Vol. 1—No. 51
U. S. Navy Pre-Flight School, Chapel Hill, N. C.
Saturday, September 11, 1943
Discuss Pre-Flight Training
DISCUSSING the Pre-Flight Ti-aining Program among themselves
were the three sports writers in the above photo. Here to study first
hand the type training a cadet undergoes in Pre-Flight the writers
are, left to right, Mr. Arthur McGinley, sports editor of the Hartford
Times, Hartford, Conn.; Mr. Stephen White of the Boston Herald-
Tribune; and Mr. Jack Sell of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Sports Writers Visit Station
To Inspect Pre-Flight Program
^
Commentary
By Ens. W. O. Shanahan, USNR
Academic Department
Neutrality in modern times is
a precarious status for either a
major or a minor power. When
the scale of war was small and the
issues were local, neutrality was
a practical concept in internation
al law. It is now safe to say that
neutrality is only respected as
long as it serves the belligerents’
interest.
This principle is well illustrated
by the fact that both the United
States and the U. S. S. R. were
dragged into the war despite their
professed intention of remaining
neutral. It is difficult if not im
possible for great powers to avoid
being enmeshed in war. Neither
armed might nor industrial re
sources can deter attack because
of the respect this strength com
mands. Instead, great strength
invites attack lest it be used un
der circumstances disadvantage
ous to the attacker.
Each of the remaining neutrals
in the European theater enjoys
its position at the pleasure of the
warring powers, who respect neu
trality only as it serves their mili
tary or economic policies. After
the conquest of Norway the
Sv/edes were at the Nazis’ mercy.
Centuries of hostility to Russia
ruled out diplomatic or military
support from that quarter and
England could not bring its sea
power into the Baltic. Without
setting foot on Swedish soil the
Germans brought the Swedish
economy into line with their own.
The most valuable exports, iron
ore, copper, and timber began to.
flow into German ports. Armed
resistance would have been futile
and at any sign of dissatisfaction
the Nazis had only to tighten their
blockade.
Since 1914 the Swiss have been
aware that their country could
serve as a military highway from
Germany into France. Notwith-
See COMMENTARY, page U
Here to Get
‘First Hand View’
Sports writers from newspapers
and periodicals located in the first,
third, fourth and fifth Naval dis
tricts have been here since Wed
nesday morning inspecting first
hand the U. S. Navy’s Pre-Flight
Training Program.
Comdr. John P. Graff, USN
(Ret.), Commanding Officer;
Lieut. Comdr. Howard Hamilton,
USNR, head of the Academic De
partment, and Lieut. Comdr. Bur
ton Ingwersen, USNR, Athletic
Director, acquainted the group
v/ith the idea and purpose of Pre-
Flight Training when they first
reported aboard. Other officers at
the station have explained individ
ual phases of the program.
The writers were invited to
Chapel Hill to study the type train-
Bee WRITERS, page U
Movie Schedule
Sept. 11—Free movie at Village
Theatre, “White Savage” with
Maria Montez and Jon Hall. Fea
ture starts at 1355, 1940 and 2116.
Complete show one hour, 26 min
utes.
Sept. 12—Free movie at Village
Theatre, “The Man Who Came to
Dinner” with Monty Wooley and
Bette Davis. Feature starts at
1310 and 1512. Complete show
two hours.
Talent Try-outs
Cadets who are interested in
talent try-outs for station enter
tainments are invited to sign up
at the Welfare and Recreation of
fice, room 112, Alexander Hall.
Singers, tap-dancers, instrumen
talists, comedians, novelty acts,
etc., are all welcome.
Third Band Concert
Scheduled Tomorrow
In Forest Theatre
The third in a series of band
concerts by the U. S. Navy Pre-
Flight School band will be pre
sented tomorrow afternoon at 1630
in the Forest Theatre. In case of
inclement weather, the program
will be presented in the auditor
ium of Hill Music Hall.
Guests on the program will be
Charles, Everett, New York dra
matic tenor of the concert stage,
F. Nathaniel Gatlin, outstanding
conservatory clarinetist from the
music faculty of Bennett College,
and, provided their itinerary per
mits, Buddy Johnson, ranking
swing band leader and pianist and
his vocalist, Mary Lou Johnson.
Mr. Gatlin is a graduate of the
Oberlin Conservatory and North
western University, and for the
past five years has been instructor
of instrumental music at Bennett
College, where he organized the
only Negro symphony orchestra in
North Carolina.
Mr. Everett is well known in
the metropolitan centers of the
eastern states, having appeared in
recitals at many outstanding mu
sical events. The fine quality of
his tenor voice has been noted in
many favorable press comments.
Among the selections by the
band will be Grieg’s “Triumphas
March,” and favorites “Stardust,”
and “Deep Purple.” Also a med
ley of songs of the Services will
be presented.
Wednesday Evening Movies
“Nazis Strike,” a continuation
of “Prelude to War,” will be the
featured film at the Pre-Flight
showing in Memorial Hall next
Wednesday evening. The film is
an excellent editing of newsreels,
with narration by Walter Huston.
Second film to be shown that
night will be “Quizcraft No. 4.”
The movies start at 1930, and all
Pre-Flight personnel are invited.