davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27

It is reported that contributing fac tor to the success of the mechanized drive by the Nazis through Holland, Bel gium, and northern France has been due to the ability with which they can rush up replacements and supplies in an un- broken line This is truly remarkable. They say now that the Germans have a temporarily-laid pipe line to bring motor fuels up to the advance lines. As fast as the tanks and other armored cars move along this line follows them. And many such lifelines are being strung up all along the German advance by engineers and field workers who have been specially trained just for such work It would seem as if such operations are vulnerable to attacks from the air, but whether or not Allied air forces have been able to penetrate through opposing planes or don't know where the pipe lines are no one seems to know. However, a pipe line isn't such good target as fuel truck or supply train and can, of course, be camouflaged.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27

Today, however, a lot of people in the Army, Navy and on Capitol Hill are wishing that the Edge proposal had been acted upon. For they know, though most peo- pie do not know, that a secret test raid on the Panama Canal was made during the last naval man. euvers, And 1t was most disastrous.
 Air experts long nave asserted that the canal is easily vulner- able from the Pacific side, for there are no protecting islands in the Pacific from which radio sta- tions can warn of an approaching enemy. (On the Atlantic side are Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Vir- gin Islands, and others).
 So during the last naval man. euvers, waves of enemy planes were sent from carriers several hundred miles off the Pacific Coast. They were instructed to get through the barrage of mock anti aircraft fire protecting the canal and blow up the locks. The result almost caused the military chiefs to jump out of their boots.
 An average of three out of five planes making the attack got through unscathed and dropped their bombs.
 NEW LOCKS OR BASES?
 On Capitol Hill there has been a hot inner row regarding new locks for the Panama Canal. The War Department requested $15,- 000,000 for immediate work on new set of locks which, in the end would cost $277 7,000, 900, and earlier in the session, the House of Representatives baked at this. But the Senate OK'd the expcn- allure, and they are now thresh- ing out the matter in committee.
 However, the new locks would not be completed for six years, and
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
. HlGHlIGHTS FROM
 LATEST BOOKS
Soul of Small Town
 Barred in Kings Row"

If a town can have 8 soul, Henry Bellamann has stripped 1t bare, re- vealed its secret sins, praised its few virtues in his excellent story of a midwestern city, "Kings Row. (Simon and Schuster: $275).
 Kings Row of the horse and buggy era was probably no better and no worse than hundreds of actual midwestern towns. It came into existence at 8 crossroads of the frontier, struggled to keep alive .un- til the present, lacking opportunity, beset with jealousies, scandals, gos- sip, divided by rigid social distinc- tions. Towns like Kings Row test the metal Of men and women.
 While Bellaman's story is essen- tially that of the town at the turn of the century, it is also the story of Paris Mitchell, whose foreign anvestry set him outside the circle Kings Row. Paris is a sensitive observer as a boy, and fighting enemy of the meanness of Kings Row as a man.
 Adolescence brings Paris an awakening of love for his playmate Renee, delicate and lovely daughter of his grandmother's overseer. He glimpsed insanity in the lives of dull-witted Benny Singer, persecut- ed by the town bullies, and in the tragedy of Lucy Carr; he determin- ed to be a doctor, to work in the state insane aslyum that edged the city.
 In those days 1t was the custom for c prospective n1edico to Tread" with an elder physician. Paris study brought him into contact with Dr. Gordon, the towns leading sur- geon, and with Dr. Tower. whom the town could never understand. Cassie Tower, the preceptor's daugh- ter, becomes the central figure of a strange and tragic episode in Paris life.
 Brightest portions of the book are devoted to Paris friendship with Drake McHugh, the towns playboy, maimed by a sadistic surgeon, re- stored by the love of Randy Mons- ghan, the Irish girl from the wrong side of the tracks.
 The story is swiftly paced. It encompasses a large number of central characters. yet carries the individual story of each to defi- mite conclusion. For all the shame and evil in the beauty of music, the loyalty of friends. the keen analysis of the older generation. But htere is no future for Kings Row,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
The Good in a Bad Business

The Mexican oil appropriation affair, areturning to deadlock after two years of swrangling, may seem discouraging. But sthere are encouraging aspects in it. This sthing is going to be settled, and settled ..sin way that will give substantial justice ito both parties. It has taken time. It will take more time. But when enough time is taken, that in itself augurs event. .ful justice.
 = Let us note two things: First, the Limited States has resolutely refused to slisten to hotheads who have maintained that the way to settle controversy be- tween couple of American oil companies and the Mexican people is to march in with the Marines. Germany seized Aus stria, CzechoSlovakia, Poland, Denmark, Norway, on far less provocation. But the United States is grimly determined to : find better way.
 Second, Mexico has at all times shown willingness to negotiate, and to pay proper indemnification, as she can, and when it has been properly determined. True, sshe refuses arbitration, but that is tech snique. The responsibility she accepts Rus ssia did not even do this, as we recall it, when the Czarist government was over .thrown, and many other revolutions have : completely repudiated without any re- course the obligations of former govern sments.
 Z % here we have controversy between
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
NATIONAL DEFENSE IS OUR MAIN PROBLEM IN PREs-
 ENT CONFLICT
Editor The Democrat:

Editor The Democrat:
 The adoption of the so-called
 Fifth Column" by any responsible authority in any country is a con- fession of weakness and timidity, in- duced by war hysteria. and not worthy of great nation. Admitting that as in the present instance in the United States we are facing up to possible war, due not to any dan- ger of attack by any other power. but due to the fact that the United States is the greatest creditor in the world, and must protect its in- terests abroad. Adoption of Fifth Column legislation is a threat to free press, free speech and discus sion, not to say criticism of meas- ures that affect the pubic welfare.
 In the words of a noted author on war, ITO turn a highly organ- ized people towards war, it is 8 trick as old as the hills to inculcate in them war psychology. The most patent means to this end is to in. spire in them fear of aggression and espionage by some foreign power or enemy As soon as this has been accomplished, the natural reaction of the people is to unite against the common enemy, and the entire nation falls into step, and gives its mutual consent to the subordinating of individual opin- ions and criticisms to the will of the ruling power, in order to unite against the alleged threatened at- ack. When 1t is necessary to adopt such 6 step the country is already at war. This is one way that wars are made that the people are not allowed to know unless they have access to the Lack door of the de- Alterations of the war makers.
 To quote the author of (Mein Kamf)-'My Struggle" The Ger man has not the slightest notion how a people must be inisled if the adherence of the masses is sought" Millions of men and women are be- ing driven to attempt to find out for themselves the truth about the situation in the world today, be- cause they realize that until they are equipped with knowledge, can they choose how to strive effectively for security, peace and civilization
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
LaFOLLETTEs IN MEXICO
In Today's Mail

Says war authority. Tt is not necessary to try to instill terror in the people by picturing the air nayies of Europe snuffing out the lives of New York's millions with poison gas. Such things are scienti- fically possible, but they are not po- litically probable. A leading states man of some fifty years back once said: Tt will be many long moons before the combined hosts of Eu- rope will send an armada by sea or air to conquer the United States" And another, "The United States has little cause to fear attack by other nations. Such an attack is not conceivable, but 1t would involve something like political and eco nomical suicide for the nation that undertook 1t.
 As to preparedness there Is no question but that the United States should have two great fleets of mod- ern warships. one on the Atlantic coast and one in the Pacific. There are untold numbers of Americans today who have long believed that we had two such fleets, and there should be no delay in increasing the naval arm at this late day. As one enthusiastic war veteran said not long ago, By all means let us have billions for defense, but for defense first and last and all the time for defense. In the war to end wars, we gave European nations, 41O,000 900, : 900, and 100000 men. All gone with the wind. Why do 1t again un- less we are attacked?
 Tn 1895 John Sczachy, author of The Nature of the Capitalist Cris- is," predicted with certainty that another imperialistic war was coming, and that once again 1t would be interrupted, and this time in almost any one of the great cit. les of the world, by workers rev- oiution. That day may not be far away.
 Let us remember President Cool idge's address in Arlington on Memorial Day 1927:
 Unless we maintain suficient forces to be placed at points of peril when they arise, thereby avoiding for the most part serious attack, there will be grave danger that ve should suffer from violent outbreaks, so destroying OUT rights and compromising otir honor that war should become inevitable" DEFENsK.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
Selected Poem
sIMsBURY

Lois P. Macintosh in the Poets Corner
 Hartford Times) Here in this quiet countryside By the rivers flow, Steeped in its beauty I must stay, Loving 1t so! 1 see beauty all around Though I'm alone; The city has no joy like this That have knownl I hear the church-bells ring in town, The call to prayer, But turn my feet towards the woods, And find God therel know a glen where violets grow Beside the brook, Where only the birds and now go; They sing-I look! I catch my breath in wonder how Such things can be! More beauty than my heart can hold My eyes can seei
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27

stomach disorders, and she takes care that only the best food is served at her table.
 But when the first cOurse--a .delcctable fruit cup--was set be- fore the guests, Mrs. LaF0llette, seated at the right of the Ann bassador, called down the table to Governor LaFollette, seated at the right of Mrs. Daniels, "Phil! Don't you touch this fruit cup. Remember, we're not to eat fruit In MexicO!"
 Throughout the meal, after in- specting this dish and that, she called down the table to her hus- band, adInonishing him to abstain from the Embassy food. Mrs. Dan- iels tried to pass 1t of with po- lite assurancese, but Mrs. LaFol- lette remained hygienic to the end.
 FRENCH PEACE??
 It is difficult to know how much credence to put in 1t, but there is a report in French circles that Hitler already has indicated to Paris what his peace terms are.
 He would require the surrender of Tunis and French Somaliland to Italy, and the completet sever ance of the alliance with Great Britain. But he would not require France to give up Alsace-Lorraine.
 According to this report, Hit Ter will require that Franco be- come a monarchy under the Count of Paris, and presumably . Fascist monarchy cooperating closely with Germany.
 NOTE = In contrast note the reference to France in Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, in which he said there was no excuse for the existence of France and tilat 1t should be destroyed.
 WAR NOTES
 To understand the crucial poe sition of the French today 1t is necessary to remember that since 1870 they have constantly man. euyered to avoid facing Germany alone. Only 100000 people against SO,00o,o0O people Is not the most welcome match; 50 France has negotiated alliances with Rus- sia. Poland, Czechoslovakia, Ru- mania, Jugoslavia and England. But now, unfortunately, she finds herself absolutely alone. All the allies have deserted. except for England. And not one British soi- dier except a few aviators are fighting in France. The bulk of the British Army is in Belgium. France as well as Hitler had a timetable. It specified that Liege, the strongest fortress in Belgium, would hold out for six to eight weeks it fell fin 4S hours.) It also provided that Sedan would hold out for four weeks (it also fell in As hours.) Also that the Mouse Valley would hold out for two months (it fell in AS lioursJ .. Greatest surprise of the war is how the Mouse Valley was tak- en so soon. It was not actually in- cluded in the Maginot Line be- cause it was considered naturally impregnable. Dense forests, deep valley and few roads made it difii- cult for travel. Yet German tanks succeeded in cutting through in less than two days. The French as yet have no explanation.
 Copyright, 1940, by United
 Feature Syndicate, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27

The WPA down in Washington is adopting a system that good many newspapers in this country are now employing. It has file after file of im- portant documents and records which it wants to preserve, but space has been a great deterrent to the same. Now the WPA is having all these records photo graphed on film. Newspapers maintain files of past years in just the same way today. They have pictures taken of the papers and are able to reproduce them at will. The saving in space is immense as can easily be imagined.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
Press Comment
WE'LL EARNED

(Boston Post)
 The award of the Laetare Medal to Lieutenant- General Hugh A. Drum marked the first time the award has gone to a soldier in A years. and undoubtedly expresses the importance at the present time of the soldier and sailor in America to- day. The citation stated clearly that the award was recognition Of . mans calling" and after pointing out the necessity of an army to pre-. serve the Christian concept of human rights, the citation eloquently pro- claims Ian army that has never marched against liberty nor ever re- treated before tyranny" General Drumm, a native of Boston, well merits the honor for a career of 42 years in the service of his country.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27

With so much money available for parks and athletic fields throughout the city in the $4O0,0OO WPA grant for Wa terbury, some one might well consider the advisability of seeing if series of softball diamonds couldn't be laid out along the old Golf Lots for public use. One of the oldest baseball playing fields in the city now, the lots still attract men and boys for recreation. Arrangements might be made for development and maintenance with the property owner.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27

fense before Con- gress adJourns.
 Nothing, as a matter of fact, would be very surprising these days. The gov- ern m c mt is in something of e dither, a nd al- most any rumor can get believed. But the story of a possible reor- ganization seems to have some thing hack Of If
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
Questions andAnswers
eY rREDERIO Al. KERBY

Enclose . three-ceBe etamp eoe reply when addressing any ques- ton of fact 0F Information Co Che Waterbury Democrats Service llu. reau at Washington. Legal and medieal advice cannot be given. nor can extended research be m. taken. Be sure ail mall is an- dressed to The WATERBURY DEMOCRATS SERVICE BU. REAU. 1013 Thirteenth Street, Washington. Q. c.
 THE EDITOR.
 Q. How many boys and girls were enrolled in the 4-H Clubs last year in the United States and Territoriesf
 A. A new enrolment peak if All Club work was reached in lo3E with more than 1881 800 boy and girl members of some 7o,SO0 All Clubs in the United States, Alaska Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
 e. When did the presidency of the New York Stock Exchange be- come a Salar1ed office?
 A. May i6, 1888.
 Q. How long does 1t take to build a battleship in the United States7
 A. From four to four and one half years.
 Q. How may a broken band saw blade be repaired?
 A. It is easily mended by using hard or silver solder with a hot gas or blow torch flame. Slightly beyel the ends at the break, clean them carefully and clamp them close together in accurate alignment. The clamp will prevent the heat from annealing the saw beyond a short distance from the break. Use Q borax Aux and heat the break just enough to cause the hard sol- der to flow. Afterwards, clean off the flux and file the solder flush with saw.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27

AVk VhsO 9asoWSA1
 1. Did snakes ever live in 1re- land?
 ?. What university is located in Charlottesville Virginia2
 3. The lightning rod was iil- vented by Michael Farday, James Watt. or Benjamin Franklin?
 4. Is the famous city prison, called the "Tombs," located iii Bos- ton, Philadelphia or New York?
 s. Was the Battle of Gettysburg early or late in the Civil War?
 6. What relation was Menelaus to Helen of Troy7
 2. What book of the bible con- taiils Paul's famous account of charity or love?
 8. Who said of Germany's in. vasion of Norway; Hitler missed the bus?"
 6. Lapin is another name for the fun of rabbits, foxes or rnuskrats?
 10. Which of the terms. centro. sphere, Atmosphere. or fydrosphere, denotes the solid crust of the earth?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
Daily Almanac

Sun rises 5:2e a. m.; sets s:1s p. m. (day- fight time).
 All vehicles must be lighted thirty min- utes after sunset.
 Holidays which occur on Thursdays such as Memorial Day this week, never have the significance in the lives of working people as do they at the end or beginning of the week. It's good argument for those who want to change the calendar around ts make holidays stationary.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27

even when completed could be just as easily wrecked.
 So with the debate made largely theoretical by the latest naval mancuvers, Representa- tives Francis Case of South Da- kota and Ed Izac of California, Annapolis trained Navy veteran. advocates a more immediate and practical s0lution--the acquisi- ton of the Galapagos and Cocos Islands as air bases, similar to Puerto Rico and Guantanamo. These lie 1000 and 300 miles, respectively, away on the Pacific side of the canal.
 Both Ecuador, which owns the Galapagos group, and Costa Rica, which owns Cocos Islands, have indicated their willingness to ne- gotiate a sale or lease of the is- lands. But so far, despite the ur- gent appeals of the War Depart ment, Secretary of State Hull has made no move in this direction. He takes the position that over- lures might arouse Latin Ameri- can fears of U. s. intentions.
 Meanwhile the nations "life- line" between the Atlantic and Pa cific continues to be one of the weakest links in our national de- fense.
 LaFoLLETTEs IN MEXICO
 Mrs. Josephus Daniels will not soon forget the visit she had in Mexico City from MT. and Mrs. Philip LaFollette of Wisconsin. The Ambassador to Mexico in- vited the former Governor and his wife to dinner when they arrived on tour. When the LaFollettes &C., cepted, other guests were invited for the occasion.
 Mrs. Daniels Is we'll aware that visitors to Mexico often suffer
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
Current Comment

There is no safety under the sun for civilized man except under cdfs- ditions of genuine toleration and inalienable legal equality.
 -secretary Ickes.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
Washington Merry -Go-Round !
DREW PIE R s o N ROBERT S. ALLEN


   and ever o
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
A Thought for Today

And if he smite him with an instrument Of iron, 50 that he de, he Is a murderer: She mur- derer shall surely be put to death.-Numbers 35:i6.
 One murder makes william millions, hero; numbers sanctify the crime.-Porteus.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27

TODAY's COMMON ERROR It is incorrect to speak of mu-
 tual friends, as We found that we had several mutual
 friends"; say common friends
 or friends in common.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27

One possibility, according to in- side gossip, is proposal for a new department of national defense to replace both the war and navy de- partments. It would have three sub- divisions, or bureaus, covering army, navy and air force.
 Another possibility is a separate air force, to be placed in its own department with a head of cabinet rank.
 If either of these plans should ke presented to Congress, specific legis- lation would have to be sought. The changes could not be made un- der the reorganization authority delegated to the president year ago.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27

c. Has anyone who was Presi. dent of the United States been a member of the U. s. Supreme Court except William H. Taft?
 A. No.
 e. How did the number of re- cipients of public aid in the first two months of 1940 compare with December, 19392
 A. The estimated unduplicated total of recipients of public assist- ance and persons employed under Federal work programs in corti- mental United States in December, 1889, was 17,66i 900 in 0,189,O00 households; in January, 194O, it was 18,390, ,000 in 6,368,000 house. holds; in February, 1940, 1t was 1875, ,000 in 6,472, 900 households.
 c. In a recent news story 1t was stated that 8 baby was born in Los Angeles to the wife of an English actor, and could not become a citi- zen of the United States until she was twenty cone, because her father did not became a ilaturalized citizen until after her birth. Is this true?
 A. The baby is a citizen of the United States by birth and the na- tionality of her father and mother does not affect her citizenship of this country.
 If you want . copy of the book let, "The Book of Games, send to The Waterbury Democrats Wash ington Bureau, 1913 Thirteenth Street. Washington, D. c. Enclose ten cents in hostage.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
THOUSANDS TO GO ON
 ARMY, NAVY PAYROLLS

Vast expansion of army and navy civilian payrolls is just ahead.
 The navy figures 1t will add l5,000 workers almost immediately, and upward of 50,000 eventually, mostly in the navy yards and at various shore stations. The army says it will hire thousands" but doesn't know just how many.
 In connection with the army pro- gram, a joker that would open fat lot of new patronage to deserv- ing politicians was slipped into the military appropriation bill by Chair. man May, of the House military af- fairs committee. Joker is . clause saying that additional personnel may be hired without regard to civil service requirements" at the discretion of the secretary of war.
 National Civil Service Reform league has protested sharply, point ing out that existing law already permits the president to exempt personnel from the requirements in time of emergency.
 NO PROFITEERING
 ON DEFENSE DRIVE
 The president has promised that there'll be no war baby million aires created by the rearmamert drive. Senator Nye points out, how ever, that the protective legisla- tion recommended by his famous munitions Investigating committee has never been passed.
 "Still pending before the naval affairs committee is . munitions standardization bill," says Senator Nye. Tt provides for government capacity to produce all our peace- time requirements in ships, guns, armor plate, powder and gas. Since that is figured on an eight-hour day, 1t could clearly be lifted to meet war production by working three shifts.
 Studies made by the committee showed that the government could equip itself to do all of this by spend- ing not more than $40,000, 900. We also brought in a war time taxation bill to take the profits out of war. That bill ooesn't get out of committee"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-27
What's Your l. O.?

Can you answer seven of these test questions? Turn te back page for the answers.