davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-12-28
By Constantine Brown.

German people know only too we'll that
they must stick it out and accept the
most drastic curtailments in their mode
of living, for they cannot expect mercy
from their enemy. They are still cap
able of tremendous effort.
To the best of our knowledge, the total
losses of the Nazi forces in Russia have
not exceeded 100000 men. All the
higher figures published or reported are
heavily discounted by military experts.
German factories have suffered only in
finitesimal losses from bombardments
by the r. A. F. The subjugated nations
have been compelled to place at the dis
posal of the German military machine
all available workmen, who are doing
practically slave labor in the workshops
of the Reich or the conquered territories.
Arms and ammunition are being pro-
duced at top speed. The reported short
ages in supplies for the army in Russia
are due to transportation difficulties
rather than shortages in raw materials.
Dissension Exaggerated.
Great emphasis is being placed in
some quarters on political dissension be-
tween Adolf Hitler and his generals.
This emphasis is, to say the least. ex-
aggerated. Whatever differences of
opinion exist between the military and
the National Socialists are suppressed
and will not emerge unless and until the
Germans suffer total defeat.
The situation in the Reich and the
conquered territories (and Italy may be
counted as one of them) admittedly is
difficult, but we would commit a tre-
mendous error if we allowed ourselves
to fall into thinking that. because of
these inevitable difficulties, the Nazis are
on the verge of collapse. They have only
lost one round in the dozens of rounds
which must be fought before this world
wide bout is finished.
Our military and naval strategists are
unanimous in this opinion. They be-
lieve, however, that we can begin to talk
about approaching German collapse if
the Nazi legions meet with real defeat
in their drive for oil in the Near East.
AS the figures on the Axis oil and gaso-
n1lC COlloulllptlOIl dSuO
proportions, it becomes increasingly clear
that unless the three robber nations can
lay their hands on large sources of oil
and quickly-their fight will be futile.
Consequence Of Jap Victory.
The Japanese are making herculean
efforts to capture Singapore with the
ultimate objective of winning the rich
oil regions of the Netherlands Indies.
The capture of Singapore not only would
doom Java, Sumatra and Borneo, but
also would permit the Axis to ship its
neWly-won "black gold" to Europe.
Should Singapore fall, the British navy
would be compelled to scatter to Aus
tralia and the Western Hemisphere,
leaving an almost free field to the Axis
in the Indian Ocean.
The consequences Of such japanese
victory would be immense. The Red Sea
Immediately would be threatened, and
Germany could launch a blitz against
the Near East. This appears to American
Evening star., 1941-12-28

The Russians continue to press the
fleeing Germans on all sections of the
front, but well-informed military quar-
ters say that, although the Russians are
much better equipped than any other
army to fight under Arctic conditions,
their operations are bound to slow down
soon, and before the year ends the two
armies will be facing each other in
war of position.
This is not what the Germans ex-
pected when they were making their
victorious drive toward Moscow and
Leningrad months ago, but they made
all necessary preparations for such an
eventuality. With the aid Of "volun-
teers" from France, Spain and other
subjugated countries, they constructed
replica of the Siegfried Notifications on
fne running from Estonia through
Smolensk tnd Kiev to the Black Sea.
The situation in the Reich is far from
satisfactory for the Nazi leadership.
This is evident from the.reports emanat-
ing from coldly realistic sources which
that is so characteristic of propaganda
ministries abroad. Rations have been
further curtailed, despite the rich loot
of foodstuffs which the German armies
have sent home from the conquered
lands. The army requires more than
was expected, and neither the fighting
forces nor workmen in the factories can
Lo of r;cl,v Tho Hhp1,c-
fraus" ingenuity Is taxed to prepare
even a scanty meal for the family.
Clothes Patched in Reich.
AS far as clothing is concerned, the
average German family has been forced
to give up all hope of obtaining re-
placements Patched elbows and trouser
seats are in order in the best families
in the Reich.
Even the Nazi high command has had
to be patched up. Field Marshal Gen.
Walther Won Brauchitsch was fired and
other distinguished German generals
have been sacked. This is inevitable in
any army in which the commanding
officer fails in his task, no matter the
reason. The British have kicked up
stairs most, if not ALL of their original
commanding officers, while we in this
country are now cleaning out the kind
of deadwood which will be found in any
fighting force at the outset of war.
The Nazis appeared to have only live,
young officers in command when the
war broke out in 1889, but some of them
have not matured in the way the Fuehrer
and the German people expected. Hence
the cleanup, which started with the
commander in chief of the field forces
and now is being extended to the lower
ranks.
But in spite of the spectacular reverses
which the Nazis have suffered in Russia,
and to some extent in North Africa
where they had only four divisions op-
Grating, it would be fatal mistake to
believe the Germans are nearly through
and that disintegration has set in. The
Nads are far from through and the
Evening star., 1941-12-28

Who are the war leaders of Japan?
A clique of bold and savage men, num-
bering scarcely more than 33, they set
the Pacific aflame from Burma to Ha-
Waii, and did not scruple to open gam
bic for empire or downfall with a black
legs trick at Pearl Harbor. They also
had the imagination to grasp truth un-
derstood only in part by military leader
ship In the United States-that the in
ternal combustion engine has introduced
into warfare a speed and striking force
making possible new dimension Of au-
dacity. Their very names with two or
three exceptions, are unknown to the
american people, whom their aggression
has plunged into possible years OF blood
Ind sorrow.
Attempted herewith is a list OF the
printed Axis gangsters OF the orient,
whose memories probably will live in his
tory. depending on the point OF view as
glorious or accursed. The roster is in
complete. If the Nipponese Army has a
commander in chief, his identity has not
been penetrated by American intelli-
eence services. Owing to a recent shake
up In the japanese Navy, Washington
has not yet learned what admlrals are
IN command of the I'd, Sd and 4th Fleets.
The heads of technical air departments
ere known but not the chiefs, If any, OF
combat aviation.
List of Chieftains.
One civilian is included. A capital ele-
ment in the aerial jiu-jits which caught
the American forces off guard at Homo
lulu was that of bemusing the State De-
partment with fraudulent negotiations,
in order to win time. The ruSe appears
to have been directed by the Minister
of Foreign Affairs. The list of Japan's
war chieftains, so far as it can be stated
at present, is as follows:
Gen. Hideki TOTO, Premier and Min
ister of War.
Admiral shigetaro shimada, Minister
Of the Navy.
shigenori Togo, Minister Of Foreign
Affairs.
Gen. Gen sugiyama, chief of the Cen
eral Staff Office.
Admiral Osami Nagano. chief OF the
Naval Staff Board.
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. COM
uander in chief of the combined and
1st fleets.
Gen. Prince Naruhiko Higashi- -Kuni-
no-Miya, commander of the Home De-
partment Japan proper.
Gen. Shunroku Hata, commander OF
the China Department.
Gen. Yoshijiro Umezu, commander OF
the Kwantung Department CMan-
chukuo).
Gen. Kenji Doihara, chief of the Mill
tary Aviation Department.
Vice Admiral Eikichi Katagiri, chief
Of the Naval Aviation Department.
Above these leaders stands the Su-
preme War Council, a policy making
board Of grand strategy, which was
created tn 1887 as special Office to
advise the Mikado on all important
matters pertaining to war. Its mem
Evening star., 1941-12-28

be under constitutional ordinance. But
the divine" status of the Son of
Heaven" forbidding him to stoop to
anything so mundane as to govern, has
been seized upon by politicians as a
pretext for stripping him of power.
In theory, he is at liberty to accept or
reject the recommendations offered by
his ministers on reverent knees. In
practice, their suggestions are always
adopted. Hirohito is the 124th Emperor
of a dynasty tabled to have ruled over
Japan since $50 B. c. Never in history,
it is declared, has Mikado ventured
upon independent action-except, per-
haps, in the pages of Gilbert and Sui
livan.
Excluded from prime war guilt are
most cabinet officers and the leaders
and members of Japan's Diet, or Par
lament. Ministries have generally been
at the mercy of. the armed services.
According to law, the Minister of War
and Minister of the Navy must be Off
GERS In active service. With such an
opening, the war and navy departments
gradually assumed authority to name
these ministers.
Diet Under Control.
BY a further step, the departments
arrogated power to veto any proposed
cabinet that was suspected of the faint
est liberal" tinge. They accomplished
this by simply refusing to nominate
candidates for the two posts. The Min
listers of War and Navy are responsible
directly to the Emperor, and in case of
need have immediate access to his
person, over the head of the Premier.
The Diet consists Of two chambers,
a hereditary House OF Peers and an elec-
tive House of Representatives. All legis-
lation is initiated by the cabinet, so that
the Parliament, at best, could merely
discuss, and then ratify or reject, the
formers proposals. Since the govern
ment has ample means for Furnishing
dissenters, mutiny has peen rare. Years
ago the House of Representatives shrank
into a debating society. It serves today
as q rubber stamp for the ministry.
Evening star., 1941-12-28
African Front

Churchill in his report on the war at
our Capitol said the British had the
Axis on the run in Libya and he believed
the British might destroy the Axis army
there-150OOO men, one-third of them
Germans. The British offensive there
is now six weeks old. Last week, on
Wednesday, the British reached Bengasi
in their drive. Bengasi is on the Gulf
of Sidra, which means that British
troops now turn south to skirt the gulf
and bring them into Tripolitania, the
western province Of Libya.
Complete success in the trip to Bengasi
would have included the capture of the
Axis army. So far that
Benoosi capture has not been
T.,.,.I effected. A London mill
tary commentator on Fri
day said that in spite of the repeated
stabs by British armored patrols which
were whiting down his tank strength,
Gen. Erwin Rommel, the German still
might succeed in getting some of his
forces through to Tripolitania The
British. however. had interceptors at
Agedabia 60 miles below Bengasi.
Bengasi is 300 miles west Of the
Libyan-Egyptian border, at which point
the British began the Libyan war on
November l8. Capture of Bengasi means
that an Axis threat to Egypt has been
removed and large British forces eventu.
ally will be freed for the mopping up Of
Libya, 1t was said in London. Distances
are great in sandy Libya. Gen. Rom
mel faces tremendous task If he hopes
to make himself safe by Withdrawing as
far west as Sirte, $50 miles into Tripoli-
tania from Bengasi.
Evening star., 1941-12-28
Russian Front

Moscow continues to make astronomi-
cal claims of advances against the Ger
mans who not many weeks ago were
making advances against the Russians
The Soviets launched general offensive
last week against the Finnish forces, who
had moved few miles into Russian ter
ritory during the months when all was
going well for the Axis and its associates
In the war against Russia.
Evening star., 1941-12-28
ned Discussions White House Set Stage for AO War A

the extreme southern tip ot Luson, Ie-
gaspi. by blowing up bridges across deep
ravines.
The japanese drive from Lingayen
carried their first line OF advance with
in ITO miles of Manila by Christmas Day,
when invading infantry and tanks
reached Binaloan, on the main highway
to Manila. The Japanese used aerial
attack frequently to bolster their forces
effectiveness. The Asiatic squadron of
the American Navy sank a transport and
mine sweeper and probably sank a
transport and seaplane. Admiral Thom-
as c. Hart officially reported. An OBJ
server reported that an American de-
stroyer drove away Japanese ships from
the Batangas area.
BY Friday the threat 10 Manila was
counted so great that the capital was de-
clared an open city in a futile
Open effort to spare its residents fur
Civ ther bombardment. Americans
IN the battle of Lingayen es-
tablished themselves on a line 100 miles
north of Manila to oppose the main body
Of Japanese, who had not been able to
follow their comrades as far as Bina-
loan. Artillery fighting marked today's
episode Of the battle of Lingayen. Tank
battles ragged in the effort to halt the
Japanese who landed at Antimoan. They
moved within IS miles of Manila by ad-
vancing to Lamon Bay.
From Davao there was small word
The chief Japanese purpose in establish
ing position there would be It's use as
jumping off place for attack on the
rich East Indian islands Of Borneo and
Celebes, across the Su1u and Celebes
Seas from the island of Mindanao.
Already japanese have landed IN Saf.
awak, a British possession on the pre-
dominately-Dutch island of Borneo and
the people Of Sarawak blew up their oil
fields to keep them from use by the in
vaders. Wednesday the Dutch air force
and navy sank three Japanese transports
and tanker off Miri, one of the two
SaraWak points where the japanese
made landings, and thus wiped out the
whole supply feet for Japan at that
point. The Netherlands action cost the
Dutch dear in men and supplies, and
japanese planes have bombed and
machine gunned small, outlying Dutch
islands. inflicting civilian casualties.
Of Kuching, southern Sarawak, the
Dutch attacked a concentration OF Jap
anese ships and left one
Dutch tranSDOft in a sinking ron.
A.t;on dition. The Dutch bombed
q Japanese tanker of more
than 10000 tons off Davao and sank 1t.
Friday the Dutch bagged destroyer and
a transport of Kuching. The Dutch
have averaged ship sunk a day since
the war in the Far East began. The
Japanese landed Wednesday at Kuching,
and met native troops, local constabulary
and barefooted jungle rangers. Sir
Charles Vyner Brooke, white rajah of
SaraWak, hurried home from Australia
for the crisis of invasion.
Before he left Australia, Sir Charles
bitterly condemned the generals in
charge of the defense of Singapore and
Malaga. Friday the British relieved Air
Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Pop-
ham of command there and installed 1t.
Gen. Sir Henry Pownan as commander
In chief in the Far East. The Japanese
fighting southwark in Malaga are still
Evening star., 1941-12-28
Bv Richard L. Stokes.

bership has lately been increased from
10 to 10. The Ministers of War and
the Navy, with their respective chiefs OF
staff. are exofficio members. Prince Hi
gashi-Kuni is also member.
Even before Toxic Dragged of the
fact, it was suspected here that Admiral
Yamamoto, an aviation as well as navy
expert, had crowned years of enmity
toward the United States by plotting
the treacherous operation at Pearl Har-
Dor. A week later, it was proclaimed
that he was not only the author Of
this surprise" but had schemed 1t
months in advance.
Fought Against Russians.
His ruling passions are fanatical belief
in the destiny of the Japanese as a
master race, and adherence of the
Anglo-Saxon powers. He is credited
with torpedoing the London Naval Con-
ference in 1884 and with having been
the moving spirit behind Japan's abroga-
ton of the Nine-Power Treaty.
Admiral Yamamoto was born 81 years
ago in Nagaoka, on the bleak northwest
coast of the main japanese island. He
was graduated from the naval academy
lust in time to fight In the Russian
japanese War as an ensign, and lost
the first and second fingers of his left
hand aboard Admiral Togo's flagship
Mikasa in the battle off Tsushima in
1904. He was Naval Attache in Wash
ington during 1925.
Yamamoto was Junior rear admiral
on the Naval Staff Board when he
went to the London conference. He
returned a vice admiral and national
hero because of his successful fight
against an extension of the Washington
Treaty, with Japan on the short end
of its 5-5-3 naval ratios.
Up to the minute as a strategist, he
places supreme faith in airplane carriers
and torpedoes. Though he struggled
with might and main at the London
conference to have torpedoes classified
as defensive weapons" his belief is
that today they have outmoded guns.
Doihara . Master Spy.
Next to Admiral Yamamoto, the most
picturesque and sinister figure is Gen.
Doihara. AS Col Doihara, he became
world famous 10 years ago under the
nickname of Lawrence of Manchuria." !"
He is Japan's master spy and agent pro-
vocateur, her supreme fabricator of
deadly incidents" 1t was probably his
handiwork to which Secretary Knox paid
unwilling tribute in his declaration that
fifth column" operations in Hawaii had
been surpassed during this war only in
Norway.
He conceived a towering design-that
of restoring the abdicated Manchu En-
peror, Henry Pu-yi, to the throne OF all
China, and then manipulating him as a
Japanese puppet.
The conspirator devised q master
stroke, known as "the Manchuria Incl
dent" of September 10. 1881. He armed
hundreds of csshiered Chinese soldiers
Evening star., 1941-12-28

295 miles north of Singapore. Churchill
explained to Congress here that the de-
fense in Malaga was not too strong be-
cause material that could have been used
there was used by the imperial forces in
Libya. Friday, in Canberra, Prime Min
lister John Curtin of Australia said, with
out explaining further, that Britain, the
Evening star., 1941-12-28

United States and Australia had
launched an effort to reverse Japan's
present offensive campaign.
In Chungking, China, Chinese, Ameri-
can and British army leaders held a
meeting and reached harmonious view
on the conduct Of the war against
Japan.
Evening star., 1941-12-28

Tuesday great saga of heroism closed
with the japanese capture of Wake
Island. Two days later an
Wake other siege came to close with
r,;- the fall of Hong Kong to the
japanese. Hong Kong is a
British crown colony on peninsula and
island of South China. England gained
Evening star., 1941-07-30
Sasscer Attacks Proposal
For Joint Tax Returns

Declaring the current need for
revenue lis not a justification for
the passage of a discriminatory and
unfair tax Representative SaSscer,
Democrat, of Maryland today an
nounced his opposition to the pro-
vision in the pending tax bill which
requires husband and wife to file
joint income tax returns.
IF it is right, in principle, to re-
quire husband and wife to file joint
returns for tax purposes it would be
equally right, in principle, to require
a joint family return, including all
persons living under the same roof,
or business partners, etc, on to a
thoroughly ridiculous situation" he
said That principle, however,
includes the unfair and unSound
theory of making the amount of tax
that one individual pays dependent
upon the earnings of another person.
IF several unmarried brothers
and sisters, from their combined
incomes, support a joint home they
rightfully are permitted to file sep
arate income tax returns. If, how
ever, another sister is married and
living with her husband she would
be penalized under the pending tax
proposal by being made to file a
| Joint income lax with her husband
and pay a higher rate or surtax."
Evening star., 1941-07-30
Virginia Convict Lashed
For Failure TO Cooperate
B, the Associated Press.

B, the Associated Press.
CHAMBLISSBURG, Va, July 30
w. w. Harvey, superintendent OF
State convict camp near here, said
yesterday a Scott County convict
was lashed last week because he
refused to talk, work or cooperate
with officials.
Mr.. Harvey said the punishment
IS lashes-was done with the per-
mission of State prison authorities.
The superintendent made the
statement when told that last week S
lashing had been brought to the
attention of a Virginia State Senator
RICHMOND, Va, July 80 P).-
Lashing of State convicts as last
resort when they fail to respond
to other treatment is mot COM
mon occurrence" Walker c. Cottrell,
chairman of the State Prison Board,
said last night.
Whippings are authorized under
a corporal punishment statute which
has been in effect in Virginia almost
since Colonial times. Mr.. Cottrell
said. The law requires that a phy-
sician examine the convict both
before and after the whipping and
empowers the physician to stop the
lashing at any time, Mr.. Cottrell
said.
Evening star., 1941-07-30
Alexandra Will Ask
S1,800,000 Grant
For Improvements
$3.50, 900 Sewage Plant
Among Works Required
By Defense Influx
Bv staff Correspondent of The Star

Bv Staff Correspondent of The Star
ALEXANDRIA, Va, July 30.-City
Manager Carl Budwesky was author
lied yesterday by the City Council
to file applications for Federal
grants amounting to approximately
s1,8O0,O00 for municipal improve
ments necessitated by the heavy
influx of defense workers here.
Mr.. BudWesky told the Council
men the proposed improvements
were made necessary directly or in
directly by the defense program, and
added the city's increased popula-
ton had placed an unusual strain
on its resources.
The improvements will include an
item of $3.50 900 for a sewage dis
posal plant for elimination of Poto-
mac River pollution, $250,000 for an
elementary school to serve the area
near the 3O0-unit Naval housing
project on King street, 100000 for a
recreation center for white soldiers,
$50 900 for a service club for COL
ored soldiers, s25,000 for hospital
and $4,000 for an X-ray machine for
the city health department.
The applications will be submitted
to the P. w. A. under provisions OF
the Lanham Act, and will be re-
viewed by an administration
priorities board.
Evening star., 1941-07-30
Rural Affairs Institute
Awards Certificates


BLACKSBURG, Va. July 30.-The
Institute of Rural Affairs, which
opened its 18th annual session by
awarding two certificates of merit in
agriculture last night, turned its at
tention today to Pan-American re-
lations and tomorrow will put de-
mocracv on trial on a mock court
proceeding.
DR.. Julian A. Burruss. president OF
Virginia Tech, awarded the certifi-
Gates to Justis H. Cline, Stuarts
Draft conservationist, and Mrs. Guy
Roop, Snowville. president of the
National Home Demonstration
Council.
The Virginia Agricultural Confer
ence Board yesterday warned of an
intensifcation of the campaign
against farmer co-operatives when
the 1912 General Assembly convenes.
The board adopted resolution,
proposed by Campfleld, opposing any
further increase in Federal gasoline
taxes.
Meeting at the same time, in
conjunction with the session of the
Institute of Rural Affairs, the Vir-
ginia Federation of Home Demon
stration Clubs unanimously elected
the following officers:
Mrs. w. H. Cruise, Carroll County
southwest district president: Mrs
c. M. Kitchen, Madison County
northern district president; Mrs
John East, Augusta County, secre-
tary, and Mrs. C. H. White, Bed
ford County, treasurer.