Evening star., 1942-05-15
DepIores ConceuIment
Of Wars Realities
Writer Coils for Awakening
Of People to Humon Values
Involved in Present Conflict

Of People to Humon Values
Involved in Present Conflict
To the Editor Of The Star:
New yellow trafic signs are to be no
ticed along several of the main arterial
streets of Washington, the same size as
the discs which mark a car or bus stop
but with large letter &C" and a smaller
"A' or "B' added on some.
They are military In q way. Those
who know what they mean-not the
ones who feel important playing at
Secrets-wonder whether this war is to
be such . secret that nobody can have
q glimpse Of 1t. The public can read
ofhcially approved versions and see CEN
sor-approved pictures Of what has hap
pened thousands of miles away but,
beyond seeing officers and men on leave
on the streets. it must not see anything
to prove that a war is now being fought
The war is to be learned about from a
distance, like histories Of the Civil War
with photographs by Brady and line
drawings from musty volumes of Leslies
Weekly. too-detached perspective for
a war which is here today and in which
everybody must take part.
After dark. long conveys OF Army
trucks rumble through Washington. Ex-
cept that they make more noise and
are more numerous, they suggest boot
leggers' trucks which lodged agents in
the lush days Of prohibition. But these
trucks are not dodging any officers.
They are dodging the public. OF course.
they cannot be invisible but they can
hide their cargoes.
These mysterious trucks numbering
through the night are loaded with SOL
diers.
They are soldiers going to war, to
fght for you and me. to fight for
republic. Where they are going is sup
posed to be a secret. though 1t seldom is.
That we are training soldiers is not a
secret nor is it secret that they will
not remain forever in a training camp.
Nor will the fact that they are moving
through Washington tell an enemy
whether they are going to Iceland. Ber-
muda or Australia or to Massachusetts,,
Iowa or Texas.
Soldiers do not get patriotic inspi-
ration from being bundled into sealed
trucks to be spirited through cities like
culprits bound for the electric chair. The
soldier has been fed, clothed and enter
tained-any farmer does as much for
his Ivestock-but no strangers cheer
nr chad ho tl,air l,o
passing flag to show how deeply they
realize that he is leaving to fight for
them and that their hearts and thoughts
will be with him through the torture.
His next Of kin will be notified If he
Is casualty. From all the soldier sees,
they are the only ones who have any
sentimental interest In him. The public
shows none-it does not get chance to
This same vigilance protects the public
from personal contact with the war, like
delicate children whose hands must not
be soiled. II the public could see the
soldiers leaving-it need not know and
would not ask where they are going. it
would have that personal interest in
them which an individual always has
for persons he has seen. 1t would thrill
at the sight Of men leaving to fight for
their country, for the public's country.
The public would have human attach
ment for the troops which would per-
sist, though 1t only stood on the curb
and cheered. when the march to the
fighting started.
Also. the public would see that this is
q war OF human beings, that it has
ceased to be merely q material war.
Nobody stands at attention when an
Army car or airplane passes. If one is
destroyed, another just as good can be
built. Everybody stops when the soldiers
march by. whether a squad or a regi-
ment. That is the difference between
a material and spiritual war When
human life is gone, another may take
It's place, but 1t will not be the same.
Let the public see the soldiers when
they march away. All OF them will not
march back and our people must be
allowed to realize that war is deadly.
Let the solid ranks march through the
streets OF the Capital with music and
flags. A pre-arranged parade would be
q staged spectacle and cannot be the
real thing like q column of men who are
going omewhere-where or how, they
may not know. The men would have a
new pride In themselves and in their
duty. The public would see something Of
war; only glimpse, but more human
than . sealed truck or a picture.
Those called to do the fighting their
parents, wives and friends should receive
some applause before the curt obituary
notice that another boy is a hero. War
must have q spiritual as we'll as a mate
something that can be seen and can be
felt in the heart. must join the man who
is doing the fighting to those for whom
he is fighting.
ing picture for the public. Men die in
movies, but they may be seen the next
night in another Aim. The public Is told
that Americans are fighting on the other
side Of the ocean and cautious hints are
given that they may be uncomfortable.
but q dainty censorship hides the fact
that they are suffering. manned and
dying. That might jar the public out OF
its aloof detachment and bring it down
to realities for the public has heart
and these men are being crippled and
killed.
Both the Army and Navy talk in fig
ures, sad figures, but still only figures.