Evening star., 1935-08-21

"Only 5000 900 900" remains unallotted
Of the vast emergency work-relief fund
OF $4,8so.000,0o0 voted by Congress
few months ago. according to Col.
Horatio 3. Hackett. assistant public
works administrator. This balance
alone Is staggering" amount, one
that is astronomical In the far reaches
OF its significance and effect. It re-
quires a mathematical mind Of the
highest order to grasp with any degree
Of comprehension the magnitude and
the meaning of the various sums which
have become almost daily factors in the
Governments calculations and financial
transactions. They are accepted now as
almost commonplaces, and without much
serious thought by a great majority of
the citizens Of the United States. Not
only Congress and the Treasury, but
many other departments OF the Govern
figures which q few short years ago
were confined almost exclusively to text
books Of the higher learning.
It has been said that war could not
be fought without music, and the truth
Of this assertion seems to have been
attested at local showing Of q moving
picture this week portraying various
phases Of preparation Of the United
States Army. While the audience
watched the entire picture with intense
interest. it was only when a company
OF soldiers marched briskly by with
banners flying and the band playing
that there was burst Of spontaneous
applause. The beat of the drum arouses
the marching, martial spirit of an army,
just as it does that Of the onlookers at
a passing parade. Nevertheless, today
it is not the drum, but the humdrum
Of war that decides the issue. 1t Is not
the spirited music, but the humdrum
tasks Of preparation behind the lines;
not the clarion call to battle, but the
tiresome, humdrum digging of roads and
Of trenches, the commonplace baking
Of bread and similar unromantic army
chores" that count In final results. The
Italians in Africa are reported to be
busy with such thousand and one ordi-
nary, routine. humdrum bits Of prepara-
ton, from the digging of wells to secure
fresh water for their men to the
minutiae Of camp and hospital arrange
mentS, to keep their soldiers ready to
fight. should the zero hour strike for
them to advance against the Ethiopians.
- X X
Vacation days have reduced by so per
cent the high command" at the State
Department. Undersecretary Phillips is
enjoying holiday in New England,
while Assistant Secretaries Welles and
Sayre are en- route to Europe on sim
liar mission. Secretary Hull, with As
sistant Secretaries Carr and Moore, is
guiding the foreign ONCE. The Secre-
tary, following his return from period
Of rest in the mountains of Virginia, Is
now actively engaged in furthering the
commercial reciprocity treaties which he
has inaugurated with number OF coun-
tries. The Ambassador Of France, Andre
de Laboulaye. is sailing today for his
country to report to his government on
the status of the conversations looking
to the conclusion of q reciprocal trade
treaty between the two countries.
Such good results are being obtained
from the suggestion Of Attorney General
Cummings that his famous "G-men"
take regular daily exercise, that the
idea already has been broached as to
whether it would not be well to extend
this compulsory physical training to GER
tain other bureaus Of the Government.
Under the direction Of an efncient gym
mast, secured for the purpose. the agents
and supervisors Of the Justice Depart