davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-05-08
On the Record
Rotionins Cords Suggest Need to Check
Every Ones Identity in Wortime

photograph WIN bhe lace OF inc
signatory.
An effective rationing system
demands that every person ap-
plying for rations possess a SINH
lar certificate of identity, and
that ration cards can only be de-
livered against such a certificate,
which is then stamped whenever
a ration card is issued.
Gard Is No Humiliation
The possession of such an iden-
tification card is no humiliation
of any kind. 1t is Just common
sense, and efficient protection Of
the honest against the chiselers
or the outright criminals.
And it is necessary, in war
time, for many purposes.
An immediate illustration
comes to my mind. Enemy aliens
are prohibited from travelling
outside certain radius without
special permits. This is an an
noyance and an economic handi-
cap to many honest refugees who
should, it seems to me, be given
hearings. But the measure is
taken because among them there
may be enemy agents. Actually
it cannot be applied in any eff
cient way under present circum-
stances.
For unless such an alien is
under constant supervision of
the F. B. las he cannot be
nothing prevents him from tax
ing a train anywhere he wants
to 60, and nothing can prevent
him unless the identity of all
travellers is established when they
buy their tickets, and unless all
travellers can .re-establish their
identity on call. For, If an F. B.
I. man goes through q train, he
cannot find any enemy alien
without being able to check the
identity Of all travellers. The
alien can simply say that he is
an American citizen-or call him.
self a Czech or a Pole.
Fifth COlumnists Aided.
SO what happens is that loyal
aliens-loyal to America-metic-
ulously observe the rules, and real
agents move where they are or
dered to move.
Carelessness in issuance OF
ration cards also can benefit fifth
columnists. For the creation of
social discomfort is part of the
whole Fascist policy. And these
carelessly- issued ration cards can
be used to establish false identi-
ties.
The whole system should be
carefully thought through and
fixed so that 1t becomes extreme
ly difficult to cheat. And in such
a total war, the establishment
OF every ones identity is a sine
qua non to effective civilian de-
tense-for workers in munitions
factories; for visitors to war
zones; for dockhands and ship
yard workers, and every one in .
position where he might do dam
age.
There are more serious things
going on In this country than
have been publicized. or than 1t
Is wise to publicize while. the au-
thorities are on the search. But
the authorities will never be able
to fulfill their tasks as they
should unless we start right now
with the establishment OF the
identity OF every resident in the
United States.
released by the Bell Syndicate, Ine)
Evening star., 1942-05-08

Gated that he means what he. says
in this matter. II he remains I'M
yielding and directs his board to
measure up to his declaration in
the Little Steel" case, he will de-.
serve great credit. .--
1t will be the first time he really
has resisted pressure from his
labor leader friends. If he yields,
then it is as certain as can be
that the farm and labor lobbies,
working together, as they always
do, will prevent action In any di-
Evening star., 1942-05-08

procedure 1t was perfectly clear
to me that If any one wanted to
cheat at this game, it would not
take a highly trained criminal to
do so. In fact, q trained gang Of
would-be bootleggers in any great
city could make nice thing for
themselves out of the organiza-
ton of a Sugar-racket.
And bit by bit all essentials
will be rationed. Presumably the
procedure will be the same as
with sugar. And unless it is more
carefully done than it is at pres
ent, there can be interlocking
rackets in all the essentials of
life.
1t is to prevent this that am
writing this column. 1t is to sug-
gest that the whole rationing
business should be more carefully
planned and provided with close
checks.
1t is not my intention to use
this means of suggesting to
would-be cheats how they could
come into possession of a uozen
sugar-rationing-and later other
rationing-cards; or scores or
hundreds of them. 1t is, however,
my intention to point out that
the identity Of the applicant for
. card, his place of residence, and
the size OF his family, are not
established by anything except
his word and signature.
Check-ups Difficult.
To check these things after the
card is issued is difficult to do.
q The applicant has to describe
himself as Of a certain height,
weight and coloring. But he is
not compelled in any case to pur-
chase his own sugar. My cook,
for instance, can purchase mine,
as she doubtless will. And the
descriptions are vague enough
to fit many. Anyhow, you can't
turn every grocer into a detective.
Actually, no rationing can be
thoroughly effective unless it be-
gins by the unquestioned estab-
lishment Of the identity Of the
holder of the card.
This is not difncult to do. 1t is,
as a matter of fact, done in the
case OF every enemy" alien. He
has had to register, present three
photographs, of which two were
kept by the ONCE, and in return
receive an identification card,
with his photograph on it and a
description Of his personality;
something like passport. And
this has not been handed him on
the spot, but mailed registered to
the address given, and the post
man instructed to deliver it only
on the personal signature of the
applicant, and to compare, the
Evening star., 1942-05-08
The Great Game of Politics
Financial Choos' Held Nearer if President
Yields in Anti-InfIotion Proerom

His telegram in connection
with the shipbuilding wage sta
bilization case was encouraging.
Without it. the record of the War
Board justifies belief 1t would
have granted an increase which,
as Mr.. Roosevelt said, would
have been "irreconcilable" with
any effort to control prices. That
statement was both timely and
courageous.
Murray Reported "in . Rage"
But there is still danger in the
Little Steel" case. Ever since
the President made his first
public wage sterilization refer
ence, his friend, Philip Murray
OF the c /. O., has been in a
rage. Or. so it is reported in the
radical New York paper which
usually reflects his views and
supports his stand.
Defeat in the Little Steel"
fight, it is said, would be a very
bad blow to Mr.. Murray. 1t
might pave the way for a new
upheaval in the c. 1. o. and have
serious consequences in the first
constitutional convention of the
S. w. o. c. on May 10. Further
more, this paper reports, it
might result in break between
the c. I. o. and the present
Labor Board and even with the
Roosevelt administration.
In the light of these threat"
because they are threats-it will
be interesting to see whether Mr..
Roosevelt and his Labor Board
have the strength to stand flrm
against an increase that would
knock the bottom out OF an al
ready leaky anti-inflation pro-
gram.
The vehement protestations of
his patriotism by Mr.. Murray
and his fullsome eulogies of Mr..
Roosevelt look pretty sick in the
view of his present attitude. The
Presidents words about those
who approve all Of his program
except the part that steps on
their own toes" seem to apply
particularly to Mr.. Murray.
though it was not he Mr.. Roose-
welt had in mind when he uttered
them.
"Pampering" Charged.
Up to now, Mr.. Murray has
been pampered and petted by the
White House and given practical
ly everything he wanted. So have
his labor lobbyist colleagues In
the A. F. L. The recent main
tenance Of membership" decisions
OF the Labor Board give to the
union leaders an unfair, and even
vicious. weapon with which to ex-
pand their power. Under exist
ing conditions, to give them, in
addition, a victory in the Little
Steel" fight would cap the climax.
If they get away with even a
partial victory, hope that farm
prices can be held down might as
we'll be abandoned And with
them out, there might as we'll be
no price control program at all.
So far the President has indi-
Evening star., 1942-05-08

American troops and war ma
terials.
Heavy conveys have been and
are still being sent to the men,
aced continent in the South Pa
cific. In the opinion of military
experts, Gen. Macarthur has suf-
f1cient forces to resist a Jap
anese attack against Southern
and Eastern Australia. But it is
hardly likely that he has received
enough men and planes to permit
him to strike at the Japs.
Macarthur Needs More Men.
Gen. Macarthur is harassing
the enemy and causing him
heavy damage by frequent air
raids. But while these raids are
bothersome, they cannot be con-
sidered major moves. Much
more war material and many
more troops must reach the con.
tinent down under" before Gen.
Macarthur can put whatever Of
fensive plans he may have into
effect.
Unless the Japs gain a strong
foothold in West and North Aus
tralia, they must look for an
eventual United Nations offen-
sive. Furthermore, unless they
are able to jeopardize our lines of
communication they will have to
consider the forces being gath
cred in that area as q serious
potential menace.
So long as Gen. Macarthur
suffers no serious interference
and can draw large quantities of
war material from America
man power is of secondary i'm
portance-with which to achieve
air superiority and to arm the.
available forces in Australia, the
Evening star., 1942-05-08

man appreciate
his home.
Not until the
War Production
B oard chief
called . bait to
the manufac-
ture and sale
OF so m q n y
household fur
nishings did the
average Ameri-
can develop q
proper affection
for his little nest
Evening star., 1942-05-08
Veteran Of Three Wars
Returns 10 Navy al II

By the Associated Press.
BOSTON, May -"Tattooed"
Conley, 70, was called back from
retirement to duty with the Navy
yesterday, one OF the oldest men in
the service.
On the Nays roster he appears
a. Edward P. Conley, engineman,
frst class. OF Newmarket, N. H., with
~ years active service in his rec
~d. including Me spanish-Amer-
Evening star., 1942-05-08

so o n as TO
y h ct h er the
synthetic rubber
program Is to be
advanced rapid
~ or retarded
by indecision.
The stark fact
Is that relatively
little progress
has been made
on the actual
construction of
synthetic rubber
plants despite
Evening star., 1942-05-08

regarded t h e
PreSi d e n t's
anti = imitation
pro gra m as
half-baked and
half = hearted.
It IS not too
much to say
that the men
who know most
about the facts
are deeply de-
pressed ov er
the outlook.
T he ch ie I
reason for dis
Evening star., 1942-05-08

rection not desired by their spe-
cial interests.
In which not unlikely case, our
pace toward financial chaos will
be considerably accelerated,
Evening star., 1942-05-08

. b ut tn e
number of peo-
pie in my fam
lily, and the
amount of su-
gar in the
house. In other
words, I acted
the way the
ov erwhGming
m a jority ] of
Americans also
acted and will
continue to act.
B u t watch
Evening star., 1942-05-08

THE opinions OF the orers this their not
necessarily The Stars Such opinions presented
Stars effort to gpe all sides OF questions OF interest to its
readers although such opinions may contradictory among
themselves and directly opposed to The Stars
Evening star., 1942-05-08

You can't pop corn over . match
flame. You can't build house with
discarded barrel slaves. And well
never win this with less than all
we've got and the best we've got.
Buy War bends.
Evening star., 1942-05-08
BY DOROTHY THOMPSON.

The other day I registered for
my sugar ration and got my ra-
ton card. I am an honest
woman; I told the exact truth
Evening star., 1942-05-08
McLemore-
Con Opener Enjoys
Place Of Honor Now
by HENRY McLEMoRE.

II Edgar Guest will excuse me
for paraphrasing him today,
would like to say that 1t takes q
heap o. Donald Nelson TO make .
Evening star., 1942-05-08
Disputes Bog
Plans for
Rubber
Public Rejection
Of Indecision
. Abb Forecast
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

The seriousness of the rubber
eituation cannot be overstated. Not
only must there be conservation OF
tires but there must be a decision
Evening star., 1942-05-08
BY FRANK r. KENT.

Developments of the past week
tend to strengthen rather than
diminish the conviction of those
who, when it was first launched,
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-08

fort to the enemy. In this re-
spect, I feel very strongly that
military considerations outweigh
the satisfying of very natural
and proper curiosity.
at assume that you and your
colleagues know that the piec-
ing of information together
after the manner of q jig saw
puzzle - Is common military
practice, which we ourselves
carry out 10 the best of our
ability. 1t Is not necessary to
complete the jig-saw puzzle I'm
order to gain vital information
but only to At together key
part or parts thereof, In order
to become possessed Of i'm
portant military information.
"'Certain circumstances have
prevailed during the last few
weeks, particularly In regard to
operations I'm the Pacific, which
have made IL advisable to with
hold information from the pub
lie.
There Is now no reason
why release should not be made
OF actions which took place
prior to May except to how the
planes which attacked Japan
were enabled to reach Japan
this because we have every
reason to believe that the
Japanese do not know yet how
1t was done.
at appears that information
relating to the co-called battle
OF the Coral Sea can soon be
released. Perhaps during the
coming week, depending on GER
tain developments related to the
actions now going on to the
westward Of Midway Island
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-08
Axis Falls Back
In Libydn Desert
Continued from Page one)

CONTINUED from Page One)
and Indian troops were established
inside Axis positions. despite re-
peated enemy attempts to drive
them out. At the southern EN- I
OF the imperial line, Free French
forces under Gen. Pierre Koenig
held the Biz Hacheim salient after
two heavy Italian at
tackS and inflicting Gripping
losses.
Front dispatches described wild.
confused tank fighting west of
Knightsbridge.
United Press correspondent
Richard d. Mcmillan reported
from Ritchie's front headquarters
that the third and present phase
Of the Libyan fighting was marked
by 1.-The worst fighting British
troops have experienced in the
war"
He said the 1910 Battle of
France could not compare with
the furious struggle raging be-
tween thousands of tanks on a
.parched. shell-pocked desert pla-
teau near Knightsbridge. .
Destroyed and damaged tanks.
including a few 28-ton American
General Grants" were reported
strewn over the battlefield. and
both sides were said to be pouring
reinforcement into the conflict.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-08
Attack ON Hawaii
Still Held Possible
BY SANDOR 8. KLEIN
United Press staff Correspondent

Alaska might also be attacked.
"You know In a general way
of he line OF communication we
have to protect to Australia.
But you probably do not realize
the large forces that IL takes to
protect a line of that length.
All of these several factors had
to be evaluted. Decision to act
had to be taken on the basis OF
calculated risk
Midway has been greatly
strengthened since the Pearl
HarbOr action. As the Japs now
know, the radius of our effective
air scouting from that island ex-
tends to a distance of at least
500 miles. What they do not
know and what 1 don't propose
to tell you Is the actual limit
of that aerial reconnaissance
radius.
TURNED OUT ALL RIGHT
"Certainely II we had known
exactly when and where and In
what force the enemy intended
to strike, we might perhaps have
afforded some diversions from
our other vital areas of pro-
lection. But as the results will
prove, believe, we shall have
nothing to apologize for In the
present action.
II cannot go into the details
Of our own forces that were en-
gagged, or ready TO be engaged.
The japanese probably do not
exactly know them but they
have cause to know plenty.
"You will all probably have
questions to ask, but hope that
what have said will indicate to
you the limits within which i
can answer your questions.
LACK DISCRIMINATION
"As to the release OF military
information In general, I wish to
read to you certain paragraphs
from a letter which i have re-
Gently written:
ct am fully aware OF the de-
sires of the news reel companies
and other purveyOrs of informa-
ton to acquaint the public i'm
details with news of action with
the enemy at the earliest prac-
tlcable date.
al am also fully aware that
all too often, even inadvertently,
the purvelOrs of information to
the public are not prone to
exercise any discrimination I'm
regard to giving aid and COM
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-08
SEE INVASION ATTEMPT

This day six months ago was the
darkest in Hawaiia's history. The
sneak attack on Pearl Harbor was
over; the extent of the disaster
was starkly apparent.
Today Hawaiians believed the
United States forces had beaten
back at Midway a second japanese
attack on Hawaiian attack
meant 10 be an invasion.
Japan had lost in the Coral Sea
battle, sunk or damaged. Ii war
ships, including one aircraft car
rier. one heavy cruiser, one light
cruiser, two destroyers and four
gunboats sunk and one aircraft
carrier, one heavy cruiser and two
seaplane tenders damaged.
On the basis of Nimitz' comrnu.
Iniques, experts here believed that
a large part of Japan's first line
naval strength was involved in the
Midway battle.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-08
LENINGRAD HOLDS

MOSCOW, June 8 (INS).-The
Leningrad radio reported today
that Nazi attacks on Russia's sec
ond city had failed" and added
that the assailing troops had been
forced to retreat. after launching
fierce counterattacks that resulted
in intense fighting"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-08
laps Attack
On 5 Separate
Fronts in China
Seek TO End Incident
in Short Order but
Meet Fierce Defense
By ROBERT MARTIN
uaii-d Press staff Osrrespendent

CHUNGKING, China. June s.
Japan pressed five major offensives
In China today in a spreading
campaign to liquidate the Chinese
incident" and remove the threat
OF further American bombing raids
on the Japanese islands.
While fierce fighting ragged on
a new inner Monaghan front
$40 miles west Of Peiplng. the
besieged Chinese garrison at
Chuhsien (Chuchow) in western
Chekiang province was still hold
ing out within the ancient walls.
Chungking military quarters adj
mitted the Chinese position there
was increasingly grave. The
japanese occupied the strategic
Chunsien airdrome Saturday.
BEsIEGED By 100000
Chuhsien. on the Nanchang-
Hangchow railway. was besieged
BY a Japanese force of at least
100000 men. The Chinese had
withdrawn behind the walled de-
lenses and were engaging the
enemy in hand to-hand fighting.
The japanese opened their inner
Monaghan offensive on the famed
Ordos Plain, Saturday. in another
move to isolate China. From
Paotow they crossed the Yellow
River and moved south, encounter
ing strong resistance from Chinese
troops in Suiyuan province.
This conceded with renewed
enemy offensives in Chekiang,
Yunnan. Kwangtung and Kiangsi
provinces. Informed quarters esti-
mated that roughly 100000 Japa-
nese troops-half the total enemy
garrison in China proper-were
engaged in these campaigns.
SPORADIC FIGHTING
Sporadic fighting also has &C.
Cured since May Is on a sixth
front, In Central Hopei province,
where the enemy has employed
about $4,000 men to wipe out a
Chinese guerrilla menace. The
Communist organ, New China
Daily, reported that the Chinese
positions were unaltered.
Chinese troops were reported
officially to have opened strong
counter-offensive in the area OF
Nanchang. provincial capital of
Kiangsi. The Chinese were said
TO have attacked enemy-held towns
80 miles north of Nanchang, in
fiicting heavy casualties.
From the Nanchang area, Japa-
nese forces had driven eastward
10 storm the city of Tunghsiang
on the railway to Hangchow.
A communique admitted japanese
occupation of Fuchow, 55 miles
southeast Of Nanchang. last Friday.
At least $4,000 enemy troops
were believed operating from Man.
chang.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-08
Keep 'EEss Fleeing

HONOLULU, June s (INS).-
Keep 'em fleeing!"
That was the message sent to-
day by Lieut.. Gen. Henry II.
Arnold, chief of United States
Army Air Forces, to Lieut.. Gen.
Delos Emmons. commander of the
Hawaiian department.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-08

observers today believed that
despite the heavy losses suffered
by Japan in the Coral Sea and
Midway Island battles. an attack
on Hawaii still is possible.
They found support for their
views in Admiral Ernest j. Kings
unwillingness to say yet that the
powerful enemy naval force that
attacked Midway had been de-
feated and his emphasis that be-
cause of Hawaii's position 1T must
be held at all costs"
MAY REORGANIZE
The experts said withdrawal Of
1.-THE japanese fleet need not imply
that it was going home. They
Icontended that it was possible for
the Japanese to reorganize and
lget reinforcements for another
try at what is now considered to
have been their objective-capture
of Hawaii.
The Japanese realize that Hawaii
lis the keystone of the United
States Pacific defenses. the ex-
perts said, and will take all sorts
of risks-as they already have
demonStrated-to knock out that
vital outpost.
Kings statements were made at
his first press conference since
becoming commander-in-chief of
the United States fleet shortly
lof fnx. tho xxuaV. hnpan
TEXT OF STATEMENT
The text of the statement fol-
lows:
"You have all read Admiral
Nimitz's communicates and you
know that the operations be-
yond Midway are still I'm prog
ress. However, 1 feel that the
information at hand at this time
permits me to give you a little
bit of background that led up to
these operations.
'Tn the first place, after Cen
eral Doolittle's raid on Japan,
General Marshall and both
felt, knowing the japanese psy-
chology, that some reprisal In
kind was inevitable I'm order
that they might save face Sec
rotary Stimson, knowing the
japanese, has also emphasized
this point.
1.-THE Coral Sea action, which
was another decisive setback to
the Japanese, was an additional
reason to be on guard. The de-
tails of the Coral Sea action
have not As yet been made pub
lie, but you will shortly be I'm |
possession of all the essential |
facts.
after the Coral Sea action,
we lost touch with the heavy
japanese forces engaged. They
disappeared beyond the radius
OF our immediate means of
reconnaissance.
NEGATIVE INFORMATION
'But, as you know, and as the
japanese know, we have consid-
cradle numbers of submarines
sprinkled about the western
Pacific. and they were able to
give us a good deal OF at least
negative Information.
ut was apparent shortly after
the Coral Sea action that the
Japs would have to go some
where and do something.
Looking at the map, almost
anybody could see that among
our various important outposts,
Dutch IIarbor and Midway
offered them the best chance Of
an action either In the nature
OF n raid or an invasion with
some hope of success, or of n
nature that In case of reverse
would allow them TO retire with
out too great loss or complete
humiliation.
AT the same time, we were
fully aware that they might
renew the actions In the Coral
Sea-even though they had re-
Gently been 'stung' there.
$50 to this extent we were
prepared for the assault upon
Midway. and recognized that
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-08

"Your Own Horoscope" by
Frances Drake, IN one Of many
famous features In The Detroit
Times.