Bennington Banner from Bennington, Vermont • 10

EDITORIAL BENNINGTON BANNER hK" W1'fni FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1998 10 Nazi U-Boat sinks S.S. Athenia, Part II Our Community Heritage BenningfonBanner Published every day except Sundays and Christmas Day by North Eastern Publishing Company, 425 Main Bennington, VT 05201. Daily since 1903. Weekly in 1841. Telephone (802) 447-7567 'Classifieds (802 447-0332 'Fax (802) 442-3413 1 JULES MOLENDA Publisher Bloody Murder.

It was like the infamous Lusitania sinking of 1915 which helped eventually to bring the neutal U. S. into World War I. That is why Nazi Germany in 1939 wanted to deny all responsibility for sinking the Athenia. The submarine commander Karl Doenitz knew U-30 was in the area of the attack, but the sub was keeping radio silence.

Doenitz went to see Hitler, who decided that regardless of what Lemp might have done, Germany must deny any and all involvement, so they made up "the big lie" that no German sub was in the ED SHEPARDSON Advertising Manager CATHY VOSBURGH Office Manager DARRELL BYNE Production Manager ROBIN SMITH Managing Editor JAMES REED Advertising Manager WENDY CHENAILLE Systems Manager Editorial When Lemp reached his home port and told what he had done, he was flown to Doenitz who told him to keep quiet. The sub's logs were doctored. U.S. Representative Incumbent Bernard Sanders versus Mark Candon British Navy side, lives would not be spared to capture an Enigma intact, especially in circumstances where the German high command might not know of the capture, since if the fact were known, they would surely stop using Enigma. There was panic on the U-110.

Lemp was convinced it was sinking fast from depth-charge damage. U-boat sailors were jumping overboard. Thinking "das boot" was poised for an immediate trip to the bottom too deep to retreive the Enigma, Lemp and his officers abandoned ship, leaving no one aboard. Bobbing about in the waves, Lemp saw the sub was not sinking and tried to swim back to it and destroy the code machine, but the wind was carrying it away faster than he could swim to it. A launch from a British destroyer appeared, carrying a heavily armed boarding party headed straight for the sub.

Either Lemp pulled out a service pistol and committed suicide or one of the British sailors shot him. He threw up his arms and sank. Then the boarding party formed a human chain on the sub and passed up everything they could find in the tiny office, including the Enigma machine. It's a long story, but the British by false messages made the German high command mink the U-110 took the machine to the, depths and therefore didn't abandon the code, so the British had an advantage in being able to read the submarines' messages to the end of the war. Total German losses suffered by the U-boat fleet were 753 of 863 boats and over 28,500 sailors out of 41,000.

In that ironic way, I think, with the unwitting help of the disastrous Lt. Lemp, the Athenia and her passengers were avenged on him for sinking them by mistake. Next installment, we will hear the details of the escape of Bennington's Joan Authwaite, and also of Catherine "Peggy Hodge and her younger sister Jocelyn "Joey" Hodge, as well as the loss of their mother Mary Hodge in what I feel sure was the whirling propellor of a rescue ship. Authorship of this column is shared by Tyler Resch, librarian of the Bennington Museum and Joseph Parks, secretary of the Bennington Historical Society, an affiliate of the Museum. Aboard the British ocean liner Athenia when World War II started on Sept.

3, 1939, two days after Germany invaded Poland, were two teen-aged girls, one a Bennington resident at the time, and one a Canadian who lives here now. Both girls lived through the sinking of the ship by a German submarine, but the former Canadian girl lost her mother in the disaster and came very close to losing her younger sister as well. One hundred eighteen lives were lost, including 28 Americans, out of 1,103 passengers and crew of whom 311 were Americans. The resident of 1939 was Joan Authwaite who lived with her mother and step-father Kitty and Luther Graves on Monument Avenue Extention where Pam and Terry Coffield now reside. She is a widow living in Connecticut.

The Canadian girl, then a resident of Toronto, was Margaret "Peggy" Hodge who now lives with her husband Dick Leake at Furnace Grove farm on East Main street, marked by the remains of the old iron furnace near the Woodford line. To blame for the disaster, besides Hitler and his Nazi followers, was Uber-leutenant Fritz-Jacob Lemp, commander of U-boat 30, on patrol west of Ireland and Scotland, who was looking for glory as the first sub commander to sink a British naval vessel. At the time, the war between England and Germany was ten and a half hours old. The sun had set at 7 p.m. and when he made the mistaken identification of the ocean liner as an armed converted cruiser, it was nearly dark.

The ship showed no lights. He fired a torpedo. The ship stopped. He moved closer, peering through his periscope. The ship began to look like the pic- tures of S.S.

Athenia shown in his copy of Lloyd's Registry. Distress calls from the ship heard by the sub's radio indeed identified it as the Athenia. He was under orders not to fire on unarmed passenger ships. Lemp got away from the area before the British navy could arrive, and kept quiet ever after. The British of course screamed area, therefore a British sub must have deliberately sacrificed the Athenia in hopes of bringing a neutral U.S.

into the war on the British side. When Lemp reached his home port and told what he had done, he was flown to Doenitz who told him to keep quiet. The sub's logs were doctored. When Admiral Doenitz was on trial at Nuremburg in 194S, he admittted the truth about the part he, Hitler and Lt. Lemp played in the sinking of the S.S.

Athenia. In time, Lt. Fritz-Julius Lemp was awarded the prestigious "Ritters-kreuz" (Knight's Cross) for sinking other Allied ships and was given command of a new sub called the U-110, while the old U-30 became a training vessel. In the spring of 1941, Lemp attacked a convoy in North Atlantic waters. A depth charge from an escorting British destroyer caused much damage which sent the U-110 sinking stern-first into the abyss.

In the emergency, somehow the submarine blew its tanks and bobbed to the surface like a cork, helplessly waiting while three British destroyers raced toward it, firing all guns. On board every Nazi sub was a marvelous code encryption device called the "Enigma Machine" which all German submarine officers like Lemp were expected to guard with their lives. On the income instead of cutting off at $68,400 as it does now. As is usually the case, this election will be a referendum on the incumbent. Candon claims that, as an outsider, Sanders is without influence in the House -but the incumbent's record seems to say otherwise.

Last year he joined with the two Vermont senators, for instance, to push through the Northeast Dairy Compact, which protects wholesale milk prices in New England. He was one of the few members of the House to vote against the balanced budget this year because, he says, it cut $115 billion in health care, including $5 million designated for Vermont home health care. But subsequently, again working with Sens. Jeffords and Leahy, he was able to restore $3 million of this health care funding to Vermont. Sanders may be a Incumbent U.S.

Rep. Bernie Sanders is facing off against Republican challenger Mark Candon for the seat Sanders has held since 1992. It's a race that offers Vermont voters a clear choice: Sanders and Candon agree on almost nothing. The incumbent is one-of-a-kind: the only member of the House not affiliated with either major political party (although he often votes with the Democratic minority). Sanders supports the "little guy" issues.

He's a proponent of labor unions, family and health issues an taxing wealthier Americans to support programs that help those less wealthy. He has a visceral reaction against big business, the military-industrial complex and almost anything Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich favors. Mark Candon is Rutland stock-, broker who served briefly in the state Legislature as a political party of one, but he also heads up a coalition of 58 House Letters 'jUn nrcilesup-'i nihil, jj axuuii aiii -uu -jr? 1 4i S6 muCH fof Dwyer's otipnd'Ignorance are thres'ult of that sometimes, in order to improve the oia-jasnwnea values members known the' Progressive' ranking minority membeFof the powerful banking committee. On the Social Security issue, we think the challenger is dead wrong. The purpose of Social Security, we believe, is security.

The market may pay well most of the time but, as anyone who's studied the results of his 401k recently can attest, sometimes it doesn't pay at all. The lone drawback we see to Sanders' record is his unremitting and automatic opposition to the wealthy class. But it also seems to us that every other member of Congress spends most of his or her time seeking funds from, and working on the interests of, America's richest citizens. We're rather proud that Vermont's sole seat in the House is occupied by someone who works mostly for the rest of us. For these reasons, we strongly urge Vermonters to return Bernie Sanders to Congress on Nov.

3. Democrat. He switched parties during the past, decade and is running, he says, because he believes the incumbent is ineffective and anti-business. As a member of the majority party in the House, the challenger believes" he can work with the leadership there, including Gingricji, for Vermont interests. A major issue of contention between the candidates is the current condition of the Social Security program.

Candon believes the system can be fixed permanently by allowing those paying into it the option of investing a portion of their payments in the stock market. The market, he points out, has out-performed both inflation and most other forms of investment over the long haul. Sanders disagrees. Social Security, he says, is in no imminent danger of collapse and has adequate funding for at least the next 34 years. He believes it could be propped up permanently if the tax were extended to all quality of life for the future, we need to take the focus off ourselves and refocus on the future of Vermont; our children's and grandchildren's futures.

I have had the opportunity to observe both Doug Racine and Barbara Snelling preside over the Senate. There is no comparison. Doug's leadership, organization and ability to arrive at consensus is impressive. The partisanship, rhetoric and lack of purpose that was prevalent under the jurisdiction of Barbara Snelling is rarely found with Doug Racine as Senate leader. A vote for Doug Racine is a vote for -the security of Vermont's future.

Please feel free to call if you have any questions. JON TUSTIN Readsboro Markowitz's experience is the kind this voter likes Over the years I have many times contacted the Secretary of State's office as a town clerk and town auditor. After leaving public office in 1995, I have continued to look to that state agency with questions concerning local government actions. Sadly, Jim Milne has not lived up to the standards set by Jim Douglas and Paul Gillies in the area of insuring the public's rights regarding municipal officers' actions. I was Sandgate's town clerk when Jim Douglas and Paul Gillies were at the helm and found them to be extremely conscientious and caring that Vermont's municipal laws were upheld by town officers.

Whether a town officer or just a member of the public, the telephone lines were always answered by a "real person and sound, courteous advice was given. When Don Hooper was elected, town officers felt like the rug was swept out from underneath. That was when the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) stepped in Deb Markowitz in particular to fill the void left for municipalities. Deb knows municipal law, was well spoken and always found time to guide towns in the right direction. (Unfortunately, VLCT cannot help John Q.

Public.) Four years ago, Jim Milne challenged Don Hooper, promising to bring more help to local town officers and to restore the connection between the Secretary of State's office and the public. I believed him because as Barre City Clerk he knew all to well how Judging from the Banner photo on page 3 on the Friday, Sept. 23 edition, gubernatorial candidate Ruth Dwyer's preaching about old-fashioned virtues has not rubbed off on her Northeast Kingdom supporters. The photo clearly shows Dwyer fans rudely turning their backs on Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

Those old-fashioned values of coutesy and civility seem to be lost on these Dwyer supporters. Perhaps this is not suprising, as their chosen candidate opposes a decent, living minimum wage for Vermonters, the expansion of Medicaid to children, and subsidized child care so single parents can work. She also opposes the old time virtue of frugality, jince she advocates returning our temporary budget' surplus rather than saving it for that proverbial rainy day which is likely to come. It appears, therefore, that these Dwyer supporters merely follow their candidate's lead when they show disrespect for the office of Governor, no matter who happens to hold that office at the present time. Still, we all should be thankful that those who rudely turned their backs on Gov.

Dean did not follow the example of the Scottish troops in the movie "Braveheart" at least they kept their rear sides covered. Thus, we were spared exposure (pun intended) to a Moon over Montpelier (or, in this case, Lyndonille.) EUGENE F. ELANDER Pownal Secure our state's future, vote Racine for Lt. Gov. I am writing regarding the upcoming election for lieutenant governor in Vermont.

This is one of the most crucial elections in recent history. It presents an opportunity to cast a vote for the future of Vermont, and all of its citizens, by voting for Doug Racine. If you have not had the opportunity to speak with Doug during his many trips to Bennington County, I urge you to do so. A conversation with him will quickly verify the fact that he is approachable, willing to listen, compassionate and completely devoid of the arrogance that all too often is associated with those in politics. Doug has exhibited a great deal of political courage as lieutenant governor.

He supported Act 60 with the full knowledge that the bill will need to be adjusted and fine tuned over the com outright illegal actionsby locaj ment, the Secretary of State official answer to the question of enforcement of Vermont's municipal law is that private citizens have to pressure people out of office, to "take them to court." Jim, that's not acceptable. The incumbent, Jim Milne, has "experience" in this office, but under his lead the Secretary of State's office has become stale and unresponsive regarding municipal law enforcement guidance. Deb has promised to work to make Vermont's town officers more accountable for their actions. We need someone energetic and with a reputation of following through on commitments. Deb Markowitz has lots of "experience" with these qualities.

She's my vote for Secretary of State. KAREN CHRISTIANSEN Sandgate Criticize a vote if you must, but explain why At the candidates forum last week I was asked a question by my opponent's chief supporter concerning an amend-, ment I had voted against. The amendment was to the transportation bill, and he claimedlt was to "return $42 million to the transportation fund from the general fund over the next five years" (he misstated the actual wording of the amendment). He asked why I had voted against it. The problem with the amendment, I explained, was that it violated House rules since, if passed, it would have required a vote of three-fourths of the members of each house for any future transfers of money.

Since all general assembly votes, except procedural votes, require only a majority of members voting for the position, this change to a three-fourths vote was in violation of House procedures. Upon hearing my answer, my opponent responded by saying that if the amendment violated House rules, that was something that needed to be addressed. However, she and her supporter continue to attack me for my vote without ever mentioning the reason that she herself thought was valid. Furthermore, I did vote for an amendment that would stop the transferring of Special Funds to the General Fund since this amendment did not have the three-fourths vote requirement. Criticizing me for a vote is entirely appropriate.

Not explaining the reason for the vote, nor mentioning her understanding of the reason, is a disservice to the voters. I think the voters of Windham-Bennington I deserve better STATE REP. BOB RUSTEN Windham-Bennington 1 Letters munists and fellow travelers. When we students of the Marxist enemy pointed out all this to the ameri-can public in the Fifties (and continuing on up to today) we were and are ridiculed by people like Terry. But we know what Marxism looks like, because we have bothered to study it.

Many of us think Act 60 is right out of the Marxist handbook. We don't want people to wait until it's to late to find out we were right again. Terry Ehrich once stated publicity, that his father Fred, was a nice guy. He is so right. But he also said that Fred hung around with the wrong crowd.

With the left wing crowd Terry supports, this writer thinks that it is Terry Enrich who ought to change his circle of friends, and apologize to his father. LAWRENCE HARRINGTON Bennington Marxism is Marxism, however it's called Terry Ehrich in Tuesday's Banner suggests that opponents of Act 60 who call it Marxist is "old time McCarthyism at its worst." Somebody ought to bring Terry up to speed about the latest findings on McCarthy. Let's read from an article titled "Rethinking McCarthyism, if not McCarthy" which appeared in the New York Times Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998. When McCarthy waved a list of 205 names of alleged communists working in the goverment in February of 1950, he was denounced by the people of the Ehrich mentality, "but half a century later, with Soviet archives open, it turns out there was a list." "With code names and salary receipts and carbons of sensitive messages on the Manhattan Project and American diplomatic strategy that were passed to the Soviets." "Julius Rosenberg, it is now clear, was guilty." "Alger Hiss was probably a Soviet Agent." Chambers was telling the truth about the Soviet agent known as "Carl." "And the American goverment harbored hundreds of Communist spies and even more fellow travelers." Education, the unions, and many other organizations were riddled with com Editor's Note: Regular features of the Editorial page such as the Quote of the Day and Looking Back, will return next week, following elections.

We appreciate your patience. much the agency meant town officials. ing years. The important point here is that Doug has the vision to recognize Well, it appears Jim has a short memo that many of the problems we have in ry. While his office does field questions from citizens about questionable andor society today economic woes, big-.