Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-02-12
/ Might Be

by p. G. Stromberg-

ny r. ". 6ICOluDcI&
VWERE 1 GIFTED to write as
w no American has ever
written and enjoyed the reputa-
ton of being the greatest orator
the New World has produced, I
would devote my entire talents,
without reserve, to the task of
convincing Americans of the real
dangers facing US today. I'd do
that because the weakest feature
of our united war front is the
damnable and pernicious in
difference to the gravity of the
situation.
Scattered throughout America
in official life and out, we have
too much blind faith in ultimate
victory. We have many lesser
Generals Short and Admirals
Kinmel. 1t is well and fine to be
confident. But con-
Blind fidence based on
Faith known factors is
Won't Do quite different from
o m p a n t
confidence which can have no
basis save the now shattered
Illusion of geographical security.
We need horrifying and close
contact experience with realities.
Just as Japan, by her sneaky and
treacherous attack on Pearl Har-
Dor, drove all shades of opinion
into unity we need lessons with
in our borders to awaken our
people to an appreciation of the
POSSIBILITY OF DEFEAT.
I was one who felt that Japan
was an annoying influence which
could be easily disposed of. With
cur Pacific Fleet intact perhaps
that was true. But our officials
played the game according to
rules and our Army and Navy
chiefs refused to believe an at
tack possible = result = Pearl
Harbor. We will never know how
much difference the Pearl Harbor
destruction has meant. What we
do know is that instead of "beat-
ing Japan before breakfast" she
has made Hitler's blitzkreig seem
slow and small by comparison.
Japan, in two months, has at
tackled and occupied so much
territory that it seems fantastic.
Still it is a fact.
And do our people become
alarmed? Check the people you
know best and see if they don't,
almost without exception, go
along in their normal way. See
if they are not
Lack planning the future
Serious as though there
Attitude were no crisis
which cannot help
hut have a direct bearing on all
of individually and collec-
lively. That's what / see as the
great danger to America today.
That is the thing I should devote
my entire talents to eradicate.
We have as many heroic patriots
today as we had in 1917 1898 =
1851 to 1865, 1912 or in 1776.
But we lack the unified serious
mass determination. If America
suffers defeat it will be due more
to the utter Indifference of our
collective front than to military
catastrophes or blunders.
While on the subject of civilian
morale Tor lack of it) it seems
pertinent to pay passing notice
to the unfortunate antics Of
the First Lady through her posi-.
ton in the Office of Civilian De-
Tense. While Mrs. Roosevelt has
endeared herself to millions Of
American women there are other
millions who still cherish the
thought of having the wife of the
President set an example of re-
firing grace, charm and dignity.
Our civilian population doesn't
need to be "teased" and enter
tanned by a Melvyn Douglas or
a Mayris CLANCY while we are
suffering disastrous reverses in
the Pacific. Nor do
Fan we want to be ad-
Dancers and vised of the need to
Pensions seek further social
gains during the
war effort. Unless we win the
war all our social gains will go
by the board.
And while paying respects to
those who are fddling while the