Imperial Valley press., 1938-06-16
THERE ARE NO
MORE NON-COMBATANTS

NI1dAefnlII MISS OdZSlle)
The bombing Of civilian populations in
the Chinese and Spanish wars naturally
Is inspiring protest from non-combatant
nations. 1t is ruthless and barbarous and,
therefore, spectacle that arouseS indig-
nation. It is something that can happen
10 any people that gets into a war and.
therefore. is something that a peaceful
people should try to prevent.
The probability is that the protestants
are thinking more Of the danger To them
in the future than they are of the misery
Of the bombed populations If their pro-
tests could bring about agreement on Il
rule of war against the loosing of bombs
on civilians. slight safeguard against
such tragedy happening To them in the
future would be set up.
But il would be mighty Slight Today's
bombers always insist that they are di-
reeting their missiles against military OBJ
iectives. It is not their fault. they point
out, that thousands of women and chill
dren happen to dwell in the vicinity: it
IS the misfortune of their victims
Such is likely to he the argument in
any war
The purpose of war is To defeat the
enemy and 10 effective tactic can be
scorned. That bombing civilian popula-
tions back of the lines Weakens the enc
my's morale seems obvious. Therefore,
bombings will be continued by desperate
combatants eager for 4 quick and de-
cisiVe victory.
They are more terrible now than in the
past and will be more terrible in the fll-
ture. The greater effectiveness Of the
airplane makes them so. Indeed the air.
plane is almost solely responsible for the
practices now inspiring protests, al
though these practises have a precedent
as old as the history of war, in the loot
ing and rafing and numbering Of popua-
tlons by conquering troops. The airplane
enables combatants to perform compar-
able horror in advance of conquest.
It is a horror that would have been
perpetrated before if combatants could
have got nearer the enemy's civilian pop
ulations; if great guns, for instance,
could send missiles far enough the
bloody consequences of airplane raids
would have been written lone ago.
"THEY WANT BOOKS
(WilloWs JOurnaD
William Allen White acquired a fame
that lasted for decades by famous edi-
torial entitled "Whats the Matter With
Kansas" ," He knew the answer and told
it in no uncertain terms. 1t is different
Kansas now.
In one of the most spirited Of local
publications, the Texas Weekly of which
Peter MolyneauX, gifted writer, is edi-
tor and publisher, there appeared last
week an indictment of the relative book
lessness of the Lone Star State 1t tells
one of the things that is the matter with
Texas. Small towns need public libraries,
and need them badly. Says the writer:
Most of them have no access to free
libraries. In fact nearly 100000 Texans
lack any public library service whatever
That fact is u challenge to every public
spirited citizen of Texas who understands
that the public library is an integral part
of any education system, that the public
library is an education institution for all
the people, children and adults alike
And that includes residents of big and
little cities, Of small towns and of rural
areas.
Texas by the 1890 census could boast
five cities of more than 100000 popula-
tion, but only Al per cent Of its almost
6 100000 population is urban. Texas is
SO large that by terms Of its admission to
the Union it may split up into four states.
Doubtless this accounts for failure TO
provide Libraries