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SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1943

Smoke Screen Supporters Told of China's Brave Fight, of Jap's Treachery and of Behind-the-Scene Events in Publishing

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Advocate Photo

Responsible for an enlightening and entertaining afternoon at Stamford Yacht Club yesterday under auspices of the Stamford Smoke were (left to right) Miss Lee Ya-ChinK, Mrs. Margaret Taylor Yates, Mrs. William H. Pitt, Richard Simmon, Mrs. Roger L Offen, Miss Flora Mai Holly.

The gathering which filled the ballroom of the Stamford Yacht Club almost to capacity for the Smoke Screen , benefit book tea yesterday heard Richard L. Simon, of Simon and Schuster, publishers, tell of a project which will send 35 million new, books, especially published in pocket size, to the Armed Forces; heard a brave and encouraging story of China's fight from Miss Lee Ya-Ching, first Chinese aviatrix; and an, intimate story of the bombing of Pearl Harbor from Margaret Tayler Yates, detective novelist.

Miss Flora Mai Holly, book commentator, was mistress of ceremonies, and spoke first on the program by recommending a number of books for current reading. The program was opened with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner by Miss Emily Roosevelt and William Serke, accompanied by Miss Linda Capabinaca. They also concluded the afternoon with the singing of duets, "Where You Are" and "It Was a Lover and His Lass."

Miss. Yates, the first speaker of being ill in bed with a heart condition and alone with her young Japanese maid-servant when the first bomb fell on Waikiki. Presumed hardly able to walk, she ran out of the house in her nightgown and caught a glimpse of the face of the pilot who flew the enemy plane just above the housetops. She showed her audience a button from the uniform of the first Japanese shot down, later given her by her husband.

Mr. Simon, next speaker, is one of a committee of three publishers arranging a Council of Books in Wartime which plans to make available to all soldiers and sailors the new volumes which civilians are enjoying back home, but in small and thinner format  in editions costing one-tenth of normal charges. Titles, to include not only the new works, will be chosen jointly by the Army and the Navy, with advice of critics in New York. The project will start with two million books next month.

Mr. Simon described some behind-the-scene events in publishing. Frequently the publisher approaches an individual and offers an idea to be written, Mr. Simon explained. Such was the case with Wendell Willkie's return from his round-the-world trip Simon and Shuster, aware of his interest in a global world, asked him to tell about it and how his trip affected his thinking and ideas of the kind of world to be lived in after the war. When the book appeared he dared express himself so frankly, without endangering his career.

Mr. Willkie replied, "I believe if my ideas are right they will prevail and as far as they do I will be successful."

As to what makes a successful book, Mr. Simon said that sincerity is the most important quality; that success is impossible without it.

Miss Lee, who started her training in aviation 10 years ago in Geneva, Switzerland, and then came to the United States, was instrumental in bringing civil aviation to Chia which up to 1936 had none.

Aviation in the armed forces began in 1932, she said and at the start of the war China had only 200 planes. These were foreign models, unwanted anywhere else. Russia was the first to send planes and pilots to aid in the war, she said.

In a program to build air strength even the children are trained to be air minded, Miss Lee said. Last year a child of six won the prize for jumping from a parachute tower. Hundreds of students are becoming glider pilots, this training taking no gasoline, and in a few hours they can be converted to airplane pilots. Many have trained in this country, particularly in Arizona, she said, and many are waiting to come.

She told tens of thousands of men, women and children chiseling and building with hammers to construct an airport, which was completed in record time of three months. In industry, she spoke of the industrial cooperatives, and in education, of 90 millions being taught to read and write, and of students studying in caves.

Miss Holly made door awards at the conclusion to Mrs. Wilfred Thompson, the autographed copy of "One World"; and to Mrs. Charles L. Zabriskie, Mrs. J. J. Healy, Mrs. William Aycrigg and Miss Joan Farley. Use of the club was donated, and the tea was furnished by a junior committee, so that one hundred per cent. of the proceeds will go to the Smoke Screen, it was announced.

Mrs. Roger L. Often is chairman of the Smoke Screen; Mrs. William H. Pitt, chairman of the book tea, with Mrs. Thomas J. Ryle and Mrs. John J. Radley, jr. Mrs. John C. Zimmerman, jr., did flower arrangements.