davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
Light Beams At Night

How high will the beam Of a small light
penetrate?
The question has been asked here frequently
in connection with possible blackouts and has
been answered in a number of ways, one
being that a lighted cigarette in fur glow
may be spotted from 10000 feet in the air.
Without means Of putting this to test,
most people were willing to accept it as just
one Of those things that could not well be
disputed. Now comes word that creates seri-
GUS doubt of its accuracy.
Major R. P. Breckenridge chairman of the
engineer board at Fort Belvoir, Va, and cam
outage expert of the War department, an
nounces that recent tests in New Jersey and
Ohio show that the flame of a match may
be seen by an airplane pilot like a powerful
headlight BEAM at 5ooo-feet elevation
While this scotches the 2O,00O-foot canard.
it provides ample reason for every one to
be exceedingly careful during a blackout not
to show any light of any kind in the open.
Better to suffer in darkness for a time than
offer a target for attack in event of night
air raid
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
Over-Confidence

Writing on the prevalent confidence in our
successes in this war-or, to be exact, our
over-confidence - Harry McLemore, the col
urnnist whose fame is spreading because of
his common sense treatment of serious public
matters has this to say:
We are not going to win this war by
thumbing through the pages of history that
tell of 1776, 1912, 1893, and 1917. The glori-
GUS deeds of our ancestors are not going
to be enough to see us through unless
they serve as an inspiration to make each
and every one of us worthy of those deeds.
We will win this war by our own effort
not by the reflected glory of our ancestors
prowess. And we might as well get this idea
firmly fixed in our minds.
The big job is still ahead of us. We can
do it only if every last living soul in the
country buckles down to the task ultimate
victory imposes.
Those among us who indulge in over.confi-
dence need to understand that it is not only
confidence but performance, too, that is sus.
tanning Macarthur in the Philippines.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
Doing Pretty Well

In his address commemorating the Oath an
niversary of the Red army, Joseph Stain
forecast that the enemy would be thrown
from the gates of Leningrad and that the lib
GRAFTON of White Russia and the Crinea would
follow. The Germans are not beaten. It would
be folly to claim that they are, but the Rus
sian premier hinted strongly that they will
be, now as in the past.
The Germans have been weakened, he said,
because the element of surprise. which
formed the German reserve stock of sur
prise" has been spent" Henceforth the war
will be different "Recent events have proved
that once this element has gone the German
army is no longer as effective as it was.
And to leave no doubt of his meaning, Stain
added that "the red banner will again fly
Everywhere it has flown before That is
to say, Hitler and his armies will be hurled
out OF all Russia, which would mean that
Hitler would suffer, at last, major defeat.
In an effort to prepare the German people
for postwar friendship with the Russians,
Stain made it clear that Russia is fightino
war of liberation, not of imperialism. "State-
ments," he said, appear from time to time
that the Red army aims at the destruction of
the German people Thi sis wicked, foolish
libel 1t is probable that this war will bring
about the end Of Hitlers clique, but it would
be ridiculous to identify Hitler's CLIQUE with
the German people. This is a wicked, foolish
The Red army annihilates Germans not be-
cause they are Germans but because thew
want to enslave our country"
1t is strange circumstance, Illustrating
what war does to peoples and their view.
points, that, whereas Russia and the Russian
leader, were anathema to the democracies o1
the world a few short years ago, they are
now doing what the great democracies Of
Britain and France were incapable of doing
when the war emerged from its phoney stage
and SO thave the respect of all anti-Axis ma
tons. This great fight that Russia is puttine
up will entitle her to place at the peace
table and in the era to follow which alread,
| Is troubling political economists.
But for the time all hats are off to Russia
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
EDITORIAL
The States Example

Economy, conservation and salvage ar
more than words in North Cardinals govern
ment. State agencies and institutions are no
only encouraged to cut all corners where tn.
shortcut can result in lower expenditures, bu
to conserve materials and salvage waste.
In a letter to the Division Of Purchase ane
Contract, Governor Broughton urges that in
ton in purchases and that all abandoned ma
terials on institutional farms, industrial shop.
and garages be saved.
In line with the Governors letter, the Di
vision of Purchase and Contract has ISSUED
a bulletin to all state agencies containing
recommendations that apply with equal i'm
portance to homes, business houses and all
private enterprises. The preamble of this
bulletin says:
America is at war.
1t is the peoples war, in the strlctest,
deepest sense. 1t is a war in which each
of us must dig down deep to do more
than his job asks of him. 1t is q war
which every one of us must help to win
by remembering and acting upon this all
important fact: every time we buy or
use anything, we are putting a strain on
the men and machines, the ships and ma
terials needed to build Americas military
might.
The discipline of the fighting forces must
be matched by self-imposed civilian dis
cipline of two kinds, both made neces-
sary by the fact that this is war OF
production.
First, the discipline made necessary by
every persons responsibility as a pro-
ducer. Second, the discipline made nee
essary by every persons responsibility as
a consumer, IS a user of the things pro-
duced by the workers.
The solemn duty of all state agencies
is voluntarily to restrain every unneces-
sary demand for goods and services t
to the end that the maximum of money
materials, men, and machines may be
made available to build our fighting force.
Price Administrator Leon Henderson put
it this way: "Out of their daily living,
consumers can contribute men, machines,
and materials to the war production pro-
gram
The responsibility of all state agencies
in wartime is too broad to be put down
completely in set of specific rules. 1t
must be carried out in action in terms
of thousands of products and hundreds of
habits and conveniences. Basic to it's Sue
cess is the understanding, by all of us,
that every last thing we use in civilian
life, from tea balls to tractors, affects
Americas power to produce the materials
of war
Any waste, any improper use of any
'esources, is a drain on our total strength
The state school system has already put
into effect such program as the Governor
has urged Households cannot do better than
follow the schools example
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
The Literary Guidepost

Smolensk." Those who have read
Sigrid Undset's Return to the Flu.
ture" should take a dose of Cald.
well as antidote. The latter men
tions bedbugs but once, and that
humorously. He seems not to have
been much bothered by other
forms of verrnin and dirt, and he
certainly has the deepest respect
for Russia, the Russian character,
and Russian fighting ability.
His book is a running report of
Moscow and certain sections of
the front under fire. It describes
what one runs into when cruising
the streets in blackouts, how in
cendiary bombs were fought,
where and by whom tank traps
were dug, the technique of motor
ing through air raids. Red strate-
gy as it appeared to a non-mili-
tary observer, censorship prob
lems-the story of Russian resist
ance in other words. There is not
much Of that technique thereby
correspondents give the impress
sion they lived in Stalin's pocket
for months. Mr.. Caldwell is sat-
isfied with the truth.
So that when he declares that
in the end defeat Hitler, his state
from the beginning he never had
ment carries a bit of weight. It
is still more important that he be-
heves the Russians themselves
have no doubt at all /
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
In Emergency Only

recent episode at New Bern draws at
tention to situation which ought to be fully
recognized everywhere in the interest of mill
tary efficiency and public welfare.
When five shots were heard near a boat
building plant in New Bern, soldiers were
started for the scene but in crashing red
light their truck was struck by private au-
tomobile and SO long delayed that the soldiers
arrived too late to make arrests or solve
the mystery Of the shooting.
The point Of this is that red lights must
not impose an obstacle in the performance
Of emergency military duty, and that private
drivers must be continually alert to give wav
to Army vehicles. There is tacit. if not
an actual, rule giving Army transport right
Of way even against red traffic signals through
cities when the mission is an irnpe ant ono
Safety for Army vehicles as well as civilian
drivers likes in making sure that any Arnv
truck at signal-protected intersections intends
to 60 forward against the red light, or ston.
At the same time, the burden Of RESPONSE
bility does not properly rest upon civilian
drivers only. The drivers Of Army vehicles
are under equal obligation to observe traffic
rules except when they are on emergency
service.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
Concessions To India

lnola seems to be standing at the threshold
Oh equality with other lands in the British
commonwealth of Nations India's members
Of the British war cabinet and Pacific war
council are to be Representatives of the peo-
ple."' India is no longer to be treated as
dependency ruled from Whitehall. India is
10 nave national government, "functioning
on basis Of joint responsibility"
In the past uncounted thousands Of Indians
have died in a fight for these rights. Now.
perhaps, other uncounted thousands of Indians
Will Ole to maintain them in war, not against
British rule but against a common enemy.
The Japanese foe has secured for India
rights which the British government denied
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
TOP O. THE MORNING

Hats off!
Along the street there comes
blare of bugles, ruffle of drums,
A flash of color beneath the sky;
Hats off
The flag is passing by!
Blue and crimson and white it shines,
Hats off!
The colors before us fly;
But more than the flag is passing by.
Sea fights and land fights, grim and great
Fought to make and to save the State:
Weary marches and sinking ships;
Cheers of victory on dying lips;
Sign Of nation, great and strong
To ward her people from foreign wrong;
Pride and glory and honor,-aH
Live in the colors to stand or fall.
Hats off!
The flag is passing by!
Henry Holcomb Bennett.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
BY JOHN SELBY
"ALL-OUT ON THE ROAD TO
SMOLENSK," by Erskine Cald-

SMOLENSK," by Erskine Cald-
we'll.
Duell, Sloan & Pearce; $3.50.
BY the best Of good luck, Err
sklne Caldwell and his wife, Mar
garet Bourke White, were in Rus
sla when the Germans turned on
thei1 ally. Specifically, the Cald-
Wels were in resort in Southern
Russia, and they at once started
back for Moscow. BY luck once
again, they were in Moscow when
the bombings started-a although it
IS question whether this was
good luck or not.
IN any case, Mr.. Caldwell did
a lot of broadcasting, wrote for
A m r n publications and
brought out notes for hook
when at last the two of them gave
up their $500 week room and
left for the North and home Lest
it be thought the Caldwells were
very extravagant, it should be ex-
planned that they insisted on
changing their United States mon
ey 1or rubles at the official rate
instead Of the black bourse rate.
lney could have paid less than q
tnlrd OF that rather extortionate
charge. ''-"'e
The Caldwells brought out sew.
eral convictions, too, and these
Mr; Caldwell has put into book
called "Au-Out on the Road to
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
Star-News Program

To aid in every way the prosecution OF
the war to complete victory.
Public Port Terminals.
Perfected Truck and Berry Preserving
and Marketing Facilities.
Seaside Highway from Wrightsvile
Beach to Bald Head Island. =
Extension OF City Limits.
35-Foot Cape Fear River channel
wider Turning Basin, with ship lanes
into industrial sites along Eastern bank
south OF Wilmington.
Paved River Road to Southport, via
Orton Plantation.
Development Of Pulp Wood Production
through sustained-yield methods through
out Southeastern North Carolina.
Unified Industrial and Resort Promo
tional Agency. supported by one county.
wide tax.
Shipyards and Drydocks.
Negro Health Center for Southe eastern
North Carolina. developed around the
Community Hospital
Adequate hospital facilities for white.
Junior High School,
Tobacco Warehouses for Export Buy.
ers.
Development OF native grape growing
throughout Southeastern North Carolina.
Modern tuberculosis Saratorium.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24


repla cement.
to the quickest possible source of
That naturally is the Malay pen
insula and Japanese occupied
French Indo-China and Thailand.
The whole Japanese effort in the
south centered on the advance bas-
es prepared in French Indo- China
and Thailard before the surprise
attacks of December were deliv-
cred. But scaling them down to re.
place losses in the Java assault
would weaken the force of the Bur-
ma drive.
1t is therefore arguable that the
operations against Macarthur S
stoutly held lines on Luzon are to
be scaled down to siege proper
tions while Japanese air forces,
shipping and even troops are rush
ed southwark to cope with rising
Allied air concentrations in Java.
In a startegic sense, Bataan and
the Manila forts ceased with the
fall Of Singapore to be immediate
ly important, or the use of Manila
bay so essential to the Japanese
that it could not be safely by-pas-
sed.
Failure to push the attack on
Java and against the Torres strait
route from the Pacific to the Java
sea for American reinforcemnts
would be a serious matter for Tok-
20. Loss Of time there could be
fatal to the whole japanese con-
quest design while prolonged delay
in dealing with Macarthur would
mot.
There is every indication that
the strain of maintaining communi-
cations on ,000-mi1e-wide front
from Burma to Torres strait, no.
where less than 5000 miles distant
from Japan, is telling on the enc
my. Loss Of local air control in the
Bali and Sumatra actions graph.
cally illustrates the dangers inher-
ent in the wide dispersion of jap
anese forces. 8
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
WASHINGTON SEES

National complacency still wor-
ries the capital.
The public is seen viewing the
war as one of air and naval battles
That illusion is to be shattered. IT, s
to be Churchill war of toll and
sweat and blood.
Taxes are to be brutal. Labor re-
forms are to be jettisoned. Indivi-
dual rights are to be crushed. Prop.
erty rights are to fade. Most-if
not al-the fundamental principles
of democracy are to be trampled
underfoot by the war machine
ALI these and many more shocks
are inevitable, but the n11hlic
doesn't yet have a full connnre.
hension of this inferno to coma
That worries the policy makers
They yearn for revival of the
old World war fervor - patriotie @
frenzy, If you please - waich in.
spired men to place their ali m tho
altar OF nation security.-Magazin,e ,
of Wall Street. N1e 9
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
AS Others Say 1t
MAKE 1T FULL, IMPARTIAL

The investigating committee ap-
pointed by Governor Broughton to
investigate the state hospital for
the insane at Morganton is compos-
ed of some of the most outstanding
citizens and civic leaders of the
state. 1t is capable of making a
thorough, efficient and impair tial
investigation of the institution.
Indubitably, if given free hand,
it will make just such an investiga-
ton. We hope and have reason to
believe that Governor Broughton
will give the committee as much
leeway as it requires in order that
all the facts concerning the opera
ton Of this large hospital for men
tai patients may be ascertained
with view toward effecting prop
er remedies. Winston-Salem Joun-
nal .
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24

Pass-a.Grille, Fla is one lnI.S .'.ss-n
and one block wide, at the 'Ol :. me-
tip of Pass a-GriIje Key ~ ,.r re-
of the worlds famous l''n,u2 pIy b.
sorts, and is visited annO""'
sportsmen from many la"u''
seamen dislike to have "a. '5,', b =,
follow a ship because 'ns'' ,ba, 4
belief among seafaring men men 4 tie
death will occur On boara hour.
shark follows the boat for q
Sir Thomas Aquinas' oD' +hs is;1
outstanding philosopher u SArgele
century, was called ln9
Doctor"
Keuka lake, in New YORK fss s5s' 1T
10 miles long and forms
ter Y.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24

them for generations, and in the securing OF
which the Indian people are to make tre-
mendous sacrifices in lives and goods to the
end that through their war help they may be
ultimately a free people as Canadians are
free, as Australians are free.
Truly there is social and political revolution
under way in the world as well as war
to exterrninate the gangster enemies of civili-
Zation
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
Interpreting The War
Interpreting The War
Telling Aerial Blow.
Struck At Japanese
BY KIRKE l.. SIMPSON
wide World War Analyst

Telling air-sea blows struck by
United Nation forces defending
Java have blunted both Jaws Of the
Japanese pincer attack from Su-
matra and Bali sufficiently to war
rant the conclusion that American
air power is already definitely
challenging the Nipponese design
of conquest.
Ever lacking complete details
it is clear that the prime factor
in both theaters was participation
of American planes backing up
Dutch units on a scale to give the
Allies local air control.
Dutch reports tell of japanese
naval craft, transports and supply
ships smashed or driven off about
Bali to isolate the troops landed
on the island. Unless an adequate
Japanese sea supply line can be
reported to Bali, the garrison of
Java has little to fear en- its east
ern flank.
Japanese spanning of Sunda
strait from Sumatra on the west
represents a more difficult opera.
ton. At no point is there less than
IA miles of deep water to cross.
Prompt shifting of the American
Dutch and possibly Australian air
attack to harry enemy troop and
supply craft endeavoring to build
up a powerful invasion force in
Sumatra indicates that the Java
defense high command has con.
cluded that the Bali flank is tenn
porarily secure.
These encouraging developments
about the Java defense bastion pos
sibly account for subsistence CT the
Japanese attack on General Mac
Arthur's lines and forts in the Phil
ippines.
1t is too early yet to deduce tina
Allied sea-air blows in the fight for
Java have forced a revision of Jap
anese strategy on Luzon. Any such
loss of enemy shipping and per-
sonnel as is indicated in the actions
OFF Bali and Sumatra, however.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
ashington Daybook
BY JACK STINNETT

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23-In spite of all the
complaints and calunny heaped on the head
OF the American business man for c. halt
ing, jerky progress military preparation, some
pretty astute observers here are aleady be-
ginning to say that he probably will emerge as
one OF the wars real heroes.
Putting the United States industrial machine
into high gear is like trying to get an elephant
away from the barrier in time to keep up with
the field at the Kentucky Derby The point is
that the only jockey that could ride herd on
the brute at all is that aforementioned Ameri.
can business man.
What brought all this on was that wandering
around the marble halls of the War Production
Board building recently, got look-see into
Chairman Donald M. Nelson's system of break
ing bottle necks. Just who is the real author
OF the system, nobody seems to know, but its
a beautiful example of how that A.. B. M. is
keeping the pachyderm the track
It's what is known as the Progress Reporting
Division. 1t sounds dull Most of the work in it
is. But the results obtained aren't The PRD
mas list OF more than 300 principal military
items now in production. Almost every minute
OF the day, progress sheets on each one of
those items drops on the desk of one of PRDs
officials
1t shows to the day, almost to the hour
exactly what the production status of that
artcle ls and the minute lag shows up, the
DIVISION reports to the proper WPB executive
who takes steps to pick up the slack.
For example there are dozens of units that
go into tank. There are tank bulls, motors.
transmissons, guns, treads, etc. A bottle neck
IN any one of these will stop one whole section
| OF the entire tank program.
| Almost as soon there is showdown in the
tank program, the PRD official knows it. He
calls for breakdown on the tank production
sheet. He gets another Immediately that may
show the slack is in transmissions. He gets
another breakdown Sheet showing progress at
an factories producing tank transmissions and
then the Notwithstanding starts.
In some instances, PRD officials say, they
have been able to spot the source Of a bottle
neck within 80 minutes after it first appeared
on the initial progress sheet
There is plenty Of red tape in the war pro-
duction effort even outside political circles
Any who sets out to look for it, doesn't
have to look far.
| The insignia of army officials stationed here
is a blue star on white background encrcled
with narrow band of red Washington wags
are fond Of saying, That's general in a
white fog, surrounded by red tape"
Sometimes, it seems that the whole business
is like that but it isn't and in spite of all the
red tape there is, the U. S. production machine
is gathering steam. 8
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
TRY 'EM

1t would be interesting to hear
Senator Hiram johnson and sanal al
tor Dave Walsh tell i,,st u,hoa Aa :.
was and how they became convart. -
ed to the idea that foreign enemy n y
could strike the coast of Californi,
or Massachusetts after all Their
e1tor1s TO convince the American
people that the Atlantic and psai ean
nc oceans We're adequate barrier.
10 an potential enemies on the dl 9TH :
er slde.-Charlotte Observer. e JUL
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
The Editors
Letter Box

The ecitor does not necessarily
endorse any article appearing in
this department. They represent the
views CT the individual readers. Cor
respondents are warned that all
communications must contain the
records. though the latter may be
signed as the writer sees fit. The
Stal New. reserves the right to alter
any text that for any reason Is OBJ
jectionable. Letters on controversial
TOO MUCH FOR DONALD DUCK
To the Editor:
Many thanks for the marked
copy Of your paper containing the
editorial under date of Febru-
airy IL.
1 agree with you heartily. 1t is
going to take a darn sight more
than entertainers, fan dancers and
Donald Ducks to win this war--it
is going to require some good trig-
ger fingers. If we lose it, l am
afraid even Donald Duck could not
make us smile. So, l am in favor
Of Donald Duck doing his quack.
ing somewhere other than in the
OCD ooh! Come Dance).
l am very definitely of the opin.
ion that we have some serious
business ahead, and the quicker
the whole nation realizes it, the
quicker we will clear it up.
GRAHAM A. BARDEN.
Washington, D. c.
Feb. %, 1912.
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24

None of the victories ofthe Axiscould have
been gained withouttts silent but veryact
partner-from the Battle Of Poland to Pearl
Harbor His name is complacency.-Jim Far
ley, former postmaster-general.
There is but one business in America today.
To stop when one is tired Is the best way to
save energy.-Dr Helen D. Bull, New York
State College of Home Economics.
A wise man 1 think once defined education
as that which remains when we have forgotten
all that we have been taught.-Viscount Hall
fax British ambassador to the U. S. 3
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24
ANONYMOUS. LETTERS

The Star-News II always pleased to receive
letters from It's readers. written for publication
but will reproduce none that sre anonymous
The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-24

Telling
United Nation forces defending replacement.
have bnted both possible
naturally
nsula