davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-03-29
Senng Allied Resistance Regarded Prelude Coense Strategy

plies met their initial fulfllment in a
Moscow dispatch that 66 German bomb
ing planes had attacked Murmansk,
Arctic port, but without success. Berlin
claimed damage to harbor installations.
Late in week, German ground troops
were reported trapped in that area as
Russ naval units blocked of landing
points.
Although there was little positional
change along this Russian line. Moscow
claimed some further advances late in
the week toward Smolensk and estimated
that since February there had been
100000 Germans killed in action. N
Kalinin sector, northwest of Moscow,
NaA fatalities exceeded $1,000, it was
said.
AS winter began to break, however,
German forces still held Taganrog.
Kharkov. Smolensk, Starays and Vyaz-
ma, anchor positions on this long front.
Consultations between Hitler and King
Boris of Bulgaria revived opinion last
week that pressure is being brought to
force Bulgar cooperation in a drive on
Turkey with other Balkan man power
being swung into line for action against
the Russians.
Across Europe, Britain's R. A. F.
stepped up its spring offensive. carrying
out several heavy and damaging raids
on German industrial section of Ruhr
Valley.
But disouieting word came from Lon
don on Thursday when Prime Minister
Churchill told a Conserva-
U-boots tive Party meeting that the
Sroye battle of the Atlantic, upon
which at all times our power
to live and carry on the war effort de-
pends, after markedly turning in our
favor for fve or six months, has now
for the time being worsened again"
American ship losses held an impor-
tant part in this bad turn Of events, and
Washington applied the lash anew to
It's ship building program. On Wednes-
day contracts were let for Sc large, sea-
going tankers and so more Liberty-t type
cargo ships.
SOIlSItSS W OCDdtC POooASAS
suspension of the 40-hour week law al
though President Roosevelt reiterated
his support for this statute on grounds
1t has not interfered with work week
average-which has been above 40 hours.
Organized labor indicated its willingness
to abandon double-time wage rate for
Sunday work, but warned that suspen-
i
and reduced production effort.
An executive order cleared the way
for War-Navy- Maritime Commission
financing of small war production enter
prises, a step expected to spread and
increase the production effort.
Congress heard from Federal Security
Administrator McNutt that 1000 900 per-
sons will have to be modified and
trained for war work behind the lines.
Evening star., 1942-03-29

of Bataan after contemptuously silent
rejection of bombastic demand of last
week end that Americans surrender.
Daily intensive air attacks on Cor
regidor were climaxed by continuous as
sault from early morning until midnight
on Thursday, but cave-dwelling defend
ers of island fortress charged Nips high
price at receiving end Of ack-ack fire.
One OF the "emigres" from Bataan,
Philippine High Commissioner Francis
B. Sayre, reported in person to Presi-
dent Roosevelt early in the week On
Friday, President Manuel Quezon with
his family end cabinet arrived in Aus
tralia to join Gen. Macarthur.
Evening star., 1942-03-29
On Pacific Front

For example, the Navy Department
disclosed on Wednesday that another
Of the hard-hitting Pacific air and naval
forces had swept in on Jap-held Wake
and Marcus Islands smashing planes,
ships and installations at both.
Importance of these attacks Is not OBJ
viously, contained within the limits Of
actual damage inflicted, but rather upon
the destructive effect upon Jap estab-
lishments of mid-Pacif1c bases from
which Hawaii might again be assaulted
or possible American thrusts at Japan
proper be blocked.
Marcus, for instance, is only $50 miles
from Tokio-closer than the Philippines
and near enough to pro-
Toxic vide a new springboard
bIoekout for operations against the
Bonin or Marisnas Is
lands, generally considered part Of the
main line of Jap sea outposts, or even
against Toxic itself. In apprehension
of just this latter possibility, the Nip
capital was blacked out for several nights
Immediately following the Marcus raid
March 4.
Periodic harassment of these Far Pa
cif1c islands can prevent their develop
ment into fully useful outposts for Japa-
nese forces until such time as full-dress
American offensive is initiated.
A second incident of this week point
Ing to things to come also showed up on
Wednesday when President Roosevelt
proclaimed maritime control areas for
coastal waters from San Francisco north
ward to the tip of the Aleutians. Hence
forth, non-Government ship movements
in these areas must be by daylight and
under strict regulatory conditions.
Although actual strength already in
Alaska and transport movements to that
sector are known only to military au-
thorities, it is not secret that extensive
Evening star., 1942-03-29

fighting man of unqualified military con-
troll. Bluntly, Prime Minister Curtin
dismissed Jap suggestions Of separate
peace.
Return of a sizable segment Of the
Australian Imperial Force from the Near
East and designation OF Gen. Sir Thomas
Blamey as United land force commander
in Australia was announced on Friday.
With steadily growing air strength,
American Australian flyers blasted con-
stantly last week at Jap concentrations
in New Guinea, claiming destruction or
serious damage Of Al enemy planes
within one three-day span. Timor also
was raided several times.
For their part, the Nips continued to
slug at Port Moresby. New Guinea
stronghold which is es-
New Guineo sential to Jap invasion
Resistance attempt by shortest
route to Australia, but
which has proved tough for Hirohitos
boys. BY weeks end air attacks on
Moresby had passed score in number, but
Jap land columns were reported still
marking time up the Markham Valley.
Navy communiques during the week
disclosed loss of two more United States
destroyers in Southwest Pacific action,
the Pillsbury and Edsall being named to
bring to 81 United States combat ships
lost since last fall. But recapitulation
of United States submarine toll in Pa
ciflc brought to rs Jap cargo and war
ships listed as certainly sunk by under
water fighters in same period.
Meanwhile. Jap forces lunged without
appreciable effect at stalwart defenders
Evening star., 1942-03-29

Rov p. Porter, Uho analyses TOR
Wide World the French "Udr gult"
trial at Riom, uds q correspondent in
France before and during the "sit2-
krieo" and blitzkrieg and until re-
GENTLY ,U1s stationed in German
occupied France.
Adolf Hitler and the old French Su-
preme War Council Of as far back as
1884 are about the only ones who could
be called technically embarrassed" so
far by the trial at Riom seeking to de-
termine who was responsible for Frances
defeat by Germany.
The Fuehrer got mixed up in it be-
cause his army occupies two-thirds OF
France and his agents tried-unsuccess-
fully up to this time-to make the French
investigation a political exposure OF
who was responsible for starting the
war"
The Supreme War Council is involved
because the five defendants have adopt
ed the habit of going back to the be-
ginning, in the period of comparative
calm in 1884 and 1885, when the mill
tary planning and strategy for the war
period which turned out to be 1889 and
1910 was being established.
Hitler himself, in his speech on March
IS, threw a new spotlight on the trial
when he complained that mot single
word of guilt of those responsible for
the war is mentioned and nothing but
inferior preparation for war Is being
talked about"
If he had read the original charges
published by the Vichy government on
october 16, 1941, he would have known
that the trial was not called to assess
those guilty of war" but to determine
the persons responsible for the defeat"
Phrase Misinterpreted.
The expression used in connection with
the trial-war guilt-grew out of the
French phrase, "coupables de guerre,"
which was used to describe the defend
ants.
In conjunction with the official term,
responsibility for the defeat" it means.
'those who were guilty from the war"
But 1t does not refer to anyone who
might be on trial for having started the
war.
A brief review of the charges against
the defendants will show that. I was
in Vichy when the indictments were
made public last October Marshal Pc
tain had promised the French that they
would be told by d-October" what
the government intended to do with
their former government and military
leaders.
When the charges became known, 1t
was evident Immediately that they ac-
cused the defendants Of bad manage
ment, misfeasance or nonfeasance, neg
ligence and carelessnesS. But not one
of the indictments was drawn to try to
pin on any one person the responsibility
for having pulled France into war with
Germany.
The two former premiers, Leon Blum
and Edouard Daladier, were charged
with negative acts. Blum failed to give
impetus" to arms production and failed
to recognize the DEFICIENCIES Of national
defense" and he "disorganized produc-
ton by nationalizing war factor1eS," the
indictments said.
Daladier was charged with defects"
of various kinds: National and indus
trial mobilization. arms production, con-
struction Of frontier defenses and organ
Evening star., 1942-03-29

ing to competent observers, must re-
main for a while one Of cleaning up,
one by one, the islands closest to the
Australian continent. This can be done
only by disrupting the enemy's lines of
communication, forcing him to leave his
troops in the same situation as we have
been compelled to leave ours at Wake
and. the Philippines.
Nippon will find it more difficult than
we to replace lost men-of war and mer-
chantmen because their shipbuilding
facilities are more restricted. As far as
raw materials 90 the japanese still have
large stocks, especially of oil and gaso-
line. which they have been storing since
1888. 1t is estimated that it will take
them at least six and probably eight
months to put into production the mines
and oil fields Of conquered territories.
BY that time we ought to be ready for
major operations which will make it
difficult for the japanese Navy to carry
home the products of their conquests and
also to move much-needed supplies to
troops occupying the former British and
Netherlands possessions in the South
Pacific.
The losses suffered by the United
States Navy since Pearl Harbor can be
described truthfully as relatively small.
We have lost one heavy cruiser, the
Houston, and few smaller craft, mostly
obsolescent destroyers and submarines.
but this impairment of striking power
will be more than made good by the end
Of the year.
Bases Our Chief Loss.
Our principal and most serious diff
Guilty is the loss of important naval bases
whence our fleet could have operated
without worrying about supplies and re-
pairs. Another equally important draw
back is the fact that we must carry oil
for the operations of our men-of-war-
to say nothing of Gen. MacArthur's
tanks and planes-from the American
West Coast to Australian ports. But in
official quarters it is confidently expected
that we can do this tremendous lob in
spite of existing difficulties, which the
Navy by no means minimizes
The principal concern for the time
being is to rush supplies, men and war
material to Gen. Macarthur. No one
doubts that he will do splendid lob in
Australia and will maintain that vital
springboard for our future operations
provided he is given the tools with which
to fight
1t is emphasized in military quarters
that rush job is necessary, a job in
which we must put every ounce of energy
and initiative. The Japanese are not
enemies to be held lightly. They know
everything for them depends on reducing
Australia. Their costly conquests will
vanish into thin air If they cannot de-
feat Gen. Macarthur, and there is no
reason for us to doubt that Gen. Mac
Arthur and his men will check a jap
anese invasion of Australia If the ad-
ministration in Washington gives them
full support, regardless of commitments
elsewhere.
But 1t Is equally true, according to
competent observers, that haf-hearted
measures, assistance in small packages
and dispersion of our air and naval
strength will spell disaster for ourselves
and our associates IN this war.
Evening star., 1942-03-29
SUPPLIES FOR MACARTHUR MAIN TASK NOW
Given the Tools sconfde Dot the Job


The eyes Of the United Nations are on
Australia where Japan is believed to be
directing her main forces. The Allied
commander in chief in the Southwest
Pacific, Gen. Douglas Macarthur, is not
expected to make any attempt in the
near future to reconquer the Allies lost
territories, although he will strike hard
blows at the Japs when and If they at
tempt to invade Australia.
Nor can the defenders of Bataan
under the command Of 1t. Gen. Jonathan
wainwright, one of the ablest officers in
the United States Army, be expected to
hold out indefinitely. The handful Of
Americans and Filipinos occupying the
peninsula may be compelled to retire soon
to Corregidor and hold out there as long
as supplies of food and ammunition last.
There is great hope, however, that the
Allies generaissimo will be able to check
the Japanese invasion of continental
Australia until plans being devised in
Washington come to fruition and we are
In position to adopt what in military
language is called "offensive-defensive"
strategy. The American high command
hopes to have at its disposal before the
end of the year sufficient warships and
planes to strike at the Japanese COM
munication lines in force.
The japanese have achieved successes
far greater than either they or their
associates expected them to win in such
q short time But by so doing they have
dangerously extended their supply lines.
Japans vulnerability in this respect will
be apparent when the United States has
sufficient warships in the Pacific to
abandon the purely defensive strategy
and begins to hit the enemy in full force.
Feeding Army is Least Worry.
The communication lines between
Japan and her conquered territories are
all more than 5000 miles long. 1t is true
that the army can live on the land.
Malaga, Java, Sumatra, Borneo and the
smaller outposts taken from the British
and Dutch can feed large army of oc-
cupation. But feeding soldiers is the
least of the worries of modern general
staff
So long as the United Nations are COM
PEELED merely to parry the enemy's blows
and our forces are not in position to in
terfere with the Jap lines of communi-
cations everything is satisfactory for the
high command in Toxic. But when our
naval and air forces in the Pacific be-
come large and strong enough to strike
back, the japanese will have to trans
port war material in huge quantities to
the occupied territories.
None of the lands conquered by the
enemy has much industry. They are rich
In raw materials which can be used to
some extent for the manufacture Of war
implements, but they have neither skilled
workmen nor plants and equipment with
which to establish industries.
The japanese islands perforce will re-
main for long time the principal arse
nal OF the Nipponese forces. Transports
which are now carrying troops and war
materials to the occupied territories will
unquestionably carry back rubber, tung-
stem, tin and oil-both crude and refined
to enable Japanese factories to produce
the necessary war material.
For the time being our naval forces
In the Pacific are endeavoring to pro-
tect conveys going to Australia Our
Evening star., 1942-03-29
HITLER'S SCHEME TF1WARTED AT RON TRIAL
Court Seeks Guilt for Wars Conduct Not Its Inception


constitutional (Which 1t denied because
it was not elected under the French re-
publican laws.
But the court is highly specialized.
without appeal, and can make its own
regulations and govern itself as it
pleases. subject only to the authority Of
Marshal Petain. whose kingly powers ex-
ceed those of any French leader since
Napoleon.
With these basic facts in review. it
is relatively simple to analyze the pres
ent position of the defendants.
All have been called to the witness
stand and all, except Gamelin, who
maintains for the most part stubborn
silence, have acknowledged in varying
degrees the faults of their administra-
tions-but only by sharing the response
bility with their predecessors.
And of all the predecessors cited so
far, the Supreme War Council of 1884
and 1885 has come in for the most
blame.
These were the years when Hitler was
reorganizing his army. building up his
air force by secret training, evading the
military clauses of the Versailles peace
treaty prior to opening Germanys Pc
riod of conquest by occupation of the
Rhineland in 1886.
Jacomet testified that when he took
over his job at the National Defense
Ministry that same year, he found gov
ernment credits that had piled up with
out being spent. The Supreme War
Council, of which Marshal Petain was
then a member, had slashed their
budgets to keep military expenditures
down.
Blum Wanted Speed, He Says.
Gen. Charles de Gaulle's proposal for
creation of motorized army was tabled
by the same council at the same time
that German generals were planning to
create their panzer divisions.
Daladier admitted that he, then War
Minister, was in favor of De Gaulle's
ideas and astounded the Riom court by
saying he was proud that he had made
De Gaulle the youngest general in the
French Army.
Blum, facing the accusation Of dis
organizing defense by nationalizing the
arms plants, said he had tried to hurry
it along as the only means of increasing
production. He said some employers,
presumably including those who had
arms contracts with the government, re-
garded him as stheir savior"
La Chambre admitted that when he
went into the air ministry he found
hopeless mess which he tried to straight
en- out but with which he did not get
very far.
OF the five before the bar, only Game
lin has refused to tell his personal story
because he does not wish to criticize
the army-and the men-he headed.
He has left the job Of explaining what
happened during the actual campaign
to his generals and his soldiers and
they began to talk only last week.
From their first statements, it appears
that the French Army was short on
morale, that its equipment was poor or
missing altogether, and that the nations
Notifications, including the Maginot
Line, were designed to stop an enemy
of an earlier era but not the German
motorized army Of 1899 and 1910.
The story Of what and how 1t occurred
Will continue to unfold until the last Of
the expected 800 witnesses have testified
Evening star., 1942-03-29
Other Fighting Fronts

Some rollicking fighting went on last
week in the Mediterranean.
First report came on Monday when
the British Admiralty claimed that En-
pire submarines within sight of watchers
on the italian and Albanian coasts had
sunk two Fascist submarines, two supply
ships, six schooners and troop loaded
motorship. Italian shore artillery fire
merely interfered with British rescue of
Fascist survivors, London said
Evening star., 1942-03-29

reinforcements in men and materiel have
been dispatched there in the months
since Pearl Harbor. With Kodiak and
Dutch Harbor serving as principal as
sembly points, substantial task forces
or even invasion armadas could move
westward to other Aleutian jumping of
places for eventual all-out assault on
Jap Kurile Islands.
Obviously, If such an effort is to de-
velop into full invasion attempt it would
require great numbers of
Strategic men, great quantities of
AIeutions combat and transport
shipping. planes and
varied supplies. 1t would, also, entail
heavy losses, but it would not basically
present any more difficult problem than
the Japs faced in their headlong rush
southwark across the Philippines, Malaga
and the Indies.
In addition, possibility that hostihties
between Japan and Soviet Russia may
break out in the months to come offers
the potential great advantage of en-
ploying the Kamchatka Peninsula or
the Siberian mainland as bases for
United operations.
In any event, spring and summer
weather is most suitable to campaigning
in this theater and it is not likely that
six months will pass without northward
shift in war operations.
At the far southern end Of this long
Pacific front, American and Australian
officials devoted most of this past week
to the swift drafting of training and
operational plans while great conveys
brought more and more men and fight
ing equipment to the land down under"
I'VE shall win or we shall die " . I
pledge you the full resources of all the
mighty power of my country and all the
blood of my countrymen," Gen. Douglas
Macarthur. United commander for the
Southwest Pacific. promised his charges
while Aussie authorities assured this
Evening star., 1942-03-29
By Constantine Brown.

situation is particularly difficult be-
cause we shall have to transport from
the United States at least 80 per cent
of the war material to be used by Gen.
MacArthur's men. The safeguarding of
the long line of merchantmen on that
route of more than 10000 miles will be
up to our Navy.
Outside of sporadic cruiser and sub
marine raids, our naval activity must
be restricted exclusively to protection
of these conveys Any slowing down
by the United States Navy in this job
for the purpose of seeking battle with
the enemy would mean neglecting the
conveys and would reduce Gen. Mac
Arthur's chances of resisting the jap
anese. Any diffusion of forces at pres
ent would jeopardize Australia.
The situation will change by fall,
however. BY that time, if our output of
ships and planes is not slowed down,
the Navy will be strong enough to pro-
tect the transports to Australia and also
to begin to harass the Japanese COM
munication lines.
BY next october or November we
shall have at least five If not six new
battleships ready for action. How use
full these ships will be in preliminary
actions against the japanese is matter
for speculation, but it is doubtful
whether we shall be ready this year to
seek out the japanese fleet for full
scale encounter.
Japs Have Big Fuel Stocks.
The commissioning of fast cruisers,
heavy and light destroyers and plane
carriers is regarded by naval strategists
as much more important than the COM
missioning of battleships, for the pre-
liminary offensive against the Nipponese
must necessarily take the form of a
war of attrition in which fast ships,
heavily armed, will disrupt lines OF COM
munication.
So long as we can hold Australia, or
even portion of it, together with New
Zealand we shall have the necessary
bases for operations Of this type.
Our strategy In the Pacific. accord