Mrs. Gunn's Diary: Feb. 13, 1942

She writes of a 'Black Friday for the Allies'; accused Nazi agent Laura H. Ingalls takes stand

Mrs. Gunn’s entire entry today was about the escape of three German ships anchored off the coast of Normandy that had managed to escape British bombing and sail away. “The British are enraged and should be that such a stupid thing could happen,” she wrote, comparing it to Pearl Harbor.

Mrs. Gunn’s overreaction is puzzling to me, especially when there was a much juicier story going on. Laura Ingalls, a celebrated aviatrix and self-described “Mata Hari,” was on trial for failing to register as a Nazi agent. Paid subscribers can read on.

The clipping is from the front page of the Feb. 12 Washington Evening Star, accessed via newspapers.com.