The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-01-31
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washington, d. @.
CRISIS MARCH is?

Secretaries Stimson and Knox did
not 60 into details when they told
congress they expected an interna-
tional crisis in go to 90 days, but
actually their war department ex-
perts have gone SO far as to fix the
approximate date Of March 10 for
the crisis to break.
This estimate Is based not only
upon the already known fact that
British shipping and its conveys soon
must be reinforced, but also on Sc
cret negotiations to establish an
Eastern Front, thus make Hitler
fight two wars instead Of one.
This was one of the big reasons
for the pilgrimage Of Col. "Wild
Bill" Donovan to North Africa, also
for visits Of officials from the Amer
lean embassy in France to Algiers.
Their reports are extremely signifi-
cant asserting that Marshal Wey-
gand, commander Of the French
forces in Africa, has become Wig
orously pro-British.
Furthermore, he has stated quite
bluntly to American representatives
that il he were sure Of getting suf-
fcient tanks, airplanes and amrnu-
milton, he would undertake CAM
paign against the Italians immedi-
ately.
These supplies would come to Ca
sablanca, on the coast Of French
Morocco, and what is more inpor-
tant, they would come from the Unit
ed States.
Next move in this strategy, after
crushing the Italians between Brit
ish-French pincers, would be to
transport French troops to Greece
and further north in order to bolster
the Jugoslavs along the German bor-
der. Conversations between the Brit
ish and Jugoslavs already have pro-
crossed to the point where London
believes that country Is ready to
resist Hitler. However, the Jugo-
slavs are most insistent on one thing
! ample munitions.
Furthermore, the Turks have
moved three divisions from Anato-
liza, in Asiatic Turkey, to Thrace in
European Turkey, in order to be
ready for Hitler.
ROY HOWARD AND wILLKIE
Wendell Wilkes decision to 60 to
London to gather first-hand informa-
ton to support the 1end-lease arma-
ment bill brought him a grateful bow
from the White House, but it cost
him a hot verbal battle with one Of
the most potent press hackers of
his presidential candidacy.
Roy Howard, of the Scripps-How-
ard group of newspapers and an
ardent negotiated peace" advocate,
spent the better part of one night
trying to persuade Willkie to drop
the trip plan.
Back-stopping Howard in his ar
guments was Bruce Barton, former
New York congressman and defeat
ed G. o. P. aspirant for the seat of
New Dealer Sen. Jim Mead. Like
Howard, Barton was one Of Wilkes
earliest and staunchest boosters and
played a leading role in putting
him over at Philadelphia.
Howard and Barton strove might
lily in their effort to win Willlkie over
to their views. But the former G..
o. P. standard-bearer stood firmly
by his guns.
He commended that aiding Britain
to beat back the Axis aggressors
was crucial to U. S. security; that he
had always advocated this and did
not propose to change his position.
Also, that while he didn't pretend
to be a friend Of Roosevelt, Roose-
welt was elected and if he was to
function as President he had to have
authority to do so. He (Willkie)
would have demanded this had he
been elected, SO he was not going to
permit personal feeling or partisan
ship to prevent him from urging
such a policy for his successful rival.
- CELEBRATE INAUGURAL ON
Z =. = ,ss - JACKSON DAY
~ President Roosevelt's Inaugural
ton took place on January 20, but
the formal Democratic celebration
Of the history-making third-term vic
tory win not take place until March
20.
That is the date that has been
fixed for the jackson Day dinner,
the annual affair when all good
Democrats come to the aid of their
party with checks. In the past the
dinner usually has been held late In
January, but this year. because of
the inaugural and 9 reorganization
within the national committee, it has
quietly been decided to hold it in
March. s' te
National Chairman Ed Flynn and
his lieutenants hope to make the af-
fair bigger and more profitable than
ever before.
One plan is to stage dinners in
lot more cities. Another, suggested
by Richard Reynolds, new national
treasurer, is to combine the victory
celebration with reunion of all fac
tons; that is, the return to the fold
Of "absent" leaders.
Among those Reynolds has in
mind are men like AL Smith and one