Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-06-14
HENDERSON, IN cy DAILY DISPATCH FRIDAY JUNE A.

desire of certain of our allies to rob |
the Germans of their ability to earn
living. Hence, either we made
mistake by not being harsh enough
with the Germans in 1918 or by be-
ing too harsh with them in 1919.
However, our intentions were good,
We spent 100000, 100000 to help the
allies and the cost is still multiplying.
Thousands Of Americans were buried
in Flanders fields; hundreds of thous-
ands more were permanently dis
abIcd. These lives and this money
were spent on cause that was sound
and right Our bitterness, at the
stupidity and laundering of our al
lies in the postwar era, has made
us cynical about our sacrifices. To-
day, we are ready to throw over ali
we did befOrc-to write off our in
vestment"-because we made a fatal
mistake in Judging Europe and Eu-
rOpcanS in the postwar era.
British Navy Our Navy.
The plain truth is that while in
1917 our sacrifice was for humanity,
our intervention may now become
dire necessity. The bombing plane
has changed our entire idea of de-
Tense. Until month ago, it was al
most impossible to believe that the
British navy could fail to control Eu-
rope sea lanes. AS long as this great
and friendly navy existed in British
hands, our only problem was to keep
Ill eye on the naval-minded Japan
csc across the Pacific. Now, many
here IN Washington fear that there
will be no great and friendly Eng
rsn navy 10 police the Atlantic for
us, while Japan is only waiting to
join Hitler and to gang up against
us us soon us possible.
That would be bad enough 1t takes
five years to launch an Al navy. In
the meantime, Germany could be
picking up vital strategic spots such
dS the Bahamas, New Guiana, Green
land, Iceland, the Azores, and the
nccWaId Islands. Once these places
fall into the hands of the brutal gang
,tcrs VINO control Germany, we may
not be given time TO build second
navy and protective air force.
Moreover, my navy friends here at
the nations capital appear to believe
mat the British navy, which now pa
uulS the Atlantic Tor US, Will TALL into
enemy hands and be turned against
us before we hardly get started on
our widely advCrtised defense pro-
gram. do not believe that this will
ever happen. still have faith in the
character and endurance OF the Brit
iSh navy. | do, however, owe it to
readers to repeat what | find here.
Personally, | am very fearful of
Japan.
German Victory World Calamity.
So, let us forget our horror of war
Tor moment and be practical. A
German victory means continuous
mobilization, terrific defense eXpen-
uItlTCS, possibility Of the bombing of
our homes and cities. We know, OF
course, that the allies are lighting for
Their IlvCs-nOt ours. But, let us re-
member, in So doing, they are fight
ing our battle. They need help-and
need it badly. We know where the
right" lies. We do not want to enter
the war, but VIC must sell the allies
lOOO, clll lJICll(S, clllO OlllCI lllllllllOIlS
on credit at once. We must give them
courage to continue their highland
our fight. Time is the essence Of this
matter. The cost Of wasting hours
and minutes today may be the de-
struction Of property and lives to-
morrow.
From every angle, it will be far
easier for us to defend America
against Germany on the Seine or the
Thames than along the Canal Zone,
on the ST. Lawrence, at MORO Castle
in Cuba, or some other New World
battlefront. Washington believes that
just as sure as night follows day, we
must fight both Germany and Japan
somewhere, sometime, if Hitler now
breaks the allied resistance. He is
counting on US for sloWness, con-
fusion, and timidity.
We made the decision to fight Ger
many and what she stands for in
1917. We became bitter over the re-
SultS-and quite naturally. That Bit
tCrncSS arose, however, over things
which arc small compared to the real
issue. We can now see that issue in
all its stark reality-in the smoking
ruins Of Belgian villages, in refugee