davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-12-04
Nautical Wolf Packs

The Nazi effort to break the British
Empire by counter blockade-a ma
neuver in which submarines, planes
and surface raiders are cooperating
is gathering momentum
From Berlin comes the announce
ment that fleet of submarines,
guided to their merchant vessel
quarrieS by reconnaissance planes,
soon will be in regular operation
along the British trade routes in
wolf pack" fashion. London officials
acknowledge the loss of some $4,000
tons of shipping during the four
week period ending November ga
rate of destruction still below the
peak of the first World War effort
but in excess of British replacement
capacities. And it is significant that
the rate of loss has been increasing
sharply since the Germans got con-
troll of the Channel and Norwegian
ports.
This war at sea carries a deadly
threat to Britain-and to US. The
last war was almost won for the
Central Powers by their submarines
and this war can be won in the same
fashion. We would be foolish in the
extreme to let British successes in
the air over the Isles blind u to the
menace of the present Nazi drive.
In this immediate emergency, we
can help in two ways. One is by
replacement of lost merchant ship
ping; the other by contributing to
the strengthening Of the British
convoy systematic only effective
defense against the submarine. But
if we are going to do anything, it
must be done now. officials in
Washington are discussing the sale
to Britain of fifteen Of the sixty-three
laid up merchant vessels under the
jurisdiction Of this Government.
Further naval aid, so far as the
record shows, is still in the remote
discussion stage, If it has advanced
that far.
We talk of sparing a little more
help at one point, of conserving some
other resource, as though we had
only an academic or a commercial
interest in the progress of this war.
And yet we know full we'll that we
are vitally concerned in its outcome.
For us, a German victory would be
a calamity of the first magnitude,
disaster which would force us at
once into the full-fledged defense
effort which we so short -sightedly
refuse to undertake while the British
are still fighting. If we wish to avoid
this result-this imminent prospect
OF being left to fight alone in a
hostile world-we must act with real
decisivenesS now, for there is little
time left to us.
Evening star., 1940-12-04
A Better Showinq

Reports read at a final luncheon
gathering yesterday indicate that the
Community Chest campaign Of 1910
has been approximately ninety-five
per cent successful. Pledges in
amount of S1911,7O361 are recorded
in the names of 2O8, 1888 contributors
These figures represent fractional
gain over last years totals. Workers
in the drive therefore are entitled
to believe that their efforts have
been measurably effective.
But the men and women who freely
gave Of their time and strength to
the annual solicitation cannot be
altogether satisfied with the city's
response Granted that a better
showing has been made, there still
Is reason to regret that the minimum
quota was not attained. The deficit
of eighty eight thousand dollars is
real shortage, and The Star appeals
to its readers to meet the demand
with extra gifts sent promptly to the
Community Chest offices at 1101 M
street northwest For the reputation
of Washington as we'll as for the re-
lief of suffering the complete budget
objective should be achieved.
Words are poor instruments for the
expression of the needs of the poor,
the underprivileged, the sick, the very
old and the very young. Never has it
happened that any tongue adequately
has spoken or any pen written the
humane significance of a philan-
thropy in which hundreds of thou
sands of neighbors, fellow-citizens,
voluntarily take part. Its synonyms
are sacred symbols of the best
thought and the noblest feeling of
which. the race is capable. But COM
monty they go unuttered for lack
of language meaningful enough.
They are what salt is to bread, what
the sun is to the earth, what a smile
of sympathy is in world bowed
down with sorrow. If there be any
individual in the Capital of the
United States who comprehendS
these things and yet has failed to
assist the Community Chest agencies,
please let him respond now at the
last minute. His help is wanted.
Evening star., 1940-12-04
British Hundout to Spain

The signing of commercial agree
ment in Madrid by the British AM
bassador, Sir Samuel Hoare, and the
Spanish Foreign Minister, Ramon
Serrano Suner, IS an event of distinct
importance, both for the fact itself
and for what it seemingly implies.
This agreement releases frozen
Spanish credits aggregating several
hundred thousand pounds sterling
and makes them available for Span
ish purchases in the sterling area
the British Empire and certain other
nations whose currencies are tied to
the pound. It is likewise stated that
Spain will have further large sterling
credits next month when she ships
to Britain one-half of her exportable
orange crop. Furthermore, despite
the British governments reticence on
the proceeding, it is stated from Lon
don that negotiations are now in
progress for an Anglo-Spanish trade
pact of much broader scope.
At the same time, press dispatches
from Madrid bring the United States
into the picture by stating that our
Ambassador, Alexander Weddell, Is
expected soon to present Senor Suner
with detailed offer to supply credits
for gasoline and food products.
All this seemed to indicate a
marked change in the course Of
Spanish foreign policy. Until quite re-
Gently, it looked as though the Franco
regime might at any moment enter
the war on the axis side, despite
overwhelming evidence that Spain
was in desperate economic straits
and that her city population was on
the verge of downright starvation.
There certainly was no doubt that
Franco, Suner and the other leaders
of the present regime were whole
heartedly in favor Of the axis. In
deed, about the only restraining
influence against taking the plunge
were stern warnings from Britain
that Spain would thereafter be sub
jected to an ironclad naval blockade,
coupled with equally clear intima-
tions from our own Government that
Spain need expect no concessions
from this hemisphere if it formally
took the axis side.
There is no reason to believe that
the Franco regime has had an
theological change Of heart. On the
other hand, it is hard to believe that
the British government is either so
naive or so desperate as to try to
Evening star., 1940-12-04
Blue Plains

Improvement of facilities at the
Home for Aged and Inflrm under
S135,810 Work Projects Administra-
tion allotment is a progressive step
toward the betterment of conditions
at one of the Districts long-neglected
institutions. AS announced by the
Commissioners and the director of
the local W. P A. office, the project
will include provision of additional
safety features, enlargement and
improvement of service units, general
rehabilitation and some beautifica-
ton of buildings, increased service
staff, recreational and vocational
assistance and proper dietary plan
ming.
These improvements, of course, are
most necessary. They have been
needed for years. They stand as
evidence of the community's desire
to live up to its responsibility for the
well-being of its wards who are
unable to provide for their own
declining years. But as a cure for
conditions which have existed at
Blue Plains for SO long they only
scratch the surface.
Fundamental deficiencies inherited
from an era of incomplete knowledge
of welfare needs and inadequate
congressional appropriations call for
the ultimate reconstruction and re-
organization of this as we'll as several
other institutions for the city'S wards.
1t was with this in mind that pre-
liminary steps were taken weeks ago
by District officials to make study
of the adviSability of moving the
Home for Aged, the Industrial Home
School and the National Training
School for Girls to large rural site
where each could be established
as separate units with centralized
health and service facilities. Mere
repairing or renovating of present
facilities, while a desirable stop-gap
measure, is not a long-vieW solution
of the Districts disgraceful welfare
problems.
Evening star., 1940-12-04

son supposed to be an artist could pos
sibly have painted such stuff
Most Of the modelling in the outer
hall was hideous in the extreme. 1
asked one modeler who was working
there: Why don't these artists Go
something beautiful for change He
replied that they worked according to
their taste.
The really coed things were very
scarce it seemed 10 me. There was
sailboat race in oils that was good and
there was a small head of a girl in
plaster which was beautiful, but it was
around a corner in an out-of-the-Way
location. There also was an oil paint
ing of a girl in profile with a hat on
the back of her head. but the head
must have been half sliced off, for there
was not room enough in that hat for
the rest of head!
Older Washington art lovers will re-
member the beautiful art exhibitions in
which the pictures Of James Henry
Moser, Max Weyle, Harold L. McDon-
aid, Mr. Holmes, Lamasure and other
artists were on view. They loved art
and nature too much to make hideouS
caricatures of the beautiful
AS am especially fond of portraiture,
wherever found, have often cut out
the work of Newman Sudduth from The
Star, as his portrayal of facial charac-
ter is remarkable indeed. One Of Rob-
ert Donat. not long ago. was very true.
1t is a shame to see degeneration in
art as shown in the modern" variety
but there probably always will be serious
men who will not allow themselves to
stoop so low as to produce monstrosities
in paint and call them art!
H. B. BRADFORD.
Evening star., 1940-12-04
THIS AND THAT
Bp Charles z. Trdcetoell.

OIL for the lamps Of China Is not as
much of a problem to most Of us as
water for the winter birds in the garden.
Those who put out food regularly.
especially after the weather gets cold,
often forget to see to it that the songsters
get bathing and drinking water.
Cold air not only dries up shallow
pools, if there is wind. and there usually
is, but it often freezes such places.
A temperature of 80 degrees during
the night will coat the surface Of garden
pools with a slight sheet Of ice.
Temperatures slightly below this will
increase the thickness of the ice, but
will not freeze the water completely.
except on bitter cold days.
This means that there always will be
water in the garden If the birds can
get at it.
1t follows that giving the birds water
is not such a problem, after all, pro-
vided two necessities are met:
l. The baths, themselves.
2. Care to see that the birds can get
at them.
This will require the placing of one or
more small basins, bird-size, at appro-
pirate places in the yard.
Equally necessary is the determination
of the gardener to see to it that the birds
have access to the water.
The strategic location of bird baths for
winter use means that at least two drink
ing places are available, one compare
lively close to the feeding station, but
not too close, and two, bath placed at
the other end Of the yard.
It is best to have one bath sunk in the
ground, and another on a pedestal, SO
that all types of birds-and squirrels
may be accommodated.
Bird baths should be not more than
inches deep. and of any circumference,
but II to "a inches is sufficient. Deeper
water will do, however, if large stone
is placed in the center, SO that the
songsters can get foothold.
Except in the coolest weather, there will
almost always be rim at the north Of
the pool which will be open to the birds
1t Is interesting to watch them, on a
cold morning. as they unerringly find this
open spot. although it may not be more
than l-inch long and l2-inch across.
The birds fly down TO their favorite
pool round of concrete sunk in the
earth, surrounded by appropriately
placed stones.
They do not go walking on the frozen
surface.
You might think they would, but they
do not. Evidently they do not fancy
skating Their claws are made for it. regu-
lar little runners, but unless compelled
to go skating the birds remain on land.
At first they walk around the little
pool, tentatively trying to dip in their
bills
We wish We could say they whet their
Evening star., 1940-12-04
Compares Hitler
With Michigan Dynamiter.


To the Editor Of The Star:
Thirteen years ago, a maniac touched
of series of explosions in Bath, Mich,
which blew up a schoolhouse, killing 45
and Wounding 90, mostly children. He
sat in his car and laughed to see the
agonies of the dying. Then he set off his
last load of explosives, killing himself
and several prominent members of the
community who had rushed to the scene
of the massacre.
No one ever will known the exact reason
for this savage attack on this peaceful
hamlet, but it generally is acknowledged
that personal vengeance was the mad
mans motive.
In 1888 six years after the Bath dis
aster, Adolf Hitler became chancellor of
Germany He Immediately set to work
on the creation of a war-machine for the
destruction of Europe. Filled with the
same mad desire for revenge that in
spired the Bath dynamiter, he cleverly
asserted that he was establishing Ma
tional Socialism to fight the menace of
Russian Communism. Then, when the
men who had placed him in power pro-
tested against his assumption of despotic
authority, he stood them up against
wall and shot them.
Hitler concentrated his whole life on
one objective. He has perpetrated the
crime of the Bath mailman on a vast
international scale. Though he declares
that he is motivated by love for his
fatherland. he probably has murdered
more German citizens than he has de-
Stroyed soldiers in the armies fighting
against him. He is taking personal
vengeance against the world.
An illustration of his personal hatred
against the world is his behavior on the
recent occasion of the bombing of
Munich by the British. He retaliated
with a most destructive air attack on
Coventry, solely for personal revenge, as
he acknowledged.
And yet there are people who favor an
appeasement policy, who would bargain
with Hitler as though human life were
so much merchandise There was no
thought Of excusing the mailman who
destroyed school filled with children.
Yet the Nazi dictator who is seeking to
destroy half the world has his Defend
ers-not only in Germany, but right here
In the United States.
The example of Hitler's prototype
should be sufficient warning. Determined
steps should be taken to stop this Ger
man maniac who is attacking the civil
lied world with the same ferocity as that
with which the madman of Bath at
tackled his own innocent community.
1t vet remains to be seen whether
Hitler will immediate himself on the pyre
he has lighted. There is every reason
to hope, but little reason to expect, that
he will. LOUIS E. ROWLEY.
Lansing. Mich.
Evening star., 1940-12-04
Mottie M. Gibson

The SEVENTEEN annual meeting of
the members of the board and auxil-
iary groups of Children'S Hospital
Monday was devoted in large part to
praise of Miss Matte NJ Gibson, the
hospitals superintendent for the past
twenty years.
Thomas B. Sweeney, vice president
OF the hospitals Board of Directors,
said that no person in the long
history of the hospital has exerted a
more potent influence" than Miss
Gibson. From a "nondescript home
for INDECENT children" he said, Miss
Gibson had made a grade A" hos
pital.
Miss GibsonS energy, enthusiasm,
practical ability and deep love for
sick children have marked her as a
citizen of whom Washington should
Evening star., 1940-12-04
Says Congress Has
Work to Do.

"UiA W DO.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Just why Congress voted to remain in
session becomes more and more obscure
each day as the solons neglect their duty
to the country. II they had a proper
sense Of their responsibility they would
do something about the sabotage and
the strikes in munition and airplane
factories instead Of twiddling their
thumbs, or going home after an impress
sive vote declaring their presence in
Washington Is imperative during the
crisis now facing America (and Britain.
America agrees that their place Is in
Washington, making it unlawful to sabo-
tage munition factories and making
1t treason to strike in any factory en-
gagged In re-arming America. We draft
men for the Army and billions for re-
armament, yet We twiddle thumbs while
labor defeats rapid rearmament through
strikes! 1t Is no more unreasonable to
draft labor than 1t is to draft men for
the Army. Labor can offer no excuse
for strikes that will sound logical to
soldiers or to men who must pay the
billions drafted to make America secure
in the briefest time possible against
aggression. America Is in no frame Of
mind to tolerate strikes during this
emergency and labor should bear this
in mind when thinking Of calling strikes
In rearmament plants. Sabotage could
be largely prevented also II the Govern
ment were sufficiently determined.
FRED p. PATTON.
Randolph, Utah.
Evening star., 1940-12-04

bribe Spain to stay neutral a little
longer unless London felt the bribe
would stick. Until the other day, 1t
looked as though British concessions
to Franco would be repaid by q
prompt double-cross. What has
changed the situation?
Seemingly, two things. First,
Spain, at the very end Of her eco
nomic tether, can obviously get no
aid from Germany sufficient to stave
off disaster. In this respect Suner
undoubtedly came back empty
handed from his latest trip to Berlin.
The second factor modifying the
situation Is unquestionably the
clinching of British sea power in the
Mediterranean and adjacent waters
by recent victories over the Italian
Navy. Spain is indeed nipped in the
wise of dire necessity, and has been
compelled to act accordingly.
Evening star., 1940-12-04
Aviation Research

1t will be comforting to American
citizens who have heard with alarm
of the tremendous totalitarian activi-
ties in aeronautical research to learn
that the United States today has a
total investment OF at least $65, ,000,-
900 in plant and equipment for this
vital research activity.
Two years ago this country had
only one basic aeronautical research
laboratory, as compared with eight
in England and many more in both
Germany and Italy. The dictators
had virtually established a blank
checking account for the thousands
of experts called into aeronautical
research centers created to speed
their war efforts
Today the National Advisory Com
mittee for Aeronautics has added to
its twenty -fve-year old Langley Me-
mortal Laboratory nucleus at Langley
Field, Va, a new $10000,000 Ames
Aeronautical Laboratory plant at
Sunnyvale, Calf, and is about to be-
gin construction of an So, 400 900 air.
craft engine research laboratory At
Cleveland.
All three of these establishments
will deal with basic or fundamental
research problems upon which an
aviation progress, military or civil,
must be based.
The Army Air Corps is expanding
its s25,O0o,000 Materiel Division,
Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, where
: research work is carried on to apply
the basic findings Of the N. A. C. A.
to individual military airplanes and
to improve and speed up airplane
production methods.
The Navy Bureau Of Aeronautics
also is increasing its experimental
facilities at the Philadelphia Naval
Aircraft Factory and elsewhere.
These facilities also are devoted to
applied military research, which be-
gins where the N. A. c. A. basic re-
search leaves of.
The American aircraft industry
and many colleges and universities
also are conducting aeronautical re-
search work, which does not overlap
or duplicate the work of the N. A.
c. A., the Army or the Navy, but
which is concerned chiefly with in
dividual production problems, the
magnitude of which has been multi
piled many times by the present air
defense program.
In these days of brute force, ma
tional security may depend upon the
excellence of our aircraft and this,
In turn, is dependent upon research.
Air power, to this extent. has its
foundations in the laboratory.
Evening star., 1940-12-04

bills on the ice, but here again they dc
not; they simply give it tap, and not
q very hard tap at that.
clear water.
Eagerly in goes the bill Of the dis
coverer. He raises his head, a drop Of
water falling out Of his bill.
This drop always completes the first
drink. There are many other drinks,
one after the other, since a bird must
take many billfuls to get as much as
he wants.
BY this time other birds have come up.
Seeing the success of the discoverer,
they jostle him to get out Of the way
each in turn trying the frozen areas.
Finally the first one is pushed out, or
gets enough, it is hard to tell which. I'm
mediately a second bird steps in and
down goes his bill with the universal mo-
ton of bird life when eating and drinking
a motion which some persons process to
believe was the origin of the human
bowling in prayer.
One after the other, on a cold morn
ing, the wintering birds get their first
drink of the day.
1t is too early for bath. Birds nor
mally do not take their "bawths" until the
sun shines on the watering place. This
means on a cold day, not until II o'clock
or later, since usually it requires that
long for the basin to be thawed out.
An electrically heated drinking foun-
tain would be a nice gadget for any one
who can afford to pay for it, but it is
not at all necessary, since as pointed out
there always will be water hole, or at
least the human element in the scene
may come to the rescue of the birds and
cut open hole for them.
The hole need be only an inch long,
as stated. Clearing out the entire pool
is not necessary, and offers some danger
of cracking the bath.
If a hard freeze is expected, board
can be placed over the pool, or at least
the north half of It.
This will keep the water from freezing
except on the worst nights of the winter
In the morning, the Doaro may De re-
moved, and the water will not freeze up
before the normal uprise Of the tempera-
ture begins.
In this way. with a little care, the gar
dener can make sure that the birds which
he attracts for theft good and his delight
get all the water they need each day
On bitter cold days it may be good to
carry out shallow tin pan filled with
warmed water, and TO place it about lC
feet away from the main feeding place
A tin pie pan, or similar cookery unit
will do. II is interesting to watch the
eager reception of this warmed water by
the songSters.
They form line. as they hop from the
feeding station to the water, and back
again, a constantly moving line, going in
both directions