davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01
Guard Against Catastrophe

Public interest has been so deeply concen-
trated upon expansion of the Axis during the
last few days that Britain's continued and in
creasing attack on Nazi continental strong
holds has shifted to second place in the news.
This is easily explained, but not justified, for
Britain has been striking such neavy blows
across the channel that a Nazi invasion OF
England, Hitler's most cherished dream, be-
comes more and more difficult.
Nor is the offensive of the Royal Air Force
the only aspect of the changing situation to
be considered. The defense of England, too,
has stiffened while British bombers have been
blasting industries, troops concentrations am
munition dumps, gasoline and other supply
storage bases. This defense is to rank among
history's greatest military achievements. Eng
land is in the fourth week of intensive air
attack. Instead of c%ollapsing, it has grown
more powerful. England is fighting a better
battle in the air today, particularly over Lon
don. than when Hitler sent his first waves
of Warplanes across the channel.
There is reason to believe that last Friday
had been chosen by the Fuehrer for an ex-
petition against England. 1t was on Friday
that ne launCneO d ueIllSluooo al ottoSh,
presumably in preparation for invasion. So
far from accomplishing what they were sent
out to do, the Nazi planes were shot down IN
a number closely approaching 200 and utter
ly failed to drive the British planes from the
air. simultaneously the Royal Air Force was
pouring a deadly rain of bombs upon Hit
ler's invasion ports and striking such heavy
blows at Nazi forces that a foray could not be
attempted. This has gone steadily on ever
since, as it did before. Sundays British raids
were particularly effective. German filters are
still bombing London, but Berlin, too, is tast-
ing the bitterness of air attack.
But, while her air force is magnihcently
efficient, Britain has a lesson to learn in 9TH
er quarters. DeGualle's fasco at Dakar show
ed that this French general, who possesses
undoubted military talent, lacks other at
tributes that would fit him. for command. Britain
would blunder seriously If she trusted him to
other undertakings of major Importance. His
hand can be seen in the attempt to COW Mad
agascar, which, too, has been unsuccessful.
If the time comes for Britain to launch an
invasion on the continent, as she confidently
expects to do, DeGaulle could do valiant serv-
ice as a subordinate and advisor in strategy.
But Britain would err nightly if she looked
to him to conduct other campaigns like that
against French West Africa. Her association
with catastrophe in the past has been too de-
pressing to chance another.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01
Quotations

I don't want any publicity.-Wilhelm Jakob
Muhlenbroich, as he was arraigned on charges
of kidnapping Marc de Tristan, Jr.
The three powers Germany, Italy and ia
PAM has no intention Of challenging or threat
ening anyone.-Count Galeazzo Ciano.
Do you know where Dong Dang is? Do you
want your boys to die for Dong Dang?-Rep-
resentative Bruce Barton, of New York.
Nothing could be worse for higher education
in this country than to have it thought that
enrolment in a college or university is a meth
cd Of avoiding conscription.-Dr. Robert M.
Hutchins, president of Chicago University.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01

the truth in the news and give honest express
sion of their views.
The American defense program, therefore,
is not merely a matter of armament to keep
cur shores safe from invasion but to preserve
the institutions through which America has
arrived at its place of leadership in the world.
Among these institutions there is none more
important than a free press.
Editors and publishers are as fallable as
any other group. They have Numbered, as
everybody does, and will blunder again as
long as this dispensation lasts and the millen-
MUM is postponed. But however great a
score can be added up against them, they
nevertheless constitute a buffer that cannot be
done without. They stand between arrogant
usurpations, such as exist in the dictator
states of Europe, and the rights of the people
at large. No Hitler, no Mussolini, no Stain
can ever get a foothold in the United States
as long as an unmuzzled press is on guard
against him.
The public is asked to keep these facts and
a multitude of others which will come to any
inquiring person in mind this week. The Star
News asks its readers to share the blessings
newspapers for frank discussion of problems
and issues close to their hearts. It is felt that
no greater service can be done subscribers
than to repeat the standing invitation to adj
dress letters to the editor on matters which, to
the writer, appear to need an airing. The only
restriction the Star-News imposes is that the
subject shall be within the realm of propriety
and that the phrasing is neither libelous or
scurrilous.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01
Must Be Ready

While it is true that new and serious prob
lens nave been created for the United States
by the political, economic and military ALI
ance in which Germany, Italy and Japan
have Joined. this treaty does not have the
epochal qualities of the pact in which Ger
many and Soviet Russia joined hands. It does
not bring about an essential shift in the bal
ance of power in any part Of the world. In a
sense the alliance merely formalizes a situa-
ton which already exists and has existed for
years.
These aggressor powers have a temporary
community of interest which forces them to
cling together at the present time. Hitler and
Mussolini's ability to create a new order in
Europe, which their new partner in crime
recognizes in this pact, depends entirely on
their ability to crush Britain in the present
struggle. Japan's plan to dominate Asia is
largely dependent on the ability of the Axis
powers to prevent Britain from interfering
with her schemes. Both nave a strong interest
in keeping aloof and neutralized the power of
the United States, which might tip to balance
against them.
At the same time the ceremony transferring
Ills IdClt tdIlQLlS lIlUO d WIllLeu dSISe-
ment will have an important bearing on Amer
lean foreign policy and will have to be taken
into consideration in any decision made from
now on. One thing W. know: It cannot brighten
us into a policy of appeasement which would
be tantamount to playing h aggressor's
game.
We must continue to uphold American in.
~terests firmly wherever they may lie with the
continuing hope that aggression will not drive
us into a position from which there is no es-
cape but to use force to protect our peace and
security. At the same time, we must be in a
position to know that if it becomes necessary
to use force, we will have the military power
to halt aggression in its tracks.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01
Editorial Comment
Durham Herald

Before the altar of fine music. its lovers
have always felt, must remain to pray those
fools who have come to scott. It has always
been their feeling that if you can get a person
to give fine music a fair hearing he will re-
main forever a devotee.
Listen to this selection a few times,' they
say to the skeptic'' and you are bound to real
ize it's beauty
They believe that even the most confirmed
detester of symphonies and operas can come
to love both if they will give them a real
hearing. They believe that this love is natural
and cannot be stopped.
They don't believe that a love of good music
comes first Of all from listening to good mu-
sic frequently.
Those who love good music know how much
the lost musical audience in missing. This
lost audience is made had the opportun-
lty to hear good music frequently, never come
to a real appreciation of it. They realize that
a part of life which could be rather precious
has been missed by this lost audience.
No less unfortunate than the lost audience
is that large group of people who have the op.
portunitles to hear good music but never
take advantage Of them.
But the signs are multiplying that good mu-
sic IS reaching a wider audience today than
ever before and that this audience is being
continually augmented by new converts. Ac-
tual performances of opera are being made
available to more people. The radio each day
broadcasts serious music to thousands, Great
orchestras are making wide tours. Recordings
OF good music are getting into more homes
tnan ever before because of price reductions.
Altogether the outlook for serious music in
this country is most favorable. Americans
have a capacity for enjoying the finer things
OF life which is not less than that of the peo-
pie of other countries. .
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01
BERLIN IDYL

Ihere is not much that is amusing about
this war, but the Associated Press has added
measurably to its small stock of grim humor
by transmitting Berlin's latest propaganda
story, describing the Fuehrer sitting nightly in
the spacious air-raid-shelter'' under his pala-
tial Chancellery. surrounded by a h p
throng of children and expectant mothers. Ac-
Communications will provide for 900 children
and l2O expectant mothers a night, selected
Ono doubt with the Gestapo's most careful
attention to such matters as party regularity
and Aryan ancestry from the city's poorer
quarters, where it seems that even the god
state has been able to provide no more than
Inadequate bomb proofs. Late every after
noon the days detachment is deposited, by
motor bus, at the Chancellery's vast doors, and
the enraptured children and expectant moth
ers or vice versa - descend to pass the air
raid In the overpowering presence of their
leader.
There they are given a supper. After that,
until bedtime, there is such entertainment as
fairy , tales, told by kindergarten teachers,
Punch and Judy shows or children's dances.
Hitler often visits the children before they fall
asleep" There are some situations too much
for comment, too much for tears. This idyl of
the propaganda machine is one of them. The
man of barrenness and death surrounded by
childhood and fecundity Gningled in Teuton-
ically exact proportions), this author of the
new world opening the little ones eyes to its
beauties in a bomb-proof cellar under his pala.
tlal Chance1ery, while the anti-aircraft and
the bombs which he loosed on so many other
children roar above them-what fairy tales
could produce a picture like this In the morn
ing, no doubt, they ramble-in column of
twos-happily away to their buses, their child
ish prattle-of course, the prescribed prattle
for the day, authorized by DR.. Goebbels-
warming the Fuehrer's heart. The expectant
mothers probably adore him. But does he
ever catch a certain look in the clearer eye
of childhood? 2
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01
Man About
Manhattan
BY GEORGE TUCKER

SAN JUAN, P. R., Sept. 30
Artura Gigantic, the sports column
mist for Ell Mundo, tells me that
Mona Channel, which is off the
west coast of Puerto Rica and
which used to be a part of the old
| Spanish Main, is a rev spawning
bed for giant tuna. He says the
waters literally boil with them and
that now the channel is the I'm
| est tuna ground in the world. Ar
my pilots who take their deep sea
fishing seriously verify this report.
AS a matter of fact, all kinds OF
salt water fish, and big ones, are
abundant in the channel and oil
Mona Island. After half an hour
or so it ceases to be fun. That's
the kind of fishing it is. Gigantic
is one of those fellows who likes
to take a crack at everything he
writes about. For instance, being
a sports writer, he plays base
ball. He fishes, pilots a plane, and
watches the newspapers from the
| States like a hawk. He can al
ways tell you the standing of the
major league clubs, or what sort
of material Elmer Layden will
have at Notre Dame this fall.
y =
Usually it is the turistas who
are fleeced, but occasionally they
tell of somebody from the States
with a good line of chatter who
| comes down here and takes the
boys over. One of these tales con-
Germs a fellow who rushed into
one of the big hotels here and sold
the management 5000 pairs of roll
Ter skates. The idea was that with
a beautiful open dancehall over
looking the sea roller S k att n g
would be a sensation. But it was
not. After a few attempts to popu-
larize the sport, which were dis
NAL in the extreme, all those nice
skates were carefully put away
and haven't been seen, or men
toned, since.
Today we had lunch with Will
liam B. Bell in the unbelievably
beautiful Garden-yth-the-Sea at the
Condado. Puerto Rican servants
in white uniforms brought us won,
derful filets of Nero saute, Belle
Meuniero, a fish with a special
sauce, and buttered yautia, a sort
of native potato which l like very
much. Mr.. Bell is chief of the bu-
reau of alcoholic beverages and
narcotics, with absolute control
over all the distilleries. He tells
me that the narcotics racket isn't
as bad as it used to be. The drug
most commonly used seems to be
morphine. He has found only n
cocaine addict in recent years.
But the "moonshiners" occa-
sionally give him a little trouble.
Down here the moonshiners dis
till "canita," a low form of rum
which is apt to cause anything
from blindness to death, the rea-
son being that none Of the poison
Gus oils are removed. When he
gets a case like this he pushes it
to the limit, and the cooperation
given him by Federal Judge Coop
er, he says, has been wonderful
The Judge, by the way, is a for
mer governor of South Carolina.
AS we were lunching he came in
with Mrs. Cooper and joined some
friends at an adjoining table. Be-
fore l leave here I hope to ask
him exactly what was it that the
Governor of North Carolina said
to him. 81
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01

The new" tyrannical and man.
hating way of life in Communist.
Fascists is as ancient as life and
death. Today, the final battle between
the new and the old is taking place,
not only on bloody battlefields, but
In the hearts and minds of all men.
1t all ome down to the basic ques-
ton: DO we love men or hate
them?"
Does democracy breed weakness
and confusion and disorder? l am
afraid so. But it need not. 1t is all
a matter of Qualification. Democracies
must vitality affirm certain doctrines:
honor and courage, truth and justice.
They must face the animal realism
Of the enemies with the reply that
realism is not characterization.
that men do not live by the bread
of comfort and profits alone, and that
there are noble things worth fight
ing for as well as base
And we should prepare to fight
for them, not with words alone, but
with steel. We must rid ourselves of
our weakness, which are self-in-
diligence, selfishness, apathy, lack
of discipline, fear of adversely and
pain, repugnance TO war, and luxury
and love of profits. We should say
at every hour: I am ready to fight
not with phrases, but with guns: not
tomorrow, but today.
Jesus said that If a man lacked a.
sword, he should sell half his gar
ments and buy one. In another Sec
ton, the Bible declares that a peo-
pie without a vision must perish.
We have neither a vision nor a
sword And so, we must perish if we
refuse to formulate the one, and take
up the other We must employ many
of the vitalistic principles of the old
warning PHILOSOPHERS, while fixing
our eyes s~teadfastly on the new ideal
OF universal courage and honor,
truth and justice.
A sword and a vision. Without
these two, democracy must perish
fro mthe earth, not only overcome
by the enemy, but with the disgust
of God.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01

tax-exempt bonds" said the Dunn.
my. Don't you ever listen to the
radio? They buy government bonds
and close up their business and live
on the fat of the land without pay
ing taxes"
If you had a thousand bucks"
tn cold man asked, land there was
no chance to make any profits on
1t IN some kind of business and YOU
might even lose the thousand
bucks, what would you do with the
dough? Would you invest it in a
business Or buy government bonds
and be sure of your money and a
little INTEREST,""
Il wouldn't do either one if ]
had a thousand bucks" the Dunn.
my said. Il would throw a party
like l bet you never saw because,
like l said, you only live once and
1t is here today and gone tomor.
row. But 1 can understand why
some common people would buy
government bonds just to play
safe, but l am thinking of the rich,
They shouldn't be allowed to stick
1t away in government bonds"
Why not?" Mr.. Spelvin demand.
ed. If the government don't want
the rich dough why do they Dor
row it? Do you ever hear of them
refusing to borrow a million bucks
from n guy and borrowing a finn
from 1000 little guys, instead?''
Well" said the Dummy, you
can argue yourself crazy, but 1 am
telling you the day is coming"
What day?" the old man de-
manded.
The day is coming" the Dun.
my said, when the government
will trick those rich. The gove~
ment will tax the ears off their
factories and stocks so they will
lend it all to the government in.
stead. And then the government
will refuse to pay them back and
they will be out of luck and guy-
like me will all get jobs with the
government, and boy will we 90 to
town."
"Out of the mouths of I'm.
mines" said George Spelvin,
American.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01
A Tale Of Two Cities

The Charlotte Observer announces that 5000
people gathered in that city's armory to hear
a noted Texas preacher on Sunday. The point
to this is that Charlotte has a hall in which
so many persons can assemble. Another point
is that Charlotte has found a way to provide
the hall. Like Sentimental Tommy, Charlotte
'has a way of getting what it needs. And
because this is so, Charlotte is not only the
largest but the most progressive city in North
Carolina. 1t does not let nature take it's course
but always lends a helping hand when nature,
or any other thing worth having, needs assis-
lance. Charlotte is a bright and shining ex-
ample of how it pays to '.get up and get' what
you want.
The fact that Charlotte has this armory
which may also be used for large public gath
erings is worth Wilmington's consideration.
Wilmington needs a spacious auditorium. Will
mington's people have no place where they
may congregate in large numbers under a
roof, to be entertained, to be benefited by the
preaching of a distinguished minister or by
the thoughts of a prominent lecturer, or to
hold open forums upon important questions.
We all remember the crowding of the court
room when mass meetings were held at the
inception of the defense program. We all know
how Inadequate the auditorium at the high
school is when a Wilmington throng seeks a
place to meet. Wilmington has not looked out
for it's interests as Charlotte has done, and
in consequence must assemble in the open
air, exposed to any whim of the weather,
when an event holds the wide public interest
and attracts large attendance, such, for ex-
ample, as the annual music festival of school
children.
Just now, the city and county governments
have within reach a project to construct a
great armory which could be used, as Char
lotte's is used, for public meetings as well as
for military purposes. The tract which best
fits the need, the old Marine Hospital site, is
available for $40, 600. If this land is purchased
it will make possible a great park and play
ground, and still be large enough to accom-
nnodate an athletic arena later on. Such a
park and recreation center would be an as
set of the first magnitude.
Wilmington cannot hope to make the pro-
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01
Star-News Program

Consolidated City-County Governme
under CouncilManager Administration.
Public Port Terminals.
Perfected Truck and Berry Preserving
md Marketing Facilities.
arena for Sports and Industrial
Shows.
Seaside Highway from W,ightsviHe
Beach to Bald Head Island.
Extension OF City Limits.
S5-Foot Cape Fe0v River channel, nid-
er Turning Basin, Nth ship lanes into
industrial sites along Eastern bank
south OF Wilmington.
Orton Plantation.
Development OF Pulp Wood Produc.
Hon through sustdined-yield methods
Throughout Southeastern North Carolina.
Unified Industrial and Resort Pro
motional Agency, supported by one
countrywide tar.
Shipyards and Drydock.
Negro Health Center for Southeastern
North Carolina. developed around the
Community Hospital.
Adequate hospital facilities for ,ohites.
Junior High School.
Tobacco Warehouse for Erport Buyers.
Development OF ndtice grape gro11ing
throughout Southeastern North Carolina.
Modern Tuberculosis Sanatorium.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01

NEW YORK, Sept. 3o-.George
Spelvin, American, finds it more
and more difficult to understand
his oldest son, the one they call
Dummy, who has very positive
ideas, most of them in conflict
with the old mans.
Last night, for example, Dummy
said the whole trouble with the
world was the greedy rich.
"All they think about" he said,
lis their profits and having a good
time"
WELL" the old man said, land
what do you think about?"
WELL" the Dummy said, 81
don think about profits because
1 am not an explorer, but if you
mean 1 like to tear around a little
and lap off a saucer of toddy, why,
what of it? After all, I am human
and you don't live but only once"
"How long has it been since you
had a job?" the old man asked.
About a year." the Dummy
said, land that is just the trouble.
The dirty rich are so greedy that
they won't give you a job, and
am a member of the lost genera
ton without any market for my
talents"
What are your talents?" the old
man asked.
Salesman" said the Dummy.
But nobody has any money to
spend because the rich aren't put
ting out, so I can't make a quar-
ter"
Dummy" the old man said,
you ought to know that the mora
goods they sell the more profits
they get, so why would they want
to close up business and cut off all
those wages?"
"But you take my case, for in.
stance" the Dummy said. If they
would pay me a decent salary l
would spend the dough for a car
and probably get married and even
buy a house. AS long IS they pay
me a good salary I will keep on
spending it in, because, paw, you
know l am a rough man on a dol
lar, and the first thing you know
we will have prosperity again."
But you said the whole trouble
is that the rich are so crazy about
profits" the old man said, land
now you say nobody has any dough
to spend, SO it is a cinch the rich
can't make any profits not selling
anything. Why don't you pull your
self together?"
The rich put their money into
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-01

And I, I thought, am a democrat, because I
neither hate nor envy anyone.
But, I later considered, is a mere negative state
OF mind a safe or sensible one in these dreadful days?
l do not think so. Something is frightfully wrong
with democracies. They are negative. They lack
dynamism, power, conviction and strength. They
lack courage and honor and drive. If they have a
case, 1t is not apparent in the babel of voices, feeble,
quarrelllng and lstless. And where many talk, no
one is heard, and a general Generalization and help.
lessness overcomes the will to struggle, and fulfill
ana the very wlll-to-ive and will-tosurvive.
buI inherent in the democracies there is a real
their way of life is comparatively new in the world.
me save democracies of Greece and Rome were no
leai oemocracles. But a free people, choosing its own
soVeihment, setting up its own courts where every
one IS equal before the law, deciding its own issues.
is a new phenomenon under the old sun.