The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1942-02-26
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From Defense 10 0ffense
Is a Tough Job for U.S..
Enemy Must Be Kept From breaking
Through While United Nations Build
Up Overwhelming Superiority.
BY BAUKHAGE
Ne,us Analyst and Commentator.

I'd Commentator.
other "a per cent came from the
Axis. Now virtually all of the sup
ply of this essential material is cut
off except what the United States
a spare from the terrific demands
u shipyards and arsenals are
making.
But without steel, Argentina's
wheels would cease to run, public
utilities would d~isintegrate, the coun.
try would be an easy prey to any
subversive influence. And so, with
a finely sharpened pencil. the experts
in the BEW find some steel, recon.
mend to the War Production board
that it be spared for the Argentine.
Another example: We need rub.
Der. There are plenty Of rubber
trees in South America. We can
make some synthetic rubber in our
laboratories. but we need natural
rubber to mix with it. 1t takes
more than money to get rubber out
of those trees deep in the jungles
Of the Amazon.
And Imagination has been used.
Imagination to realize that in order
to get the labor to harvest the rub.
Der, the half-starved, sickly 1ndi.
n who provide this labor must
be given better food, healthier sur
roundings, conditions which will
make them and others want to work
to earn the money. The things which
they a buy with the wages they
earn must be made available.
And so, hundreds of mosquito chas.
ers are already working to remove
the malarial mosquito that makes
life hazardous in the rubber jungles.
Experts to help start dairy farms to
provide vitamin-giving milk to build
up the weakened bodies, are being
dispatched to South America.
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Social Conditions
In Washington
The war has created many serious
social conditions in Washington.
But one situation which few have
noticed and which threatened for a
time a minor revolution. I think ]
a predict, will shortly be greatly
ameliorated. This is the tale (and
it's a bushy one).
War required certain building op.
erations on the White House grounds
Among other things-the only one
which ! can discuss freely because
Of the censorship-was the construc.
ton of a little building which looked
like a soft drink stand where the
shivering detectives who help the ex.
ira police who guard the great iron
gate to the presidential grounds. can
warm themselves. But there were
other more expansive undertakings.
This construction considerably ham.
pered the activities of White House
visitors. Also White House resi-
dents.
One of the Oldest retainers on this
ancient estate is a trusted friend of
mine. head Of a rather 1ighty clan,
but himself a very responsible patri-
arch who has given me many an
important story.
He is the Old Gray Squirrel who
lives in the Elm.
He. with most of his clan was vir-
tually dispossessed while the con-
]struction work l mentioned Cor rath-
er I am not allowed to mention) went
on. Another old resident who lives
or rather pursues his business just
outside the White House fence and
with whom the Old Gray Squirrel
has a very close working arrange
ment, had to move too. He is Steve.
Steve runs a peanut stand. You may
see the connection.
Steve moved across Pennsylvania
avenue to Lafayette park. The Old
Gray Squirrel and his family fol-
lowed.
Then trouble began. For the Old
Gray Squirrel is a snob. He doesn't
mix with common squirrels and La
fayette park is full Of them. They
don't understand White House pro-
tocol. They would push up to the
head of the line and try to steal pea.
nuts from the donors hand right >out
of the Old Gray Squirrels mouth.
This made trouble.
For some days l thought murder
would be committed. Mayhem was.
In fact, n of the Lafayette crowds
has lost his brush. a clean but I'm.
digniied operation although too close
for comfort or beauty.
But fortunately the workmen on
the White House lawn have gone
now. Soon Steve will take up his
ancient post. Already the Old Gray
Squirrel is scurrying back and forth
across Pennsylvania venue remov.
ing the nuts he had carefully in.
TERED in the park to a safer and
more exclusive burial place. Revo-
luton has been averted.