Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-02-26

THE fact that Churchill and
Il Beaverbrook we're elated
over the Japanese attack on
Pearl Harbor. because this blow
brought the United States into
the war. is no proof that this
country is fighting for the Brit
iSh Empire.
Naturally they were pleased
and Ne would have had legiti-
mate reason 10 call them liars
and resent their lack Of appre-
citation If they had tried 10 con-
CeaL their feeling,
For long time the British
were the entire team against
the NaZiS and their magnificent,
if alarmed and often inept,
struggle. which STOOD off the
mightieSt and most ruthless
power that the world has ever
known is answer enough 70 the
nasty lnSlnuation that the Brit
lSh wont or can't fight their
own battles.
As A matter Of Empire policy
they hatter the Australians and
Canadians with every Compli-
mentary publicity. but the
troops of the British Isles AL
ways vastly outnumber the
ColonlalS and II is 10 the credit
of the home people, civilians as
well as fighters. that they have
The political patience 10 accept
Secondbllling when they have
lived and died right under the
German guns and their navy,
manned almost wholly By sail
orS from home. held the seas
with only a little bashful and
left-handed American assistance
until last December Z.
IT WOULD be equally reason
Il able 10 say now that the Brit
ISh and the ColonialS are fighting
10 keep the enemy away from
the United States while our own
clumsy power is being gathered
Tor the fight and our people still
Clatter around on WaSteful. Wit
less errandS on tires which
should he conserved by law and
the bayonet
If thc British were not in the
fight the Germans would be at
the very throat OF this country
and the japanese would be knif-
Ing us from Alaska 10 San
Diego
Already the Germans have
actually broken through into the
eastern waters which are jeal-
ouSly regarded as our own Spe-
Clal patrol and our own record.
not only in Pearl Harbor hut
everywhere except in the Philip
pines, gives no American any
right 10 sheer al the British
stupidity in Singapore or Narvik
or their inability 10 make
victory stick in North Africa.
I'VE Russians have been the
greatest fighters Of all on
our side, but il will hardly he
argued that they are fighting IN
preserve the British Empire and.
with all appropriate reserva-
lions as 10 our domestic form
Of government and economic
system. they deserve our deep
appreciation for keeping the
enemy busy while We slowly and
deliberately get ready to pro-
tect ourselves.
Without the British. without
the Russians. vital sections OF
this country might even now he
backgrounds with American
civilians stampeding and wran-
Cling and with disguised Ger
mans, Italians and traitors pot
ting American Sentries At the
bridges and blowing up our
works. according 10 the plan
which worked so well in Hol-
land, Belgium and France.
Whether the British and Rus
slams are socially lovable is no
question now.
But this is no theoretical war
and the enemy cannot he argued
away on the proposition that the
British are a tricky lot who use
other people TO fight their wars.
If the British 60 down tho
United States goes down. too.
and German and Japanese SOL
dicrs and German political exc
cutioners will line up American
boys and shoot them against the
wall OF the high school gym for
singing the anthem or wearing
the colors on their lapels. an
high school boys were massacrsd
IN PRAGUE and DOlSb ritiae