davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-12-20
BY Sigrid Arne,
Associated Press Stan Writer.

FORT KNOX, Ky.-Perhaps you've
seen the new American tank, the Gen
eral Sherman" in news reels. It's the
latest terror of the Libyan desert, where
Rommel is frantically hunting an out
size fox hole.
This General Sherman is new be-
cause it has revolving gun turret which
can shoot in any direction.
1t played such an important role in
forcing Rommels retreat that it seems
to be the flying fortress" of the ground
troops.
So what about the tank crews? What
can be done to keep them at high fight
ing trim? It could happen that we'd
give our tank crews some aid that would
keep them fighting Just 80 minutes, an
hour, longer than the German crews.
That's long enough to win . battle.
So the Army-the afmored forces. in
particular-has just opened a $300,o
laboratory here at Fort Knox to test
what happens to a tankman's heart,
temperature and blood pressure in ex-
treme heat or cold.
Inside an Army Tank.
took small try-out ride just to see
what happens to civilian. It's like this
in tank: Suppose you were sitting in
half-size telephone booth, right over
the New York subway. Suppose also
there was 50-mile gale, and that all
around you hung great steel sheets,
yapping and changing in the gale. That's
the sound effect Of tank. Just the
noise is fatiguing.
could move my feet, inside, Just about
) inches. About the same for my hands
and arms. There were two answers to
ventilation: I could keep my head stick
ing out of the hatch (the oval hole
through which I'd dropped into my
gunners seaD or could lower my seat
with lever, and pull the hatch down
over me.
That's an even choice The noise is
worse with the hatch down. The cold
wind is bad with it up. We rode with the
matches open. 1t took three days of
doctoring to get over that half hour ride.
That's what happens to a civilian. But
these lads who fight in tanks are civilians,
too, few months removed My crew
included photographer. two statesmen
and school teacher. just six months in
the Army. They'd been toughened up.
But how tough do they have to be to
take Is hours of fighting in that iron
buggy?
That's what the Knox Laboratory is
seeking. And the answers are ex-
tremely urgent.
Testing Tank Fighters.
This research staff is a lt-edged one,
It's headed by Col. Willard F. Machle
from the Kettering Laboratory of Ap-
piled Physiology. He has aides from
Harvard, the National Institute of
Health, and the Universities of Penn
sylvania and Cincinnati
Machle has to find out what happens
to tank crews fighting in any weather,
from 150-degree sun blasts in the desert,
to go below-and it's your guess where
the frigid tank fighting will be. Natur-
ally, the results of the experiments will
have much that can be used by other
types of troops.
Machle started the tests on himself
this summer in the California desert
Evening star., 1942-12-20
Bv Miriam Gutenberg.

What happens to the young refugees
who have come to America as their fore
fathers did to escape oppression? Some
have stayed on the Eastern seaboard but
Others like the German and Italian and
Scandinavian and Polish immigrants OF
another generation, have gone west to
begin their life again.
This is the story of one of them.
Paula Wiesenfeld's father owned a
substantial mail-order business in
Munich. Young Paula used to take
checks to school for the poor children
Her parents sent her to dancing school,
gave her vocal lessons, dressed their
blond youngster in the bright clothes
she loved.
Paulas father was a leader in the
community. but an anti-Nazi The
Wiesenfelds fed Germany with their
books, the family silver, two violins and
very little else.
Once in America they left behind them
the Eastern cities. For the sake of their
children, Mr.. and Mrs. Wiesenfeld wanted
to settle in the heart Of America. They
chose village in Oklahoma.
None of them knew English, but the
people of the village were kind and they
began to pick up few words. Fifteen
year-old Paula studied the local news
paper, went to the movies, struggled
along with language that sounded
Chinese to her.
She went to her first football game.
That in itself was exciting, but after the
frs. few minutes Paula didn't watch the
rame. She heard the high school band
nlav. It was the first thing that came
clear to her in the bewildering new coun-
try. She knew she wanted to play in a
band, too.
First Orchestra Role
When her family moved to Chicago,
paula headed for the high schools Or
chestra. There were the violins in her
home, because the Wiesenfelds were all
musical and Paula thought she would
become q violinist, too. She was told 1t
would take years for her to become good
enough on the violin to play IN the
orchestra, but they desperately needed
string bass Would she be interested?
Paula looked at the unwieldy instru-
n,ent. listened to the low tones that
so,,nded like anything In the world ou'
music and was ready to shake her head
But there was the orchestra. Yes, shec
be interested.
There was no money now for music
lessons. The orchestra director gave
Paula book and she started to teacf
herself. She couldn't get used to th'
deep tones. When she heard violir
or cello, she used to eat her heart out
But every afternoon Paula went bacl
TO the MUSHROOM to struggle with TIT
string bass. At night. the 15-year-olt
vorked In a sand -l0-cent store.
AS her ear grew attuned to the lov
notes and her fingers strengthened
Evening star., 1942-12-20

1t was steniographic pool they were
talking about and meant no harm to
any one.
And got letter from my Ma today
and she said she had met old Mr.. Will
LOBBY hightailing it down the road to
Drum Point with his big old scattergun.
And when she asked him didn't he
know that the law wouldn't let you use
those guns to shoot ducks any more he
said he wasn't after any ducks, but that
the st. Marys Gazette had said that they
were fighting the Japs on Solomons Is
land and he was going to take shot at
them if 1t was the last thing he did.
Now, If old Mr.. Willoby had had good
judgment he might have known that 1t
wasn't very likely that the Japs had
got past General Macarthur and landed
Evening star., 1942-12-20

march around and around the room, lug
ging 40-pound packs. Then, still wear
ing the packs, they step up and down,
of box
The measurements Of energy will tell
several things: How long 1t takes man
from the temperate zone to get back
to normal working pitch In a hot cli-
mate: how long he can work at top
speed, how fast his energy flags.
These test men will wear summer
fighting clothes. and they'll eat regular
field rations, the Army's K-2 ration.
Here's a typical K-2 lunch which is
issued for battle, hot climate: Tomato
Juice, two biscuits. pork loaf (31a ounces),
boullion powder, two bars of iron ration
and two sticks of chewing gum. Not
exactly fattening.
Sand Masks.
Sand is another desert worry. 1t seeps
into the tank and causes sore eyes, nose
and throat That seepage has been
measured. Now Machles crew Is looking
around for protection. Maybe they'll
settle for those little gauze masks which
surgeons tie over their faces. They're
light and they can be thrown away.
The goggles, which protect the eyes,
have been made to fit more snugly, and
it could be that Machle will ask the
tank makers for design trick that will
cut the amount of sand thrown back at
the crew: sort Of iron apron hanging
low down in front of the tank.
There's still no answer to how to heat
the tank in frigid weather. The engi-
neers are tinkering around with hook.
ing up the heat which goes ont the
exhaust: That is, If they can find some
way to keep out the CASE.
There's one need that has the re.
search staff baff1ed.
The tank driver and the tank com.
mander must have phenomenal eve
sight. Tanks begin work before dawr
Evening star., 1942-12-20

There was the Junior prom. She
couldn't go because she had no evening
dress. There were the silk stockings
that other girls wore to school. Paula
walked to school in the Chicago winters
in ankle socks. She had OutgroWn the
coat she had worn from Germany, but
she kept on wearing it.
Evening star., 1942-12-20

them. And it stands
to reason that no
little shot is going to
tell the big boss any,
thing that makes
him like a sap.
And the newspa-
per reporters don't
get to know what is
going on because all
they get is what
comes off the MINI
iopraph about the
Evening star., 1942-12-20

Paula discovered there was music. real
music in the bass viol. Then she began
to ache because she had no string bass
of her own. because she had so few hours
to practice between school and the dime
store.
Paula was beginning to be musician
but she was also high school girl.
Evening star., 1942-12-20

in Calvert County,
Maryland.
So what I think Is
that the only ones
who know what Is
going on are the
Washington taxi
drivers.
In fact, I think we
are the onliest ones
that get to hear
everything.
~
Evening star., 1942-12-20

One wearing blue dungaree fatigue
Jacket and trousers was Bruce" and
alongside him was a thin youth, OBJ
viouSly Irish, who was Mckee" The Pc
latter was worried about the fate of
bomber christened Rose ODay" which
he normally piloted
you'll never see her again." Bruce
predicted slyly.
Nuts" snapped Mckee Indignantly.
Just wait. The first ship in will have
that big green shamrock on her nose"
Five gets you 10 on that one," per-
sisted Bruce.
Watching EN- Come In.
The first returning bomber came into
sight
Every eye was on the speck in the
sky More specks Joined the first They
were flying high, formation bit ragged.
One ship Jagged; from it trailed white
plume that looked like vapor,
Gee" said one of the pilots, she's
got one prop feathered (blade edge into
the wind, too"
Bet 1t amt Rosie, said Mckee. She
wouldn't do thing like that to me-"
Boeings johnson and ConsoGdated's
Laddon were peering from the front row,
their faces intent. They were four
n1otored bomber men.
Are they ours?" johnson asked.
pilot shook his head. II don't think
So"
He was right. The ships in the ap-
preaching formation passed over, swing
ing out and down to find berths on other
fields. More than one field we're con-
tributing fortresses to the days opera
tions.
Laddon pointed excitedly. Look!
B-24s." Every one seemed to know how
this visitor from Consolidated's Califor-
MIA plant felt. The planes swung wide
for another field and Laddon showed his
disappointment.
The tight group waited another 20
minutes, bad 20 minutes. Then Nc
Kee grabbed Bruce by the arm. Here
we come" he cried.
And there they came two squadrons
of Bits in tight formation A fine
sight. it was the stuff you see at opera
tional training fields. The sight OF
them, and the throb of their motors took
hold of your throat. It meant five ships
still unsighted.
where's the third squadron?' Bruce
voiced every ones question.
Mckee seemed detached. staring at
the ships coming in to land. Suddenly,
he shouted. There's old Rosie
"The hell it is" said Bruce, still kid
ding without much heart. That's
Susie O."
Mckee was right. The first ship to
land was Rose ODay. And 1t was a
good landing. Conversation languished.
Finally a little pilot called Shorty"
ventured a guess about the others.
Probably landed down around the
channel coast, like did last week"
You and Stewart" snorted Bruce.
"The be-back-next-day boys Stewart
had landed his ship In the channel
on a previous raid and had been fished
out by the British air-raid rescue service.
All Return Safely.
One by one. the ships landed and
TAXED off to scattered posts. One
bounced trife and drew cheers. A
hole through the tail Of another drew
comment. That was the only damage
discernible from the tower, These ships
apparently had come through in good
shape. But the others -?
Finally long half hour - they
showed up. All Of them. Late. The
navigators were due for kidding. But
just now 1t was enough that "all Of our
aircraft returned safely
As they looked, you could see pride
written boldly In the faces Of these
American manufacturers and designers.
Evening star., 1942-12-20

gears. The new tanks steer as easily as
the civilian auto.
The gear shift was in 4 queer place:
To the right and back. The driver
practically threw his right shoulder out
of joint to reach it. That's been moved
forward into easier reach.
Giving the Men a Break.
It's odd that motor designers didn't
think of these things. But they were
being showed to turn out powerful tanks.
Tanks with great speed and great fire
power They did. Now it's up to the
Knox Laboratory to see that the men
vino drive the tanks get an even break.
The next worry is the effect of ex-
treme temperatures ON men fighting
Great heat, great cold and, further,
shifting from one to the other, as the
air-borne troops will have to do.
In the California desert Machle found
that the tank runs up some fancy tenn
peratures. 1t may be los outside. That
makes nice sweltering l35 degrees in
side, where the crew is sitting.
The research crew would like to find
some way to cool the tank interior. But
nothing specially bright has been sug-
gested yet. They may line the thing
with asbestos. In the meantime they're
rushing to find out how long men can
work in that heat.
Sixteen Guinea Pigs.
The guinea pigs are 16 volunteers
They'll have to stay in hot room for
26 days and nights. It's schoolroon
size layout 1t will be kept at 120 de-
grees during the day and dropped to sc
degrees at night. That's about the Iu-
nisian desert range.
These l6 men will simulate work con-
ditions. They'll ride bicycle for sew
eral 10-minute stretches during the day
The bicycle is hooked to meters which
measure the rides energy. Doctors viii
keep check on the mans temperature
heart and blood pressure.
For four hours day. the men vii
Evening star., 1942-12-20

A soldier With a 4O-pound
pack ON his back steps up and
doUn 80 times a minute in q
temperature of 120 degrees
under conditioning for trop-
ical Uartare.
tank interiors. They found the men had
to crane their necks to see out through
their periscopes. And when the tanks
in battle, they see only what's reflected
in the periscope glass. It's no good,
cramped into half-size telephone booth
craning your neck So the periscopes
were redesigned. Now there's no un-
comfortable craning
They also found that the driver had to
stretch to reach the clutch and brake.
So the seat has been shifted. 1t took a
6o-pound pull to operate the early tank
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1942-09-04
EFFECTIVE LABOR
REPRESENTATION

Labor, it has been testified again
and again by government and indus
try chiefs, is doing splendid job of
war production. But labor can do an
even better job if given a greater
voice, more of "say" in the formu-
lation and guidance of production poll
cies. That's why labor is demanding
direct and effective representation"
on the War Production Board and has
offered a plan for putting such rep
resentation into effect.
"Direct and effective representation"
for labor is also wanted on price and
rationing boards and on all boards
and agencies dealing with the war
production program.
When this representation is OBJ
tanned, the whole program will benefit
immeasurably, as all of labor's abili-
ties, experience and wisdom will be
put directly at it's service.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1942-09-04
FACING
THE -
FACTS
With PHILIP PEARL

This Labor Day is the most impor-
tant in the history of American labor.
1t will be celebrated as holiday,
even by workers engaged in war pro-
duction, thanks to the wise ruling of
War Production Director Donald Nell
son.
No time will be lost to war produc-
tion by taking these few hours out to
consider the problems before us and
to weigh the decisions we must make
for the future. The workers will see
to it that the time is made up.
But great deal of added produc-
tion can be gained if the workers on
this Labor Day make solemn reso-
luton to themselves that, in the words
of Admiral Land, it is up to them ito
go to town.
That's what Labor Day is for. It's
not only light-hearted holiday for
picnics, parades and frolic. 1t is also
a day for review of the accomplish
ments of the past and for making
plans for the future. 1t is THE DAY
of free American labor.
How Much Longer Will We Be Free?
Just a year ago, we wrote in this
column:
"How much longer is America 60
ing to celebrate Labor Day? Will the
workers of America be able to enjoy
their own holiday next year, five years
from now and ten years hence? Will
they still be free to do so?"
The answer to this question is yes,
| American workers are still free and
able to celebrate Labor day this year.
| AS for next year and the years to
come, the answer depends in large
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1942-09-04
LABOR DAY STANDS FOR
FREEDOM
By Samuel Gompers

Labor Day stands for labor's faith
Faith in America. Faith in her insti-
tutions. Faith in her democracy. Faith
in her representative government. And
above all, Labor Day stands for faith
IN the workers. Faith in their ability
and determination to show the world
that within the field of democracy la
Dor can forge it's way straight ahead
and strike from its path the barriers
OF reaction, greed, oppression and tyr
amy wherever found and whomever
planted.
And Labor Day stands for freedom
For freedom attained and freedom
demanded.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1942-09-04
LABOR DAY EDITION
1912
IL Pages
OUR LABOR DAY ISSUE 1912

OUR LABOR DAY ISSUE - 1912
Once again with pride the Pres
presents this special Labor Day edi
tion to its many friends and the publ,
in general. In addition to the usua
large amount of general and loca
news and many special articles by la
Dor leaders and others of nationa
prominence are the advertisements Of
home industries conducted by the
manufacturers, business and profes-
sional men, our banks, building asso-
Citations, labor unions and friends gen.
orally who take this method of ex-
pressing their good will towards the
cause. They, above all others, are en-
titled to and should receive your pa
tronage and support.
While there are quite a few of our
advertisers who have curtailed their
advertising on account of war condi-
tions, we sincerely thank all of those
who have assisted in the production
of this years Labor Day issue, and
assure them their kindness is appre-
ciated and will not be forgotten.
The past year has really been a good
one for labor; and it is true that en-
ployment, in some localities, has not
been up to the standard, but the aver
age of wages has been maintained as
never before during such a period
This is fact of Importance, as is also
the more favorable relation of the
wage rate to actual living costs which
is constantly on the upgrade.
We are convinced that more prog
ress will be made towards establishing
real partnership between the inn
portant elements which enter into war
production-organize capital and or
ganized labor.
The Press has high hopes that dur
ing this World War II all senseless
waste and expensive, needless conflict
will be eliminated and good will anc
efficiency may appear in this locality
in their stead
May we conclude by emphasizing
the fact that there have been nc
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1942-09-04

measure on the workers themselves.
If they do their job, if they supply
our armed forces abundantly with the
finest materials of war, democracy
will win and the freedom of Ameri-
cans and all other peoples of the world
will be preserved and extended in the
years to come.
But if the workers fail to live up to
their responsibility and if our armed
forces and those of our Allies sustain
serious defeats on the field of battle,
the dangers which we anticipated even
before America was forced into the
war will become harsh reality.
The theme of this Labor Day is
Free Labor Will Win!"
Let's prove it!
Words are all very fine, slogans are
quite comforting sometimes, but it's
action-and only action-that counts.
Many of the members of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, and hun
dreds of thousands of their close rela-
tives will see action on the battlefields
of this war. To those remaining at
home, to those serving on the produc-
tion front, action means hard work
and plenty of it.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1942-09-04

Issued Weekly at s2s Market Street
Telephone 1895 Hamilton, Ohio
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1942-09-04

emv. We've got long and tough
6oht ahead of us and those who al
ready are feeling the pinch must real
ize that this is just the beginning.
Wars are not won by magic. VIC
tories don't come just through Wlsnlui
thinking. Let's make no mistake about
this. Every one of us here in America
is due for plenty of suffering. we are
not only going to talk about sacrinces'
we're going to have to make them,
whether we like it or not. It's not
going to be merely question OF get
ting along without sugar or coffee or
bananas. This war is going to hit US
hard, it's going to hit our own nesh
and blood, it's going to hit our pocket
books, it's going to demolish many Oh
our plans for the future.
We're in this fight with everything
we've got and we're not going to back
out until victory is won.
On this Labor Day we can be thank
full that we are still free, that we are
still strong, that we still have plenty
of room for sacrifices without resort
ing to desperate straits. The people
of Europe, who have gone through
He'll, do not have the reserve power
we have. They are getting weary and
weak. We are still vigorous and fresh.
We can lick our enemies and we
will if all our people pitch in with
everything they've got.
On this Labor Day, the workers of
our country must resolve that they
will not hold back with anything
they've got
FOR VICTORY: BUY BONDS
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1942-09-04
COMMENT ON WORLD EVENTS

the British Transport and General
Workers Union he was able within
six months to organize the entire fac
tory. At present negotiations are
pending for the conclusion of a col
lective agreement and for wage in
creases."
The l. F. T. u. cites other instances
of organization gains made by for
eign unionists and comments:
"These few examples of practical
work demonstrate how even in the
midst of war and across the barriers
of national hatreds the cause of in
ternational solidarity among the
workers is prevailing"
In an article reviewing the latest
victories of the Axis powers, the
Danish "Finanstidende" braves Nazi
displeasure by saying:
"How does the German home front
react to these developments? In the
long run that is the most important
question. So far it has never bene-
flied the victor to gain the whole world
If he lost his own soul. The home
front follows the war news without
any display of enthusiasm; the Ger
man population is so satiated with
victory bulletins that these no longer
affect national sentiment, daily drudg-
cry means more.
There and everywhere people long
to put an end to these conditions in
the world which break up homes, de-
stroy skilled efficiency, and torture
the nerves in a constant anxiety about
air raids and relatives risking their
lives in the war. Moreover, empty
shops and scanty rations have a de.
moralizing effect"
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1942-09-04
BADLY-NEEDED PAY INCREASE

Employees of the Post Office Depart
ment, whose compensation rates were
fixed in 1851 years ago-are ask
ing Congress to enact legislation
granting them a temporary pay in
crease to partially offset the marked
increase in the cost of living.
Their plea is entirely justified, and
in the interest of fair play to de-
serving force of workers, as we'll as
of maintaining the efficiency of this
vital service, prompt action should be
taken
Since 1899, while wage rates in pri-
vate employment have advanced from
40 per cent to as high as sc per cent,
postal employees have suffered an ac-
tual decrease in purchasing power
amounting to more than 20 per cent.
Food prices have risen more than 27
per cent, clothing more than % per
cent, housefurnishings more than 20
per cent and although the average of
rents has risen only about per cent,
in some communities the increase has
been from 25 to As per cent.
This is obviously unjust to these
loyal workers whose only recourse is