davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
Washington Daybook
BY JACK STINNETT

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-There is a great
deal of misunderstanding and confusion about
what is going to hap: en to American manpow'
er after February 49, when registration for the
new draft starts.
Current reports that we will put three to
five million more men under arms has led
some to fear that every able-bodied youth and
oldster capable of shouldering gun will be
ordered into uniform Immediately. This is far
from the truth.
Brig. Ceng. Lewis B. Hershey, selective
service national director, recently published
his opinion that younger men, those without
dependents and not absolutely necessary in
vital occupations, if physically tit, Will be
taken into the fighting forces as they are
needed"
There isn't anyone in the United States who
knows as much about operation of the selec-
tive service act as General Hershey. And he
didn't put all those 'ifs' and "ands into that
statement for nothing.
But the general further says: ITO those who
are not in these classes, I say keep cooP,. :"
Inspiration for that caution probably came
after General Hershey had waded through
couple of carloads of mail from frantic old
sters, those with dependents, informties or a
Job they can't afford to lose. The chances of
such men getting called are about 1000 to
one and then only if they haven't sense enough
to appeal heir Eases from the decisions OF
jittery draft board that has failed in its under
standing of the law.
Reclassification of the 21-to-28 age group to
bring into the armed forces all men, physi-
cally fit and not burdened with excessive re-
sponsibilities to either dependents or defense
jobs, will result in hundreds of thousands of
new draftees. Recalling all of the men be-
tween % and 35, hitherto deferred because of
age, occupation, or because they had done
their stint in the National Guard, Reserves,
or regular armed forces, will bring in lot
more.
From the 36 to 44-year-olds, Selective Serv-
ice doesn't expect to get more than one man
out of 20 for field duty
Hershey says, II believe we can put four
perhaps five, million men under arms without
greatly disturbing our social or economic sys-
TENS. I am confident this war will never have
to go below Class l for men,
These are the inen fit for general or limited
military service.
Men not called into the armed forces may
find themselves in part-time or full-tirne ci-
william or home defense jobs, but there will
have to be new law before that can happen.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
On NaZi Labor Front

Germany has started an offensive on its
industrial front. The object is to outstrip or
pass American war production. Goering has
named DR.. Werner Mansfield to coordinate
labor problems and has given him plenarv
powers.
Stockholm announces that Norwegian work
ers have been sent into northern Finland and
Paris says that 1000, Don alien worknen have
been imported by Germany, of whom l3O, 900
are Frenchmen.
Conscrlpt labor is not much good at best,
and IN the case of Germany probably is below
the average because of the deep hatred exist.
ing among the people of the conquered com.
trles Tor the Nazis 1t is not only that the out
put OF this group is under par There are
many ways that sabotage may be practiced
by skilled workers. Damage may be done and
be lndetectable until the imperfect weapons
are put in action. Germany has had bitter
experience OF this in Czechoslovakia where
guns ana otner implements of war produced
at seized paints have exploded at the first
shot or fallen to pieces in the first actual wa,
test.
Hitler is leary of conscript labor. but seems
unable to get along without it since the arm,
has absorbed such great numbers Of native
workers. There is no reason to fear that the
best he can do will match our own production
once American industry is fully geared fol
capacity production.
The only thing that can give him the edge
is strikes. Let's have no more of them, though
II take complete RECOMMENDATION and distatoria]
authority to prevent them.
we have war to win. Nothing must be
allowed to interfere with that Job.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10

General Franco The Petain visit also may
reveal more than is now known OF Peta1n' s
ndependence of or surrender to Nazi pressure.
Hitler has sought before to bring Spain into
the Axis. not because of any actual combat
help Franco can give him, but as means OF
attacking Gibraltar by land and the possible
ACQUISITION of north African bases for subse-
o,1ent attack on South America. Because OF
Petain's stubborn refusal to surrender the
French African possessions, and possible be-
cause General Weygand has held the allegiance
if French forces in Africa, despite his removal
as their commander, one OF Hitler's pet
schemes the acquisition of north African bas-
es-has been thwarted.
If Petain still retains his stubbornness, if
Darlan has not actually pushed him into the
discard and made him a figurehead only, it
is conceivable that he will persuade Franco,
over whom he exerts great influence, to ap-
praise the Tangier incident at its true value
and so keep him from yielding to Hitler. On
the other hand, if he has been shorn of author
ity in unoccupied France, his visit to Franco
is all to liable to give Hitler another active
ally.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
BY JOHN sELBY
"The Kentucky" by Thomas
Clark; CFarrar & Rinehart: $3.50

The Kentucky" by Thomas ID.
Clark; (Farrar & Rinehart: $3.50
And today the fifteenth volume
Of the Rivers of America series
is out, and its title is 1.-THE Ken.
lucky" There have been remark.
ably few low spots in the series
and some pretty high peaks, il
that is an appropriate figure for
river books. One of the highspots
is Thomas D. Clark's book on the
Kentucky.
1t is a good story to tell. It be.
gins when those inquisitive Vir.
ginians began poking their wav
through the mountains looking for
more land, and sometimes findin o
more Indians. It continues with
Daniel Boone, whose leather-iacket
experiences have somewhat over.
borne his genuine service to the
advance of what we are pleased
to call civilization. It traverses a
long period when the labor of black
men and women paid for those
handsome, be columned farm
houses without which no Kentucky
movie would be complete.
An then there is a period of in.
dustriaization along the Kentucky
and her branches. There is coal
IN the highlands and tobacco farth.
er down and horses by the thou
sand on the Bluegrass. There ere
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
Interpreting The War
Hours May Decide
Fate Of Singapore
By KIRKE l.. SIMPSON
(Wide World War Analyst

operation to test out British defens-
es and the extent to which rein
forcements have reached it's garri-
son. Should they prove too strong,
the Nipponese command could re-
vert to siege tactics and bypass
Singapore to concentrate against
Sumatra and Java.
On Luzon, General MacArthur's S
men and guns appear again to have
beaten back an all-out japanese at
tack closely synchronized with the
attempt to storm Singapore. The
twin operations indicate that or
ders have gone out from Tokyo to
crush both Allied resistance cen
ters by frontal assault and without
delay in order to mass against the
Netherlands Indies.
That both Bataan and Singapore
would be dangerous positions on
opposite flanks Of the japanese
surge southwark if by-passed and
left to slo wsiege tactics is obvious.
There is always the possibility that
Cney cOulQ De renewed ana oeCcIHe
menacing springboards for Allied
attacks.
Yet the costly assault strategy
against both points suggests that
losses in the battle Of Macassar
strait and the growing menace of
Anglo-American air and other rein
forcements reaching the Dutch In
dies and Australia is forcing the
hand of japanese strategists.
They have already drawn heavi'
ly on garrisons in China for shock
troops sent to the Philippines and
the Malay peninsula. They are able
to provide only limited air support
TO rattack troops on Bataan and
for preliminary air raids over Java
to soften-up it's defenses. They are
fighting on too many fronts at 100
great distance from each other. and
paying the prce in loss Of vltally
important time. Their answer seems
to be orders to smash Bataan and
Singapore regardless of casualties,
then concentrate against Java, cen
trail bastion of Allied defense.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
Literary Guidpost

periodical invasions, such as the
race meets bring, and Demon Rum
grows strong, is cut down by Pro-
hibition, and wakes again.
High up on the Kentucky's S
branches live the hill-bilies which
have, Professor Clark thinks, been
pretty generously misinterpreted
to the Morld-a land now sprinkled
with outsiders looking for dis
tinctive culture" and apparently
quite unable to tell the real from
the synthetic, or for that matter,
from the complete absence of any
at all. John F. Day has had good
deal to say about this subject in
his Bloody Ground,' by the way.
And of late there has been a
rather rapid shifting of values.
Government dam projects have
stirred storms, and roads have
penetrated the most remote re-
cesses,. aid made it possible for
the Bluegrass to see the hill-billies,
and vice versa. There have been
floods, drouths, wars, murders and
God knows what. Out of it all have
grown a great many stories which
seem characteristic of Kentucky
as well as Of a changing inland
civilization.
AL this and lot more is Pro-
lessor Clark's material. He has
made the most Of it. 2
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
Editorial Comment
GUAYULE RUBBER
New York Times

For thirty-five years the International Rub
ber Company has been extracting rubber from
the guayule shrub which it has been growing
in Arizona, Texas and the Salinas Valley of
California. Impressed by this long record, the
House has passed bill which authorizes the
purchase of the company's processing plant
nurseries and $4,000 pounds of selected seed
If the Senate and President approve this
action the country will therefore acquire the
fruits Of research which has brought the quay
ule shrub so far that, on the basis of its total
weight. it produces more rubber than any
other plant known
It must not be supposed that guayule will
make good more than a small part of our
rubber deficiency or that we shall dispense
with Asiatic rubber after the war. Probably
the foremost authority on guayule is DR.. D.
Spence, who has had charge of the Interna-
tional Rubber Companys researches. Despite
his long experience, he holds that until much
more scientific work is done lit is both foolish
to speculate on the ultimate future and the
final value of guayule or to dismiss it as of
no account
The Agriculture Committee reported to the
House that if new guayule is planted next
spring, harvesting can begin in the Autumn.
On this point there is a difference of opinion
for economic reasons. The seedlings of densely
planted guayule can be harvested in about a
year, with yield of 1,164 pounds Of rubber to
the acre. On the other hand, the cost goes
down and the yield up by four to seven times
if the plants are permitted to grow four to
seven years. A price has therefore to be paid
for early harvesting.
The future is another matter. Plantation
rubber has been placed on board ships for as
little as cents a pound and was once actually
sold at ruinous cents pound in New
York. Today the price is about % cents. Quay
ule rubber can be sold for 16 cents pound,
with 10 cents possibility. If they were hard
pressed, the planters of the Far East could
undoubtedly underseH guayule rubber and still
make money. At that price synthetic rubber
can be sold is still in dispute, but the more
optimistic chemists believe that Is cents is
attainable At time lie his we can hardly
weigh the economic pros and cons We need
all the rubber that we can get, for which
reason, despite DR.. Spence's almost cryptic
pronouncement and the uncertainties of quay.
ule, we may assume that the House knew what
lit was doing when it passed itss bill.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
Star-News Program

To aid in every way the prosecution OF
the war to complete victory.
Public Port Terminals.
Perfected Truck and Berry Preserving
and Marketing Facilities.
Seaside Highway from Wrightsville
Beach to Bald Head Island.
Extension of City Limits.
35-Foot Cape Fear River channel.
wider Turning Basin, with ship lanes
into industrial sites along Eastern bank
south of Wilmington.
Paved River Road to Southport, via
Orton Plantation.
Development Of Pulp Wood Production
through sustained-yield methods through
out Southeastern North Carolina.
Unified Industrial and Resort Promo
tional Agency. supported by one county.
wide tax.
Shipyards and Drydocks.
Negro Health Center for Southeastern
North Carolina, developed around the
Community Hospital
Adequate hospital facilities for white.
Junior High School
Tobacco Warehouses for Export Buy.
ers.
Development of native grape growing
throughout Southeastern North Carolina.
Modern tuberculosis Sanatorium.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
The Tangier Incident

Ihe explosion Of a bomb in taxi on a
Tangler pier, which cahsed IA deaths and left
80 wounded, has been used by the Germans as
possible fulcrum to lift Spain into the war
on the Axis side. It is even hinted that the
whole thing was inspired by the Nazis for
this sole purpose Certainly it was in the
Nazi pattern.
Whether it will have the result of bringing
Franco openly into the Nazi camp and with
him the right to use the soil and resources OF
Spain for attack on Gibraltar may be affected
by the projected visit Of Marshal Petain te
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
AsOthers Say 1t
SWEET MARIE

There used to be a popular song
which had its vogue years before
our present crop of young soldiers
as born. The first line of the cho-
rus was Come to me, Sweet Ma
rie," and, though neither tune nor
lyric ever hit them, lonely boys in
uniform on the highway between
Alexandria and Fort Belvoir, Va,
must have been thinking that top
line the other day when they pick
ed up scraps of paper - scores of
them and found this message:
Soldier Boy, please write me.
Marie Thomas, Arlington, Va"
So they started writing-all sorts
of letters, from diffident and re-
spectful to what is known in the
jargon Of the day as ''hot" But
and oh, the pity of it!-Marie's Ma
stepped in and shut off the whole
business. You see, the child is only
eleven.-Chicago Sun.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10

Savage fighting on Singapore is
land itself, with British troops try
ing desperately to crush Japanese
bridgeheads thrust in the night
across mile-wide Johore strait,
marks the gravest Crisis of the two
months-old Pacific war.
Not days, but hours could decide
the fate of the powerful fortress
base, second only to Gibraltar as a
bulwark of Empire and United Ma
ton defense. The enemy, besides
trying to consolidate and expand
his bridgehead positions, may launch
an attack from Ubin island in the
eastern mouth of the strait. There
is some indication that the main in
vasion thrust Is to be expected
there rather than across the swampy
ground west Of Singapore causeway
where first landings were effected.
British guns have been reported
pounding for days at japanese troop
concentrations in the Nasal region
across the strait. The Japs appear
ed to be massing men in the Nasal
area for an attempt to use already
captured Ubin island as a stepping
stone to invasion of Singapore is
land from the northeast. Naval
support not available on the Kranji
attack front might be possible there
although British batteries in Changi
point command approaches to Jo-
hore strait both north and south Of
Ubin island.
Whatever the future may hold,
the grim fact is that the Johore
strait moat failed to stem the first
assault. Whether it took the Singa-
pore defenders by surprise is not
clear; but it's initial success testi-
fies to the vulnerability of the island
to attack from the mainland. If the
enemy has the will to storm the is
land regardless of casualties, the
plight of it's defenders is all but des-
perate.
1t remains to be seen, however,
whether that is the Japanese pur-
pose, or whether the attempt to
cross Johore strait is primarily an
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
Imports From Dutch Indies

Japanese conquest Of the Dutch East Indies,
least, inevitably will impose hardships on gas
tronomic America, in addition to our loss in
rubber of which we imported $112, ,000, 900 in
1910.
to $4,O00,00O a year. We imported $4,000 900
pounds of black pepper alone in 1910, and 5,0O0,-
900 pounds of white pepper If peper is as
harmful to digestion as some doctors declare,
this loss might well be a blessing in disguise,
but addicts will be slow to accept it as such.
But there are other things used on our
tables and originating in the area Japan covets
which we can spare only because we have to.
We brought in 100000 pounds of coffee.
31,000,0O pounds Of tea, 300, 0,000,OO pounds of
tapioca, 3,50O,000 pounds of nutm0ats and 70O,-
900 pounds of cloves during 1910; and So, $780,
600 worth of palm oil, extensively used in
soap, margarine and lard substitutes.
more serious loss, directly affecting the
health of the people, is in quinine. The United
States has obtained SO per cent of its supply
from the Dutch Indies. Then, too, there is the
loss of Sumatra tobacco, so popular for cigar
Wrappers. An incidental import, which can be
replaced by our own petroleum industry, is
the $3,ooo0O0 worth of paraffin we bought
there in 1910.
Tin, Of course, will be missed by Gamers.
We will have 10 find satisfactory substitute
container for canned goods.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
Cripps Speaks Plainly

| Hitler can be defeated in a year, says Sil
Stafford Cripps, former British ambassador al
Moscow. but only if Britain goes all out in
United States as well
Hitler's anticipated drive for Oil in the
Middle East when spring opens up and mech
anized forces may again take to the road will
be the most desperate effort of Hitler's career,
because he must have oil or quit. When he
thrusts again at the Caucasus he will put his
whole fighting power into action 1t he is met
with superior fighting power he will go down
and there will remain only the task OF mop
ping up after his fall.
This is the opinion of the man best fitted to
voice a view on the outlook among all diplo-
mats or other observers. so far as the situation
on the wastern front is concerned. Sir Stat
ford has been in close association with the
Russians, both private citizens and high off
cials He has studied Russias attitude toward
tions that the Russian people are willing, even
anxious to make any sacrifice for victory
over the Axis. When the British people cure
their complacency, he says, and acquire
sacrificial spirit equa1ling the Russians Hitler
may be conquered, not in the long war so
often prophesied but within the short span of
twelve months.
It is inspiring to hear an Englishman speak
so plainly to his fellow countrymen of their
shortcomings and their obligations, daring to
say they must dispel their fear complex and
give the Reds full measure of assistance
a man to carry Churchills forecast of blood
and sweat step further and say that the
armies that have checked the Axis drive in
Russia must have all that Britain can give to
hasten the vicotry. It is thrilling to hear an
Englishman tell Englishmen that defense alone
will do.
Hitler is counting heavily on the Japanese
drive in the Pacific to prevent either Britain
or the United States from giving Russia the
help needed to defeat him next spring. The
Japanese are expected to make such inroads
against the United Nations that they will be
unable to give Russia more than token support
either in men or equipment, in supplies or
ammunition, and leave the way open for fur
ther Axis successes in the Middle East. all
Hitlers scheming could be brought to naught
by sending heavy British reinforcements from
England into the battle against Hitler on the
eastern front.
Having failed to conquer England when he
was much stronger than he is now, it is not
probable that he would attempt an invasion
while Stain is ngaging him with a counter
offensive which has kept his finest divisions
in retreat for many weeks. Furthermore, the
United States has landed large forces in north.
ern Ireland which would be available should
he renew his attack on England.
Now that the war capital has been moved
from London to Washington, and the American
mind is quick to approve bold ventures. Sir
Stafford's appeal for aid to Russia on a grand
scale is liable to receive a more sympathetic
hearing than if it had been left in the British
capital.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
Factograpn'

The state of Ohio, when N 1' tns
sixth in wool produC 'iom ost nun.
United States, has tha lafsr r stale
ber of sheep raisers o1 an' mNo
in the country, numbering he fat
persons. This is due to ,,sanny,ptas sny
that sheep raising in the q1or qr1snchrg
states and Texas Is o' "a q expsn
basis of large areas am nseeu srs
sive flocks, while ONO a ' m ara
raised on farms, restflc'eO
and size of flocks.
The Cathedral of 81 .oa- 0 100
Divine in New YORK "ll srconn'
persons, with standing M Nd mols,
dations for several thouSSl'N 2
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
PAPER GROWS SCARCE

Paper must be getting scarce.
Some of our newspapers have re-
duced the size, while others have
cut the number of pages. Much
good paper is being wasted by
both daily and weekly newspapers.
A short nothing is better than a
long nothing. - Davie Record
(Mocksville).
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10

TOP O. THE MORNING
A heart full of thankfulness,
A thimbleful of care;
A soul of simple hopefulness,
An early morning prayer;
A smile to greet the morning with,
A kind word rs key
To open the door and greet the day,
Whate'er it brings to thee.
A parient trust in Providence
To sweeten all the way
All these, combined with thoughtfulness,
Will make happy day.
ARTHUR LEWIS TUBBS.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
HERE'S A THOUGHT

Another of the defense sacrifices
that we face without undue con.
Germ is an expected shortage Of
those twisted wire coat hangers
If all wire coat hangers clutter.
ing the closets of American homes
could be collected, Strengthened
out and laid end to end, it would
be a good icea.-Pittsburgh Press
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
COMPULSORY EDUCATION"
ANOTHER CRISIS

It's awful-the soft drink crisis.
It comes close to being another
national emergency in the minds of
some persons, this being rationed
on fizz water. Some persons have
to 60 a whole day with only one
bottle, maybe none.
It's due to a save-sugar. save.
tires program. Some people may
have to go back to drinking water.
That, they think, is dangerous.
If Marie Antoinette were alive
and told. of the rising murrnurs of
the population, the sad plight Of
Americans unable at times to buy
soft drink, she could retort, Let
sem drink Scotch" 2
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
ANONYMOUS LETTERS

letters from It's readers. written for publication,
but viii reproduce none that are anonymous.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
MUST PATRIOTISM BE
SUBSIDIZED?

w ith something approaching
righteous indignation, Secretary
Wickard asks in substance: 'How
could you expect the farmers to
increase production if they know
that someone might come along
and reduce the price Of their pro-
ducts?"
Well, how can you expect young
men to join the army or navy
if they know that they are going
to earn less money in the serv-
ice than they would have earned
in civilian life?
If we can't win this war without
guaranteeing everybody profit,
this war is lost already.-Daily
| Oklahoman.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION"
AS match for the United Ma
tions' catch name, "ABCD Front
-(American, British, Chinese
Dutch), an Italian newspaper pro-
poses as a slogan for the Axis
viva Roberto" the name being
the first letters of their capitals
(Ro) ONE, BERLIN, (To)kyo.
Roberto" will soon be learning
his ABCDS. We will teach him a
lesson he will not soon forget
Memphis Press-Scimitar. 8