davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-05-25
Japan Seeks to Conclude
Costly War Against China
Disturbed by United States Aid and by Grin
Chinese Refusal to Yield Toxic
Would End Incident

sibility of the collapse of the British
Empire, which might make them heirs
TO all the colonial empires of the
European powers conquered by Hitler.
In any case Japan's leaders feel they
must be free to strike with all the power
OF which the empire is capable. This
is the most compelling motive behind
the drive to "liquidate the China Incl
dent"
There are others, such as the war
veariness of the Japanese people,
who have had nearly four years of
short rations, shoddy clothing, unheated
houses in winter and the tragic process
sions of little white boxes brought home
from China, perhaps 250O00 Of them.
Each contains the ashes of a japanese
soldier.
Then there is the cost, something like
$4,000 100000 to date-a vast sum for q
poor nation like Japan.
Nevertheless Japan's leaders have
committed her to program of southern
expansion, to seize the opportunities
created by Europe's cataclysms.
Three factors have held the brakes on
the southwark drive. First was the
menace of Russia; second, the fact that
most of Japan's Army, some 1000 900
men, has been kept punching at the
great featherbed that is China; third,
the British Empire has remained intact
and capable of putting up mighty fight
for her Eastern possessions.
japanese optimists say the first factor
was taken care of when Foreign Minister
Yosuke Matsuoka met an unexpectedly
friendly Joseph Stain in Moscow last
month and emerged from the Kremlin
with neutrality accord" in MS pocket.
Adolf Hitler might take care of the third
factor this summer with his hammer
blows at Britains island citadel and her
lifeline to the east But it is up to Japan
to get rid of the second deterrent, the
China war.
Just how she proposes to accomplish
that remains the secret Of the Toxic
high command, shared with Premier
Konoye and Foreign Minister Matsuoka.
But most experienced observers believe
three courses are open:
l. A mightier than ever attempt to
crush Chiang's government at Chung
king, of which the present fighting in
Shansi, Honan and Hupeh Provinces may
be the opening phase.
2 An attempt to cause Chiang's COL
lapse by political means.
3. An admission that the war is a
stalemate, signifed by Withdrawing jap
anese Armies from the interior to the
coast and trying merely to hold China
in the grip of a blockade which will
make her helpless to interfere with
whatever further adventures Japan mag
choose.
Evening star., 1941-05-25

multiplied more than tenfold m the first
four months Of this year over those in
the corresponding period last year. The
respective figures are 79 and 996.
The increase of naval pilots has been
something like 1340, from 1900 on MAY
%, 1910, to approximately 4,240 on May
/, 194l. During the last 10 months the
student entry rate for pilot training
mounted from 100 TO 500 a month and
is expected to reach 800 in July.
Three-ffths Of current deliveries are
trainers, which add no immediate sup
port to the fighting forces. Tremendous
demands on the aircraft industry by the
Army and Great Britain make it proble-
matte whether the Navy's air expansion
schedules for 1941 can be met. These call
for a net gain of 3710 planes during the
year, bringing the number TO about $500
on January !, 1912. During 1e41 the
hope is TO raise the total Of Navy pilots
to 1898.
Notwithstanding months Of triumphant
publicity over the lease of eight operating
bases in the Atlantic and Caribbean, the
Navy possesses as yet no prime outpost in
the Atlantic and is compelled TO base
itself on three continental establishments
along the East Coastal Boston, New
York and Norfolk.
In the Atlantic, at present chief dam
ger spot, is feet Of some 125 vessels,
including several modern cruisers. two
aircraft carriers and a number of de-
stroyers and submarines. 1t is built
around the Navy's three oldest battle
ships-New York, Arkansas and Texas,
none Of them capable of standing in the
Evening star., 1941-05-25

they been absent during the Civil War
the Union would not have endured.
Should these qualities of the American
temperament atrophy today no defense
program could suffice to make the Nation
really strong.
Our entire national contribution, in
Government, science. commerce, educa-
ton and the arts, traces in the last
analysis to this union of faith and hope
and the belief in human perfectibility
which springs therefrom. To assert that
the preservation and strengthening of
this belief is the real mission of the
United States may sound like idle senti-
ment But in the long pages of history
peoples and nations do come to stand
for certain principles. And for those
which America embodies there is great
need, now and in the years ahead.
America is too big, both in stature
and in spirit, to be whipped by the
lash of venomous tongues along the path
which certain elements favor. Coer-
cion is not the method which those who
know this country would ever Use to
direct Its course.
Evening star., 1941-05-25


OF similar tenor is story told of
Secretary of War Stimson. Trusted
Senators and Representatives are some
times favored with secret information
under pledge of confidence, while a re-
porter known to be reliable may learn
almost arvthing he wishes, but "off the
record A person whose lips had been
thus sealed begged Stimson to loose the
bond. The request was denied. The
visitor asked whether the Secretary did
not think Hitler knew all about the
matter in question. Hell, no." Stimson
Is said to have retorted. why, l. my
self-it took me six months TO find out
what was going on
Report Only Tentative.
IN view of the plight acknowledged
by men like Stimson and Taft, the
annual report" on defense progress
undertaken herewith can hope to be
little more than tentative. Many of
the figures given were approximations
TO begin with, and they change from
week to week and even from day to
day. 1t may be said, however, that
all items enumerated are true, generally
speaking, to the best of the writer's
knowledge and belief.
The United States Navy is probably
the strongest sea force in the world.
Tt is incomparably the furthest advanced
of Americas defense arms. However, 1t
shows no decisive increase of strength
over that of May, 1910,
The Army will attain its primary OBJ
3ective of 1,41S,00o officers and men by
June 20. But it has suffered a grievous
decline of combat quality through the
breaking up OF professional divisions into
instruction groups, scattered throughout
Evening star., 1941-05-25

west Illinois, then working for groups
throughout the Nation as chairman of
the board of the National Drainage AS
sociation.
His efforts were rewarded when Con-
gress included in the act creating the
Reconstruction Finance Corp. a section
providing for the refinancing of the
drainage districts.
Mr.. Schram, then 80, made a deep i'm
preston when he presented his case at
congressional hearings One Senator told
Jesse Jones, then r. F. C. chairman,
about him.
Called From Washington.
So one evening in 1888 when Mr..
Schram and his wife and three sons were
sitting in the farmhouse at Hillview, the
telephone rang. 1t was Washington.
MI. Schram went to the Capital as
chief of the r. F. C.'s drainage, levee and
irrigation division, to administer the law
he had helped to have enacted. He lent
SS5 100000 to refinance the drainage dis
tricts, retiring s240,000,000 Of debts.
He rescued the districts in the nick
of time, and did the job 50 well that
Thomas G. Corcoran saw to it Mr..
Schram was made president of the Elec-
trio Home and Farm Authority, an r.
F. C. subsidiary, when that agency was
III trouble.
Mr.. Schram soon put it on a paying
basis. And new responsibilities were
heaped on him year after year. He was
made member of the board of directors
of the R. F. c. in 1886 and was appointed
chairman in 1889, picking up half a
dozen allied jobs.
But he had never thought until last
April, he says, that he would become
president of the New York Stock Ex-
change. 1t was a surprise to him when
members Of the exchanges board began
dickertng with him.
Evening star., 1941-05-25

planes. The personnel on May ! was
24s ,727 as against 150,592 on June 80,
l940.
Despite all hullabaloo over a two
ocean navy, for which Congress has
approved or authorized a total OF ST.
583. .694. 1888, only few keels of the pro-
posed super r-armada have yet been laid
From earlier programs derived all
accessions of combatant strength de-
livered to the fleet during the last year
They comprised exactly l cruiser,
airplane carrier, Is submarines and 49
destroyers. But two 35,000-ton battle
ships, luckily begun four years ago and
recently commissioned, are to join the
line in July and August or September.
Depleted by Transfers.
Owing partly TO transfers of destroy
ers and small craft to Britain, the
American Navy entered the second year
of emergency with only 43 more ships,
including auxiliaries, than it possessed
when the Germans smashed through to
the Channel ports and placed Englands
control Of the Atlantic in Jeopardy for
the first time in centuries. Contracts
have only now been let for 40 modern
destroyers to replace so old ones traded
to Britain. The new boats will be COM
missioned about the end of 1912.
Actually under construction at ship
yards are 66 out of 800 combat and 104
auxiliary ships currently on order. In
addition, 260 vessels are technically un-
der construction, meaning that plans
are being drawn or parts manufactured.
Competing for the countrys limited
shipways are 661 seagoing commercial
vessels.
It liz generally accepted that Ameri-
Evening star., 1941-05-25
Bv Felix NJ Orley.

Plenty of heat is being engendered
by the sharp division OF opinion
as to whether the United States
should enter the war as an out
right ally of Great Britain. Names
are called motives are questioned, self
Righteousness abounds. From day to day
the nervous strain accumulates and
tempers grow more short. All the ma
terials of a very explosive situation
would seem to be at hand.
Yet there are certain elements IN the
picture, if an attempt to view 1t dis
passionately may be allowed, which con-
tain great promise for the future OF
America and for the rehabilitation OF
those inherited ideals which all of us
individual position.
A people cannot be shaken to the very
core of their being without some perma-
nent effect. And the influence of the
world cataclysm upon this country Is,
paradoxically, the more pronounced be-
cause we are not as yet physically IN
voived. Free will, involving stern deci-
sions, still governs here in a manner I'M
possible in a beligerent nation. And
stern decisions are character-building
decisions, for the nation as for the in
dividual.
So underlying all the animosities and
yecriminations of the moment the growth
of a deeper spiritual unity is perceptlble.
Behind the ugly fissures which mar
the surface one may glimpse develop
ing serenity which was altogether lack
ing when our national life was SNUG
conplacent and at least relatively secure
Moral Issues Injected.
In order to concur in this hopeful es-
tinate of the situation many would
stipulate an important qualification.
They would agree that the Nation Is
not fundamentally a house divided. but
they would say that to find its soul the
country must engage actively in the war
Both the magnitude of the contemplated
struggle and its unpredictable duration
are properly regarded as secondary issues
hv those with this viewpoint. Undenl'
sblv, If there is moral imperative foi
Americas entry, the cost of the under
taking should not be counted.
On the other hand, leaving aside al
question of material cost, it is by ne
means certain that our underlying ma
tional purpose would be forwarded by
Joining in hostilltles.
That did not prove to be the case last
time, when we blundered so tragicall1
by refusing to join and improve the
League of Nations 1t did not prove
tr,,e for France in this war. 1t has beer
true for Great Britain, and apparently
also for Germany, that national pur'
Evening star., 1941-05-25

pleted but were initiated during thA
opening II months. They can be des-
cribed only in grandiose terms. Con-
templated is a two-ocean navy greater
than history has yet beheld and capable
of imposing It's will throughout the
seven seas; q navy of $500 900 tons con-
sisting of 80 battleships, l8 aircraft
carriers, 81 light and heavy cruisers,
365 destroyers, 1876 submarines, $1,000
planes and 1900 pilots; navy to cost,
with shore facilities and equipment, far
in excess of $4,000, 600 900.
Projected also was an army Of 1,418000
to start, with possible increase TO 4,000,-
600; an army profusely equipped with
the most modern appliances and trained
to the minute; an army to have at its
maximum 10 armored divisions, $1,000
planes, 10000 airplane engines. 1000
heavy guns. $4,000 light guns, $1,000
trench mortars, 1900 tanks, $4,000 900
loaded shells, 300 900 machine guns, 400
600 semi rifles, 1900 900
single-shot rifles and 210 camps and
cantonments: an army, in short, TO cost
something like $40, 900 900 900.
Navy Ready to Fight.
Alone among American defense arms,
the Navy is prepared at this moment
to embark on modern warfare with
good chance Of success. According to
a recent report of Admiral Stark, chief
of Naval Operations, it is probably the
strongest single sea force in the world"
Counting two new batueships not yet
with the fleet, the United States at
present could throw into war II capital
ships, aircraft carriers, 81 light and
heavy cruisers. 165 destroyers, 109 sub
marines and approximately 1000 tactical
Evening star., 1941-05-25

the citizen Army. The country's land
forces today are half trained and half
equipped. Another year will be required
to forge them into effective troops.
Monthly output of military planes rose
from 500 in May, 1910, TO new high
of 1,427 in April 1941. Yet this upward
rush of production has been little re-
f1ected in Army and Navy air strength
because of the diversion of aircraft to
Britain and other democracies.
Air Corps Waits Until 1912.
The Army and Navy together, during
the last II months, were able to increase
the Nations air power by no more than
24O4 planes, including trainers. Their
present combined strength is about 7,476
planes of all types. The Army Air Corps
may not be ready for war on its ,f"n
account before late in 1912. if then.
Out of s44,0OO,OO0 900 available for de-
fense purposes it has been found possible
to spend only $1,000 000000 and contract
for sa4,02O0OO,0OO more in orders placed.
After year OF feverish effort the
United States has mustered for defense
production not more than half its avail
able resources of man hours and ma
chimes. During the first four months Of
1941 alone some 100000 man days were
lost through strikes in defense industries.
Organization Lacks Head.
The end of the first emergency year
finds the defense organization still with
out a head During this period the
National Defense Advisory Commission
faded from the scene. It's successor, the
Office of Production Management, is now
swamped among 10 other groups of equal
Evening star., 1941-05-25

the Office for Emergency Management,
is not a poncymaking but an admin
istrative body.
Confusion of purpose and 1rreSolutlon
of policy in the highest quarters are held
to be deep-seated maladies of the de-
fense program. There exists as yet no
omnipotent executive body such as the
War Industries Board which President
Wilson set up in 1918 under the chair
manship of Bernard M. Baruch.
Mr.. Roosevelt has not sought legisla-
ton enabling him to vest in defense
agencies control of vital implements like
transportation, which is still in the hands
of the Interstate Commerce Commission,
and like oil and coal, which continue
TO be administered by the Department
of Commerce.
1t should be stated in fairness that
May "a is perhaps an unfortunate date
for the proposed reckoning. At this
time many strategic operations are on
the verge of coming into full activity.
Admission is freely made that the story
might differ in marked respects If the
telling were delayed four or five months.
Taken into account are the circunl-
stances that, except for the Navy, our
defense program started not far beyond
zero, and that a vast undertaking has
been set afoot with at least the Begin
nings of energy and dispatch.
Those who gaze on the programs
point of departure eXclaim that miracles
have been wrought. Others. with eyes
fixed on the world crisis and its volcanic
ascent, give way to CONSERVATION.
The years progress may gain relief
If placed against background of the
Nations ultimate defense objectives,
which of course were not to be COM
Evening star., 1941-05-25

Continued on Page C-3, Column ~
Evening star., 1941-05-25
From Swampland to Wall Street
ExFarmer Emil Schram New Exchange Chief Owns No Stock

He has never seen the floor of the ex-
change, owns no stocks and never has
held more than 100 shares, he says.
No Reorganization Plans.
He has no plans for reorganizing the
institution. In the negotiations one of
the governors asked him how he would
interpret the difficulties of the exchange,
which lately has done less business than
at any time since the Spanish-American
War
Wall Street suspects that the gov
ernors in picking a Washington official
for exchange president are inauguratlng
a new era Of cooperation between the
exchange and the Government But Mr..
Schram sees no revolutionary changes
in sight.
IF you're expecting me to work won-
ders for you here in Washington, frankly,
I think you're kidding yourselves" Mr..
Schram told the delegation. Il can't
wave magic wand over the S. z. c., the
White House and the r. F. c., and just
get what l want"
But the governors told Mr.. Schram
they understood his position. AS he re-
calls it, they assured me it was an ad-
ministrative job. They want the ex-
change run on business basis. And
they feel it will be helpful to them to
have some one with an understanding of
Government affairs"
No Qualms About Job.
Emil Schram Che pronounces it like
Ay-mil Shrahm) has no qualms about
his new job. "All business is the same"
he says. Railroads, farming, manufac-
turing-the principle is just the same
in all of them. AS long as you keep your
eyes open, know what's going on and
keep your nose clean, you get along all
right"
He doesn't believe in Government be-
ing in business except where it is abb
solutely necessary. IF Government goes
into business there will be no private en-
terprise And think the system of pri-
vate enterprise is one of the greatest
things in the world, the first and the last
thing we must preserve"
Mr.. Schram Is q substantial property
holder, owning a part interest in the
Hartwell ranch and one of the Hillview
grain elevators.
Mr.. Schram prefers business to
politics. He likes simple people, eats
plain food and drinks bourbon and plain
water.
Neat, Conservative Dresser.
He is a neat, conservative dresser He
is Al, but his features look 10 years
older-a visible record of hard work and
heavy responsibility. He has gray eyes
and large, strong nose and mouth. A
few strands of iron gray hair stretch
valiantly back from his forehead to
shield part of his bald crown.
In swapping jobs, Mr.. Schram in
creases his salary from $4,000 to s48,-
900.
Mr.. Schram got his first business ex-
perience selling newspapers and deliver
Ing groceries after school for his father.
Evening star., 1941-05-25
Laggng Production Hampers AmyNavy Efforts for Defense
Fleet Alone Stands Ready
To Handle Any Emergency
Planes Artillery and Munitions Fail to Appear in
Quantities Large Enough to Bring
Any Feeling of Security
Bv Richard L. Stokes.

the Countries and broke out
Including sO0oO0oO00 for eend aid to Britain
appropriated authorized
ultimately Will cost
corporations publish their
which account of
appraisal of no small difficulty Speaking at columbus O
improved Yet lew days
compelled declared he to fall
daily
statements weekly pess-agent
the Office for Emergency
Evening star., 1941-05-25
By Clarke Beach,

A wide-eyed pair of young newEveds
climbed out of wagon and planted their
feet on the soggy bottom lands of the
Illinois Valley one day in 1915, facing as
bleak a prospect as one could imagine.
The bridegroom, 21-year-old Emil
SChram, had been put in charge of a
5,000-acre tract of swampland which
had proved an improbable investment
TO Schrams boss, wealthy old j. o. Cole
of Peru, Ind. Mr.. Cole chuckled when
he turned the property over to young
Schram, who had been keeping books
for him ever since he graduated from
high school.
Il know you won't steal, so I'm send
ing you down to HillvieW," said Mr.. Cole.
Honesty was Schram's main qualif1ca-
ton; but Mr.. Cole knew there was more
than that behind his husky, 6-foot
l-inch clerk
Even shrewd j. O. Cole didn't guess,
however, that when Schram and his
bride first muddied their shoes IN the
dark loan of the Hillview Gid farm,
the young man was taking his first step
toward the presidency of the New York
Stock Exchange. He took the final step
May 6, 1941.
Developed Drainage System.
Young Schram struck at the lands
weak spot, developed a system OF drain
age, and with the help of neighbors and
the Government built levees against the
flood waters. Within three years he in
creased the corn crop from 5000 to 100,-
900 bushels.
His activities multiplied. He became
manager of two large grain elevators at
Hillview; traded in the grain market in
Chicago; became a specialist in drainage
Ind irrigation, and wreStled with the
financial and organizational difficulties
of the drainage districts, first in South
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-08
Band Concert Schedule
For the Coming Week
Tomorrow.

IUGlOTTbW.
Navy Band, east front of Capitol
7:30 pm.
Marine Band, Marine Barracks
bandstand, pm.
Tuesday.
Army Band, Army War College
band auditorium. 100 pm.
Marine Band, Walter Reed Hos
pital, $50 pm.
Soldiers Home Band, Home band
stand, $50 pm.
Wednesday.
Marine Band, U. S. Capitol, 7:3C
pm.
Thursday.
Marine Band, Marine Barracks
auditorium, pm.
Navy Band, U. S. Naval Hospital
2:30 pm.
Soldiers Home Band, Home band
stand, $50 pm.
Army Band, Mount Alto Hospital
7 pm.
Friday.
Marine Band, st. Elizabeth's Hos
pital, 2 pm.
Navy Band, Mount Alto Hospital
$50 pm.
Army Band, east front of Capitol
1880 pm.
Saturday.
Army Band, Army War College
band auditorium. 1890 am.
Soldiers Home Band, Home band.
stand. $50 pm.