davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-02-18

number Of ships form long battle line.
only part Of which can be within range
OF given target at the same time. A
few super-battleships would form much
smaller battle line, in which practically
all could be within range simultaneously.
In battle. radio communication is most
unreliable; at Jutland 1t failed altogether
and main reliance was on flag or blinker
signals. A compact force of super-bat-
tleships, therefore, could operate under
fire better than a more numerous fleet
OF smaller ships. There are other ad-
vantages to be claimed, but these are
the principal ones, assuming that such
vital factors as Workmanship and
seamanship are equal.
To oppose these arguments, the Navy's
position briefly is as follows: The princi-
pal reason for going in for 10000 to 80,-
600 ton ships would be to mount 18-inch
guns. We do not have any. One was
ordered during the World War, but never
finished or tested. However, the reason
SUFFICIENT margin Of superiority over the
16-inch weapon to make it worth while.
Under certain circumstances, 1t might,
But If mere range were the deciding
factor, the British would have blown
the German high seas fleet out of the
water at Jutland and the Graf Spec
would have done the same to the Brit
ish cruisers at Montevideo In both
cases, weather conditions, time of day
and battle tactics had more effect on
the final outcome than mere range. Then,
too, the loss of one 70,000-ton ship from
the fleet for repairs or some other cause
would reduce its fighting strength twice
as much as the loss Of one ship half
: that size. There Is such thing as put
ting too many defensive eggs in one bas-
ket.
The expense of building super-battle-
ships, naval authorities point out, would
be only beginning. Their construction
would necessitate larger ships. Repair
facilities now barely able to cover present
needs, would have to be geratly increased.
Even the new locks at Panama, reported
to be 135 feet wide in present plans,
might have to be enlarged.
The two latest German 81, 900 ton bat
tleships now under construction are re-
ported to be not only 40 feet longer than
the 750-foot American and British de-
signs, but to have q beam Of 11s feet, 8
feet wider than the Panama locks, in
order to provide extra compartmentation
below the waterline. There is much to be
said, also, for stepping up size gradually,
naval officers believe. An increase from
5000 to 5000 tons would be sufficient to
increase the number Of 16-inch guns, and
speed and armor protection, without go
ing into an entirely new class OF vessels,
they point out.
Between these two opposing views. the
matter viii probably rest until the next
session Of Congress. Meanwhile, both
sides viii be eagerly watching the situa-
ton in Europe, which may decide the
question one way or the other. A spring
offensive by Germany may settle the old
battleship-airplane controversy. An allied
victory would relieve us Of the necessity.
remote as Il may appear. q guarding
against . European naval coalition. But
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Nozi-Russ
Trode Pact
Domestic Front

On Capitol Hill, House passed $685.
772,000 naval appropriation bill-cut by
$4,000, 900 from figure asked by Presi-
dent and trimmed at
NovoI Funds last minute by $1,000
Sharply Cut 600 item for beginning
of harbor improve
ments at Guam. Included were funds
to increase Navy personnel to 100000
And on Senate side was passed bill
increasing Export Import Bank capital
by 100000 embracing permissive
conditions by which Finland and China
each may borrow additional $4,000 900
for non-military purposes.
Leaving Washington on Friday, au-
stere Sumner Welles, Undersecretary of
State, sailed yesterday from New York
en- route to Europe's capitals of war and
intrigue on reportorial mission. On same
ship was Myron G. Taylor, retired steel
tycoon, to be special envoy to Vatican
Evening star., 1940-02-18
By Ben II. Pearse.

OF ships and does not want to build
them any bigger than she has to, nat
urally, because of the cost, and because
her worldwide network of fuel and re-
pair bases enables her to cut down the
fuel capacity and personnel of individual
ships. Even the draft of the British ships
is limited by the shallow North Sea
waters. Yet for years we have followed
a policy of keeping down to the British
limit.
Nov that Japan has started a new
naval building race, we ought not merely
TO keep up with or even one jump ahead
of her. Let's build the biggest and best
ships possible. In the long run, it should
do more toward discouraging an arma-
ment race than any conference, because
both England and Japan know we have
the resources to outbuild them, if neces-
sary. In preparation against war, re-
sources are weapons, just as much as
16-inch guns"
Mr.. Scrugham also is known to favor
strongly the larger battleship policy. AS
a member of the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Naval Affairs, he has
stressed that battleships cost more to
build than small craft, but less propor-
tionately to maintain. Three 10000 ton
cruisers Of the Chester class for example,
cost nearly 81 100000 each to operate for
year, a total Of nearly $4,000, 900. But
one 10000, Cotton battleship such as the
Colorado costs only about $1,5O0,000 q
fn A
larger ships, he believes, would save q
considerable proportion of increased ini-
tial cost in maintenance over their max
imum life, based upon the naval treaty
limit of 26 years.
The first limitations on the size of
battleships are the depth of the waters
they are expected to navigate and the
width of canals through which they must
pass. When Great Britain launched the
first ships Of the dreadnought class IS
years ago, Germany was forced to widen
the Kiel Canal before she could follow
suit. The 110-foot width of the Panama
Canal locks is sufficient for the $4,000
ton battleships, but the new locks soon to
be constructed are planned to accommo-
date ships Of much broader beam. Draft
is not so important factor to our Navy,
which operates principally In the wide
expanses Of the Atlantic and Pacific.
Leaving cost aside for the moment, the
size of a super -battleship should be gov
erned only by whatever speed. armament
and guns the designers wish to provide.
So far as is known, no actual plans for
ships much larger than $4,000 tons have
been drawn, but a ship with margin In
armor, speed and guns over the best
ships now completed or building, would
be one with from IL to 16 18-inch guns,
armor plate to correspond, and a speed
of better than 80 knots. All this could
not be included in vessel Of less than
10000 to $4,000 tons displacement, accord
ing to rough estimates.
Such ship under ideal conditions
could choose its own battle conditions
because Of its greater speed. could theo-
retically stay out Of range while de-
stroying an enemy ship equipped with
only 16-inch guns, and still be - nearly
uustnkable - It could b made. A,Args
Evening star., 1940-02-18
7O,OOO-TON WARSHIPS STUDIED IN CONGRESS
Mas and sueom Lead Move With Economy oee Proposal
sheved for This Years Program

The question of building what might
for convenience be called superbattle-
ships Of 10000 tons or more displace-
ment, twice the size of any the United
States now has in service, apparently
has been settled for the present session
OF Congress There is proposal now
before the House to build ships superior
to any similar pending foreign con-
struction," but even If this is accepted,
the two ships scheduled to be laid down
this year in accordance with the Navy
program will not 60 over about $4,000
TONS The matter of policy, however, is
not settled for long. Rather truce has
been called while both sides assemble
data to renew the argument later.
BY some paradox, the agitation for
superbattleships, double the size of the
present 35,000-ton or proposed 45,OOO-
ton vessels, comes primarily from Con-
gress-Representative Mas, Republican,
of Minnesota and Representative Scrug-
ham, Democrat of Nevada in particular
and the purpose is urged largely as an
economy measure. The Navy's position,
outlined in recent hearings by Admiral
Harold r. Stark, chief of naval opera
tions, is against any radical change in
present policy, although not opposed to
an increase of 10 to Is per cent in the
near future, to a maximum of about
$4,000 tons.
Both Mr.. Mas and Mr.. Scrugham
saw service during the World War, the
former as an aviator and the latter in
the artillery, but their approach is
strictly that of laymen. Their attitude
has been Influenced by recent statements
by DR.. Oscar Parkes, associate of the
Institute of Naval Architects and for
many years editor of James Fighting
Ships" annual.
To-day, the measure of a battleships
powers of defense against air and un-
derseas attack" DR.. Parkes has declared.
depends largely upon her displacement.
Given sufficient beam, a ship can have
enough bulges and internal longitudinal
bulkheads to Withstand several torpedo
hits; given the weight Of deck armor,
she can be made to Withstand heavy
bomb attacks. No ship can be made i'm
pregnable, but the bigger the safer is
q sound axiom, and II very big guns are
to be carried as well as an adequate Sec
ondary armament, certainly more than
$4,000 or 10000 tons will be necessary
ut least $4,000 tons is regarded as the
constructors datum line"
With this premise supported by reports
that Japan already has under construc-
ton battleships of more than $4,000 tons,
Mr.. Mas and Mr.. Scrugham have op-
posed the present policy of what they
describe as following trend instead
of leading it." To Mr. Mas, a member
Of the House Naval Affairs COMMITTEES,
the naval building race, launched when
Japan Withdrew from the naval confer
ence three years ago, has many of the
earmarks of an international poker
game.
1.-THE man with big stack of chips
y playing the little fellows game If he
merely calls every time the ante is
raised, instead Of boosting 1t and squeez-
ing out the pikers," he explained.
Great Britain needs large number
Evening star., 1940-02-18

But today the handwriting which mill
tary experts thought they saw last No
vember 80 on the
Lock OF Men wall at Finland,s
In FinIond back is becoming
more legible - not
only to military men but to all capable
of simplest analytical reading. No nation
of 100000 persons (not even Finland
far from self sufficient in essential mill.
tary materials, can fight indefinitely
against another nation of 1855 900 900
(even though 1t be Red RUSSIA. For
weeks. perhaps months, first-line Finn
soldiers have been in continuing action
no relief, no rest.
Lack of adequate reserve manpower
Is demonstrated best perhaps by gov
ernment's call on Thursday for mobili-
zation of 43-44-year-o men. In Amer
lea, life begins at 40, but not fighting
condition.
And in tone of respondent courage,
Finland's bearded first peasant" Kyosti
Kallio, appealed to world on Thursday:
I'VE are -outnumbered so to /, but the
issues at stake are clear. We appreciate
the sympathy shown us by Americans
(non-military loans and contributions :,
but we really hope our cause might stir
onlookers abroad to offer us material
help.
We are defending interests COM
mon to all civilized peoples If help does
not arrive We cannot change our course.
"The alternative is extinction for our
nation. If the world ignores us in our
need, we have no choice but to fight to
the last man."
Discouragingly futile in tone were
usual reports that British and French
were conferring on
Beioted Aid Finnish aid, that Brit
Is Rushed ain had given formal
assent to recruiting of
volunteers for duty in Baltic war, that
Polish, French and Canadian divisions
were being held in readiness for trans
port to Finnish front, that Norwegian
Swedish governments are receptive to
idea of giving allied troops right of way
across their territories, that Scandi-
navian nations might even take official
military action, etc.
But on Friday Swedens Premier
Hanson announced that Finn request
for transport of Swedish military
groups to Finland" had been declined:
that Swede position of non-military aid
only had been unchanged. Next week
end three Scandinavian states plan to
confer" And authoritative British
sources declared British troops united
for service in Baltic area.
Meanwhile, . nations life runs short.
But even though France and Britain
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Review of 24th Week Of War
By John C.. Henry.

Finland fighting with her back the
her. seemingly mmovab
Britain
And poised likewise continued mmovabty
concentrations natonsheir
Evening star., 1940-02-18
Behind the Lines


warfare at sea and ominous shufding Of
restless armies in southeast were diplo-
matte maneuverings and conservation
devices going on within belligerent ma
tions.
Hermann Wilhelm Goering, No. 2 man,
but yielding palm to no one for versatil-
ity, called on Germany's farmers in
Thursday broadcast to prepare for bat
tie of production in 194o."
Germany has reserves which cannot
be destroyed" Hermann shouted, but it
would be q mistake to depend entirely
on them. We must draw riches from the
soil"
More precisely, tiger-tamer said, there
must be 10 to Is per cent in root crops
and fats. On such basis, he discovered,
I'VE cannot be defeated-certainly not In
battle and also not on the economic
field"
While its translation in actuality may
not be as glittering as its verbiage, new
German-R Russian trade pact was signed
on Tuesday; its object
Nozi- tive in substance be-
Trade Pact ing to speed flow of
Russ foods, ores and
oil into Reich in exchange for Industrial
production Of Nazi factories.
But sharp-trading Britishers were
signing pacts, too, latest being new COM
mercial agreement with Turkish allies
one provision being bargain for great
quantities of Turk tobacco and dried
fruits in exchange for machinery, air
planes, etc. And in London new export
council Of economic exports roughed in
outlines for great super-selling drive de-
signed to develop new markets for Brit
ish goods and strangle flow of German.
Evening star., 1940-02-18

"of achieving the impossible in moments
of crisis"
Meanwhile. in jockeying which other
Balkans are forced to do during present
tension. Bulgaria's government fell on
Thursday. collapsing over delicate ques-
ton Of Bulgar-R Russian relations.
And Italy, riding precariously on
profitable fulcrum Of all Europe's wars
admitted concern at growing allied
strength in Mediterranean sphere, talked
of disturbed equilibrium" discontinued
trade negotiations with London mission.
Snowstorms swept Maginot- -Siegfried
Lines last week, with military activity
confined to patrol skirmishes, occasional
outbursts Of machine gun fire, scattered
hand-grenading.
On Sea
Destruction at sea continued unabated
last week, but perhaps Of more impor-
tance than what happened was threat
Of what might happen. -
Nosing into British contraband con-
Evening star., 1940-02-18

barring such solution, the super-bat-
tleship question is one slated for increas-
ing attention until the great powers get
into mood seriously to discuss disarm-
ament.
Evening star., 1940-02-18

1aaegand OF the
hg
Evening star., 1940-02-18

Sultan STAR" admiralty announced grim.
H. the U-boat only survived his victim
by half an hour"
Neutrals- Swedish, Norwegian, DAM
tsh. Greek ships also were counted
among weeks victims. And neutral wa
tiers also were invaded as British de-
stroyers closed IN an Norwegian coast on
Friday to rescue Britishers on German
Altmark ~ +%x
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-10-03
GENERAL REPEALS
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW
Park Region Echo)

Attorney General Burnquist made
ruling last week that state en-
ployes can buy political advertising
in behalf of candidates without vio-
lating the civil service regulations,
if the candidate is personal friend.
AS every candidate processes to be a
personal friend of every man or wom-
an he has ever shaken hands with, the
Burnquist ruling means that the civil
service law about which Governor
Stassen brags so much over the radio
is just joke.
If one employee can buy advertising
for candidate, then group of en-
ployes can join in buying advertising
for their personal friend" the gov
ernor, or any other candidate. The
biggest item of campaign expense is
radio time, but if all the employees
in the state chip in for their per
sonal friends" there is nothing to
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-10-03
Uncertainties

It doesn't seem like the same old
World Series this year with the color
full New York Yankees out of the pic
ture. They had made valiant eff
fort during the pennant chase by
coming from far behind to finish
third, two games away from the flag.
However, their successors, the De-
troit Tigers, seem to be doing well
thus far in upholding the glory of
the American League, judging from
the way they landed on Derringer,
hard-luck Series pitcher, to take the
initial game yesterday.
Early in 1910 the Yanks were heavy
favorites to win the League flag
again. The Reds were doped to win
this World Series. The New York
team lost out and Cincinnati will
have to step lively from now on if
they are to take the worlds cham
pionship. The great American game
is full of uncertainties but that is
what makes baseball what it is.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-10-03
GOVERNOR VS.. POOR
Editor Askov American:

Editor ASkOV American.
The blood-lust of little boys de-
lightfully cutting the ears off the
housecat and torturing all insects and
animals that unfortunately fall prey
to their whims, skinning some of
them alive, is mindful of Governor
Stassen's attitude toward the aged
poor. He wants their homes in pawn,
for the purpose, he says, to compel
the children to support their aged
parents. Think of the helpless old
folks dumped into the clutch of forced
filial charity. If there can be any
thing more surreptitiously dreadful,
the boys of the blood-lust didn't
know it.
AS if it were not enough for the
heroic builders of an empire to be
Inundated into dependency in their
old age, because of economic con-
ditions over which they had no con-
troD the Governor of our great state
wants them degraded into a state of
depravity equal in stealth and in
trigue to those of modern concentra-
ton camp.-Bitter sweets! Begrudg-
ing morsels! Favored with the fur
Their insult of their being yoked up,
like oxen, to the capriceful whims of
an overload of their own homes.
The soundness of this un-Ameri-
can doctrine is being vouched for by
the Governor himself, with the dash
and vigor of public prosecutor Cor,
shall we say, 'persecutor?) in his
case against the poor, now pending
for decision at the next November
election. At least pray for legis-
lature he cannot overload
HENRY FUNKLEY.
Bemidji, MINI.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-10-03
EDITORS NOTE:

During the past few weeks we
have published number of dis
cussions in this column on the
Bible, Christianity, religion, etc.
Up to now we have printed all
that were sent in but this week
we received three more letters
on the subject and are leaving all
of them out.
Each person has his own belief
on religious matters and discus
sions on this subject through the
"Opinions of Others" column can
continue indefinitely and settle no.
thing. While we welcome con-
structive letters on nearly all
topics we believe it will be best
to leave out those on the above
matter, so henceforth they will
not be published.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-10-03

prevent state employees carrying prac-
tically the whole load of campaign
expenses.
That's what they did under Cover
nor Elmer Benson, and it was a chief
cause of his defeat. But the Stassen
administration has gone right back
to that sort of thing, which they so
bitterly criticised in the last cam
paign.
It's a fine thing to have an oblig-
ing attorney general.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-10-03
MUST CHANGE HUMAN NATURE

ASkOV american.
Now that a year has gone by since
the war broke out it may be well to
think back and see how the general
public opinion was then and is now
There has been great change and
1 believe there will be still greater
change. AS far as 1 am concerned
1 have not changed in the least and
my letters year ago or 10 years
ago sound about like the dope I am
now putting out.
I have never been one of those
who thinks that war can be elimi-
mated. Human nature would have
to be materially changed for that,
and it takes thousands and perhaps
millions of years to materially change
human nature, with all its greed, en-
wy, malice and bias. These bad fea-
lures of human nature are so pre-
dominant that the finer features will
always be submerged in times of war
provocation. What I did hope was
that we did not have to have a gen.
eral world war, every time couple
of nations have a little squabble. 1
was too idealistic.
When France and England were
robbing their weaker neighbors no
one wanted general war, but when
Germany does it a general war is
wanted by many. The reason for
this is that this country is predomi-
nantly pro-British and French, or
Anglo-Saxon. The French are of
course Latins but they have associ-
ated with the Anglo-Saxons since the
Napoleonic wars. Some change seems
to be under way.
So the thing boils down to where
most people can see the mistakes
of other people but not their own.
There is no real issue of right or
wrong involved. Undoubtedly, the
majority of the people in this coun-
try like to see Berlin bombed and
resent seeing London being bombed.
While France and England have part
ed for the time being the thing is
CLOSED over. Should England and
France declare war on each others,
the late friends of France would re-
joice should Paris be bombed, be-
cause this country is more British
than French. This whole letter could
be summed up in "It makes lot of
difference whose OK is gored".
S. j. SIMONSEN.
Pease, Mimi, Sept. q, 1910.