The Era -- Day By Day

[LizzieMaine]

("Hmph," says Joe. "Solly din' get no Brooklyn send-off when he lef'. Some fat guy stepped onnis foot when we was downa bus depot, an'nen while he was yellin' at t'fat guy, anutta guy picked 'is pocket." "What t'ey oughta do," declares Sally, "is get a whole buncha people down'eah, a big crowd, ann'en bring out some guy dressed up like Hitleh. An'nen Frankie Germano jumps outa t'crowd an' beats his head in." "Yeah," agrees Joe. "A real Brooklyn send-off." "I wonneh," muses Sally, "if we c'd get Magehkoit' t' be Hitleh?" )

Betel-chewing men of Sulu have joined the Moro tribesmen of Mindanao and the Igorots of Luzon on the roll of honor for the Battle of the Philippines. The War Department's latest communique reported that Sulu units have penetrated to the heart of Zamboanga, Japanese-occupied port of Mindanao, where they have destroyed important military installations. Although the War Department made no mention of how the Sulus came to Zamboanga, it is presumed that they arrived by stealth in the curious outrigger pirate ships which they made famous in the days before the Americans arrived in the Phillippines. The Sulus, who are Mohammedans and a fierce and fanatical sea-faring people, are known for their habit of chewing betel nuts as we do gum, a practice which dyes their teeth black.

Soviet forces killed another 3000 Germans and demolished 22 blockhouses on the Leningrad front, in the past 48 hours of fierce fighting. Reports from Moscow state that the enemy has been cleared from large areas in the Vyazma district, and that Soviet artillery is blasting surrounded Nazis from all sides in the Starya Russa section south of Leningrad.

Brooklyn druggists are struggling with the new War Department edict requiring that no product put up in collapsible metal tubes may be sold unless the purchaser turns in an old tube. Druggist Marvin Ricklin of 10 Myrtle Avenue was typical of the pharmacists worried about how the new regulation will affect their businesses. "Do people carry around empty tubes?" he asks. As Mr. Ricklin spoke, a sailor approached the counter and asked for three tubes of shaving cream, but as he was unable to furnish the empty tubes to exchange, the druggist was forced to turn him away. "I would like to sell to him," Mr. Ricklin shrugged, "but there is a $10,000 fine. Maybe it turns out a test case, and there goes my day's profit."

Former Kings County Register Peter J. McGuinness, well-known Sage of Greenpoint, may not be out of work much longer if the State Legislature acts to approve a new state tax position for the borough. McGuinness lost his job as a result of a city referendum abolishing the elected offices of sheriff and county register and replacing them with civil-service appointments. The bill, supported by Tammany Hall, would establish a new office of Deputy Commissioner of Taxation, with authority to collect recording taxes in all five boroughs of the city. McGuinness, who has been holding court on the sidewalk outside Borough Hall since he was dispossessed of his office at the first of the year, has been advised that he is in line for that job if the bill passes.

(Coming Events Cast Their Shadows Before...)

("Junior Miss" is an early avatar of the teen-girl-humor craze that will swamp wartime popular culture.)

(Remember that book -- "WHILE ENGLAND SLEPT!")

(Sour grapes, Mr. Parrott? And congratulations to Pee Wee and Dottie, who will enjoy a long and very happy marriage.)

("Do you have any flying experience?" "Well, it's like this...")

(Invisble dogs? Little bearded men in tutus? And now NAPOLEON? Look, far be it from me to point out that this is a clear case of the DTs, but...)

("Something New Has Been Added!")

(Never ever argue with a cop.)

(See the dancing flames, Dan! Stimulating, aren't they?)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

"Sure it's bigamy! It's big a' you too! It's big 'a all of us!"

Here, Mr. Farish, let me help you with that noose.

"I know! Let's report him to the zoning board!"

By all means run off without telling anyone where you're going. SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PLAN!

Kick him. Kick him hard.

And be sure to read him a story before Taps.

"How long was that, anyway? Eight, nine months later? DO YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING?" "

Look at that cute round butt.

Next train leaves for Reno in half an hour.

Well, that's THAT then.

 

[Fading Fast]

("Hmph," says Joe. "Solly din' get no Brooklyn send-off when he lef'. Some fat guy stepped onnis foot when we was downa bus depot, an'nen while he was yellin' at t'fat guy, anutta guy picked 'is pocket." "What t'ey oughta do," declares Sally, "is get a whole buncha people down'eah, a big crowd, ann'en bring out some guy dressed up like Hitleh. An'nen Frankie Germano jumps outa t'crowd an' beats his head in." "Yeah," agrees Joe. "A real Brooklyn send-off." "I wonneh," muses Sally, "if we c'd get Magehkoit' t' be Hitleh?" )
...

The role of the clueless dog-owning woman asking for a ride home from court from the police will be played by Constance Bennett, while the role of the mirthfully sarcastic judge will be played by Lionel Barrymore. Rumors have it both Asta and Sandy are up for the role of the unmuzzled dog.

...

("Do you have any flying experience?" "Well, it's like this...")
...

Well now, that worked out well. Throw some money the turtle's way.

...

("Something New Has Been Added!")
...

Leona, whom I'm very excited to see again, cannot be happy about having this one in the house.

...

(Never ever argue with a cop.)
...

I've only been caught in one speed trap in my life, but I have to say it, it was in your state of Maine, Lizzie. I have a feeling my out-of-state plates didn't help me. I could mail in the (from memory, from the late '90s) $80 or travel from Boston to Maine for a court date. "Let's see, I make the check out to..."

And in the Daily News...

"Sure it's bigamy! It's big a' you too! It's big 'a all of us!"
...

That's a pretty gruesome death in the Bronx. If she wasn't married, I'd think botched abortion.

...

Kick him. Kick him hard.
...

He's being a complete *ss for saying it to her, but that is, at his distance, the way it looks.

...

"How long was that, anyway? Eight, nine months later? DO YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING?" "
...

Everything you and Pat said plus this, life is cheap and fragile where we are, so lets grab what happiness we can, when we can. Just because it's a line doesn't make it untrue. So, first, we put little Merrily to bed.

...

Look at that cute round butt.
...

It's comments like that, that objectify men and why men are never taken seriously. We are more than just objects to satisfy your base needs.

Also, isn't this the second plot in a row where Tracy was rescued by a furnace?

 

[Harp]

Idigenous New Guinea tribal headhunting.... Some American Southeast Asia transplants foreign
to native culture just wrapped bicycle chains with black electrical tape or went out clean armed
only with a Jap tanto razor or a Randall #9 knife and started Charlie sandal collections. Baseball
cards, pinups, sandals. Whatever floats the boat. The 1911A1 Colt .45 barracks rumor sez was specifically
designed to knock Mindinao Mori down flat. Mr Morris trad tells wrapped wet bark cuts around testicles
and, once dried, it hurt; allieviating constricture pain warriors ran at enemy full out. A Colt .45 can stop
any mister on the block. And those guys really had some bad-assed balls.

And, speaking of a knock down dragout... Padraic just-the-facts Jack, armed to the teeth with facts
of the case, rectitude, and Cupid's golden arrow shot point blank at his heart Achillies heel, might be
winning the case. However, Norms must confront her inner self right smack down to the floor of her soul.
For Merilee's sake at least, come clean girl and tell Ryan the truth.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I just finished rereading the original Pat-Normandie storylines from 1935-6 in which they first met, and the subsequent story involving her ogre-like Aunt Augusta, and there's a number of things in those stories that might explain why Pat is the way he is right now. One important fact is that Normandie was only twenty years old when she first met Pat -- and a very immature twenty, at that. She was involved at the time with a phony count (really, is there any other kind) who was out to siphon the family mining money, and Pat, Terry and Connie showed up just in time to figure out what was going on and put the Count on ice. But immediately after that, the ship they were all on was wrecked, and they ended up castaways on a small island for over a month. Moonlight and tropical breezes, la de dah, and Normandie in the shredded remains of an evening gown. Pat saw himself as her protector in all this, and the adrenaline of the island experience drove their developing relationship as much as anything else. And one thing led to another...

But when Aunt Gussie learned about Pat -- a twentysomething American with no visible means of support gallivanting around China with a couple of teenage boys -- she manipulated events to push him out of the picture.

And then Normandie's uncle had a long talk with Pat - pointing out that he himself had been a poor man when he courted and married Augusta, who was much like Normandie herself at the time.

And what he did -- was nothing.

Up ahead was a ship containing one Captain Aron Judas, leading to the adventure that would introduce Pat and the boys to one Burma -- and Normandie got pushed to the far, far back of Pat's mind. And I submit that he has regretted that for the past six years, because he now knows that if he *had* followed Normandie back to America life would have been different for both of them. But he didn't, because he listened to what her uncle said -- and he thought he might be right. And that's the regret he'll carry for the rest of his life.

 

[LizzieMaine]

And incidentially, I'm completely up for a new MGM B-picture series starring Lionel Barrymore as Magistrate Solomon. It practically writes itself.

 

[Harp]

View attachment 415403


View attachment 415395

.

View attachment 415397

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View attachment 415401

And I submit that he has regretted that for the past six years, because he now knows that if he *had* followed Normandie back to America life would have been different for both of them. But he didn't, because he listened to what her uncle said -- and he thought he might be right. And that's the regret he'll carry for the rest of his life.

Life's vagaries can be traversed far too easily with the benefit of hindsight,
of course, while omniscience lends far too much credence to the sin of supposition;
avoiding factual analysis alltogether. Whether pursuit would have triumphed now
cannot be ascertained as anything beyond conjecture.

And Ryan cannot plausibly take murder for his crown.

He physically attacked Sandhurst, leaving him unconscious at the hands
of the Imperial Japanese Army.

In law, clean hands; clean skirt denote equity between marital parties,
notwithstanding the fact that neither claim may necessarily resolve issue.
Here, neither Normandie nor Ryan have clean hands; both have fault,
yet there is a child.

 

[Fading Fast]

I just finished rereading the original Pat-Normandie storylines from 1935-6 in which they first met, and the subsequent story involving her ogre-like Aunt Augusta, and there's a number of things in those stories that might explain why Pat is the way he is right now. One important fact is that Normandie was only twenty years old when she first met Pat -- and a very immature twenty, at that. She was involved at the time with a phony count (really, is there any other kind) who was out to siphon the family mining money, and Pat, Terry and Connie showed up just in time to figure out what was going on and put the Count on ice. But immediately after that, the ship they were all on was wrecked, and they ended up castaways on a small island for over a month. Moonlight and tropical breezes, la de dah, and Normandie in the shredded remains of an evening gown. Pat saw himself as her protector in all this, and the adrenaline of the island experience drove their developing relationship as much as anything else. And one thing led to another...

View attachment 415403

But when Aunt Gussie learned about Pat -- a twentysomething American with no visible means of support gallivanting around China with a couple of teenage boys -- she manipulated events to push him out of the picture.

View attachment 415395

View attachment 415396

And then Normandie's uncle had a long talk with Pat - pointing out that he himself had been a poor man when he courted and married Augusta, who was much like Normandie herself at the time.

View attachment 415397

View attachment 415398

And what he did -- was nothing.

View attachment 415401

Up ahead was a ship containing one Captain Aron Judas, leading to the adventure that would introduce Pat and the boys to one Burma -- and Normandie got pushed to the far, far back of Pat's mind. And I submit that he has regretted that for the past six years, because he now knows that if he *had* followed Normandie back to America life would have been different for both of them. But he didn't, because he listened to what her uncle said -- and he thought he might be right. And that's the regret he'll carry for the rest of his life.

This is awesome stuff. Thank you for posting it, Lizzie.

If we are correct in our supposition about Merrily's parentage, then Sandhurst probably knew it too, which was not a great way to start a marriage. Though, he's an *ss regardless.

Normandie's uncle seems like a straight shooter who has a lot of life under his belt.

And incidentially, I'm completely up for a new MGM B-picture series starring Lionel Barrymore as Magistrate Solomon. It practically writes itself.

And can't you also see Constance Bennett just expecting the police to drive her home. She played so many clueless socialites (and I know the dog woman isn't a socialite, but artistic license and all) that she wouldn't even have to learn the script. William Demarest could play the cranky, put-upon police officer who has to drive her home.

Edit add: While taking Bennett home, Demarest picks up his son, played by Joel McCrea (he's studying to be a lawyer, while working nights in a filling station - Demarest is going to drop him off at the filling station), and she and Bennett immediately start arguing because they really like each other, but he's a reverse snob and doesn't like her on principal because of her money and she gets offended over his snide "rich girl" comments. She also has, let's see, a "proper-for-her-class" boyfriend, played by Gene Raymond, (which makes McCrea jealous) but he's a boring rich snob. Coincidentally, Raymond's uncle is Magistrate Solomon who ultimately sees that McCrea is the better match for Bennett, but not until there is a lot of misunderstanding and hurt feelings.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Barrymore would go for this in an instant, especially since they probably won't -- ah -- be making anymore Dr. Kildare pictures for a while.

Here, by the way, is the real Charles Solomon, a colorful New York character if ever there was one.

Yeah, Barrymore could do that.

 

[Harp]

Looks a tad Woodrow Wilsonesque, even without the ol' pince nez.

 

[Fading Fast]

Barrymore would go for this in an instant, especially since they probably won't -- ah -- be making anymore Dr. Kildare pictures for a while.

Here, by the way, is the real Charles Solomon, a colorful New York character if ever there was one.

Yeah, Barrymore could do that.

If it was the 1990s, actor Edward Hermann would have made a good Charles Solomon.

 

[LizzieMaine]

("Hmph!" snorts Joe. "I bet Jane Wit'ehs wouln' make a crack like 'at." "I neveh trusted 'at kid," agrees Sally. "Neveh trus' nobody 'at smiles too much, 'at's what my Ma says." "An' she lives up to it," nods Joe. "What?" whats Sally. "Nut'n," mutters Joe.)

Russian communiques reported today the killing of another 24,428 Germans, 12,000 of them on the Leningrad front and 10,000 on the Kalinin front northwest of Moscow between March 21 and April 1st. The increased use of planes by the Nazis was indicated in the communique, which stated that 57 were shot down on Wednesday.

The Senate committee investigating the dealings of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey with the Axis powers will delve today into the company's sale of aviation gasoline to an Italian-owned airline operating in Brazil. Company president W. S. Parish insisted yesterday that no sales of fuel to the Littoria airline were made that were "not in compliance with State Department policy." Committee chairman Harry S. Truman (D-Mo.), who has accused the company of treason, stated today that the testimony so far "has not changed my opinon one bit."

War Department officials in Washington accustomed to addressing one Maynard Kimberland respectfully as "General" today added the word "nuisance" to that title after it was determined that Kimberland not only isn't a general, he isn't even in the Army. Kimberland, who gave his address as the Hotel Imperial in New York, was indicted ysterday on charges of impersonating an officer after an investigation by Lt. Col. Raymond Daily, the commanding officer of the War Department's Washington motor pool. Kimberland appeared at War Department headquarters in January bearing a letter of introduction purportedly signed by Gen. George C. Marshall, which identified him as the former adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard. "General" Kimberland used that authority to requisition an Army limousine, complete with uniformed chauffeur, which he used, it turned out, to impress potential employers.

("Margaret Leonard," huh? Nice to see Kay Fields, Secret Operative No. 49, is keeping busy.)

A seventeenth police officer under investigation by the Amen Office has filed for retirement. Deputy Police Inspector Henry Bauer, who faces an Amen probe of his official conduct, is presently assigned to head the 12th Division in Flatbush, headquartered at the Empire Boulevard Division, and is being investigated for possible misconduct in the supervision of plainclothesmen under his command, who are accused of involvement in gambling rackets. Assistant Attorney General John H. Amen filed an immediate letter of protest with Police Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine, although he acknowledged that, under the law, he has no authority to prevent Bauer's retirement. The 53-year-old Deputy Inspector joined the force in 1912, and achieved his present rank in December 1936. Bauer has twice been cited for "excellent police duty," once in 1913 for stopping a runaway horse and once in 1914 for arresting a holdup man.

The War Production Board has ordered an immediate freeze on the sale of new bicycles, in an effort to preserve existing stocks for the needs of war workers. According to the order, no new bicycle may be released from dealer stock after 11:59 last night, even if it had been ordered and paid for before that deadline. M. D. Moore, section chief of the WPB's Durable Goods Division, indicated that the order was imposed because too many people who don't actually need bicycles for essential purposes have been buying them.

(The National Security League, of which the NSWC is an affiliate, is a revival of a WWI-era "preparedness" organization, re-established under the auspices of Harvard political scientist E. Pendleton Herring. History has denied us the knowledge of how good a shot Prof. Herring might have been.)

("Bicycle you say? Does he have a priority? DOES HE?")

(Let the barnstorming begin! 11 days till Opening Day!)

(Clark Kent failed his Army physical because his x-ray eyes caused him to read the eye chart in the next room. Just sayin'.)

("Tell me what happened or I'll talk until..." Jo should be a professional interrogator.)

("Listen, kid, there's only room for one ex-heiress in this strip AND I'M IT!")

(My town had a four-corner intersection in the middle of town and just a blinker to control it, so this would be an improvement.)

(YES DAN I GUESS YOU ARE IN A FIX)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

Butch never loses his temper. He knows exactly where it is at all times.

Milton Caniff himself couldn't come up with a storyline like this.

What could possibly go wrong?

Poor B-B. He'll be so disappointed.

A lot of Nigerian princes wish that Andy Gump was alive in the 21st Century.

Dr. Meager may be a jerk, but he's got great taste in office furniture.

Between Clark and Lichty, you've got a perfect idea of my back yard.

That's one way to take out your frustrations.

Eight bucks?? Mine cost almost $600.

Jiggs and Maggie used this gag in 1915.

 

[LizzieMaine]

And from five and a half years ago, there is this interesting vignette with bearing on recent events. After returning to Shanghai from their adventure with Burma, Pat and the boys stopped off to pick up their accumulated mail...

What do you suppose Normandie would be writing Pat about, a few months after they last saw each other? Hmm? Patrick seems to have some idea of it -- and so do the kids.

 

[Fading Fast]

...

Russian communiques reported today the killing of another 24,428 Germans, 12,000 of them on the Leningrad front and 10,000 on the Kalinin front northwest of Moscow between March 21 and April 1st. The increased use of planes by the Nazis was indicated in the communique, which stated that 57 were shot down on Wednesday.
...

Even if exaggerated, the daily German death tolls are incredible.

...

War Department officials in Washington accustomed to addressing one Maynard Kimberland respectfully as "General" today added the word "nuisance" to that title after it was determined that Kimberland not only isn't a general, he isn't even in the Army. Kimberland, who gave his address as the Hotel Imperial in New York, was indicted ysterday on charges of impersonating an officer after an investigation by Lt. Col. Raymond Daily, the commanding officer of the War Department's Washington motor pool. Kimberland appeared at War Department headquarters in January bearing a letter of introduction purportedly signed by Gen. George C. Marshall, which identified him as the former adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard. "General" Kimberland used that authority to requisition an Army limousine, complete with uniformed chauffeur, which he used, it turned out, to impress potential employers.
...

This is almost a comicstrip story. Heck, if the Colonel from "Mary Worth" had thought of it, he'd have tried this scheme.

...

("Margaret Leonard," huh? Nice to see Kay Fields, Secret Operative No. 49, is keeping busy.)
...

It's impressive to see a woman achieve the rank of detective in '42 and it's impressive that the department approved the budget necessary for her operation. Nothing is ever as black and white in the past as we sometimes believe.

And yes, very Kay like. Harrington, umm, Dan will be very proud.

...

A seventeenth police officer under investigation by the Amen Office has filed for retirement. Deputy Police Inspector Henry Bauer, who faces an Amen probe of his official conduct, is presently assigned to head the 12th Division in Flatbush, headquartered at the Empire Boulevard Division, and is being investigated for possible misconduct in the supervision of plainclothesmen under his command, who are accused of involvement in gambling rackets. Assistant Attorney General John H. Amen filed an immediate letter of protest with Police Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine, although he acknowledged that, under the law, he has no authority to prevent Bauer's retirement. The 53-year-old Deputy Inspector joined the force in 1912, and achieved his present rank in December 1936. Bauer has twice been cited for "excellent police duty," once in 1913 for stopping a runaway horse and once in 1914 for arresting a holdup man.
...

He is entitled to a full and fair trial. If found innocent, then great. But if not, then that retirement should be unwound.

...

The War Production Board has ordered an immediate freeze on the sale of new bicycles, in an effort to preserve existing stocks for the needs of war workers. According to the order, no new bicycle may be released from dealer stock after 11:59 last night, even if it had been ordered and paid for before that deadline. M. D. Moore, section chief of the WPB's Durable Goods Division, indicated that the order was imposed because too many people who don't actually need bicycles for essential purposes have been buying them.
...

From books, documentaries, newsreels and contemporaneous and period movies, when you think of civilians in WWII in England, you think of them riding bicycles, but you don't have that same image in your head of American civilians in WWII.

...

(YES DAN I GUESS YOU ARE IN A FIX)

Best guess, Dan circles around and escapes in the boat that brought the new men over.

And in the Daily News...
...

Milton Caniff himself couldn't come up with a storyline like this.
...

It's a complex and legally detailed and nuanced story that, barring a smoking gun, is going to be a long battle.

And from five and a half years ago, there is this interesting vignette with bearing on recent events. After returning to Shanghai from their adventure with Burma, Pat and the boys stopped off to pick up their accumulated mail...

What do you suppose Normandie would be writing Pat about, a few months after they last saw each other? Hmm? Patrick seems to have some idea of it -- and so do the kids.

Are we going to see more tomorrow?

 

[Harp]

Putty-on-a-stick, dual ignition off fuse ignitors, or plastique and dynanite, the perfect
all around one size fits all general purpose explosive charge, but grenades and pins,
nada, zip, zero those pineapples best kept frozen until ready to eat.

Underscoring their dialogue is the salient factoid that Caniff is penning literature;
whether English department eggheads want to admit this or not.
Terry and The Pirates is literature writ large. Pat and Norms are adults having
serious issues before them, matters as real as those posed to Rick and Ilsa
in the timeless classic Casablanca.

 

[Fading Fast]

Putty-on-a-stick, dual ignition off fuse ignitors, or plastique and dynanite, the perfect
all around one size fits all general purpose explosive charge, but grenades and pins,
nada, zip, zero those pineapples best kept frozen until ready to eat.

Underscoring their dialogue is the salient factoid that Caniff is penning literature;
whether English department eggheads want to admit this or not.
Terry and The Pirates is literature writ large. Pat and Norms are adults having
serious issues before them, matters as real as those posed to Rick and Ilsa
in the timeless classic Casablanca.

I could not agree more. I've been arguing since I became familiar with T&TPs (through these Day By Days) that not only is it head-and-shoulders above the other strips, but we are seeing a truly talented story teller - in words and illustrations - at work.

 

[Harp]

And from five and a half years ago, there is this interesting vignette with bearing on recent events. After returning to Shanghai from their adventure with Burma, Pat and the boys stopped off to pick up their accumulated mail...

View attachment 415630
What do you suppose Normandie would be writing Pat about, a few months after they last saw each other? Hmm? Patrick seems to have some idea of it -- and so do the kids.

Against what background is known, paterfamilias Padraic isn't. Probable, seemingly but at
considerable distance and time inchoate largely due to said maternal flight. Mister Ryan
is disadvantaged considerably by any objective light.

And there remains equity. Normandie is responsible for the choices she has made,
and, those she elects further in time relative to paternity of her unborn child.

As choice carries consequence, time waits neither male nor female.

 

[LizzieMaine]

It would be entirely consistent with who Pat was in 1936 that he would not have, at that time, embraced the prospect of fatherhood. Who he is in 1942 is similar, but not quite the same -- he's more mature, less impetuous, and more willing to face the consequences of his actions. But Normandie isn't the same person she was in 1936 either, and thereby hangs the tale.

As for T&TP as art, it was one of the few comic strips to be recognized as such in its own time -- it got more press than any other comic of its day, partly because Caniff himself actively sought it out, but largely because the unique realism of the strip was recognized by anyone who followed it for any length of time. Here's an article from 1942, originally published in Coronet magazine, and reprinted by Caniff's hometown newspaper, the Dayton Journal. The full-cast drawing is spectacular -- not only do you see pretty much the entire cast up to that time, but you see *who each character is,* just from their posture and expressions. See how many you can identify without looking at the key!

It's always good to see old friends again, even the ones we'll never see again.

 

[Fading Fast]

Against what background is known, paterfamilias Padraic isn't. Probable, seemingly but at
considerable distance and time inchoate largely due to said maternal flight. Mister Ryan
is disadvantaged considerably by any objective light.

And there remains equity. Normandie is responsible for the choices she has made,
and, those she elects further in time relative to paternity of her unborn child.

As choice carries consequence, time waits neither male nor female.

I have no doubt of your legal expertise, but there's also this: It's 1942 and they are in war-torn China where the rule of law and documentation is almost nonexistent.

That said, Normandie did marry Sandhurst and, thus, morally owes him her sincere and best effort at a good marriage, which includes sticking with him through tough times. But IMO, on a moral plane, he vitiated that obligation when he tried to swap her and Merrily's freedom (and probably their lives) for his.

At that point, I'd have had no problem if Normandie had quietly put a bullet in the back of Sandhurst's brain, told everyone the Japanese killed him and left with Pat.

Tit for tat and all that.