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By WA3LLACB FERRY■' The 1Italian prisonrrs of war Who arrived in Lea Cruces yesterday to work In Meallla valley cot-toll Helds seem to be a happy lot— Happy that their fighting days, in this war, are over;Happy to be In the United States, instead of in their turmoil-tom and dictator-ridden homecountry;Happy tu fbel anil under their Teel gain—fTftsh, titled soli, such as they wore accustomed to in their native IbUy before it began to he crushed untffer military heels and military machines; tor moal of the 125 ate former farm boys.* ♦ ♦As 1 drove up to Lhe old CCC camp where they're being quartered, yesterday afternoon, 1 was reminded of the news story that came over thr wires the next day After Axis armies began to crack in TmrhUa and the first big batch of TtAtlnn prisoners was rounded up by Amcrtrnn doughboys:“What’r you birds grimiiii* abouL?’' tyi Americanised Italian was rapjrleu to have retorted. You'nr only goln' to Italy; we're goin* to the United States.. * * *.For thare were n score or more of; .thani i»i the camp-yard—clad In blue denim overalls and undershirts—laughing and talking, evidently Joldng about the fortunate turn of their fate, the Jobs ahead of! them—maybe about the down: fall ot ‘..the dirty duec they'd shaken uff-afchome.*-»r-• * • *.'••I didn’t talk to any of them.• only one of the lot here now.It. Is-said, knows the English language only two In the bigger batch that's Interned at Lords-burg.An Italian - American soldier, here — several of them At the Lordshurg camp—serves as an interpreter when it's necessary to communicate their wants or pass on commands.Neither did the army officers in charge—Maj C L Whllmnrah. executive officer at the Lordsburg d»mP. aiwl First Lieut Albert H Ellis—talk-, for publication; military censorship, they explained, makes it necessary for them to be careful ( what they say about prisoners of war.But it didn't take direct conversation to convey the happiness those Italian prisoners have over being in an American internment camp instead of in line of battle alongside haled Nazi comrades-in-arins.* * *This much Maj Whitmnrah did say. when I remarked, In half question: “They're working voluntarily, I understand:”Yes; but It wasn’t any trouble to get volunteers; wc could have got a thousand, if we'd wanted them for this job.”+ * •Also, he added: “Please cm. phasixe the fact that wc don’t want any visitors, in fact. ,v,-c can't Allow curiosity seekers around: we'U have to slop them ut the Lurn of the road, if they tryto come out to see the prisoners.”+ + *The prisoners, .i understood J will wear their own uniforms, or | ^ overalls, when they’rt working in 1 valley cotton fielrin. (1Uncle Sam doesh't want In pm-1 f barrsss them hy brandishing the’rP W—prisoner of war—brand!out in public. *For. after nil, thry're honorable|1 prlsonero of war, not criminals*. ? ♦ ♦ +But they'll ho amply guarded while they’re away from cnnip. . -Uncla Sam’s soldiers will do the' ' job — accompanying them to an from camp, as their farmer employer* haul them back and fnrlh.and staying with them as theywork In the fields.♦ * ♦Al thnl. though- unlike German prisoners, or Japanese Internees there doesn't saem In be much danger that the Italian* will attempt to cocapc; they’re pretty well aatlafimt wit), things aa they are.♦ ♦ ♦Thay'r* to be paid the 27I* rents t prr hour which has heen cutabllsh-ed m Iho prevailing wage In valley cotton fields this year.- But tbalr pay will go to Uncle Sam, to be kept m escrow for j • (OaftUavad on page A) 11
Newspaper Details
Las Cruces Sun News
Las Cruces, New Mexico, US
Sun, Aug 08, 1943
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 29 Jun 2019
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