davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-05-26

them can MAINTAIN cruising speed" The
three repair ships, he specified, are so
few and old that they cannot handle
the Fleets upkeep requirements outside
the immediate vicinity of continental
navy yards. The machine shops OF
these repair boats, he said, have become
too antiquated to care for the Nays
more advanced technical equipment.
One modern repair ship is under con-
struction and will be ready in 1912.
The majority OF our small seaplane
tenders, the committee was informed.
are converted mine-sweepers built dur
Ing the World War, and are "basically
unsuited for the duties required Of
them" -Four new ones are being con-
structed, and money for two others
was asked in the 1941 estimates. There
are only two large seaplane tenders in
commission. The Langley is converted
collier built in 1913, and the Wright a
converted merchant vessel built in 1921.
Two modern ships of this type are un-
der construction, and funds for another
were requested in the 1941 budget.
Destroyer Tenders.
Three of the destroyer tenders in COM
mission are converted vessels built prior
to 1922 and all have suffered greatly un-
der the high work-load Of the neutrality
patrol. -Four new ones have been au-
thorized. One will be completed this
month and another in October. Except
for the Holland, all submarine tenders in
commission are old converted merchant
ships, inadequate to their task. One,
now under construction, will go into
service next year and money for two
more IS in the estimates.
From the Maritime Commission the
Navy has purchased two former Grace
Line motor ships, the Santa Rita and
Santa 1nez. and is reconditioning one as
q transport and the other as survey
ship, at a cost Of $2,500, 900. It's three
modern oilers include two former Stand
ard OIL tankers, the Cimarron and Neo-
sho, which were purchased from the
Maritime Commission.
Regarding shore facilities, as essential
to fleet as are gasoline stations and re.
pair shops to motorist. it may be re-
marked that in the entire Pacific Ocean,
including Hawaii, Alaska and the Philip
pines, the Navy has only one yard with
drydocks able to accommodate and re-
pair any ship bigger than light cruiser.
This is at Bremerton, Wash, on Puget
Sound, $40 miles north of San Francisco,
the logical sea-base Of West Coast opera
tions. Until now, the Navy has besought
Congress in vain for 5000 900 in actual
money with which to purchase and en-
large the docks Of the Bethlehem Ship
building Corp. at Hunters Point, San
Francisco Bay. Admiral Robinson cal
culates that our 10 Navy yards would
instantly be overtaxed by any consider
able program Of expansion and that the
number should be doubled.
Because Of obsolete submarine nets.
according to Rear Admiral w. r. Fur
long. chief Of the Bureau Of Ordnance.
al Of the countzys harbors and flset
Evening star., 1940-05-26
Americas Unite for Safety
Strategic Bases and Speed in Arming Essential

foothold on the South American main
land. Our State Department has as
sured them, however that the Govern
ment of the United States will not act
unless there is full agreement by the
rest of the American republics.
Full Consultation Pledged.
The Panama agreement has provided
quick-acting machinery for consultation
between the United States and the 81
republics whenever there is an important
matter which might concern them all.
Should Germany, for example, rush her
airplanes and parachutists to occupy
what an eventual peace treaty might give
her. steps would certainly be taken to
have an American force, composed pre-
on the spot in time to contest such an
infringement of the Monroe Doctrine.
All signatories of the Panama Confer.
ence have agreed that nothing will be
done without thorough consultation.
With regard to the Caribbean Islands
and the West Indies. so important to the
Panama Canal and to our vital lines of
communication, the United States may
have to act with greater speed. The OBJ
jections Of the South American govern.
ments to their occupation in the event
Of an allied defeat were mostly express
sions Of principle. They will not oppose
any military measure the United States
may consider necessary under pressure
of race with time. It is recognized
in both continents Of the Western Hemi-
sphere that the time element is much
more important than it used to be con-
sidered.
The concern over the future of this
section of the world is as great in the
capitals of the Latin American republics
as it is in Washington, and the decision
Of the United States to rearm in haste
is fully understood and approved by the
Latin Americans. They, like ourselves,
hope that we should have enough time
to prepare for any emergency resulting
from possible defeat Of the allies. And
their full cooperation is counted upon
with confidence.
Evening star., 1940-05-26

anchorages, with their multitudes of
commercial and naval vessels, are vul-
nerable to the entry of hostile under
sea raiders equipped with new penetrat-
ing devices. The sum required for mod
ern replacements is $16,974,OO0. If the
money were voted today, Admiral Fur
long told the Senate Appropriations
Committee, the peril would continue 18
months or two years, the time required
to manufacture and install a new sys-
tenn of nets.
The trained naval manpower of the
United States, in Regular Navy, Naval
Reserve and Marine Corps, is 253,242 Of
ficers and men, including 6l9 aviation
cadets. To this should be added some
$4,000 men of the Coast Guard, which
upon declaration of hostilties would
pass from control of the Treasury to
that of the Navy Department. The
Coast Guard has "a sea-going cutters,
seven of which are equipped with planes:
more than 5000 harbor and river boats
and 40 modern aircraft.
If the United States Army complains
OF time-lag of Is to 80 months be-
tween appropriation and delivery, the
Navy can plead one which on occasion
scars to eight years, as in the case of
the Washington and North Carolina,
which were authorized in 1894. Delay
has been ascribed to the need of length
ening and Strengthening building slips
and tardy delivery of materials, particu-
larly armor plate. Critics allege that
the chief cause was the departments
ambition to introduce as many new de-
velopments as possible, so that the
Washington in effect was built two or
three times. at cost of year of time
and great added expense.
fastening Production Difficult.
The problem of fastening production
offers herculean difficulties. Like the
Army, the Navy Is harassed by the alb.
sence OF private munitions industry In
the United States, and by an abject state
OF unpreparedness throughout the
American industrial plant, outside of
aviation. A year after a contract is let
bottleneck is encountered in the lin.
ited capacity Of shops and machine
tools. The proposal to increase working
shifts at navy yards from one to three
runs head-on into two problems. First
comes lack Of expert supervisors for tho
added crews; their training normally re-
quires two or three years. Second is q
dearth Of skilled artisans. Navy officers
have secured the district Labor Boards
In vain, as well as shipbulding areas on
coast and lake, for molders, welders,
electricians, lftsmen, shipfitters, copper
smiths and pipef1tters
The procurement Of strategic and
critical materials has Jagged and reserve
stocks of all kinds are dangerously low.
The capital of the Nays small-stores
fund requires substantial engagements to
meet even the current demand for uni
forms and other clothing. The Marine
Corps has only 400 Of Its quota Of H..
24S semi automatic rifles, which viii not
be completed until 1s42.
Evening star., 1940-05-26
By Constantine Brown.

rate of $50 day, and while it will take
still longer to train the necessary pilots
to man the contemplated super-bombers
and combat ships, Germany and Italy
have airplanes manned and ready for
further action as soon as the present
operations in Europe can be suspended
by toto victory.
Americas problem for defense is two
fold. The main task is to get armed
as quickly as possible. This will require
the abolition of the Wage-Hour Act so
far as war industry Is concerned, and
the expenditure Of between 10 and IL
billion dollars within the next 18 or "a
months. The second task is to obtain
strategic bases in South America
whence We could operate against pos
sible attack. Germany's successful in
vasion Of Norway, Holland aid Belgium
has been an object lesson not only to
our strategists, but also to the govern
ments Of South America.
Fall Of Guianas Is Issue.
Latin American diplomats have al
ready held consultations with officials
Of our State Department concerning the
possible fate of the possessions Of Great
Britain and the Netherlands on the
South American mainland. The ma
jority Of the South American govern
ments, facing the prospect Of relinquish-
ing these possessions to the victor,
believe that the three Guianas should
form one country with an independent
government Of its own. This solution
appears more acceptable to most of them
than the partition of the Guianas be-
tween Venezuela and Brazil. The Amer
ican Government is not opposed to either
solution-it is matter to be decided by
the Latin American republics. But for
the moment, in view of the fact that
the Germans-n victorious-may claim
these colonies, our Government is seri-
'ously considering assuming a temporary
guardianship over them.
Some Of the South American republics
have voiced certain amount OF un-
easiness ut the United States obtaining
Evening star., 1940-05-26
Threat Security of Hemisphere Finds Nation Woefuy Un
First Line of Defense Has Gaps
OF Old Ships, Slow Al1xiliaries
Survey of u. S. Sea Power Finds Shore Facilities
Lacking and Speedy Construction
Rather Vain Hope
By Richard L. Stokes.

Only three weeks nothing would have fantastic than
to suggest that the Monroe Doctrine the
danger of challenge
at the possibility that policy
Hemisphere
hands OF armed with erocous will destroy
20 Latin American republics
ships OF various
300 arpane What then
establishment the United
b OF guarding continental
protecting Americas
Evening star., 1940-05-26

Noman Sudduth Star staff artist show graphically this drang
the magnitude OF Americas defense problem
reveals the weaknesses that repaired
continue to enjoy the security OF the past
Evening star., 1940-05-26

Our present defense bases
on both eoosts cover strotesic
points, but acquisition Of
islonds odjoeent to our coost,
such os Bermuda. the 3D.
homes. etc, hos been susses-
ted. Experts oeres thot reoI
need is for new dir boses. en-
lorsins Of present boses-odd-
ing onti- -oireroft guns and big
guns.
Evening star., 1940-05-26

Il About 1900
miles off eoost
IL lie howoiion Is.
londs. at opex Of
defensive tri.
onsle extending
to Aiosko and
Ponomo Conol.
From strongly
protected novoi.
cir ond ormy
bases. the fleet
would counter
ony ottoek from
Asiotic voters.
But Jopon's pow
er is o question
mork.
Evening star., 1940-05-26

NewfoundIond-ideot
point for operations
osoinst Eostern Conodo
ond our eostern SEQ.
booFd. Even Woshina.
ton. D. C.. it is sold.
could be effectively
bombed from oir boses
here.
Evening star., 1940-04-07

What this hymn has meant to men
and women In the dark periods of life,
what 1t has brought OF comfort and in
spiration when shadows were heavy
and the heavens seemed as brass, no
one would venture to say. 1t Is an ex-
preston Of sublime trust and abiding
faith In Him who said: Il am the light of
the world" and again, "Come unto Me,
all ye that are weary and heavy laden
and will give you rest" 1t is the utter
recognition Of a leadership that makes
and chooses the paths and the ways by
which men shall walk. 1t is the COM
plete yielding of human pride to the will
OF God. The last stanza Of the hymn
has been the soft pillow whereon many
weary head has been laid; it is the
expectation Of the broken hearted
mourner for the sure coming of that day
when the severed fellowships of life shall
be renewed and sorrow and death shall
flee away.
80 long Thy power has blest me, sure
1t still
Will lead me on
Ger moor and fen, DER crag and torrent,
till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces
smile,
Which have loved long since and lost
awhile"
Men and women in their better mo-
ments when freed from the pressing
cares and anxieties of life, have in one
form or another expressed their faith in
some such language as that of Newman
We cannot and we will not believe that
our little life is rounded with a sleep"
We cannot and we will not believe that
death ends all" AS we believe in the
guardian angel of childhood, so We be-
lieVe, in our maturer years, in the guild
ing and directing hand of Him with
Whom are the issues of life.
Evening star., 1940-04-07
LIGHT. IN THE DARKNESS
By the Right Reu James E. Freeman D. D. ILL., d. D. C. L.
Bishop of WASHINGTON

1t was out Of the depths Of physical
weakness and mental anguish that John
Henry Newman wrote the lines, Lead,
Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom"
They constitute the first part Of hymn
that has come to be one Of the greatest
in the Christian Church. The circum-
stances that led up to the writing Of the
hymn are so picturesque and suggestive
that we venture to quote what the au-
thor himself says. He had gone down
to Sicily, broken in health and distressed
IN mind In response to the deep con-
cern of his servant, that he was nearing
the end, he said, II shall not die, shall
not die, for I have not sinned against
light, have not sinned against light.
was aching to get home, yet for want Of
a vessel was kept at Palermo for three
weeks. At last got of In an orange
boat bound for Marseille. Then it was
that I wrote the lines, Lead, Kindly
Light We were becalmed whole week
In the Straits Of Bonifacio. was writ
Ing verses the whole time Of my pass
age"
This was IN the early spring Of 1888.
The whole hymn is expressive of the
strong yearning of man who was pass
ing through. period Of great mental
anguish. 1t was one of those transitions
through which now and again strong
minded men pass. 1t is the expression
OF one who, cropping in the darkness, feels
and knows that there is light ahead, and
with straining eyes peers through the
mists to behold it. Like almost all the
great hymns, it was born out of real
and not fancied experience. No one
who is familiar with the life of Cardinal
Newman but must recall the heart
breaking strain through which he passed
when he left the household of his faith
ers to become an ardent disciple of that
body that ultimately conferred upon him
the high title Of cardinal.
Evening star., 1940-04-07
Norway on the Spot

The growing seriousness of Nor
ways position, caught between the
Allied blockade and Germanys vital
wartime need Of Swedish iron ore,
Is brought into sharp focus by the
British and French notes to the
Scandinavian states and the reaction
they evoked In the address to the
Norwegian Parliament yesterday by
Foreign Minister Halvdan Koht.
That the Allied notes gave Norway
and Sweden new warnings that ship
ments of iron ore to Germany
through Norwegian coastal waters
must be stopped is indicated by the
foreign minister's positive declara-
ton that Norway will "at once. be
at war" If free shipping through
Norwegian waters is interferred with
to the advantage of one of the bel
ligerents. The presence in Stockholm
OF British mission, said to be ne
gotiating with Sweden for curtail-
ment, If not complete stoppage, of
shipments of iron ore to Germany,
adds gravity to the events which
have again turned wars spotlight on
Scandinavia.
NorWay's anxiety, even more than
that OF Sweden, is well-founded. She
is faced with the inevitability, and
she certainly regards it as such, of
an Allied naval force acting in Nor
wegian waters to put a stop to Ger
manys circumvention of the block
ade.
When that happens Norway will
be In imminent danger from German
retaliation either against the block
aders within Norway's waters or d.
rectly against Norway if she fails to
expel the Allied forces. The question
before her then will be whether to
disregard the violation of her neu-
trality by both sides or to take sides
with one or the other belligerent.
Foreign Minister Koht has taken
wise step by giving his country no.
tice that 1t may be forced, in the de-
tense of its neutrality and independ-
ence, to make the decision, and per-
haps choose sides in the war which
now threatens to engulf Scandinavia.
Probably the Norwegians themselves
do not know what choice will be
made, for much will depend on which
side is blamed for Norway's involv-
ment. But Koht's statement will set
Norwegians to thinking, and bring
ing their political and diplomatic
actions more into line with their
fundamental democratic interest.
Evening star., 1940-04-07
Civil Service Heurinq

Government employees generally
will welcome the announcement that
the Senate Civil Service Committee
plans to open hearings Wednesday
on the Ramspeck bill to bring thou
sands of exempt positions under civil
service and extend to the field serv-
ice the classification act rates of pay
that apply to departmental employ
ment. The measure is of greatest i'm
portance, and represents reforms
that are long overdue.
The proposal to give civil service
status to the large number of posi-
tions that heretofore-by law-have
been subject to patronage distribu-
ton strikes blow at an appointive
system that is inefficient and costly
and initiates against good admins
tration. 1t has drawn some Republi-
can opposition on the ground that it
will freeze" into Office many New
Deal appointees in the newer agen-
cies, and while that is true, it is
equally as true that if the practice Of
making non-civil service appoint
ments is to be broken up, a start
has to be made some time. The
plan under which incumbents are
to get the opportunity to qualify
for civil service through non COM
petitive tests happens to be the only
feasible means to achieve improve
ment.
The bill carries one provision that
should be striken out by the Senate.
Over the objection of Chairman
Ramspeck of the House Civil Service
Committee, sponsor of the measure,
the House adopted an amendment
under which it's benefits would be de-
MED all employees hailing from States
which have more than their quota
Of employment-based on popula-
tion-in the departmental service,
while any State is under quota. The
Civil Service Commission, in a de-
tailed report, has pointed out that
this restriction is thoroughly un-
workable, and has unlimited capacity
for doing injustice, inasmuch as it
would set up permanent barrier to
advancement against thousands of
worthy men and women.
This restriction is an adaptation Of
the "apportionment law" that was
written into the original Civil Service
Act and fouts the basic merit prin-
ciple of that legislation. Honest civil
service means appointment by open
competition. It is not to be attained
by parceling out jobs according to
the accident of residence
Evening star., 1940-04-07

former years, especially In view OF
increased automobile registrations,
is even more impressive. But the
small Improvement shown must not
blot out the fact that much more
can be done. In these first three
months not a single child was killed,
while last year three met death in
this period. But the years time Of
greatest danger for children has not
yet come.
Every effort has been made during
the last quarter to improve enforce
ment, particularly as regards rules
for moving traffic and for the pro-
lection of pedestrians. This drive
for better enforcement has extended
to courts and prosecuting officials.
Efforts to improve engineering fac
tors, including traffic light installa-
tions, still are being pushed, although
budgetary difficulties prevent reali-
cation Of a complete program.
But for every citizen one big
opportunity to improve the safety
Of Washington's streets remains
open. Each can study today's ar
ticles on how fatal accidents occur
and the conditions surrounding
them. Each can compare his own
walking and driving habits with
those involved in fatalities. And
very few are they who, examining
themselves, will be unable to find
room for improvement. Safety is a
cooperative effort which is the duty
of every citizen.
Only personal realization of this
will eliminate death on Washing
tons streets
Evening star., 1940-04-07
Traffic Deaths

Elsewhere in today's Star there is
presented summary of the traffic
deaths in Washington for the first
quarter of 1910, including compari-
sons with the same period of last
year. This summary, based on sur
veys of the findings of coroner's
juries, is supplement to the factual
study for 1899 which was published
on January /. 1t reveals an encourag-
ing gain in the community effort to
hold traffic fatalities to a minimum.
In the first three months of this
year sixteen persons lost their lives
on the streets. Thirteen of these
were pedestrians. Last years first
quarter saw twenty-one deaths, of
which seventeen were pedestrians.
Significantly, approximately three
fourths of all these fatalities oc-
Cured in the danger zone which
Immediately surrounds the shopping
area.
Apparently the majority Of deaths
this year continue to result from
carelessness or recklessness. Eleven
drivers involved in such accidents
were exonerated by the inquest
juries, three were held on charges
Of negligent homicide, one was
bound over to the grand Jury on
suspicion of manslaughter and one
hit-and-run driver has not been
apprehended.
A reduction of twenty-three per
cent In fatal accidents is most graft
tying, and. when compared with
Evening star., 1940-04-07
Automobile Liens

The House District Committee is
scheduled to take action tomorrow
on bill by Chairman Randolph to
improve the system of recording
automobile liens in the District.
This is a matter of considerable
Importance to all automobile own
erS and prospective owners, particu-
larly those in the latter group who
may contemplate the purchase of
secondhand cars.
At the present time these liens are
filed with the recorder of deeds. It
appears that the work is handled
there with all the efficiency that
existing facilities permit, but the
fact remains that the buyer of a
car, especially a used car, is put to
considerable trouble and expense to
search the records. And, unless he
knows the names and addresses of
all prior owners, he cannot be sure,
even after a search, that there are
no liens outstanding against the
automobile.
In an effort TO provide greater
protection and to simplify the task
of searching the record, Representa-
tive Randolph's bill would transfer
the recording function to the De-
partment of Vehicles and Traffic,
which was not in existence when the
present title law was passed. Liens
would be recorded under an engine
number filing system already in use,
which would give complete protec-
ton to buyers, since an accurate
statement of outstanding liens would
accompany any certificate of title.
In addition, the cost of recording
and releasing liens would be sub
stantially reduced.
Hearings have been held on this
bill and it was once on the House
calendar. only to be recalled at the
request of a member of that body.
It has been considered and approved
by the District Commissioners, the
auditor, the corporation counsel, the
director Of vehicles and trafnc, the
Bureau Of the Budget, the District