davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-05-16

designed to encourage high school
boys to attend college and at the
same time to provide additional Of
f1cer material.
BY granting military scholarships
on competitive basis to high school
graduates, the Government, DR..
Conant pointed out, would not only
tap new source of officer material,
but would strengthen our democratic
system by leveling economic barriers
to advancement.
The system of military scholar
ships proposed by DR.. Conant would
require. large Federal appropria-
ton. Whether such an expenditure,
measured by its probable results,
would be justified is clearly a ques-
tion to be answered by agencies di-
rectly responsible for the prosecu-
tion OF the war, rather than by arm
chair strategiStS. There can be little
doubt, however, that the Govern
ment could make even greater use
OF our colleges and universities in
training officers for the armed forces.
Evening star., 1942-05-16
The Lost Euuoh

Not long ago one of the biggest
jokes on the Princeton University
campus was an old 1880 jalopy be-
longing to junior. The ravages of
time had made many requirements
necessary, and somewhere along the
line an item of major surgery had
occurred. A special operation was
performed on its carburetor, which
was altered to permit consumption
of kerosene and lubricating oil as
alternatives to gasoline -
No one laughs at the jalopy now;
it is an object of awe, veneration and
envy. 1t laughs at ration cards.
Other owners may try to feed their
charges on kerosene and oil, but have
no luck. They started their educa-
ton too late. The most they could
expect as they step on the starter
would be snort of derision, a back
fire of protest, and then a stubborn
silent refusal to cooperate, reminis-
cent of children who obstinately re-
fuse, to eat spinach even though it is
elaborately explained that spinach
is just chock-full of energy. This
junior now shares with Princetons S
most famous resident, DR.. Albert Elm
stein, the distinction of having put a
kink in space and time and con-
quered them absolutely.
Evening star., 1942-05-16
Air Transport in War

While unexpected at this time, the
Governments action in taking COM
plete control of the Nations CONNER
cial air lines for military purposes is
in accord with long-standing plans
for use of the subsidized air transport
system by the Army in event Of just
such an emergency as now confrontS
us. In encouraging the development
of a great network of cross-continen-
tai and transoceanic airmail and air
transport lines, Federal authorities
envisioned a day when this system
might play vital role in the national
defense program.
The first step in putting the do
mestic air lines to work for war pur-
poses was taken more than a month
ago, when about one-fourth of the
commercial planes were comman-
deered by the Army and converted
into transports. They are now in
service at undisclosed places as
troop and cargo carriers. Even be-
fore that the Government had taken
over certain of the tranSoceanic
lines, using planes, equipment and
personnel in developing far-ranging
ferrying services. The latest order
calls for the outright requisitioning
and operation by the Army of about
eighty additional commercial air
liners, bringing to approximately
$50 the total now seized as transports.
Some seventy other planes will be
operated for the Army under con-
tract with the lines. The remaining
liners will continue in passenger
service under strict Federal regula-
ton, with priority on seats to be given
persons engaged in war work.
AS President Roosevelt indicated in
commenting on the drastic move, this
war has developed a demand for air
transport facilities far beyond the
expectation OF any one In the early
Evening star., 1942-05-16
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. TYaceirell.

These make up the warp, through
which various fibers, strings, stalks,
hairs, ETC.. are woven.
The nest Is somewhat gourd-shaped,
naring at the bottom. and well camou-
naged by being Of gray-green to 90
well with the branch and leaves.
Even in such exposed situations. the
oriole .sts often last four years and are
used each year, either by the same birds
or others Of the same species.
The nest Of which we spoke, however,
did not survive even one spring.
In fact, 1t was never used at all, al
though completed.
Why the birds gave it up we did not
know, unless they did not like the looks
Of old Tigey. the yard cat.
Tigey, of course, is not a bird-cat, in
any sense. He is too lazy. Birds would
fairly have to walk into his paws. But
maybe the orioles didn't know that
About a month after they abandoned
1t. the nest fell. with the entire limb,
some 20 feet long, to which it was
afixed.
1t was, indeed, q marvellous nest.
We have it still, but time has some
what dulled the perfection OF the mate
rials and given 1t faded and rather
drab appearance, something which 1t did
not have at first.
The nest had small yellow feathers in
the bottom. These were plucked by the
female from her own breast
This nest was not as gourd-shaped as
they are supposed to be. No doubt va
rious pairs make variations in their nest,
but they all are basically alike.
The question was, and still is, did these
birds have premonition that the limb
on which they had built their nest was
unsafe and would fall in time?
Orioles are fighting birds.
Often they peck out the eyes Of squir-
rels which try to molest their nests
Their greatest appeal is their bright
colors. and their loud CHEEKY whistles.
They are not really orioles at all, that
being misconception of Lord Baltimore.
Another msconception is that he
adopted the birds colors as his own
The truth seems to be that he took q
particular liking for the bird because it
seemed to be wearing his own colors!
Some fanciful person has called the
young orioles the "cry-babies of the bird
world" distinction which they share
with young swifts.
These youngsters keep up q constant
clamor for food at all times.
1t may be that this habit. signaling
their presence, led the parents to build
the nests at the very tips Of boughs.
The oriole might be called the Jazz
bird" since its song is one of the few
real instances Of syncopation in the bird
world
Evening star., 1942-05-16

days OF commercial air line develop
ment. AS the lighting has spread to
every quarter Of the globe, lines of
supply have been extended many
thousands Of miles. It has become
necessary to depend more and more
on aviation for emergency trans
portation Of men and materiel.
Hence, the Ferry Command has
opened supply routes from the United
States to the Middle East and beyond
and to other distant sectors. And
with the closing Of the Burma road,
China must rely for the time being
largely on air supply. American
plane factories already are working
on plans for giant cargo carriers
capable Of flying eighty tons or more
OF supplies across vast stretches OF
land or water. These ships still are
on paper, however. Meanwhile, it is
but logical that the Government
should make the best possible use of
existing commercial air transport IA
cilitieS.
Evening star., 1942-05-16
"FOXHALL ROAD.


II would greatly appreciate 1t If you
would ask some Of your many readers
through your interesting column II any
one recently has seen the Baltimore
oriole, and II so where this now rare
bird may be seen.
Years ago this beautiful orange. and.
black plumaged bird was not uncom.
mon In this vicinity. I think the lsst
time saw one was in Staunton, Va,
nearly 20 years ago.
"The reason for the disappearance Of
this magnificent songster is not readily
solved.
VERY truly yours. c. w. A., M D."
People who do not see q certain bird
for long time tend to think that it is
disappearing, whereas persons who see
and hear the species do not understand
about this.
We. for instance, have had Baltimore
orioles almost every year in the past II.
But then, we live in Maryland, which
may account for it!
We could not show DR.. A. one Of these
handsome birds. but We could let him
hear it.
Could. that is, If the oriole would per-
form, which it probably wouldn't, If you
wanted it to- Yet ever since the first
few days Of May we have heard it con-
stantly, in q large locust at the rear of
the garage.
There are plenty of long-hanging
boughs there from which Lady Baltimore
might swing her nest. Some day we
shall go out to see If she has.
In the meantime, 1t is fine to hear the
magnificent whistle Of Lord Baltimore,
as he might be called
He arrives first, from somewhere in
course, and precise movements never
are made public
The female oriole constructs the nest.
Since this is one of the finest of all bird
nests, 1t Is worth lingering over.
Always it is swung from the very tip
Of branch.
Several years ago. there was such .
nest where we could see it from the win
dow by which our typewriter is placed.
This nest was at the very tip of q
long curving branch. which hung down
toward the center of the yard.
1t was made in about two weeks, re-
quiring all that time, while the male
bird sang loftily, encouraging his mate
at her labors of love.
This nest. like all oriole nests, was q
remarkable thing. We know, because we
saw it later, holding 1t In our hands. But
more Of that in q few minutes
The oriole nest is suspended by what
are called suspension strings. which are
first tied to the branch.
Evening star., 1942-05-16
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
Bv Frederic J. Hdskfn

By Frederic J. HdSktn.
A reader can get the dnslUer to dnv
question OF fact by torittng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
@. Is it possible for an enlisted man
to rise to the rank of general?-D. F. L.
A. 1t is possible for an enlisted man in
the United States Army who has superior
qualifications to be promoted from the
grade Of private through successive
stages to the grade Of general.
Q. To what extent are married couples
In this country childless?-W. G.
A. 1t is estimated that one couple in
eight cannot have children.
O. Is India officially at war with the
Axis countries?-D. D.
A. When the United Kingdom declared
war on Germany, the Indian Viceroy
issued a declaration to the effect that
India was at war also.
G. Why is locomotive built left
handed to the engineer?-D. PIP.
A. Because in America we run on the
right hand track and the engineer
should be on the outside Of the cab.
Evening star., 1942-05-16
Jupun's Yunnun Drive

We still do not know whether the
Japanese invasion of China'S south
western border province of Yunnan is
a local operation or whether it is the
opening phase of wider and more
ambitious aim. But, even if it is
restricted in character, the drive has
already reached serious proportions.
Recovering from first setback
after it crossed the border, the great
ly reinforced japanese column has
driven we'll over 100 miles up the
Burma road. This brings the Japa-
nese advance guard across a high
mountain range to the gorgelike
valley of the upper Salween River,
beyond which lies Yungchang, the
first important city inside China on
the Burma road. The Chinese are
reported to have blown up the bridge
over the Salween and taken position
on the eastern bank to dispute
Japanese passage of the stream.
Meanwhile, a japanese detachment
has branched westward from the
Burma road to capture the town of
Tengyueh, the Chinese terminus of
an old caravan trail across the noun
tainS from Burma. That would plug
up the last gap through which Gen.
eral Stilwell's troops trapped in
Burma could break through and re-
gain their homeland 1t would thus
secure the japanese advance up the
Burma road from a possible flank
attack.
AS the days pass, the prospects of
those isolated Chinese troops grow
darker. They are apparently break
ing up into small detachments
which are fighting japanese units
of similar size over wide area. The
result Is tangle Of confused fighting
that may continue for some time.
But the eventual outcome can hardly
be in doubt. With neither fresh
supplies nor reinforcements, the
Chinese in Burma cannot maintain
themselves indefinitely against the
japanese, who are steadily strength
ening their grip over the entire
country. The last remnants of the
British imperials have staggered
across the western border mountains
into Assam, the frontier district of
India. That leaves the long tongue
OF Upper Burma wide open to Japa-
neSe penetration. II the Japanese
reach the extreme tip, they will cut
the road from Northern Assam into
China. which British engineers and
Chinese coolies have been striving
desperately for months to turn into
an alternative to the Burma road.
While Burma appears hopelessly
lost to the Japanese, the invasion of
Yunnan Province is still in its early
stages. The Chinese must have
great forces of veteran troops to de-
fend the province, even if they are
short on mechanized equipment and
lack air strength. Indeed, it is not
yet certain that the japanese high
command aims at more than an
occupation of the frontier belt to
stabilize that front against possible
Chinese diversions while the main
japanese offensive shifts toward
India. The next week or two will
probably reveal japanese intentions
in this region.
Evening star., 1942-05-16
Reviews History Of Debate
On Poison Gas at The Hague.

To the Editor Of The Star:
May I make . correction in a state
ment made by one of the columnists In
The Star for May II?
Speaking Of the use of poison gas In
the First World War he said the Ger
mans broke international law and were
the first to use gas.
But there was no international law
on the subject at that time. The con-
vention banning the use of gas was not
passed until June II, 1925, at Geneva,
and was to apply only to those countries
that ratified it.
1t Is interesting to note that it was
brought up at The Hague convention,
before the First World War, but was
blocked by the British and the American
delegates.
According to the minutes of the meet
ing as reported by James Brown Scott,
the question of the use of gas was
brought up by the Russian delegate, who
said the car was shocked at the idea
Of strangling men to death in such q
barbarous $50 he considered) fashion.
He proposed there should be an under.
taking that no nation ever would use it.
The German, the French, the Austrian
and several other delegates agreed; but
the British delegate-Lord Pauncefote-
objected. Poison gas was q new thing
and he did not believe it ever would
amount to much. He suggested that
the more ideas added to their treaties
the more objections could be raised. and
he thought it better that they stick to
a few points that were we'll understood
by every one; so he moved that they
should not clutter up their documents
with convention in regard to the acad-
emic question of poison gas-a thing that
probably would never be used.
He was supported by the American
delegate, Capt. Mahan, U. S. NJ, who
thought it was drawing q very fine line
to object to smothering An army with
gas when it was considered perfectly
correct to blow the bottom out Of ship
and smother a thousand men with water.
So the Russian delegate, abashed.
withdrew his motion. and there was no
international law against the use of gas
at the time of the First World War.
1t is q little ironical that it was first
used against the British, whose delegate
objected to banning it. M. STEWART.
Editors Note: The Encyclopedia
Britannica states that poisonous gas"
was first used by the Germans in
April, 1915, in violation Of tnterna-
tional law" According to the same
authority, 1T was the Russians and the
French against whom it originally
was employed, not the British.
Evening star., 1942-05-16
Reports Mismanagement
OF Gas Rationing System.

In this community (Silver Spring.
Md the rations issued exceed by a
considerable proportion the normal un-
restricted use of gasoline for all pur-
poses. No one-or hardly any one
comes away from the board with any
thing less than q B-3 card. The author
of this letter and friend filed applica-
tions for B-1 cards and were urged by
the ofYicials to apply for B-3. Persons
driving to work at the same institution
es we do National Bureau of Stand
ards) all received B-2 or B-3 cards, in
spite of the fact that they drive two
to five in car and leave their other
cars home. Contrary to printed instruc-
tions we were told that doubling up
should not be counted in making out
our applications. Needless to say. few
needed urging to accept cards for the
maximum amounts, more actually than
they have been using right along.
For this sad state of affairs, the public
Is not entirely to blame. There Is no
Evening star., 1942-05-16

G. How is patent leather made?-C.
81
A. Patent leather is made from the dry.
softened inside or grain splits of various
skins, which are treated with successive
coats of oil varnish. They are baked
after each application and polished first
with a wet and then with dry brush.
@. For whom were Baker and Tanning
Islands in the Pacific Ocean named?-
VIII
A. Baker Island was named for
Michael Baker, who discovered it in 1882.
flaming Island was discovered by Capt.
Tanning, an American, on the ship Betsy
and named in his honor.
@. How many words does the oxford
English Dictionary contain2-F. E.
A. There are said to be 725 900 words
in the oxford English Dictionary.
O. Is any point on a moving wheel
stationary for an INSTANTLY. NJ.
A. A moving vehicle has two motions,
one is motion forward and the other is
rotation on its axis. With respect to the
ground point on the top of the wheel
travels twice as fast for brief instant
as the hub of the wheel, and the bottom
point for a moment is stationary With
respect to the hub of the wheel. the top
and bottom are travelling at the same
rate.
Q. Will the bodies Of American soldiers
killed abroad be returned to the United
States for burial?-N. z.
A. The War Department says that the
remains of soldiers in the United States
Army who are killed on foreign soil will
be temporarily buried there for the dura-
ton of the war. after which they will be
brought to the United States for perrha-
nent interment
@. How many items are included in
the largest mail order catalogues?-
c. r. S.
A. The catalogues of the largest mail
order houses include as many as 100 900
items.
G. What town in Pennsylvania was set
aside for refugees at the time of the
French Revolution?-T. H H
A. Asylum, Pa, was founded in 1898
as an asylum for French nobility and
refuge for Marie Antoinette should she
succeed in escaping to America. About
20 log houses were built During the next
10 years until Napoleon pardoned the
French emigres, the settlement enter
tanned many distinguished visitors.
@. Did Jenny Lind have any children'
F. L. H
A. Jenny Lind had one daughter and
two sons.
@. On what does the loudness Of thun-
der depends. M.
A. The United States weather Bureau
says: The intensity of sound produced
by lightning flash depends mainly on
the magnitude of the lightning flash and
the nearness of the flash to the observer"
Q. Does the Military Intelligence Divi-
sion include any civil service employees?
r. l..
A. The Military Intelligence Division
of the United States Army CD is COM
posed Of commissioned officers of the
Regular Army and the Reserve and also
OF classified civil service employees.
Evening star., 1942-05-16
BottIeships or Carriers?

The comparatively latent role OF
battleships in this war and the in
creasing Importance of aircraft
especially carrier-b based planes-are
serving to revive the controversy
over the relative value Of battleships
and air power in modern warfare.
Senator Byrd Of Virginia, member
OF the Senate Naval Affairs Commit
tee, is quoted as favoring adoption Of
new warship-building policy that
would place major emphasis on air.
craft carriers rather than battle
ships. Other Senators have ex-
pressed informal opinions to the
effect that the usefulness of the
battleship has been seriously i'm
paired by air power.
The air-power enthusiasts point
out that battleships have not Jared
any better In the Pacific war than
IN the earlier phases of the global
conflict. On the only occasions when
dreadnoughts are known to have
been in combat since Pearl Harbor
they have suffered disaster from
aerial attack. Our bombers ac-
counted for Japan's Haruna, in the
Philippines, and Japanese torpedo
planes sank Britain's Prince of Wales
and Repulse of Malaga. There have
been no reports of capital ships in
action in the Pacific since those
demonstrations OF aerial potency.
And apparently Germany's battle
ships have gone into hiding again
after their recent brief set-to with
British planes and warships.
But although the majority of our
naval experts recognize the growing
Importance of aviation, they are not
ready to admit that the day of the
battleshlp is over. They concede
that the battleship which ventures
within reach of land-based planes
without adequate fighter protection
is running grave risk, as the cases
OF the Haruna, the Prince of Wales
and the Repulse clearly demon
strated. They challenge the conten-
tlon OF some air-minded observers,
however, that the battleship no longer
serves a useful purpose. In this
stand they have on their side the
fact that neither Germany nor ia
pan, the two most air-minded of our
enemies, has evidenced any inten-
tlon to dispense with battleships-
and as long as our enemies have
these floating fortresses available,
our Navy would be courting disaster
If it failed to have means of counter
ing them. In this connection it is
interesting to note that the latest
issue of the authoritative James
Fighting Ships says that Japan has
built or is building five battleships
OF more than 10000 tons each to
cope with the British and United
States fleets.
That is why We are going ahead
with construction of fifteen battle
ships as part of the two-ocean pro-
gram, designed to enable us to meet
any foreseeable concentration of
capital ships against us. At the
same time we are stepping up our
aircraft carrier program, so that
these new battleships will have an
umbrella" of air reconnaissance and
protection when they venture forth
to meet the enemy. Certainly, at
this lnconclusive stage of the battle
ship-versus-carrie debate, we can ill
afford to neglect either category of
ships.
Evening star., 1942-05-16
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 1Driter, although the use of
a pSeudOnyru for publication is
permissible. The Star reserUes
the right to edit all letters ,Dith
Ute1D to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-05-16
Asks About Nature
OF Paci1hSm.

TO the Editor Of The Star:
Gandhi criticized Jesus for ejecting
the money chansersz"a den of thieves"
by force from the temple at Jerusalem.
The pacifist preachers and teachers have
sided with Gandhi and against Christ.
Pacifists in the United States dogmat-
ically have taught American youth that
it is a social sin" to use force in order
to protect ones home, county and lib
erty from destruction by Naxi. Japanese
and Fascist emies-international "out-
laws and gangsters."
What, then, is the true nature of paci-
fism from the standpoint Of Christianity
and patriotism?
WILLIAM II. HARGROVE.
Jerico Springs, Mo.
Evening star., 1942-05-16

If there were no other way of
telling, you would just know we were
at war if you saw star baseball
pitcher climb down out of an upper
berth.
Evening star., 1942-05-16

Now the largest volcano in the jap
anese Islands erupts violently. Per-
haps it was sick because of some of
the things that went on AROUND it.
Evening star., 1942-05-16

Modern Webster Dictionary
An up-to-date, authoritative die
tionary Of 10000 words in COM
mon use. Also special supple
ments containing new words,
standard abbreviations, foreign
words and phrases, common
errors, curious word origins,
words derived from persons and
places, short words, long words,
and official guide to compound
ing. To secure your copy of this
publication inclose 25 cents in
coin, wrapped in this clipping.
and mail to The Star Informa-
ton Bureau.
Name
-----------------
Address
Evening star., 1942-05-16

A.. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
All rights of publication of special dispatches
herein also are reserved