UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
PAGE EIGHT
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1949
'Forgotten Fleet Stuck In Berlin Since 1945
**Bernlin**—(U.P.)—This is the story of the "forgotten fleet," 38 Belgian and Netherland barges which have been stranded in western Berlin since 1945 because the Russians will not let them sail through the Red zone.
Karl van Dyk, 60-year-old Belgian captain of the barge President Louis Tardy, told a tale of the last four years on the idle waters of Berlin. He said:
When the war ended in 1945 our fleet, which had been seized by the Germans, was spread all over the Soviet zone. At first we had to work for the Russians. By May 1946 they had grabbed roughly 100 or our ships.
"Since we were scared they would liberate' our ships, too, we fleed to the British sector and started sweating it out.
"Our officials here have tried everything to get us out. No dice. Do you know what waiting means? Months and years of fooling around with stupid little chores simply to keep you from going crazy? Thank God that there are still a few things left to comfort us."
"I have a wife sharing my fate," van Dyk continued. I can go home on leave to Brussels every six months. If only the custom guards would not be so difficult."
He threw an affectionate glance across the tiny berth at his dark-haired German wife, Gertrud, 36. She married him in September, 1948. Seven other German girls later also married stranded skippers.
He shrugged his shoulders: "We hoped we would be allowed to go home in 1947 when the Russians finally let pass 37 Dutch and eight Belgian ships. We were told we would follow shortly but more than 18 months have passed since then."
Van Dyk's wife commented;
"With those Russians, I have no longer any hope that we will ever get to Belgium, and hardly anybody knows about our plight."
To "eat like a bird" would mean to eat one's own weight in food every day.
23 Students, 5 Faculty Attend AICE Convention
Twenty-three students and five faculty members attended the regional meeting of the student chapters of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers at the University of Nebraska Dec. 9 and Dec. 10.
Donald E. Metheny, engineering senior, presented a student paper on "Analytical Absorption."
Other schools represented at the convention were Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri School of Mines, Oklahoma A and M., University of Denver, University of Iowa, University of Nebraska, and the University of Oklahoma.
Faculty members who attended were James O. Maloney, professor of chemical engineering; S. A. Miller, Fred Kurata, and Stanley M. Walas, associate professors, and Vincent Valleroy, instructor in chemical engineering.
Students attending the conference included Henry E. Hughes, graduate student; Arthur J. Archung, Elmer L. Dougherty, Jr. Stanley M. Englund, James C. Hayward, Richard L. Heiny, Jerry H. Kuehnle, Joseph W. Keil, Howard F. Mercer, Donald E. Metheny, Norman R. Miller, Frank I. Reynolds, and James E. Rogers, engineering seniors.
Duane W. Bellinger, Laroy F. Crow, John M. Dieter, T. K. Foster, Silvester C. Leonard, Robert W. Schrepfer, Corwin S. Sterrett, and David L. Webber, engineering juniors, and George E. Walrafen, sophomore.
Religion Professor With US Air Force
Capt. John H. Patton, professor in the School of Religion, has been assigned to service as a chaplain with the U. S. air force reserve, Fairfax field, Kansas City, Kan.
He was one of 557 chaplains transferred to the reserves at their own request. Captain Patton served from 1944 to 1946 in the Alaskan division of the Air Transport command.
Cabbies Undergo Revolution
Oklahoma City — (U.P.) — Under a new contract with Oklahoma City taxicab companies, union drivers must wear neckties to work, keep their trousers sharply pressed and their shoes shined. Drivers cannot insult customers and are forbidden to overcharge or undercharge.
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40 Rag Dolls Made By Home Ec Club
Forty wash cloth dolls were made by the Home Economics club at a Christmas party Tuesday. The dolls will be distributed to needy Lawrence children in Christmas baskets.
Approximately 52 women attended the party held at the home management house. Betty Hatcher, social chairman, was in charge of the service program.
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