Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-27
Gangs+er
Pals Lost
By Japan
Result in Russia Of Grea-
importance TO Us
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

army just released by the PENN
sular Campaign, Jackson was
hard up for artillery and gun
nerS.
At Barretaria Bay, not far
away. reigned the pirate, Jean
Laflite, over a private army and
navy Of buccaneers who, as the
old song put it. had hairy ears
and various additional qualities
Of to6ShnesS - among which
were that they were. the best
gunners on this continent.
They were enemies of society
and Andy jackson had sworn
TO hang Laffite at the first
opportunity.
He usually kept his word in
such matters.
But when the British offered
the pirate king a princely bride
for his allegiance. the Rover
Boys turned IT down ard sent
the papers to Jackson, asserting
that, being American. regardless
of profession, Andy could com
mand their services for nothing.
nor once Old Hickory weak
ened and the pirates had an
important. perhaps the deciding
part in the great American VIC
tory at New Orleans.
The moral Of that story may
be that when you are beSet by
one gang Of gas-houSe rufflanS
and another big gorilla engages
them on the flank YOU don't
turn HIM down just because you
don't like the way he acts and
smells.
The case Of American aid 10
Russia is far from being as sin'-
pie as that and the analogy OF
Jackson and Laffite IS not COM
plete. but that is the argument
that is being made.
1t seems 10 me far from suffi-
cient. but the point Is hardly
worth argument Because the aid
we could give Russia in time TO
swing the balance in THIS crisis
Is nothing.
She is too far away.
There are too many barriers
between.
The thing in Russia is OF the
utmost importance 10 Us but
not as to anything effective we
could do there.
The hot point 10 watch al this
stage is lis effect on Japan and.
boy, does this present a problem
TO her?
IF WE team up with Russia IL
Il could give US Vladlvostock as
an advanced base, threatening
the whole japanese Archipelago.
Ohsetting that in precisely
reverse direction, Russia, en-
gagged in Europe. can hardly
send any more aid 10 China.
Returning 10 the other side
Of the ledger. German engage
ment in Russia may for some
considerable time release Eng
liSh forces TO guard Singapore
and the route OF conquest 10
the East Indies.
In addition, for the present,
Japan is completely cut Oft from
her gangster playmateS, Hit and
MuSS.
There will surely he no route
through Russia, India, the Red
Sea. the Americas and only very
long and wholly impractical ones
around the Cape Of Good Hope,
or Cape Horn.
As allies, those Two intcrna-
tional hoods are Just nov about
as useful TO Japan as Al Ca
| pone, all buttoned up in Alca-
traz. was 10 John Dillinger
ON the treaty side, she Is In
another mess.
She has a neutrality pact with
Russia and mutual assistance
agreement with the AXIS.
4 DUT the Axis attacked first
- which lets Japan out Of a
duty OF assistance even II she
could render any-which she
couldn't except by attacking
Siberia in violation OF her recent
neutrality treaty.
She wouldn't care about tho
treaty. but if she attacked Rus
STA. who is fighting Germany
we would he bound now 10 choke
off her supplies entirely and
that. taken with her vast unfin-
! ished business in China, plus
considerable military job in ST
IBERIA. isn't very encouraging.
Altogether il seems wonder
ful time for Britain, the United
States and Russia TO compose
their relations with Japan-no
10 "anpease" her. hut 10 save
her face. let her live, help her
get back on her feet and, above
all TO strike the deadlieSt blow
that Hitler could suffer just now
IF we could safely take 2
larger part Of our fleet out OF
the Pacific that little rodent
would he driven deeper anc
deeper into his European hole
and farther from any possible
threat 10 us.
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25 YEARS AGO TO-DAY