davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-06-17

differed in several noteworthy re-
Spects from that of those of the two
ships mentioned. No lives are known
to have been sacrificed in the wiilful
sinking of this particular victim of
the German campaign against mer-
chant shipping. But the moral guilt
of the Nazi U-boat commander is
nevertheless very real and very great.
He knew, he must have known, he
had no excuse for not knowing the
sentiment of the American people
concerning "Schrecklichkeit" at sea.
The lesson of the Lusitania should
have prompted him to hold his hand.
Instead, he flouted the 1880 treaty to
which Germany was committed and
ignored the traditions of the un-
liquidated past. His error, newt
ably, will be the cause of solemn
representations to Berlin. Meanwhile,
the civilized world thanks God for
the preservation of the lives he
blandly risked
Evening star., 1941-06-17

Russia and elsewhere. The only So
luton of this transportation problem
would be unhindered use Of the
Mediterranean by Axis merchant
shipping to transport the cotton Of
Egypt, the oil of Iraq and the grain
of North Africa to Italian and French
ports.
It is therefore well-nigh certain that
the next few months will see tre-
mendous Axis effort to accomplish
this before the dreaded third winter
of war descends upon it. No matter
what the cost, the task must be
undertaken. That, in turn, would
seem to render unlikely a new war
with Russia for the Ukraine and the
Caucasus at this moment. 1t Is
cardinal principle of German STRAIT
egy not to undertake more than one
major operation at the same time.
Current German troop concentra-
tions against Russia presumably are
part of a diplomatic pressure cam
paign to get Stain signed up on a
favorable economic agreement be-
fore the Axis is engaged to the hilt in
the Mediterranean. For even If the
German armies cut through the Rus
slams like knife through butter, the
Ukraine and the Caucasus would do
them little good unless their products
could be shipped by sea.
Therefore, unless Germany has
compelling reasons for an immediate
showdown with Russia which are not
now evident, the chances are that
another Hitler-Stalin deal will be
negotiated and that the Mediter-
ranean and Near Eastern operations
will get into full swing. What Ger
many might do to Russia after the
Mediterranean had been secured is,
as Kipling would say, another story.
Evening star., 1941-06-17

@. What is the name Of the Govern
ment publication that lists new patents?
e. R. r.
A. 1t is the Patent Office Gazette,
which is published weekly.
@. In which Of Tennyson's poems does
he refer to federation of the world?-
H. K. G.
A. The following lines are from Locks
ley Hall: Till the wardrum throbbed
no longer, and the battle flags were
furled, In the Parliament of man, the
Federation of the world"
@. What are submarine nets?-J. c. E.
A. These nets or traps are curtains Of
toughened strands of 1o-foot mesh, 200
to 300 feet deep, with explosives pro-
fusely sprinkled up and down the wire.
On coming in contact with the net,
submarine is instantly blown up.
@. Who rendered the decision In the
Dred Scott case?-B. H.
A. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney rem
dered the opinion Of the Supreme Court
in the Dred Scott case.
@. How many telephone calls day are
made in the United States?-R. FL.
A. Telephone conversations in 1910
averaged s7,7o0,O0o a day.
@. Please give the days OF the week In
Spanish-E. T. F.
A. They are as follows: Sunday, Do
mingo; Monday. Lunes; Tuesday, Martes;
Wednesday. Microbes; Thursday, Ju-
ewes; Friday, Viernes; Saturday, Sabado.
@. What was the turnover on the New
York Stock Exchange last year?-W. TT.
A. The turnover on the exchange dur
ing 1910 aggregated 2O7,599,749 shares.
Sales of bonds declined to the lowest
level in more than 20 years, aggregating
sl,66s, $4,000.
@. In preparing tea, is it wise to use a
metal pot?-W. w. H
A. Any metal pot or kettle can be
used for boiling the water, but the tea
itself should not be served in iron, brass
or copper pots. The best type of pots
for serving tea are silver, china, glass,
aluminium, enamel or porcelain.
@. Is there musical composition
called 'Moby Dick"?-C. H.F
A. The dramatic cantata "Moby Dick"
was composed by Bernard Hermann,
with text by w. Clark Harrington.
@. What was the first picture in which
Mary Pickford appeared?-P. l.. H.
A. Her first screen appearance was in
''The Violin Maker of Cremona," filmed
by the Biograph Co. and directed by
D. w. Grifith.
Evening star., 1941-06-17
What has become of all the wrensp

What has become OF all the wrens?
We have seen fewer this spring and
summer than at any time in 10 years.
There not only are none in the yard,
but few are heard as one walks along.
Reports to this column indicate that
this Is a general condition. What the
reason may be is difficult to say.
One theory is that there was bad
weather to the south at the time the
little birds were about ready to come
to Washington and vicinity.
The house wren winters in the South
Atlantic and Gulf States, and through
Eastern Texas to the eastern half of
Mexico.
Wrens quite often, but not always,
come back year after year to the same
house.
Usually they begin to arrive around
the latter part Of March, although many
of them do not show up In local gardens
until some time in April, often as late
as the last week.
The male bird flies in first. Usually
he selects site, which is promptly re-
jected by Jenny Wren when she arrives.
Jenny is the triumph of the family.
Her name is world wide, whereas that
of Johnny is said only in an apologetic
manner.
He really doesn't count, except for the
noise he makes.
Some people profess to like the song Of
the wren, but we must confess that We
can hear no beauty in it.
1t has plenty of pep" and power, but
lacks all of the beauty which distin-
guishes a really good bird song.
1t must be that persons who like the
song are not much given to listening to
birds, and so pay very little attention
to the wren, hearing the song only in a
general way.
1t is exactly in the same manner that
listener may think a poor singer a
good singer in the human world. BY
paying rather less than strict attention,
the faults do not register, and one is
able to enjoy the song.
This is one way of listening to all mu-
sic, Of course, and undoubtedly it has
its good points. Too close attention to
any kind of music will enable listener
to make musical mountains out of mu-
sical molehills. In this way he spoils
his listening. Yet the keenest attention
is necessary, if one wishes to appreciate
So here we have another of those famous
vicious circles, except this one is not
so vicious, after all. The necessary thing
is to listen keenly, or indinerently, ac-
cording to the type of music being lis
tened to, and especially according to the
ability of the musicians.
~
The main charge against the house
wren's song is that 1t contains a harsh
quality which is not in any real sense
musical.
Evening star., 1941-06-17
Robin Moor Survivors

It is with unfeigned relief that
Americans in general have learned
Of the safe arrival at Capetown of
thirty-five survivors of the torpedoed
steamer Robin Moor. The little
company of twenty eight members
of the crew and seven passengers
the latter including three women and
an infant child-Was thirteen days
afloat on the surface of the ocean
before a British vessel purely by
chance" discovered and rescued them.
What sufferingS they endured no
words can tell. The poignancy Of
their plight, even now that their
ordeal is ended, cannot be described
in such printed symbols as the words
"hunger" and thirst" 1t is a fact
that they have been retrieved from
death in one of the most cruel and
horrible of many forms.
Among those who have read the
story of the Robin Moor there are at
least a few persons who can re-
member the loss of the White Star
liner Titanic, sunk by collision with
an iceberg in the North Atlantic,
April IS, 1912. Reporters who "cov-
cred" the arrival of the survivors OF
that disaster in New York never will
forget the cry which rose from the
crowds on the pier when the first OF
them came ashore. A like phenome-
non distinguished the reception OF
the survivors of the destruction of
the Cunard liner Lusitania off the
coast of Ireland, May 7, 1915.
But the experience of the pas
S gers and crew Of the Robin Moor
Evening star., 1941-06-17
Exit the ConsuIs

ment has been fully aware of the
improper activities chargeable to
Nazi consular officers in the United
States, and there can be no doubt
that they should have been ousted
long ago. Now that the step finally
has been taken, it will be received
as gratifying evidence that democ-
racy, no less than the dictators, can
act with flrmness to protect itself
from enemies within its gates.
In ordering the closing of the
twenty-four German consulates as
we'll as several Nazi propaganda
agencies, the State Department
merely said that they had engaged
in Improper and unwarranted"
activities wholly outside the scope
of their legitimate duties" This is
an usation, however, which hardly
needs amplification.
There is not the slightest doubt
that the German consular staff,
headed by such men as Captain
Fritz Wiedemann at San Francisco,
Hitler's World War superior Baron
Edgar Won Spiegel at New Orleans,
former U-boat commander, and DR..
Herbert Scholz at Boston, has served
as the framework for an energetic
propaganda organization, and there
is good reason to believe that it has
been the guiding genius behind
much more reprehensible activity.
Certainly, it would be naive in the
extreme to suppose that these men
have not been industriously engaged
in furthering Hitler's plans for world
domination, regardless of the conse-
quences to the United States.
For some time the German conSuls
have had no trade duties of any
consequence, and the same is true of
our consular representatives in Ger
many. If the Nazis retaliate by
eXpelling our consuls, as they may be
expected to do, a trade which does
not exist cannot suffer. All that can
be impaired is International and
flfth-column activity, and on this
score Germany rather than the
United States will be the loser.
As the Nazi consuls prepare for
their departure, it is interesting to
recall the case of DR.. Dumba, Aus
trian Ambassador to this country
in 1915. A letter written by DR..
Dumba to the Austrian Foreign Min
lister fell into the hands of this Gov
ernment. 1t read in part: 1--WE can
disorganize and hold up for months,
if not entirely prevent (by strikes
and sabotage), the manufacture of
munitions in Bethlehem and the
Middle West, which, in the opinion
of the German military attache, is
of great Importance and amply out
weighs the expenditure of money
involved"
Upon this discovery, the American
Government requested the recall of
H. DuAiAco, buO ShPACooC Aoo oCCP
regret" at being obliged to take the
step, and assured the Austrian gov
ernment of sincere desire to con-
tinue cordial relations" The curt
tone of Sumner Welles' note to
DR.. Hans Thomson is in striking con-
trast to our 1915 attitude, and shows
that at least we are under no
illusions with regard to the quality
of German craftsmanship.
Evening star., 1941-06-17
Letters to the Editor

Discusses Secretary Ickes' Criticism
OF MIR. Cudahy's Interview" With Hitler.
To the Editor OF The Star:
Secretary Ickes' reply to Mr.. Cudahy in
your issue of June II is a weak answer to
the latter's ill-timed statement Of Hit
lers peace" aims 1t is weak because it
is based on force, where force is uncalled
for; and the fight could be sooner won
by a fair, even-tempered reply-which
is due us from a public servant in high
office.
Mr.. Ickes is right in attempting to
combat the influence of the former AM
bassador to Belgium whenever he does
anything to lower our guard against
Germany or to increase confusion and
disunity here.
But our battle is against Hitler, not
Mr. Cudahy. Mr.. Ickes' reply to him is
not an answer. 1t is an attack, and one
which leaves the administration highly
vulnerable. 1t grants that Mr.. Cudahy
has naively fallen for the Nazi propa-
ganda, but shows by its tone that Mr..
Ickes himself uses the weapons of Goeb-
bells and Hitler, namely, invective, mud
singing, ridicule.
This raises some questions in the minds
of those citizens who do not care to have
propaganda rammed down their throats
either by Hitler or his agents (wittingly
or unwittingly) or by Mr.. Ickes.
If Mr.. Ickes uses the methods OF the
Nazi dictatorship, does he also subscribe
to its aims? If Mr.. Cudahy Is "the NaI
dictators megaphone," whose megaphone
is Mr.. Ickes? Does Mr.. Ickes stop with
name-calling and shouting down, or does
he 20 all out for the Nazi technique and
agree with Hitler that "lieS should be
used as instruments of conquest? Is
every one who disagrees with the White
House megaphone necessarily Simple
Simon" or an innocent? Does Mr..
Ickes seek to write on the plastic mind"
of the American people as Hitler wrote
on Mr.. Cudahy's?
I hold no brief for Charles A. Lind
bergh's views or any statement which
pictures Hitler as less than evil incarnate.
But any public spokesman who tries to
our country q grave disservice. He Gre
ates the disunity fo& which he blames
those who dare to differ with him.
And we have that right and that duty.
The people are the power. The New
Deal claims to be serving the people.
Is it trying to rule them? . At times 1t
promotes the confusion which precedes
dictatorship.
I do not want dictatorship. If it
comes to a choice of dictatorship by
Hitler, Stain or Roosevelt, I'll take
Roosevelt. But the showdown is not
between dictators. 1t is between democ-
Observation-Disclosures and Nazi-ism-
Stalinism- -Fascism.
Democracy is the only thing that can
win here. So why prolong the struggle
by making us fight dictatorship from
within as well as from without? The
President needs the people more than
they need Mr.. Roosevelt. He cannot win
them by abuse or denial Of thei- right
to protest methods which some Of us
consider suicidal to what we are fighting
for.
The mind of America is not so plastic as
Mr.. Ickes might wish. 1t needs to think
quickly, act forcefully, not obey blindly,
without conviction. 1t needs facts, not
fury; executives, not fuehrers. Mr.. Roose-
velt was elected by majority. Both that
majority and most Of the minority want
to win the war. But those In both
Evening star., 1941-06-17
Sturt Action Now

Navy Department officials are per-
fectly correct in urging immediate
steps toward "a reasonable and in
telligent" solution of the parking
problem. More power to the Navy!
Such steps have been too long de-
layed already and the nature of the
problem is such that the longer the
delay the more difficult becomes the
solution.
Certainly, the use of park property
for parking automobiles is neither
reasonable nor intelligent. There is
some comfort in the revelation that
this tentative proposal was designed
by Navy authorities more in the
hope of getting action and bringing
to public attention the seriousness
of existing conditions than as an
actual demand" that space in the
parks be provided. And it is more
comforting still to learn that the
park service has no intention of
turning over park property for park
Ing lots.
Fortunately, the way has been
rather well prepared for decisive
action on the parking problem. But
unless there is some leadership at
the District Building, the recon-
mendations already made will be
consigned to another convenient
pigeon hole and forgotten.
Congress directed the Commission
ers last year to determine the most
feasible program for providing park
ing facilities, other than the public
streets, for motor vehicles in the
District of Columbia" The resulting
recommendations are contained in
the recently published WhitehurSt
report. This report pointed out that
all-day parking facilities in close
proximity to the central business and
governmental areas of the city are
not economically feasible. Land
values are too high to bring the cost
of all-day parking within the reach
of the average automobile owner,
and even if this cost were reduced
by public subsidies, the land avail
able for such use is strictly limited.
Fringe" parking lots, to be eStab-
lished coincidentally with low priced,
short line bus systems, were recon-
mended. These, it was argued, might
be purchased and maintained by the
municipality with some Of the cost
charged to the highway fund. The
first step recommended was the
appointment of a motor parking
vehicle agency to function as
separate activity in co-ordinating
the various interests of Government
and private employees, business
establishments, etc.
Why not begin work on this i'm
mediately? AS Lieutenant Com
mander Hal O'Flaherty of the Navy
pointed out in yesterdays Star, the
problem of parking for employees at
the Navy Department already prom
ises to impair efficiency and will
become even more acute. Certainly
the time has come when construc-
tive, intelligent action, and not mere
talk, must be directed toward re-
1ieving the parking situation, de-
plorable now from every point OF
view. The Whitehurst report con-
tains new, up-to-date data and
arguments to support its recon-
mendations. If the Navy Depart
ment could drop a depth bomb some
where between the District Building
and the Capitol, something helpful
might come to the surface.
Evening star., 1941-06-17

Remember that old burlesque cir
cult business" where the big guy
kicks the next one and so on down
to the end of the line? The poor
shrimp at the very end could be the
District Of Columbia real estate tax
paYer.
Evening star., 1941-06-17

groups who still cherish freedom Of
speech and press are entitled to be
heard, especially when they believe the
administrations acts or methods are
prejudicial to winning the war, and to
all freedom. Unity on dictator's terms
Is never attainable here.
May I suggest to Mr.. Ickes that he
follow the Quaker practice of stating the
truth quietly and without anger, and
leave it to the people to create their
own unity and order? Let's quit quar-
reling and get down to fighting.
EVON WRIGHT.
Evening star., 1941-06-17
Protests Allotted Site
OF New Abbot School.

To the Editor Of The Star:
To friends of the boys attending the
present Abbot Vocational School at
Seventh and o streets NV, the action OF
the House Appropriations Committee in
approving as the site for the new school
building the Brentwood tract, in North
east Washington, Is cause of much
regret. The tract itself Is not objection
able and is central as to location for
the majority Of the boys attending at
this time; but that sums up its merits.
On the other hand, it must be borne in
mind that the location borders upon a
great and growing warehouse and truck
ing section, and is flanked on one side
by railroad tracks and on another by
a large market for country produce.
Furthermore, the residents OF the
neighborhood protest the location, stat
ing that the tract Is the sole remaining
site available to them for a playground.
Transportation facilities are by no
means of the best.
The logical location for the new school
building would seem to be portion OF
the site Of the old tuberculosis hospital,
at Fourteenth and Upshur streets NV.
The area of the tract is $4,000 square
feet, or more than three times the area
of Franklin Park, on Fourteenth street
between I and K streets. There is now
located on the Upshur tract vocational
school-the Dennison Vocational School
for Girls 1t is amply large enough for
several schools (the late Daniel Donovan
said -four or five~ with adequate play
ground space. This Is important, for
it is desirable to have erected upon
the tract, when funds are made avail
now three or four Fairgrounds within
two blocks, one Of them the immense
Roosevelt Stadium, and short distance
away is an arm OF Rock Greek Park.
Plans have been drawn for the proposed
new school, and these are not materially
different from those of the Dennison
School as to architecture.
1t Is submitted that it seems an
indefensible waste Of the Districts re-
sources Cbadly needed in the matter Of
school sites) to allow the large Upshur
street tract to remain practically unused
and unsightly, in the presence Of an
admitted urgent needed for new voca-
tional school to teach branches taught
only in the Abbot and attended by
students from the entire city and even
its vicinity, and it seems unfair to de-
prive Q poorly advantaged section Of
part Of the little 1t has.
GEORGE A. WARREN.
Evening star., 1941-06-17
Historic Churches in the United

Historic Churches in the United
States-In almost every State of
the Union are old and historic
churches of all denominations,
whose colorful and romantic his
tory pictures the early days in
America. Fifty-three such churches
are included in this booklet. The
descriptive and historical text ac-
companying the photographs gives
a keen insight into the customs
and mannerisms of the pioneer
Americans. To secure your copy of
this booklet inclose 10 cents in coin,
wrapped in this clipping, and mail
to The Star Information Bureau.
--------------------
Name
Address
Evening star., 1941-06-17

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the ,Uriter. although the use OF
q pseudonym for publication Is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters t1ith
q Uiet1 to condensation.
Evening star., 1941-06-17

@. How much mail does Wendell Will
kie receive?-F. w. S.
A. Mr.. Willkie gets an average OF
1000 letters a day.
Evening star., 1941-06-17
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. EdSkin.

A reader can get the answer to any
question OF fact by tDrittng The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Huskin, director, Washington,
DC Please inclose stamp TOR reply.
Evening star., 1941-06-17

@. What was the last message sent
from the ill-fated Bismarck?-M. L. B.
A. Just before the end the Bismarck's
wireless flashed the following message:
Ship unmaneuverable. We shall tight
to the last shell. Long live the Fuehrer!"
Evening star., 1941-06-17

Q. What per centage Of cars carry la
bility insurance?-E. j.
A. Only IS per cent of the motorcars
in the United States carry personal la
bility or property damage insurance.
Evening star., 1941-06-17

O. What is the tradition of the mon
keys of Gibraltar?-E. C. N.
A. Most interesting of Gibraltar's ami
NAL life are the Barbary apes, said to be
the only wild monkeys in Europe. There
is tradition that the English will re-
tain the Rock as long as the apes remain
upon it.
@. Has Pico Bonpland in the Andes
ever been scaled?-J. S. B.
A. In 1910, a group of British noun
tain climbers led by A. E. Gunther of the
Alpine Club, made the first ascent of the
16.3O0-foot Pico Bonpland, the last of the
big unscaled peaks of the Andes.
Evening star., 1941-06-17

@. How many men who registered in
the first draft are now in the Army?-
r. A.
A. AS of June /, $4,000 draftees had
been inducted.
Evening star., 1941-06-17

@. What was the first picture in which
Mary Pickford appeared2-P. l.. H.
A. Her first screen appearance was in
''The Violin Maker of Cremona," filmed
by the Biograph Co. and directed by
D. w. Griffith.