davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-09-07

its feet economically and grant her a
certain expansion on the Asiatic main
land. Moreover, the British and Ameri-
can governments are quite willing to
help Japan to save its face and do not
intend to give the appearance of dictat-
ing terms to that proud nationalistic
country.
Japanese Fear Coalition.
Should, however, Toxic reject these
offers as basis for negotiations both
the United States and Great Britain are
determined to take steps to eliminate
Japan from the present conflict. 1t may
be long and tedious process, but even
the most optimistic japanese doubt that
they can win a war against a coalition
formed by the circumstances in the
Far East.
1t Is not an empty phrase to say that
Japan is encircled today. In the South
Pacific. America, Great Britain and the
Dutch have strong naval and air forces.
Despite the fact that the Japanese have
a first class navy with excellent bases
from Formosa to the Gulf of Siam,
their navy can do nothing about the
fast mobile forces of the three demo-
cratic nations.
In China, Generalissimo Chang Kali
shek will soon be reinforced with war
materials which are already arriving via
the Burma Road. The Chinese leader
is a permanent menace to Japan and
important forces must be maintained to
prevent him from taking the offensive.
The day the generalissimo obtains an
adequate number of planes and small
tanks, the Japanese must figure on
substantially increasing their forces on
the Chinese mainland.
Finally-and this is no mean threat to
Japan-the Siberian army is in better
shape than any other of the Soviet forces
and its air fleet is capable of raiding
Japanese cities. Brave as the japanese
are, it would be suicidal for them, in
the opinion of American military ex-
perts, even to attempt to resist such
combination of enemies. The japanese
are isolated. The Germans cannot come
to their rescue, irrespective of what
happens to Russia and of further VIC
tories the Nazis may win in Europe or
in Africa.
People Want Victories Only.
Japan, like the Reich, has been fed on
victories. Its population has patriotically
frightened its belt in order to make the
military operations of its leaders pos
sible. But If these victories become de-
feats: If official communicates can no
longer boast about new conquests and
the news of serious damage to the fleet
gest back home, it would be difficult for
any political leader to stem the wave of
discomfort from nation which would
see in defeat the ru1nation of all its
hopes. Emperor Hirohito and Prince
Premier Konoye know this full well. A
showdown in American, British and
japanese relations may come sooner
than is believed.
American tankers are on the way to
Vladivostok now carrying the oil and
gasoline for which Japan longs. The
State Department has made it clear to
Toxic officially and privately that we are
determined to brook no interference
with these ships Two have arrived safely.
They are being sent to Russia-and
many more viii follow-in the same way
Evening star., 1941-09-07
load Moscow Proves Long and Difficult for er Experienced Ponze Forces

of the United States as respects Nazi
Germany would, I believe, serve to
shorten this perilous conflict. Such
declaration would be full of meaning
for the German people. At the same
time it would constitute realistic rec
ognition that Britain is the one obstacle
in the way of a Nazi attack upon the
New World"
Churchill called Kings observation "a
momentous declaration" but there are
no signs that the Canadian Prime Min
iSter's hopes will be realized.
Evening star., 1941-09-07
By Clarke Beach.

pines have been strengthened consider
ably in the past year or two. But in
Far Eastern war this country would be
greatly outnumbered in the air, at least
while operating in the vicinity OF Japan.
What warplanes could be spared from
the American mainland would face the
entire might of Japanese planes, all con-
centrated in the japanese islands.
Coordination Essential.
For air defense or attack, the United
States would depend heavily on the
Navy's air arm, for only limited num-
Der of land bases for Army planes would
be available. For this reason, Navy off,
cials view with extreme concern the
agitation in some quarters for creation
of a separate air force. The success of
any operations in the Far East might
hinge on perfect coordination Of forces
in the air and on the sea. Any dis
organization or time lag in the co-opera-
ton between the two forces might be
fatal. And the officials contend that if
the airmen were not naval officers,
schooled as naval men and directly under
naval control, such difficulties would
result.
Japan's first major stroke, the experts
Unfortified and with no installations
except half completed airplane and sub
marine bases, the island would be an
easy prey. Flanked by multitudes of
Japanese islands, many of them re-
ported to harbor submarines and air
bases, naval vessels could not risk
attempting to defend it. 1t could be
bombed into submission in a matter of
days or, perhaps, hours.
The Navy Department for % years
has asked Congress for funds to fortify
Guam. Congress relented last March to
the extent of providing s12,80O,000 for
facilities at Samoa and Guam. But that
sum is too little, and if any more were
appropriated now, it probably would be
too late.
With Guam lost, this country's only
large base in the Orient, Cavite, in
Manila Bay, would be isolated. Com
munications lines could be maintained
only with extreme difficulty in the face
of air and undersea attack from Japa-
nese units on their many small bases.
Any attempt to retake Guam would be
a major undertaking, entailing the dan
gerous and arduous task of first mopping
up the Japanese bases.
The immediate bombing of Toxic in
case of war is advised by some military
experts. The f1imsy structures which
compose the city would prove a tinder-
box under an incendiary attack. The
heart of the japanese Empire would be
disorganized and the effect on morale
might be tremendous japanese, in
mortal fear of losing face, might not
bear up psychologically under such
disaster. Continuous attacks, further
more, would serve to keep the japanese
air force at home for defense purposes,
Sea Battle Improbable.
The two fleets, meanwhile, based on
Japan and at Hawaii, would be glaring
at each other across 1000 miles of ocean.
The japanese would like to tempt the
Americans into Asiatic waters, where
their ships could be attacked by land
based planes, submarines and small
vessels, without risk to the main body
of their fleet.
Perhaps they would make large-scale
attack On Manila to draw the Americans
Evening star., 1941-09-07
Eastern Front

When the week began, the Germans
were pressing toward Leningrad. In
the Russian center, the forces of Gen.
Semeon Timoshenko counterattacked
against the Nazis on the road toward
Moscow. In the Ukraine, Russians under
Gen. Semeon Budyenny blocked an at
tempt of the Germans to bridge the
Dnieper, which is the front in that re-
gion, and the Germans, allied there with
HungarianS, RumanianS and SloyakianS,
kept the Russians from crossing the
Dnieper in an effort to retake some of
the ground west of the river lost to the
Germans. Rumanians besieged the great
Black Sea port of Odessa and cut off
the water supply of the besieged Rus
slams In the north, above Leningrad,
Finnish soldiers pressed back the Rus
slams on the Karelian peninsula, three
times a Finnish Russian battle-ground
In 25 years.
For the present, the foremost Nazi
objective is Leningrad, second Soviet
city, birthplace of the
lenjnorod revolution. On Tuesday
Holds Out the most advanced Ger
man units in the Lenin-
grad drive reached the edges of Kras-
nogvardeisk, 20 miles southwest of
Leningrad, railway junction. On the
sea front, the Axis reported, Leningrad'S
only protection was afforded by the
remnants of the Red Baltic fleet and the
fortress of Kronstadt, on the Gulf OF
Finland, 20 miles west of the city.
All day Monday the Luftwaffe kept
Russian troops and artillery positions
around Leningrad under constant bonn
bardment. wednesday brought reports
of a smashing German victory at Luga,
10 miles southwest of Leningrad, elimi-
mating one of the major obstacles in the
path of German troops trying to close
a ring about the big city. But the same
day brought repulse for the Germans.
The Russians defending Leningrad under
Marshal Klementi Voroshilov forced the
Evening star., 1941-09-07
Far Eastern Front

One crisis passed last week, and the
course of Japan is still foggy. The first
oil ship bearing aviation gasoline for Rus
sia landed on Thursday at Vladivostok, 13
days after it left the United States. For
days America wondered whether Japan
would try to halt it. Japan did not.
Soon a new Far Eastern crisis may be
upon us.
For Japan the times still are critical
the most critical in her history Prince
Konoye, Prime Minister,
Oil TO said on Wednesday. Japan
Russia frets about her "encircle-
ment." The Diplomatic Re-
view of Toxic, backed by the Foreign
Office, said British-American intention
to dominate the world became clear
after the Atlantic meeting of Roosevelt
and Churchill. It.added:
The intention of the British and
Americans is to burn up and exhaust
Japans natural resources and to
threaten Japan by both economic and
military pressure. The United States
and Great Britain are strengthening aid
to the Soviet, are putting pressure on
Thailand and are urging the Netherlands
East Indies and Australia to tighten
the ,encirclement of Japan"
There is nothing new in the japanese
attempt to reach some understanding
with Washington.
Evening star., 1941-09-07

A war between the United States and
Japan would be a naval war, yet it
might be fought to finish without one
major naval engagement.
A critical battle between these nations
two of the greatest maritime powers
of history-could be land engagement
in which the United States had little
part, if any. 1t is not improbable that
the battle would take place in the Malay
States, Indo-China or Thailand.
The three vital factors which would
be involved in a Japanese American war
make such an event possible:
l. Japans mighty feet is irrepiac-
able, When a ship was sunk, no new
one could be built to take its place, Tor
in wartime Japan would not have access
to materials essential to shipbuildlng.
The United States, on the other hano,
can build anew, and is building faster
and faster. 1t can afford to risk
critical test of naval arms and, in fact,
would welcome it.
2. Naval bases would be as important
as fleets in a Pacific war, because OF the
vast distances involved. Large detach-
ments of warships cannot operate far
from bases. Smaller vessels which must
accompany capital ships can go for no
more than a week or two without re-
plenishing their supplies; and even the
largest ships would be taking great
risk to venture far from repair docks.
without Asiatic bases, the American
Fleet could hardly operate in Aslatic
waters.
3. Japan is extremely vulnerable from
the economic standpoint. She has 10
import about so per cent OF her raw
materials, some of them indispensable
in a war: Rubber, nickel, wool, cotton,
timber, tin, lead, chemicals, leather, OIL
pig iron. An effective blockade not only
would deprive her of these vital sup
plies, but also would play havoc "ltn
her highly industrialized economic sys-
tenn.
Blockade First Step.
Military experts, trying to envlsage the
shane of a Japanese American conf1lct,
nredict that blockade of Japan by THIS
country would be the first step. Ihls
would be comparatively simple, they be-
lieve. for Japan's shipping facilities al
ready are tight, and there would be few
of the worlds ports at which she coulo
call for cargoes. There is no doubt that
the Dutch and British would ally them
selves with the United States and cut
off japanese commerce with the East
indies. while the United States could
bring pressure on South American coun-
tries to curtail exports to Japan.
From Hawaii and other United States
and British islands in the Pacific, mean
while. air and submarine patrols would
watch for the few Japanese ships which
had managed to obtain cargoes.
For long time after declaration
of war, probably, this is all that would
happen, except for sporadic sinkings Of
United States ships by japanese SUBJ
marines and airplanes operating from
bases on the hundreds of japanese man
date islands in the Central and Western
Pacific; and for night bombing OF
Manila. Medium bombers could easily
make the trip from Hainan, Camranh
and Formosa, the latter being only 600
miles from Manila. But the distance
would be too great for fighter escorts,
so effective day bombing would be i'm
practicable.
United States air forces IN the Philip
Evening star., 1941-09-07
AXIS OR ALLIES: JAPANESE MUST CHOOSE
Future of Npponese Empire Rests Answer Dilemma
Bv Constantine Br0wn.

force to Singapore. The United States
Immediately reinforced its light naval
forces in the Southern Pacific. An I'M
disclosed number of cruisers, destroyers
and submarines, together with bombers,
were rushed to the Philippines and the
area around Singapore, Borneo and the
Celebes Islands. Toxic realized this was
no longer a gesture" and that Britain
and the United States meant business.
In the meantime, the State Depart
ment decided on realistic policy-which
many consider aggressive. Ambassador
Grew in Toxic and Ambassador Nomura
in Washington were both instructed to
inform the Japanese government that
our patience had come to an end and
that we were willing to face the direct
consequence" if the japanese continued
their aggressive policy. Prince Konoye
was presented with an olive branch and
a dagger. He has now to make his
choice.
The olive branch took the form of con-
crete suggestions regarding the future.
Japan was told that the United States
did not wish to see the japanese Empire
crumble. 1t Endorsed Tokios cherished
theory that Japan could be an element
of order in Asia-provided that it aban-
doned its warlike policies and accepted
its logical place in the sun.
Concrete Suggestions Made.
The Toxic government was told by the
State Department that it must make
choice between the Axis and the de-
mocracies. In the event it decided to
live in peace with the United States and
Great Britain, both countries would
recognize the established Manchukuo
Empire. AS to the rest of the Japanese
conquests, extending from Peiping to
Thailand, London and Washington de-
clared they favored status quo. The
complete liquidation of all problems
would take place after the end of the
war by all interested parties in spirit
Of fairness to the rights of the chief
protagonists-the Chinese and the Jap
aneSe.
If Japan were willing to accept these
proposals of the United States which
were Endorsed by Great Britain, all trade
restrictions imposed on Japan would be
lifted. The japanese people would have
free access to the markets of Great
Britain and the whole Western Hemi-
sphere. The crisis which the japanese
leaders fear from economic depression
caused by abandoning further military
ventures could easily be overcome by
Japanese factories working at full speed
to produce for Britain and even for this
country. The japanese government
would be able under these conditions to
obtain loans in the United States and
prepare itself slowly-while the democ-
racies were fighting the Axis-for a
postwar readjustment.
In exchange, the Toxic government
would be required to abandon its political
agreements with the Axis. And this
would not be mere lip service. The
japanese would prove their good faith
by reducing the army of occupation in
Indo-C China to a mere police force, and
by bringing their navy back to peace
strength. That is to say, that the per-
sonnel of the imperial feet must be re-
duced and a number of its units be
placed in reserve. Under these condi-
tions, Britain and the United States
are willing TO help Japan get back on
Evening star., 1941-09-07

The Toxic government is in the same
dilemma as track fans who have to
pick the winner In race In which they
have staked everything they possess.
Within the next few weeks Toxic must
make up it's mind about who is going
TO win this war-the Axis or the Allies.
The problem before the rulers of Japan
Is the gravest that has ever faced any
government. If they back the Nazi
horse they stand to lose everything
in the event of Hitler's defeat-and see
Japan relegated to the rank of a third
class power. If they abandon the Axis,
the Nipponese Empire will remain a
great power. But the Tanaka plan pro-
viding for the domination of the Asiatic
continent and the Western Pacific must
Do abandoned. For 10 years the japanese
people have made unbelievable sacrifices
In the belief that their military rulers
were right and that Japan would become
the Roman Empire Of the East.
Last week the Japanese Ambassador
at Washington, Annapolis trained Ad-
miral Nomura, called on President
Roosevelt with a personal message from
Japan's Prime Minister, Prince Konoye.
What the message contained is naturally
a matter which is known by only few
In the Presidents circle. But it is fair
10 assume, from certain hints dropped
here and there, that the japanese are
trying to gain time before they make
up their minds definitely on which horse
they are going to bet. Reports from
Toxic indicate that many japanese naval
men are beginning to doubt that the
fast NaZi horse can stand a long race.
Like turf experts, Japan's policy trainers
are looking at the pedigree and the past
performances of the racers. And while
1t is obvious that the Axis had a good
chance to win the race which began at
such terrific pace, it has become in
creasingly doubtful whether it will be
anywhere near the winning post in the
long race which the Allies have forced
their opponents to accept.
Democracies Aided Expansion.
The Toxic government still hopes to
take advantage of the dallying methods
of the democracies. For the last 10
years-Since the invasion of Manchuria
on September 4, 1931-Tokio has been
admonished, cajoled and occasionally
threatened by the Western powers. But
nothing has happened. Within 10 years
the japanese have gone farther than
Tanaka ever dreamed they would go
In such a short space of time. Dissen-
sion among the Westerners, fear of war,
wishful thinking and many other con-
siderations have favored Japan's ex-
pansion on the Asiatic mainland.
Now, however, Great Britain and the
United States have made up their minds
that Japan cannot interfere with their
plans to defeat Hitler. The conference
between President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churchill was conclusive in this
respect. They formally agreed that
Japan must not be stumbling block any
longer. She must either abandon the
Axis bandwagon or else.
The crux of the situation came about
when the japanese armed forces took
over Southern Indo-China and were
ready to move on Thailand. The British,
realizing the danger to Singapore and
the Netherlands Indies if the Japanese
settled In Thailand, sent an imposing
Evening star., 1941-09-07

Germans who had reached Krasnog-
vardeisk to withdraw miles. The
marshal himself led his troops in this
success.
The defense of Leningrad was proceed
ing so well on Thursday that. the Rus
slams taunted the Germans, through
Spokesman Soloman A. Lozovsky, who
said Axis reports that Ireningrad was
encircled and on the verge of falling
were propaganda which belongs in the
realm of fantasy" With the German
land offensive against Leningrad re-
ported checked, the Nazi and Russian
air forces were locked in bitter struggle
for control of the air over the threatened
city.
AT one point, the Russian commnnique
reported, Soviet flyers intercepted for
nation of 10 German planes
Aerial attempting to attack a big
Battles airdrome near Leningrad
and brought down II raiders
in furious dogfight. Soviet bombers
were said meanwhile to be blasting away
az NIClLldIl SIOullu 1OlCeS. 1IleSe
sian air. attacks, carried out at low al
titude, raised havoc with German supply
lines and disrupted preparations for
new push against the city, the Russians
declared
Russian soldiers who must have gone
through something similar to Dunkerque
arrived at Leningrad Friday to aid in
the city's defense. They were troops
evacuated from Tallinn, Estonian capital,
which had been surrounded for weeks
before the Germans captured it a week
ago Friday. The only place for troops
in Tallinn to retreat to was the sea, the
Baltic and the Gulf of Finland Wait
ing ships apparently carried them to
Leningrad.
During the coming week the battle for
Leningrad may make up one of the stir
ring chapters in all-time military his
tory. The longer the Russians hold the
Nazis out of that city, the better it goes
for the British.
Both the Germans and the Russians
Evening star., 1941-09-07

have been vague in reporting as to how
close the Nazis have come to Moscow.
But whatever the mileage, seemingly the
Germans are less near the Russian capi-
tai today than they were two weeks ago.
The troops of Timoshenko have been
conducting a vigorous counteroffensive
To cope with this, the Germans trans
ferred their garrison at Toul, Occupied
France, to Russia. Among the troops
moved from the west to the east was
the 161st Division, and an infantry regi-
ment in the division was routed by the
central Russian army in the vicinity of
Smolensk, which is part of the Moscow
aimed front.
On Wednesday, Pravda, the Com
munist party newspaper in Moscow, said
that Timoshenko's troops
Drive on had retaken % villages in
Moscow 10 days of battle. Los
ovsky said German losses
were piling up at such rate that Hitler
had asked Mussolini for Italian soldiers
to fill in the gap.
In the Ukraine, the Dnieper River
front continues at a stalemate. Except
in one spot-and that valueless-the
Germans have been unable to cross the
river and pursue their advantage, which
has brought them practically all of the
Ukraine west of the river, nor have the
Russians been able to recover foot of
what they lost in the Western Ukraine.
For the present, the central points of
Ukrainian warfare are Odessa and Kiev,
the districts two richest cities, the first
already besieged, the second about to
be beSieged.
The cry of the citizens in both Odessa
and Kiev was that they would defend
their strongholds to the last drop of
blood" The move against Kiev, on a
hill, began Wednesday.
Thursday night Russian bombers, ac-
cording to Moscow, dropped explosives
and incendiaries on military and indus
trial targets in Berlin, touching off fires
and explosions. According to Berlin,
anti-aircraft defenses of Berlin thwarted
an attempt by the Russians Thursday
night to attack Berlin and brought down
one Of two planes which approached the
capital. The previous night British
bombers attacked Berlin and, according
to London, set a large fire near one of
the main railway stations.
Last night the German-R Russian war
was II weeks old. Some estimate of the
human cost of that war was made by
Yemelyan YaroslavSky, Communist pub
licist, who wrote in Pravda that the
Germans had lost 100000 men since
the European war began, two years ago,
and 100000 of them since the Russian
war began.
A variation on these statistics came
from London, where an authoritative
British source said that German losses
in the war with Russia total about l.
Evening star., 1941-09-07
Review of 705th Week of the War
By Blair BoHes.


before Lengrad Odessa
disappeared
territory than contained all of Berlin calls
countersttack which pushed
Black
September invasion weather"
memory
difficult
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and the retored by dropping depth charges.