Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-01-29
Vengeance
Criers Asked
To Be Pa+ien+
Confidence in Victory
Later Called For
BY DAMON RUNYON

" for years 10 come will be
the SCotching Of JapS. but in the
meantime we suggest that the
Scrcamers for immediate VEN
Gcance pipe down. There is no
sense in trying 10 force pre-
Clpltate action now. When our
hour strikes, Japan will be de-
Stroyed as a dominant power
for centuries, but that hour is
not yet.
II will he a long, tough war,
il may last two. three. or even
five years. depending upon what
happens IN Europe. Our arms
may suffer many reverSes and
the flames of conflict may blaze
on our very shores. But in the
end we will triumph, 1t is not
in the cards that the result can
he otherwise. Be patient, good
people. Old Uncle Samuel Will
repay
We have been at war only
few weeks, so brief a time that
we have not yet quite shaken
off the Curlously trusting attl-
tudc toward our enemies that
was responsible for Pearl lIar-
Dor and for Manila. We have
not yet come to view the JapS
in their proper light of ASatic
harbarianS who will not observe
any of the ethics of civilization
in war or otherwise. We are
still in that beatifc state Of
mind of not hating our foes
which is a lovely thought that
can get your brains knocked out
in bear fight.
DUT all this will pass. the ris-
- ing anger of the American
people will presently submerge
all altvuism and the Japanese
will he recognized for what they
are. They must be fought with
the same wariness, against
their trcachery, that must be
exercised against all saVages.
The Japs have definitely placed
themselves in that category.
However, it would be eX-
tremely foolish and possibly sui
Cidal 10 rush our forces AT them
in burst of fury for the re-
Venge that the screamerS are
demanding. The bombing of
Toxic and other japanese cities
might be accomplished all right,
but II would be a hazardous en-
terpriSe at best and would
serve no great military purpose
lust now All that will come
late, Revenge is very pleasant
yet it is well TO first carefully
consider the possible cost.
Incidentally. il might be a
good thing 10 examine the Gre
dentials of the screamers and
see what they were saying and
doing Just prior 10 the war.
Were they by any chance among
those who were recently hang
ing onto the coattalls Of our
defense progress and yelling
Whoa? Are they elderly fell
lows who failed to give their
country other than lip service
IN 9S or 'fT~and who obviously
Will not render any other serv-
ice now?
AS A RULE screamers for
~ vengeance of this nature
are strictly non-unlform IN war.
Men who have served IN war
know that military and naval
movements are based on cold
calculation as to benefit or re-
suits. not on mere indignation.
II is along that line this war
will be fought and won and not
on the frantic outcrieS of those
who were telling us not 10 for
tify Guam and the Philippines
and who now want 20 advise us
what 10 do. They have some
thing TO answer for at the bar
of public opinion AS II IS.
We thought couple Of years
ago that war with Japan would
be lust breeze for the United
States. But Of course we could
not foresee that this nation
would he drained Of its military
and naval resources by the war
IN Europe Nor could we fore
see that the navy would he
caught with It's suspenders down
AT Pearl Harbor and that our
islands Of the Pacific would he
left practically helpless against
attack.
Thus We were made out a
punk prophet, II does not help
our case 10 allhi now that but
for those things Japan would
soon have been punched dizzy
There Is no percentage in re-
foCtInG on errors IN the heat OF
ball game. You lust forget
them and Try 10 make up the
ground they have lost II is tho
Same way IN war There will be
time enough 10 talk about the
porcrs years from now.
But we must make ono more
prophecy We arc willing ~
stake our life on the proposition
that when our fighting mon get
anything luSt approXimating an
even hrcak with 'he laps on
land or sea tho story viii come
out all rcd white and blue.
CoHyueht. 1879, by Kioe Feature,
Distributed ~ International News Service
puy a Ron,her