Evening star., 1942-11-28

Henry McLemore. The award Is
certain to cause bitterness in those
quarters Cracked hind quarters.
most likely where Darlan is still
considered gold-braided traitor.
But it is our belief that 1t is better
to have a traitor with a pistol
friendly to you than on the other
side, a-shooting at you.
It was only a few weeks ago that
we were putting In the rap on Dar-
Ian in this column. But that was
before we knew what an accom-
plished double he was. We
had no idea that that man was a
genuine triple-threat double-crosser.
and could not only punt and pass,
but run to either side as well, a.
shooting
In our book, the man Is cham
pion. When the war broke out he
gave his own people 10-goal trim
ming and hoped gracefully to the
Slue Ol IIlc ISdhloi Wilcic iic oPcliV
a great deal Of his time and en-
ergy posing for pictures with Goeb-
bells, Hitler and lesser forces of evil
from Germany.
Then, Just when he seemed to be
getting the Nazi salute and goose
step down pat. and was able to
say Hell Hitler" in just the proper
gutteral tones, he pops up in Africa
and embraces the Allied cause.
That calls for talent. Evil talent,
perhaps, but this Is the sort of war
where evil talent is very helpful.
This so far has proved to be a war
where those who were masters of
the shady tactics have done all right.
We can use a man of Darlans.
sort. Furthermore, the admirals
actions to date have proved that he
is man with tremendous foresight.
When the Maginot Line cracked he
hoped on the German bandwagon,
and at the time it looked like the
winning bandwagon. 'Now he has
deserted it for a ride on the Allied
merry-go-round.
You can't tell us that millions Of
Frenchmen, common Frenchmen,
won't be encouraged by the fact that.
one of the men who held a whip
hand over them has seen fit to
leave the Nazi cause for the Allied
one. 1t is sure to make them feel
that the dawn Of freedom is a bit
closer, and provide them with new
| strength for the revolt against their
conquerors.
There is another factor that
prompted us to award Darlan the
coveted (and pure pewter Medal
Militaire. BY his action in Africa the
admiral completely double-crossed
Laval. Anything that will cause La
walls oily mustache to droop a peg
or two, or erase that scheming grin
from his face, is worthy of reward.
The admiral's collaboration also
caused old Marshal Petain to get out
of bed and make a broadcast, and
anything which inconvenience this
octogenarian rubber stamp is good
stuff, too.
But the chief reason that Darlan
should be hailed by those of us in
the United States is that he saved
the lives Of thousands of American
soldiers. Had he chosen to make
fight of 1t he undoubtedly would
have been defeated, but not before
thousands of men and boys from
the Dakotas, the Carolinas, the
plains Of Texas, the deserts of Ari.
zona, the streets of New York, De-
troit and Chicago had laid down
their lives.
We feel, and you may argue with
us If you want to, that who made
possible a bloodless occupation Of
vast and vital territories is deserv-
ing of some thanks. His past record
doesn't matter. Certainly it doesn't
matter to those who spared the
death of loved ones by his decision
to join our side.
And, certainly 1t doesn't matter
to those soldiers who, if Darlan had
decided to make battle Of it, would
have fallen on soil thousands OF
miles away from the country they
love. It's easy to criticize from an
aforementioned Office, a continent
or two removed from flying bullets.
1t must be a different thing when
you're crouched in a landing boat.
wondering II yours will be the next
number to come up.
So. let's embrace Darlan. Amer
leans are living who now would be
dead If he hadn't cast his lot with
the Allied cause. In our book that's
enough to square man for any and
all past deeds.
Distributed by McNausht Syndicate, Incl