davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-07-31
Biockuding Europe

Great Britain, by imposing a Sys-
tenn Of rationing upon the few re-
naming European neutrals and re-
quiring navicerts to cover the entire
cargoes of ships bound for the con-
tinent, is carrying her blockade to
new peak of effectiveness, remi-
niscent Of, but far surprising in
scope, the orders-in-council with
which Britain fought Napoleon.
Perhaps the most critical point in
the new system will be Spain, whose
ports are still open under the Amer
ican Neutrality Act to American ves-
sells and whose growing importation
of oil indicates that Germany is
preaching the blockade through that
country. Although the amount of
oil reaching Germany by way of
Spain has been small, it's recent
growth in volume led to fears that
it might become a dangerous leak
in the blockade.
In conjunction with the new meas
ures, Britain evidently is endeavor-
ing to alleviate their disastrous ef-
fects upon the European neutrals by
determining their normal needs so
that navicerts for just that amount
may be issued. One group of block
ade experts is reported scheduled to
be sent to Spain to facilitate CO.
operation with the new blockade
measures, but there is no certainty
that Spain will be disposed to accept
the British rationing.
What the effect on Spain will be
is problematical. Spain, of course,
is in no condition to become a major,
active belligerent in any war, no
matter how much her formal bellig-
erency might bolster the axis pow
ers morally. Generalissimo Franco
has-and will have for years to
come-a task of reconstruction, both
economically and materially, which
prevents Spain from exerting any
substantial war effort.
There is a danger, however, in
Spain's becoming belligerent, even
If the military strength she could
apply in the struggle is slight. That
is the danger to Gibraltar, which
already has been savagely attacked
by Italian bombers.
The prospect of having to defend
Gibraltar against a possible Ger
manhattan attack from Spanish
soil is less serious to. London, how
ever, than the prospect OF Germany
gaining access to an effective oil
supply source. Hence the readiness
to expand the blockade into an
extensive system of control of all
imports by the continent Of Europe.
Evening star., 1940-07-31
Bad Traffic Situation
On Virginia Route.
Ysa kAa TdiAas At eYyln q az m.


The trafilc situation In nearby vir.
ginia on U. S. between Alexandria
and Constitution avenue in Washington
is appalling. Lines of vehicles mov-
ing in both directions are stalled every
morning and afternoon at the Columbia
pike intersection with U. s. and at the
narrow bridge by the Jefferson Memorial.
Accidents are frequent and in the past
six months the time of travel between
Alexandria and Washington during rush
hours has more than doubled.
There seem to be several reasons for
the congestion. First, the traffic on U.
s. Is too heavy for three-lane road.
U. S. between Alexandria and WASH
ington is said to be the heaviest Travelled
road in Virginia and all the traffic to-
ward Alexandria on U. s. is forced
through a single lane for about 500 feet
between the end of the District pave
ment and the Columbia pike intersec-
ton, making lines of vehicles frequently
half-mile long during rush hours. A
similar situation exists at the Maine
avenue intersection with Fourteenth
street in Washington. One blockade Is
about as bad as the other.
The Maine avenue situation could be
Evening star., 1940-07-31
An Extruneous Issue

It is distressing, to say the least,
to see senatorial discussion of the
Burke -Wadsworth compulsory selec-
tive service bill degenerating into a
row over the wholly extraneous issue
Of whether the President at this time
should specifically declare himself
for or against the measure.
Mr.. Roosevelt, for reasons which
are not readily apparent, has re-
Trained from any specific indorse-
ment of the Burke-Wadsworth bill,
although he has made it clear that
he strongly favors the substance of
that legislation. 1t may be that
political considerations underlie his
position, but even If that be the
case, and in spite Of the fact that
Mr.. Roosevelt has not hesitated in
the past to oppose or approve pend
ing legislation, Congress cannot es-
cape and should not seek to escape
It's primary responsibility of accept
ing or rejecting this proposed law,
regardless of what the Presidents
views may be.
The real issue before the Sen
ate Military Affairs Committee is
whether the Burke -Wadsworth bill
or some modified selective service
measure should be reported favor
ably to the Senate. There is no
justification whatsoever for the at
tempt by some Republican members
to force the President to declare him.
self in advance of committee action.
Under existing circumstances, it
might be well for the President to
state his views, but if he declines
to do so the Republicans will sue
ceed only in injuring their own po-
litical standing by taking a position
which suggests that they are unable
to pass on the merits of the bill with
out the aid of an expression from
the President.
This question of selective military
service is one which may be expected
to have a vital effect on the future
of the country. Under no circum-
stances should it become a partisan
matter The members of the Senate
committee and of the Congress as a
whole will be seriously remiss in their
duty if they do not act on the meas
ure promptly, giving consideration
only to the merits of the legislation.
II the bill is passed. Mr.. Roosevelt's
turn to declare himself will come
when he is obliged to sign or veto it..
Evening star., 1940-07-31
A New Racket

A new and vicious form of
racket has appeared in Washington.
Many residents of the Capital have
been solicited by telephone for con-
tributions to aid child refugees from
wartorn Europe, despite the fact
that no refugee children are in dis
tress in the United States.
Washington has become we'll
acquainted with agencies resort
ing to this type of solicitation.
This new form of solicitation is, of
course, natural outgrowth of re-
cent exposures of other charity
rackets. But it is a form which,
due to current world conditions,
has not only a special appeal,
but an air of plausibility. Means
exist for competent checking of such
appeals. The Washington branch Of
the United States Committee for the
Care of European Children is an
agency authorized by the State De-
partment to engage in this work,
but it is making no such appeal for
funds. The Better Business Bureau
is available at all times to supply
correct information on local agen-
cies. And the best means of pro-
tecting ones self from such rackets is
to demand that the solicitation be
sent through the mails m tho 1etter-
head of the organization, thereby
exposing solicitors operating unlaw-
fully to the risk of prosecution for
misusing the postal service.
This is at best an inadequate rem
edy, however, and occurrences of
these rackets may be expected until
an effective law against them is
adopted.
Evening star., 1940-07-31
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. TrdceUell.

Those Of us who are afraid Of thunder
storms and don't mind admitting it
might do well to consider the birds, as
the lightning flashes and the thunder
rolls.
This speculation will tend to take
ones mind off ones own fears. Think
ing about somebody else, of course, is q
standard prescription for those who
dwell too much upon the self. But
there is peculiar need for this at such
time by certain temperaments. Maybe
1t Is an excess o. imagination.
This is natures war Of nerves, known
Of old. From the beginning Of written
history until the days Of Lucretius, the
Roman poet, men thought that the
gods were hurting thunderbolts at
them.
Lucretius, in bold defiance for his age,
said that this old idea was just tommy
rot and he proceeded to explain thunder
and lightning from scientific stand
point.
The birds have been meeting storms
for 10, these countless centuries.
They are fragile, light creatures, easily
blown by the winds, and drowned by
the waters.
Their human friends, contemplating
the darkening skies, the winds and the
first large drops Of rain, might think
off-hand that they would be hard put
to it to weather the downpour.
What saves them is the comparative
darkness which comes with the storm.
1t is just dark enough to make the
birds think night is coming on. Few of
them wait until complete darkness to
go to roost.
The moment the light becomes less, at
just certain degree Of darkness, SO per
cent Of the birds seek shelter on bough
and limb, and put heads beneath wings.
This motion automatically causes the
muscles to tighten the claws around the
perch.
The bird is now literally stuck to the
bough or branch to which it clings.
Nothing except the breaking of the
limb can tear him loose. In such rude
| case, he would fly, OF course, instantly
and also automatically.
You will look in vain, however, for
flying birds during our afternoon thun-
derstornis. They are all roosting
The trees and shrubs are full of them.
The mother birds keep to the nests, pro.
| tecting the eggs or fledglings. The shape
| of the nest holds them in, and no doubt
their claws clutch over the eggs or backs
| of the youngsters.
The old saying, HE hasn't got enough
sense to come in out of the rain," harks
back to elemental wisdom
Even the dumbest of brutes manages
to seek shelter when the big storms ar
rive.
Young chickens drown very easily,
and must be taken in, but the older ones
60 to hide properly enough. Probably
the death of the chicks is due partly to
| chill
Dogs and cats run for shelter, but not
until the rain comes down. Even then
some dogs do not seem to mind, but
Evening star., 1940-07-31
S. S. America

Acclaimed the Nations newest,
largest and finest ocean liner, the
S. S. America arrived in New York
Harbor Monday to begin her career
in the merchant marine of the
United States. She was built at
Newport News, Virginia, and repre-
sents three years of labor. Her
architects intended her to meet on
equal terms the luxury craft of other
flags. She is a naval auxiliary, but
she is expected to justify her ex-
lstence as a commercial carrier in
time of peace.
The America, however, appears
upon the highways of the sea at a
moment when they are restricted by
war. Great Britain has declared the
whole of Europe to be blockaded. The
neutrality law of our own country
prohibits vessels flying the Stars and
Stripes from entering the zones of
conflict. Under these conditions
little remains for the new ship save
the relatively unimportant traffic
between New York and the islands
of the Caribbean. So large and costly
a boat cannot be operated at profit
with such handicap.
But the true worth of the America
is not reflected in monetary profits
or losses. Nations decline when they
cease to build. Especially is this true
of organized societies which front
the ocean. George Washington and
Thomas Jefferson agreed in urging
that the first legislation passed by
Congress for the support of the Gov
ernment should include provision
for the stimulation of native mari
time enterprise. Similar concep-
tions have guided the Government
of the United States ever since 1889,
and millions have been spent for
Evening star., 1940-07-31
Reuters Correspondent Corrects
Error in Star.


To the Editor Of The Star:
notice that Constantine Brown, in
his column Of today. July 30, speaks
OF Reuters as the Official British news
agency"
This is an error and I beg sufficient
space to correct it. Reuters has no Of
fetal connection. It is news agency
owned completely by group of British
provincial daily papers, including the
Manchester Guardian and others of as
high standing, if not so well known, as
the Guardian. These newspapers, all
as jealous as the Guardian of their free
dom and independence. form the Press
Association, a cooperative news organ
ization similar to your own Associated
Press. They own and control Reuters
absolutely.
The war has made no difference to
the status Of Reuters except insofar as
censorship is concerned and in that
matter it is subject to the same CEN
sorship rules that govern the work of
American and other foreign correspond
ents working in Britain.
We long ago became resigned to hear
ing radio news announcers throughout
the United States call us "Rooters,"
but I feel that the assumption of an
official status for us by as prominent
q columnist as Mr.. Brown and in a
paper Of such wide circulation as The
Star calls for correction.
FRANK OLIVER,
Reuters Washington Correspondent.
July 30. -
Evening star., 1940-07-31

whether this speaks we'll Of their men.
tality is another question.
Cats, being wise, always run for cover
ing at the first drop of rain. Under the
porch is the favorite retreat.
-
Cows always seek shelter under trees,
and often are killed by lightning in this
way.
Only the other day we saw an item in
country paper stating that 10 COWS
had been killed as they stood grouped
beneath an oak in meadow.
Oaks, as we pointed out here some
time ago, are the most struck trees.
This has been definitely settled by a
survey made by the Government.
1t Is always necessary to remember
that lightning usually, though not al
ways, strikes the highest object. Thus
in an open field, man walking across
is the tallest point.
A tree = usually taller than anything
else in meadow or field, and hence most
often receives the blast. So tree is not
good refuge, except under loose in
depreciation OF the old saw about "any
old port In storm"
Nature mostly takes good care of her
own, the wild creatures of forest and
field-and back yard.
The person genuinely frightened at
sudden thunderstorms usually pays no
heed to wise observations intended to
mitigate his or her fear.
Every lightning flash and thunder
roll makes such person jump. If they
have enough control, they may not
show it-but they jump inside, just the
same.
Now man, emulating nature, but to
evil end, throws bombs on the earth
from great heights. Maybe thunder
storms have been getting the genera
tions OF man in training for this all
these centuries.
There is one thing certain, natures
storms are mindless, in sense, without
intent against the individual.
Mans bombs are evilly intended, d.
1SSeco Ny VIC lllIlO 1Ol lldIll dIlu IuTL.
Here again nature is seen to be better
than man. We may trust her, we can
not trust him. Is not this the shame of
creation, that we cannot trust our own?
$3.50
Old Tgey, the cat, was eating his
dinner on the back porch, when that
storm came up the other evening
The plate had been placed back in
the corner as far as possible from the
rain, but the spray of the downpour got
back to Tigey.
He shook his head, from time to time
but stuck by his dinner.
He was not going to permit any old
storm to drive him away, if he could help
1t. But he couldn't help it. The rain
increased rapidly, and the cat got wetter
and wetter
Finally, with one backward look at
the rest of his meal, he went to the
steps, looked out gingerly, then ran down
and under the porch.
He, with the birds, was waiting for
the sunrise, which came next morning at
exactly the appointed time.
Evening star., 1940-07-31

subsidies Of one sort or another to
the end that our merchant fleets
should not be driven from the seas
by foreign competition. The money
has not been wasted. It happens
that it goes in part to sustain a
spiritual value which the people ap-
preciate. Henry Wadsworth Long
fellow perhaps expressed it as we'll
as it can be put into words when
he wrote:
Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail on, o Union, strong and great!
Humanity, with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!
Evening star., 1940-07-31
Realism Held Need
OF Americas.

To the Editor Of The Star:
If we are to make any economic plan
for South America work we must be pre-
pared to take the products which South
American countries produce and use
them ourselves. It means taking Argen-
tine beef and wheat when we have at
present surplus of our own. It means
that unless we want to seriously cripple
the economic systems OF South America
that we must change our own.
That would not be impossible nor in the
long run even undesirable, though to ac-
complish it means changing Of our
Ideas on international trade and do
mestic production. At the present time
we need men to work on our defense
program. As soon as the program gets
under way the unemployed will be abb
sorbed and there will still be need for
men. 1t will then be question of shift
ing the population from the farms Of
America to the factories and importing
our farm products from South America.
Then, too. we can use our factories to
build machinery to send to South Amer
lea to industrialize those countries so
that they will have an economic system
not depending wholly upon agricultural
production.
The problem before us is not impos-
sible, but it is one which cannot be
solved by nice-sounding words spoken
of Don Arpnricop HorUroccae or h,y tia
traditional attitude toward foreign trade.
We must be realistic; we must do those
things which will promote our best adj
vantage viewed not from any narrow
group interest, but from the point OF
view Of the country or even this hemi-
sphere as whole. We must support
those groups in South America which are
anti-fascist even if it comes to sup
porting them the way Germany is sup
porting the pro-fascist groups.
July 26. CLARENCE ARMSTRONG.
Evening star., 1940-07-31

An unfortunate Balkan country
has three accepted spellings of its
name-Roumania, Rumania and Ro-
mania. After few more partitions,
1t is thought that what little is left
should be called Remainia.
Evening star., 1940-07-31

in its field in little more than four
years is an accomplishment of which
any publication might be proud, and
The Star takes this opportunity to
extend its congratulations to the
Sun and its editor.
Evening star., 1940-07-31
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the ioriter although the use OF
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters Uith
q UieU to condensation.
Evening star., 1940-07-31
Special Service
For Stur Readers

The modern newspaper not only gives
its readers the news and comment upon
what is happening in the world, but goes
even further and provides facilities for
giving direct information for all who de-
sire it. This special service may consist
OF answering any factual question, or
providing booklet that gives more data
than can be put in letter.
Evening star., 1940-07-31
The Home Law Book

Facts for the laymen about everyday
law-covers contracts, buying property,
promissory notes, wills, naturalization,
copyright, patents, ages Of majority,
time required to obtain marriage licenses
in the several States, marriage ages,
grounds for divorce and residence re.
quirements. Be informed on the law. To
secure your copy inclose 10 cents in coin,
wrapped in this clipping.
Name
Street
City
State
Evening star., 1940-07-31

a. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of ell news dispatches
credited to it or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein
All rights Of publication Of special dispatches
herein also are reserved
Evening star., 1940-07-31

AA'AAAAAS AAA oAAColy IIlc pIlIlClple OF
freedom of the seas, we established our
intention of keeping our ships out Of
zones Of hostilities, so that no issue
should arise which might cause our in
volvement. If now we attempt to buy
safe passage for our ships, we abrogate
our neutral right reserved at the outset,
to operate those ships where we see fit;
we admit that the seas are not free, we
concede German mastery. Also we court
the very crisis we have been at such
pains to avoid.
There are practical considerations,
too. Messrs. Alsop and Kintner seem
not to have informed themselves thor
oughly on the availability of American
shipping. Inquiry reveals that all suit
able American ships are at present in
cruise service or serving regular trade
routes; there are none available for
refugee work.
Moreover, were passenger liners to be
had large enough to make the project
practical, the cost of operation would be
staggering. For the money spent, the
amount of actual relief would be almost
pathetic, and the situation at best would
be helped so very little.
We should be laying up trouble for
ourselves with both sides. If the Eng
lish children were sunk in our ships we
should be in difficult position in rela-
ton to England, besides having the
tragedy on our consciences. And we
should be faced with an immediate de-
cision which we have been trying very
hard to postpone. Hitler does not recog-
nize refugee immunity; to him all citi-
zens Of an enemy country are enemies.
In the last war one reason for our in
volvement was the fact that American
citizens were not safe on belligerent
vessels; do we now propose to turn the
problem about and learn whether Amer
ican ships are safe carrying belligerents?
DOROTHY FORD MAYHEM.
Cambridge, Mass.
July 26.
Evening star., 1940-07-31
Member Of the Associated Press

Entered as second-class matter post ONCE,
Washington D. c.
Evening star., 1940-04-14
Theta Chi Award
Presented at Banquet

julius (Bucky) Ireland, president
OF the Maryland University active
chapter Of Theta Chi Fraternity,
was presented the chapters annual
award for distinguished service to
the group last night during the an
nual founders day banquet given
by Washington alumni members in
Wesley Hall, Seventeenth and K
streets NV.
A graduating member of the chap
ter is chosen each year to receive
the award.
Mr.. Ireland also was presented
the chapter key, which is given
each retiring president.
The Very Rev. Noble c. Powell
dean of Washington Cathedral, de-
livered the principal address and
Fred Knoop, president of the Theta
Chi alumni chapter here, presided.
Dean Powell became a member
while student at Alabama Poly
technic Institute.
In addition to alumni of WASH
ington and nearby Maryland and
Virginia and members of the Mary
land University chapter, the BAN
quet was attended by representa-
tives of active chapters at the Uni
versity of Richmond, Hampden-
Sydney College, Washington College
and the University OF North Caro-
lima.
Evening star., 1940-04-14

fleet is seriously handicapped; its
actual losses have been greater than
those Of the allies, but proportion
ately its losses are far more serious.
Skagerrak Appears Closed.
The raid on the convoy and the
subsequent mining operations ap-
pear to have closed the Skagerrak
to German shipping, or at least
made its use so precarious that 1t
cannot be depended on, as we find
The Germans now using air trans
port to reinforce their troop
units in Norway. 1t is not likely
that much artillery, mechanized
equipment or other heavy material
accompanied the first landing
parties; these would naturally be
largely composed of infantry and
machine-gunners, with a few en-
gineers, perhaps little light artil-
lery, some coast defense gunners to
man the captured Norwegian har-