnew Sf.outs for the Investiture ser- Weeping Water; Lois Tet'ft, Avoca; Nellie Wehrbein, Plattsmouth; Har ry D. Fischer, Eagle; Louis Allgay er, Jr., Weeping Water; Edna Erick son, Greenwood; Myrtle Phillips. Eagle; Louis F. Hennings Platts mouth; Ella Atchison, Elmwood; A committee was appointed ami Betty Phiipot, Nehawka; Edith H. vice to be held on Sunday, February IS, 1944. Ihe whole trocp has to register on February S, 1944 and so we will all register on that date. Bernard Dow, Scribe BACK THE ATTACK WITH BONDS MENS BLUE JERSEY PULLOVER SWEATER Plain $1.35 Waffled $1.50 BOYS Stripe Pullover Jerseys $1.15 CHILDS Pullover Jerseys $1.00 4 Dn Mo Other Land Ds The Price Off Freedom So Small" BUY AT LEAST ONE EXTRA HUNDRED DOLLAR WAR It costs only $75 and it pays you back $4 for every $3 invested! The Uneoln TelepKons and Telegraph Co. "A Nebraska Company, g Savins fa Peop- Hi is is ? is ? is is is 9 is s is u w i r TO L ' Jr 1 n Bini V is " " As I am selling out and moving to Nebraska, I will sell on the Gale Mills farm, west of Pacific Junction, or Vz mile north of the Sweet Corn dump, on 12 mile south and Vi mile TmieSo9 February COMMENCING AT 12 O'CLOCK SHARP LUNCH BY THE BAND CLUB LADIES 65 HEAD O (Lam L''"VE s Head of . Iorses i 8 2 Hea d f Catt 1 sorrel mare 3-years-old, wt. 1450, well broke and a good one; 1 sorrel gelding, 3-years-oId, wt. 13C0, green broke; 1 smooth mouth gray horse, wt. 1450; 1 bay mare, 9-years-c!d, wt. 1350; 1 bay horse, 6-yrs-old, wt. 1350. 6 head of Guernsey-Swiss cows, 2 of these are twin heifers, both fresh last spring and will freshen again V soon; 1 big Holstein cow, giving about 6 gallons of milk now, fresh last November; 2 spotted cows, Guernsey- Holstein, one fresh last November the other will freshen in June, both milking now; 1 Guernsey cow, S-yrs-oId, fresh since October; 1 black Jersey cow, will freshen in June, milking now; 1 yellow Guernsey-Hclstein, 6-yrs- z$ old, milking since November; 1 Purebred Guernsey bull, 2-yrs-old; 1 heavy springer Guernsey heifer; 2 long year- ling Guernsey heifers; 6 heifer calves from May to January in age; 1 black steer, 9-months-o!d ; 4 roan heifers, $S wt. about 700 pounds, to freshen soon. 30 fall yearling. 25 late fall pigs; 5 black Poland sows, bred to black Poland boar first week in January; 1 black Poland boar, $ Farm Machinery, Miscellaneous Items 1 1 SI 1 AC combine 5-f t. 39 model. M 1 John Deere 4-section harrow, new 1 Little Genius 14-in tractor plow j 1 Van Brunt 12-hole press drill ! 1 Dempster rotary mold board lister 1 Stoughton 60-bu. spreader 1 McCormick-Deering 2-row Go Devil 1 McCormick-Deering 10-ft. tan dem disc 1 McCormick horse mower, 5-ft 1 roller bearing truck wagon Head off H HO 30 1 hay rack 1 wagon box 1 John Deere light box wagon 1 Western 8-f t. land roller 1 planter press, 2 -row 1 Deering 11 -ft hay rake 1 hay sweep 2 sets of good work harness and collars 3 rolls slat cribbing 12 rolls wire cribbing Some 1x12 boards and galvanized j roofing 8-ft. section fcr John Deere elevator Mallotte seperator, electric drive Marshall 4-can milk cooler Wood burning tank heater 20-gallon iron kettle 10 or 12 tons Alfalfa hay in bam Hog waterer on barrel Several hog troughs, barrels, iron drums, 1 small tank Sun Beam wood burning circulating heating stove 011 buring circulating heater "75" TERMS OF SALE CASH or see your banker before the sale. No property to be removed until settled for. g SI WoLLecMIte I I V REX YOUNG, Auctioneer GLENWOOD STATE BANK, Clerk o rr.