davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-12-31
D. {. Allotted S670,313
For Defense Highways

To aid national defense by high
way improvement, Washington has
been apportioned $670,3l3 for the
1912 fiscal year, 1t was announced
today by Assistant Federal Works
Administrator Baird Snyder. III.
Virginia has been allotted 81 2,54l. .158,
and Maryland $l.l75,279.
The money will go for improve
ment Of sections Of highway that
have been found inadequate for the
greatly increased volume of defense
traffc, strengthening or replace
ment Of weak bridges on main high
ways, and Improvements desired by
defense officials in connection with
planned operations" the announce
ment said.
The grants. to be available July /
were split as follows:
Federal-aid highwayS-District OF
Columbia, s487.500; Maryland, $780,
BOT Virginia, $l,844177.
Secondary or feeder roads-Dis-
trict of Columbia. s85,3l3: Mary
land, s145 ,636; Virginia. $322,73l.
Elimination OF hazards at railroad
crossings-District of Columbia,
SGT 800: Maryland, $197,436; Vir-
ginia. S374.250.
Evening star., 1941-12-31

foreign country, Burma, through
which the traffic passes before 1t
reaches China. Trained mechanics,
drivers and dispatchers have been
difllCult, often impossible to obtain
Any one starting a large transporta-
ton operation knows how long 1t
takes to build a skilled and reliable
organization of drivers.
Great efforts have been and are
being made to improve the EN-
cheney and quality of the roads op-
Grafton. At the request Of the Chi
neSe government, a weu-knoWn
American trucking expert. Daniel
q. ArEstein, headed an American
delegation which recently went
over the road and submitted a
very detailed report recommend
ing improvements in its manage
ment. Some OF these Improvements
have been carried into effect, the
others will be as rapidly as possible,
although it was unfortunate that
Mr.. Arnstein could not be persuaded
10 assume eIlllic CIldISC
U. S. Personnel Called In.
American personnel has been
called in to assist in the manage
ment of the road. Some Americans.
including United States Army ON
GERS, are now on the spot. Many
other trained technicians unfor-
tunately were caught in the middle
of Japan's unprovoked attack in the
Pacific.
In spite OF the great obstacles
which had to be overcome. guam
titles of military traffic moving over
the road into the interior Of China
have been increased in recent
months by more than 400 per cent.
In order to achieve greater eff
cheney and to meet the special situ-
alton arising out Of administrative
problems involving China. the
United States and Great Britain
the Chinese government had twice
officially requested long ago that
the administration and operation
OF the Burma road be placed under
a joint United States. British and
Chinese military commission with
a member of the American Mill
tary Mission as chairman. Now
that the United States and Great
Britain are also at war with ia
pan this is matter for inter.
/ allied reconsideration.
Evening star., 1941-12-31

, sibilities to go and administer the
road himself.
American Was "AdviSer."
When you inquire why the gen.
eranssimo has not succeeded in
cleaning up the Burma road, you
get various answers. Some say
Chinas great war leader simply
does not have available enough re-
| liable men that can be spared from
other tasks. Some say there is so
much corruption and squeeze all
the way through the Burma roads
numerous complicated agencies and
also through so many Chinese gov
ernmental departments that a
thorough going reform is hopeless
Others explain with much justiflca-
ton that the hostility and ambi-
tions of officials Of Yunnan Province
and their reluctance to cooperate
with the national government con-
stitute extremely great difficulties
for Gen. Chang.
Last spring an American who
long has served the American Red
Cross in China, DR.. John Earl
Baker. was asked by the Chung
king government to administer the
Burma road. His program for po-
licing the road and other urgently
needed reforms was never acted
upon. A Chinese was appointed the
chairman and DR.. Baker reduced
to adviser" When DR.. Baker tried
to resign in october he advised the
generalissimo that my powers
were confined to those of investi-
CATION and recommendation only"
Late in the summer Gen Chang
named Gen. Yu Fei-Peng chief ad-
ministrator of the Burma road, fol-
lowing the presentation of a long
list of reforms by a committee OF
American transportation experts.
The chairman of the committee.
Daniel G. Arnstein, was offered the
post-a post which it is generally
admitted should be held by an
American or Briton, If a real
cleanup is to be achieved-but Mr..
Arnstein declined, thereby creating
a certain degree ef American re-
sponsibility for the continuation OF
the Burma road mess until the
Japanese bhtz broke out.
Crippled BY Inefficiency.
American officials who have In
vestigated Burma Road conditions
recently say that Gen. Yu has
made some physical improvements
but frankly testify that they see no
real prospect Of anything more than
a very slight increase in tonnage
over the highway for several
months. if then. Nor can they an
ticipate any fundamental eradiction
of sabotage, smuggling and war
proflteering over the road.
Consequently, the whole of East
ern Asia has been enveloped by
war While the chief artery for
making an offensive force out Of
China's great army remains in q
deplorable condition crippled by in
efficiency. politics, lawlessness,
racketeering and other vices.
The responsibility unfortunately
must rest chiefly with the Kuomin-
tang dictatorship which has tol-
Grated these abuses ior years and
likewise upon certain weaknesses in
the Chinese character and upon
the profit seeking appetites of a
lamentably large number OF Chi
nese businessmen, politicians OF
governmental officials and en-
ployes.
Bitter Deception.
When one has seen the fortitude
and selfless courage Of the Chinese
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Burma Road Control
By |ntera||ied Board
Proposed by China
American as Chuirmun
Is Suggested Through
Embassy Here

The Chinese Embassy said today
that the Chinese governments re-
quest for establishment Of a joint
United States, British and Chinese
military commission to administer
and operate the Burma Road is now
"a matter for inter-Allied recon-
sideration." The Chinese govern
ment made the request twice in the
past.
The embassy, commenting that
articles about graft on the Burma
Road written by Leland Stowe and
published in The Star give an eXag-
gerated picture of conditions, said
the Chinese government had pro-
posed that an American be made
the suggested Burma Road commits
sion's chairman.
Embassy's Statement.
The statement by the spokesman
of the Chinese Embassy regarding
the condition and administration OF
the Burma road follows:
A recent syndicated article BY
Mr.. Leland Stowe sets out in some
what exaggerated form. various
stories that are being circulated
about the Burma Road in a num-
ber of different versions. We do moi
know whether all the stories are
the result of Mr.. Stoves own OBJ
servations or whether they repre-
sent the reiteration of similar tale:
by those seeking to evade respon'
sibility and needing alibis.
Mr.. Stowe, in another syndlcatec
article on November 13. l94l. aftel
a five-day trip over the Burma roac
during which he went through Wha
he described as the most serlou!
bottleneck" in the road in mat
ter of 20 minutes" said:
I'VE have seen at first hand
both the enormous physical OBJ
stacles which Chinese patience
and ingenuity have overcome
and the equally formidable diff
ficulties in organization and ad-
ministration which must be con-
ouered in the next six months"
The Burma road is the present
life line of China. More than 75l
miles long. it was built at grea
suffering and sacrifice by the Chi
nese to serve the armies Of th'
Chinese Republic that have beer
fighting the Japanese for four ant
half years. Almost insuperabl'
geographical obstacles were over
come in its construction and still
present serious problems in 1t
maintenance and operation.
The trucks traversing the roat
must, as Mr.. Stowe said, roll "ul
and down hundreds OF hairpn
curves. hour after hour and dal
after day, between attitudes of 800
and 5000 feet" japanese bomb
ings. high mountains. malaria
swamps, torrential rains are onl,
a few Of the obstacles that mus
be overcome.
In addition, there have been grea
problems in the administration o
the road, problems of procuring
repairing and servicing of trucks
maintenance of supplies of gaso
line, as well as difficulties in th'
Evening star., 1941-12-31

things, old boy" he went on, but
it doesn't teach us much about how
the world is actually run. And
clouds are never really dark unless
they are lined with warrants, arrest
warrants. No one is accusing Nike
of theft or anything; it's simply a
matter Of his having tried TO be
bit smarter than he was, and taking
it squarely on the chin for his
pains.
Vic Makes Time.
when I said that something was
rotten somewhere, else Owen Nor
gan would not have left him high
and dry. l was not being in any
sense reproachful. I meant by rot
ten, simply clumsy. All business is
rotten, but clumsy business is dan
gerous. Do you get what I mean,
old boy?"
Johnny was silent a moment,
knowing the useleSsness of trying
to defend Mike before this hypo-
critical, would be realist Il get
what you mean all right" he said
after moment, and then he got up
and went into the house.
Vic was gone the rest Of the day
and Johnny was out when he re-
turned shortly before dinner to dress
and disappear again. He didn't take
Mixes car and Johnny assumed that
he and Sheila had worked out some
other plan for their date that eve
ming. The next morning Vic Slept
late and when he came downstairs
about TO- 80 he had his suitcase with
him.
You're going to be pretty busy
around here for a while" he eX-
planned to Johnny, so I'm going 10
stay with the Morgans. Owen said
last night they'd be only too glad
to have me-he knows my dad, you
know-so I'm taking him up on it."
DO what you wish, Vic" Johnny
said. struggling. Il confess its bit
Of surprise"
Vic laughed. "Just one surprise
after another for YOU. isn't 1t. old
boy? Well. chin up. These things
have way OF working themselves
out"
Continued tomorrow
Johnny and Steve go into business.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Three-Hour Fire Sweeps
Downtown EIIicoH CITY

Fire swept part of the business
district of Ellicott City, Md. today,
almost destroying three buildings
and damaging others.
The Earle Theater and the Easton
& Son funeral home were swept by
flames soon after 3 am. when fire
broke out in tavern, according to
reports by the fire department.
Flames spread from the three struc-
lures to a grocery.
Fremen from Ellicott City, Cations
vile. Savage and Jessups battled the
blaze. headed by Fire Chief B. Harry
Shipley.
In about three hours the fire wa,
| brought under control.
Evening star., 1941-12-31

enough to tell him not TO get himself
all tangled up In one of those fast
stock deals"
He spoke thoughtfully and with
an extremely critical tone. as though
he had gone into the whole matter
quite thoroughly and was now voic-
ing valuable and thoroughly
thought-out opinion. He frowned at
Johnny's expression of amazement.
"Oh. 1 know all about 1t. I talked
to Sheila this morning-as you know
and 1 can put two and two to-
sether as well az the next fellow.
Her dad was Mikes lawyer, and
lawyers are nobody's fools; I know
because my dads a lawyer. Well,
when q lawyer like Owen Morgan
pulls away from a client with your
dads money you can be mighty sure
something's plenty rotten some
where. I've heard lot Of Owen
Morgan. My father has a great deal
of respect for him. /"
Just a minute, Vic" Johnny s
voice was hard and clear. Il don't
care what your opinion is because
you don't know what you're talking
about"
Vic Reveals Past.
"Ah. ah, ah!" Vic interrupted
holding up restraining hand
Don't get excited. Cool and calm
that's the ticket in these affairs. And
do know what I'm talking about
You think I'm disinterested ano
casual about your misfortune. but
| that is not the case at all. It's just
/ that I've been through much the
same thing myself-at least up II
the point Of moving out of house anc
home The Shawbridge debacle die
not quite reach such a point as that
but then the pater is an old hanc
in such matters. His misdeeds mat.
ter of fact. were much more demean
ing than Mikes appear to have been
My old man was charged with out
and-out larceny. and I dare sa.
charged justly. But he's sharp; wit
are his principal asset. BY variou
and I might say nefarious-ma
neuvers he emerged from the mes
in better shape than he went in"
He paused to lift critical brow
at Johnny. who stood listening il
open-mouthed wonder at the coll
recital. School teaches us man,
Evening star., 1941-12-31
New Axis Moves Seen
In Mediterranean Area
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BERN, Switzerland, Dec. 31.-The
Rome correspondent of the Zurich
newspaper Die Tat said yesterday
there was increasing evidence of
Imminent new developments in the
Mediterranean"
He said the Italian press was full
of references connecting the Med
iterraneean and Pacific fighting,
especially asserting that "the Axis
powers in the Mediterranean are
ready for new enterprises.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Stowe Calls Cleanup Of Burma Road Abuses
imperative to Prosecution Of War in Pacific

soldiers and the hunger and pow
erty Of Chinas common people, the
record of the Burma road racket
seems shameful beyond words. To
all who have admired and been In
spired by the wonderful resistance
of the Chinese people. this other
sordid side of the truth about China
can only come-as it has come to
meas a bitter deception.
But the critical exigencies Of the
A. B. C. D. Allies present war efforts
throughout the Far East command
that recriminations should be ruled
out. They do not command that
the American and British govern
ments. or peoples, should remain
uninformed about the truth Of the
Burma road.
On the contrary. neither the
United States nor Britain can col
laborate with China to defeat the
japanese aggressors unless the
American and British publics are
acquainted with conditions as they
exist. and achieve realistic con-
ception of how much may be ex-
pected from the Chinese fighting
! forces
Uncompromising Reform.
Romantic ideas about China and
many upper -class Chinese such as
have been predominant in America
until now will only invite certain
disillusionment, possibly with Sc
ricus effects upon American morale
Important Chinese offensive forces
must now be built up much later
than they might have been built up
were it not for three years of Burma
road racketeering American will
to help China cannot change that
unpleasant fact. American lease
lend equipment which already is on
this side of the Pacific cannot reach
the Chinese forces in large amounts
for a considerable time yet because
of the Burma road conditions-cre-
ated or tolerated chiefly by the
Chinese-prohibit it. 1t is equally
true that American war materi-
ais cannot be supplied to China
in any large amounts by air. There
fore, part of the winning Of the
Pacific war must be uncompromising
reform of the Burma road system
combined with the highways ca
pacity utilization.
On the record of the past three
years the Burma road cannot be
expected to function efficiently as
part of the Allies Far Eastern war
strategy until it is policed by the
military and probably by American
or British soldiers. 1t is also most
likely that virtually all transpor-
tation. storage, repair and inspection
special functions in connection with
the Burma road will have to be done
by American or British officers.
Until such time, at least In the con-
sidered opinion of this correspondent
and many more expert observers,
the Chinese people will continue to
pay the price Of q very great and
very costly scandal which the world
was led to believe was a noble en-
deavor, known as the Burma road
Copyright. 1o41. CHICAGO Daily News fnc)
Evening star., 1941-12-31
GarhH nj ThankH
MADISON. LUTHER SYLVESTER

MADISON, LUTHER SYLVESTER. I
wish to express my sincere appreciation and
thanks 10 the pastor of the Mount olive
Baptist Church and friends for their many
kndnesses @ d4ring t4IqE he pa9sipg OF my de,
for the beautiful floral tributes sent.
MRS. CATHERINE MADISON LEWIS,
MOTHER.
MACKEY. FLORENCE CUYLER. We
wish to express our sincere appreciation of
thanks to the pastor, Rev Walter Brooks.
of the 10Th ST. Baptist Chvrch, traternal
organizations. clubs and all friends for
other expressions of sympathy durins the
Hines, and passing OF our devoted mother
BELL PARKER. NIT CAREY, SISTER
FANNIE CUYLER.
McCAMIY, DORIS BUNDY. The family
of DORIS BUNDY McCAAlEY extend their
sincere thanks and appreciation to the
Third Bsptist Church, choir and members
and the host OF neighoors' classmates and
friends for their Kindness and expressions
Of sympathy during their bereavement.
THE FAMILY.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Form Unit BUYS War Bond

RICHMOND. Va, Dec. 81 lPJ.-As
an example for all Future Farmers
OF America chapters throughout
Virginia, the executive committee Of
the Virginia association yesterday
voted to buy a 81 900 defense bond.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
ler Ratherb Dauglter
b, {'''obetA yo"eH 60
CHAPTER VI.

When Johnny returned home half hour later Vic sitting
Of the big white wicker chairs the pared He
looked thoughtful Johnny dropped alongside his
thinking
Mike doesn't look like the heavy gambler Of Johnny
could tell that first met him should
Evening star., 1941-12-31
By LELAND STOWE,

Foreign Correspondent Of The Star and
The CHICAGO Daily News.
RANGOON, Dec. 31.-Cold facts
make 1t indisputable that the Burma
road abuses, sabotage and war
profiteering. all Of which have -four
ished under Chinese administrations
or liberation over period OF 31a
wears. threaten to reduce seriously
Chinas contribution to the A. B. c.
D. Allies common war efforts against
Japan. They threaten correspond
ingly to complcate or handicap the
future disposition Of the American
British Dutch fighting forces In
Eastern Asia.
Thus a cleanup Of the Burma
road rackets has become absolutely
imperative for the prosecution OF the
Pacific war.
What can be done about the
Burma road?
The first thing to be done obvi-
ously is to take politics, proflteers
and brigandage out OF the road.
But to do that the entire Burma
road. especially its 750-mile central
section from Lashio to Running,
must be rigidly controlled and
strictly policed.
Extensive Policing Needed.
Americans and British who have
been most closely associated or most
familiar with the Burma road have
long been convinced that China's S
| lifeline could only be cleaned up and
put on an efficient corruption proof
basis if its operation and control
we're placed chiefly in foreign hands
or completely under military con-
troll and policing. Certainly robbery,
assaults, occasional murders and
tvpically chaotic conditions along
the road cannot be eliminated with
out an extensive police force OF some
kind.
Under present wartime conditions
it NAV be necessary for the British
or American military to assume the
policing of the road or share 1t with
Chinese troops. Chinese troops alone
probably could not do the job since
lIlc duUtlOl lIlCo VI / uiAAioA wv AAAS~
would resort to all possible obstruc-
tionism to prevent such a move.
After many conversations with the
best qualified persons, am person.
ally convinced that order and efn-
cient war aid to China will only be
established when American or
British police forces control the
entire length of the Burma road:
The Chinese government has
changed the Burma highways ad-
ministrators and agencies many
times out actual war materials
reaching Kunming-var materials
as contracted commercial goods or
contraband-today still only COM
prise one-eighth or perhaps oc-
casionally one-fifth OF the roads
monthly capacity. Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek has made earnest
efforts to get the road system re.
! organized but he could not leave
! q thousand more pressing respon-
Evening star., 1941-12-31

Editors Note: This article is
one of a series ;uritten by Leland
Sto,re after trip uhich took hin,
orer the Burma road. Articles
describing this trip appeared
some time ago in The Star.
This present series represents
the results OF further inueStiga-
ton, uhich naturally required
time. The Star publishes it at
this time in the belief that public
knowledge OF the conditions de-
scribed should spur efforts, al
ready understood to hare been
taken, to clean up the situation.
Evening star., 1941-12-31

Johnny and Steve go into business.
La gaceta., 1941-12-04
CORTE DE 10 CRIMINAL

I'm jurado declare aver
culpable a James Crews, de
81 amos, un expresidiario, de
tratar de asaltar y robar a
William P. Korme, de II amos,
un vendedor de mantecado.
Korme no quiso complacer
al bandido, que Sc meti6 la
mano en- un bolsillo, como 81
tWiera un revolver, y cogi6
una cabilla de hero, tirando
sela. FL criminal fu6 persegui-
do y apresado.
Rudolph Mason, negro, fue
declarado culpable de atacar
a otro hombre de su raza, con
la intenci6n de matarlo.
La gaceta., 1941-12-04
LOS EMPLEADOS DEL EX-
PRESO AMENAZAN CON
LA HUELGA

Washington, Die. Ala
Hermandad de Empleados del
Expreso Ferroviario Sc reuni-
ra ell lunes, en- Chicago, con ell
fin de discutir una declara-
ci6n de huelga contra la Rail-
way Express Agency. George
NJ. Harrison, p~residente de es
ia Hermandad, asegura que la
compania rehusa aceptar las
recomendaciones de la junta
de emergencia del presidente
Roosevelt. Trabajan en- la "a
gencia Railway Express mas
de $4,000 hombres.
La junta del Presidente hui
bo de recomendar un aumen-
to de 10 centavos por bora, so
bre la presente e~scala; pero al
mismo tempo avis6 que la
compahia Sc negaba a acep-
tarlo.
La gaceta., 1941-12-04
Tratando de contener la victoria rusa,
los nazis iniciaron hoy otra ~ofensiva
ejercito Soviet recapturo hoy una poblacion
llamada *" en- la nota del mando.
La batalla de Rostov es la segunda victoria rusa
y las dos ganadas por Timoshenko

do de una serie de contraata-
ques entire Yelna y Dukhovshi-
ma, reStablecer Suficientemente
las p%osiciones del Soviet para
crear un cojin de defensas, de
baStante profundidad, ell mismo
que ha obsorbido los impetus de
dos ataques alemanes y ha per-
mitido la resistencia EN- la capt.
tai.
lEl mariscal Timoshenko fue
pasado al frente SUR cuando la
Sitrlaci6n parecia dese1peradaa
Los alemanes habian alberto
.grandes 'ihOyos' en- la linea Til
MISUNDERSTANDING y habian cru
zado el rio Dnieper EN- varios
puntcs, amenazando a ROstov.
No obstante este, ell smariscal
consigui6 reorganizar rdpida-
mente sus posiciones, por medic
de retiradas graduates y rea-
grupando sus fuerzas de modo
que pudo adquirir y mover a
posiciones ejercito de reserva 10
suficientemente fuertes para e.
jecutar la victoriosa contractor
silva.
Toia la fuerza del mariscal
aleman Karl Won Rundstet Sc
halla ahora en- una posici6n pc
ligrosa; pero no Sc sabe haSta
que punto Timoshenko Sc aven-
trmara.
La gaceta., 1941-12-04

Berlin, Die. 4.-El alto man
DO dice que dos embarcaciones
torpe5eras y un cahonero brita-
nico fueron hmdidaS Y que O.
traS tres cmbarcaciones expert
mentaron averias en- una bata-
ila librada en- el canal.
Londres, Die. 4.-E general
Charles de Ia Gaulle lider de la
FIagcia IiJre, espera, segdm
declare agui, que ell gobierno de
Niohy lie aara las puertas del
Ncrte de Africa al enemigo'.
Herr Hitler necesita refuarzos
y la ;rai,i5n lie facilitara los me-
dos para transportarlos.
Washington, Die. 4.-Oficial-
mente Sc almite que son ell con-
seHtimieuto lie Ia Gran Bretana,
en- los tltimos seis meses ESta-
dos Unidos ha yenido mandan-
DO a TurqJia pertrechos de que
ira. La dafnsa de Turquia, Sc
gun declare aver el %presidente
Roosevelt, es vital para la defen
sa de los Estados Unidos.
Washington, Die. 4.-El pre-
sidente de Ia Camara de Conner
clio Aeronautica declare hoy que
para 1912 Sc extendera en- ell
pals la construction de aeropla-
nos hasta producer $4,000 en- un
anO.