Evening star., 1942-03-14

A Better and Stronger
America Seen os
Net Result
THIS IS YOUR WAR-By Marquis W.
Childs Published by Little, Brown
& Co.
In this relatively brief volume-l95
pages-Marquis w. Childs, an able
Washington correspondent, has attempt
ed to translate the war into terms Of
its meaning for the men. women and
children of America. Mr.. Childs states
in his foreword that his manuscript was
prepared and edited under severe limi-
tations Of time, and this, coupled with
the fact that much which lies in our i'm
mediate future Is beyond the range of
human foresight, has resulted in q
somewhat skeletonized treatment Of his
subject, but the fact remains that most
Americans will find between the covers
Of this book the answers to many Of the
questions which they have been asking
to no avail of themselves and of others.
The book is broken down into 10
chapters-America Faces Total War, the
Shape Of Things to Come, War and Your
Income, the Household Front, Getting
There and Back, Food and Health, the
Job You Can Do, the Young and What
Is Morale?
or especial interest at this time is the
chapter dealing with the effect of the
war on incomes. 1t is no longer news,
of course, that the tax bill to be paid
by Monday will be two or three times
larger next year. and with no end in
sight. There is food for thought, how
ever, in Mr.. Childs warning that de-
pendence upon 1943 income to pay 1912
taxes would be the worst sort of i'm
providence" and in his suggestions for
laying aside tax reserve in weekly or
monthly sums Housewives. not to men,
ton their husbands, also will find much
Of interest in the chapter dealing with
the changes which the war will work in
the easy routine Of the average Ameri-
can household The author lays great
stress on the importance of conserving
such hitherto commonplace articles as
vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, gas and
electric stoves, ironers and washers
disappearing from the market and soon
will be unobtainable. 1t is for this rea-
son that Mr.. Childs calls attention to
pamphlets prepared by the Department
OF Agricultural Bureau of Home Eco
nomics which deal with ways and means
Of prolonging their usefulness.
Many Americans will be deeply inter-
ested in the chapter on food and health
and the section dealing with children
and the adjustments which they must
make to a war which reaches out and
leaves its mark on every civilian as we'll
as on the soldiers in the front lines.
The impact of these things on American
life hardly has been felt as yet. But 1t
is inescapable, and Mr.. Childs discusses
various important phases Of this aspect
of war in a manner which is both peril
nent and timely.
The chapter on the things that the
individual can do toward winning the
war and the discussion of the meaning
of morale contain more than a mere
listing of jobs that may be taken on and
an analysis Of the proper mental ap-
proach to them. Mr.. Childs looks be-
meath the surface and comes to
conclusion that is beginning to be shared
by others-namely that once America
has adapted itself to the sacrifices"
which will have to be made, the Amer
ican people will emerge from this trial
by war better and a stronger people.
Americans, he thinks, will find" them
selves again, and "the upshot of it all
may well be nation of healthier
stronger people, with quicker percep-
tions, broader culture and fewer neu-
roses. II so. our sacrifices will have
done much more for US than win the
war"
With some parts of the book. particu-
larly where individuals are singled out
for criticism which could as well apply
to all, or nearly all, of us. there is room
for disagreement. But no one, upon
reading this little volume through is
apt to disagree with the assertion that
1t contributes to better understanding
of what the war really means to Amer
leans and how they best may deal with
the many problems that it certainly will
pose for them. j. H. c.
Comments on Admiral Kings Title
And Duty as Naval Chief.
To the Editor Of The Star
Whats in a name?" Perhaps nothing.
Perhaps a lot.
On the first page of The Star for
March 10, it was stated that Admiral
King had been made commander in
chief" of the United States Fleet and
has been place in supreme charge" of
fighting strategy of the Navy.
Theoretically, this is impossible, if we
are to accept the Constitution of the
United States as our mandatory guide.
Article II, Section II provides, The
President shall be commander in chief
of the Army and Navy" and amendment
x, THE powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States, are re-
served to the States respectively, or to
the people," and no subsequent amend
ment has been adopted to change this
status.
Practically this is not fact if We are
to believe Owen L. Scott, who said in
The Sunday Star, March 8: Mr.. Roose-
velt definitely is running the war. He