davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-04-10
THOUGHTS After Botuun

It may be months, perhaps years,
before the complete story Of the
battle Of Bataan can be told, but
enough already Is known to make
feasible an affirmation Of apprecia-
ton certainly due to the American
and Filipino forces that struggled
there during four long months OF war
in the modern fashion. There need
be no delay in the expression Of
gratitude which the free peoples OF
the world are proud to feel toward
the men who served in Luzon with
General Douglas Macarthur and
Lieutenant General Jonathan M.
Wainwright. 1t will be the verdict
of history that they are entitled to
remembrance with all other heroes
who ever have maintained lost hopes.
An obvious comparison between
the defenders of the Bataan Penin-
sula and the gallant band that held
the Alamo against the Mexicans
under Santa Anna in 1885 has been
noted. The resemblance to the '1ast
stand" of General George Armstrong
Custer and his valiant cavalry on the
ridge above the Little Big Horn River
in Montana, June Is, 1875, likewise
has been mentioned. A truer parallel,
however, is that of the Confederate
effort to hold vicksburg, "the Gibral-
tar of the South" against General
U. s. Grant, May ~ to July 8, 1858.
In each of these cases the attackers
had the advantage Of superior num-
bers, larger supplies and freedom OF
movement.
But the Americans and Filipinos
at Bataan, it always must be remem-
bered, were called upon to suffer a
form Of attack which is new in the
twentieth century. The japanese
had aircraft in quantity. Without it,
the result might have been different.
The lesson Of the siege, then, is that
of the necessity for providing the
armies and fleets of the United Ma
tions with planes equal to the existing
need in numbers and in cruising and
striking power.
Meanwhile, Corregidor Island at
the entrance Of Manila Bay still
defies the relentless foe. How much
longer the Star Spangled Banner
may fly above its beleaguered works
is a matter Of speculation. President
Roosevelt has left the decision. what
ever \ may b. 70 General wain-
Evening star., 1942-04-10
War Profits

AS result OF the Senate'S action
on proposed excess profits legislation,
a way has been opened for an adjust
ment in conference with the House
which would prevent the creation Of
"war millionaires" without impairing
the war effort.
AS it passed the House, the profits
limitation was in the form Of an
amendment to an Army-Navy supply
bill, and provided that no manufac-
turer could earn more than 6 per
cent of the value of the contract.
The Senate Appropriations Commit
tee modified the provision, tying up a
sliding scale of profit limitation with
an administration-fa favored plan for
renegotiation of contracts to recap
ture any excessive payments. When
the measure was called up, however,
the Senate refused to accept either
plan in its entirety, voting by two
to-one majority against any specific
statutory limitation, but approving in
substance the prevailing system Of
recapturing excessive profits through
renegotiation. Under this method,
which is favored by War, Navy and
Treasury officials, frightened tax laws
would serve as an additional safe
guard against profiteering.
The arguments against attempting
to deal with the problem Of profits
through either a fixed or a sliding
scale of statutory limitations un-
doubtedly are familiar to all members
Of Congress by this time. Two points
developed during the Senate debate
are worthy of mention, however.
One Of these was the contention Of
Senator Truman of Missouri, who
has been prominent in the fight
against proflteering, that the plan
for a maximum schedule of profits
would create movement back to the
old "cost-plus" system, which is
unQuestionably iniquitous. The other
was the warning by Senator George
Of Georgia, chairman Of the Senate
Finance Committee, that statutory
limitation Of profits by percentages
was bad, wholly bad" and If adopted
would almost have the effect of
defeating the war effort.
It is to be hoped that the Senate
and House conferees will approach
their difficult task with a view to
reconciling the obvious desirability OF
preventing excessive war profits with
the realities Of prosecuting the war
successfully. In this effort the points
brought out in debate should be
helpful and the views Of the admin
istration officials directly responsible
for the war program should receive
the fullest consideration.
Evening star., 1942-04-10
Silver Bus Burs

At last a way has been found to
make some use of the Treasury's
huge accumulation of silver. Gov
eminent lawyers have agreed that
Secretary Of the Treasury Morgen-
thau has authority to lend the idle
stores of white metal to the alumni
mum industry as wartime substi-
tute for copper. Under this pro-
gram. large quantities Of the $780,
100000 ounces of silver which the
Treasury has piled up in compliance
with the silver-purchase laws will
be converted into such practical
items as bus bars and other elec-
trical conductors now made from
copper. Bus bars are strips of metal
used to make electrical connections
on power switchboards. Thus, val
liable copper will be saved for shells
and for alloys needed in war produc-
tion. After the war the silver on
loan is to be returned to the Treasury.
This development serves to focus
attention anew on the so-called "sil-
yer folly" to which the Government
has been q party since enactment
of permanent legislation requiring
maintenance of a Federal subsidy
for the domestic silver industry.
There are two laws on the statute
books which have been responsible
for the amassing of silver stocks in
Government storage in totally illogi-
cal amounts. The Silver Purchase
Act of 1884 directed the Treasury
to buy silver at its own price until
silver monetary stocks have reached
q total that is one-fourth that OF
all silver and gold stocks or until
the market price becomes equal to
the monetary value. When the act
was passed, the monetary value Of
silver stocks was about one-tenth
that Of total gold and silver stocks.
It has never reached the rs per cent
goal fixed in the law and the Treas
ury long since has given up all hope
of attaining it under present condi-
tions. The monetary value Of sill
yer is fixed at $1.29 an ounce, but
the market price has never exceeded
81 cents an ounce. 1t has averaged
much less. However, under 1899
dollar devaluation clause, the Treas
ury is compelled to buy all domes-
tically mined silver at Till cents
an ounce.
SO the Treasury has no alterna-
tive but to go ahead buying silver
and adding it to its ever-increasing
supply in dusty vaults. It cannot
cell any Of 1t. Mr.. Morgenthau not
long ago said he would be glad II
Congress would ~stTiks n Of the
Evening star., 1942-04-10

hours per week, although that law was
designed to spread employment In a
time Of industrial depression, rather
than stimulate production in a national
emergency.
The argument about maintaining liv-
ing standards will not hold water here,
because in most defense industries
wages already are at high level. Fur
thermore, living standards depend, not
on wages, but on the level Of production
of those things which make for better
living; and in country at war, where
a large portion of the national effort
must be spent in producing things which
are good only for destructive purposes,
living standards are bound to suffer In
spite of anything which the Govern
ment can do. The best the Govern
ment can do to help living standards,
now and after the war. Is to cut non-war
spending to the bone. But the Presi-
dent has said that. that is not his re-.
sponsibility. EDW. WOLEsENSKY.
Evening star., 1942-04-10
Discusses "Hours-Wages" Law
In Prevailing Emergency.

To the Editor Of The Star:
President Roosevelt Is reported TO
have expressed the wish that the Amer
lean people examine and get into their
heads" the fact that the average person
produces more In . 48-hour week than
In q 60-hour week.
Well, possibly that is true, although
ono still would like to know where and
when, by whom and under what con-
ditions the evidence was obtained. Was
it In peacetime or wartime, and were
the workmen interested In producing"
or merely in obtaining the maximum for
their time?
But the issue does not lie between
4s-hour week and 60-hour week. The
question is whether the taxpayer is to
be charged an extra penalty for all work
that is done on Government contracts
over 40 hours per week. 1t seems that
almost every one gets consideration
here in Washington except the taxpayer.
Mr.. Roosevelt himself has said that
most workmen are patriotic enough to
do their best, when working on de-
fense Jobs, without q bonus. Yet he has
steadfastly opposed any change In the
'hours-and-waees" law which requires
~ and . aAx ~ II yssk esR -
Evening star., 1942-04-10
Bottle for India


collapse of American-Filipino re-
sistance on Bataan tends to focus
our attention on the Philippines,
simultaneous happenings in and
around the Bay of Bengal are stra-
logically Of even graver significance.
There, the japanese seem to be un-
leashing a ferocious general offen-
sive by land, sea and air, extending
from Burma to Ceylon, and obviously
aimed at the approaches to India,
If not at India itself.
The outstanding news item of
black day is the acknowledged sink
ing of the British aircraft carrier, the
Hermes, and two British heavy cruis-
erS, the Cornwall and DorSetShire,
10000 -tonners in the same class with
our cruiser Houston, lost in the bat
tie of the Java Sea. The British
admiralty states that they were
sunk by Japanese bombers, presum-
ably somewhere in the western part
of the Bay of Bengal, off Ceylon or
India, while hunting for the Japa-
nese airplane carriers from which
were launched the aerial attacks de-
livered at Ceylon and India during
the past few days.
We likewise have as yet no inkling
as to whether this was an isolated
engagement or whether 1t formed
part of a naval action between Brit
ish and japanese fleets. A fortnight
ago, the Rome radio reported that
a powerful British squadron includ-
ing at least one capital ship had
rounded the Cape of Good Hope,
headed for India If this be true,
it is almost certain that the Japa-
neSe also would have sent capital
units into Indian waters. There
are intimations from British sources
that the greatest fleet action of the
war may be imminent or actually
taking place in the Bay of Bengal.
The outcome of such battle would
have momentous consequences. Jap
anese surface raiders and subma-
rines undoubtedly are working havoc
on British coastwise shipping, from
Ceylon to the mouth of the Ganges
River below Calcutta. Japanese air
planes have bombed Britain's naval
base at Trincomalee, Ceylon, while
the Axis radio reports japanese land
ings on the Burmese coast almost
within sight of the Indian border.
Only British sea and air power have
stood between Japan and a large
scale invasion of India. Some days
ago, Chungking reported a large
Japanese fleet Of troop transports
headed south through the FormoSan
Strait. That might mean an expedi-
tionary force for India, as similar
transport fleet sighted of China
heralded the invasion Of the Dutch
Indies. Furthermore, the elimination
of the American-Filipino Army on
Bataan will release big japanese
forces for use elsewhere.
The tempo of the Japanese offen-
sive on all fronts is being stepped
up by the approach of the monsoon
rains. At least a month of clear,
dry weather remains before the wet
monsoon, with its torrential down.
pours and high winds, will render
land and air operations much more
difficult. To make the most of those
precious weeks, the japanese high
command may be expected to in
tensify their operations. Perhaps
we are about to witness the greatest
crescendo of furious offensive that
the Asiatic theater of war has yet
seen,
Evening star., 1942-04-10

There is said to be a new contrap-
ton in the form Of mechanical log
chopper which can reduce a six-foot
log to three-inch chips in less than
three seconds. It will probably be
found that Paul Bunyan had one of
these which he used as a pencil
sharpener.
Evening star., 1942-04-10

Foes Of Pendergast Sweep Kansas
City for Second Time" ran a recent
headline. This particular boss will
soon be in the position of the man
who, thrown out of a joint three
times, remarked. II don't think they
really want me in there"
Evening star., 1942-04-10

silver legislation Of the books" This
would be the sensible thing to do.
Meanwhile, if ways can be found
to make some good use Of this 9TH
erwise futile supply of metal, no in
genuity should be spared to that
end.
Evening star., 1942-04-10

Calls for Campaign
Against Stockings That Run"
To the Editor Of The Star:
Who can remember the good old days,
aeons ago, when the customer usually
was right and silk hose were guaranteed
for at least one week? Now, q pair of
$l.79 hosiery Is also guaranteed-yes,
guaranteed to run at the first wearing.
Who is with me for . crusade until
one-wsar stockings are sbolished3
8NRgA XlI0RkA1l
Evening star., 1942-04-10

Ice manufacturing companies now
will provide a punch bowl made en-
tirely of ice for a party. This not
only would look effective, but the
bowl, inverted, would be ef1cacious
for a next morning head.
Evening star., 1942-04-10

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the tUriter, although the use of
q pSeudonyn, for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters iDith
q Die1D to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-04-10

@. How much territory Is controlled
by Gen. de Gaulle and the Free French?
&C. s.
A. Territory controlled by the Free
French includes French Equatorial
Africa and the Cameroons; the Pacific
islands Of New Caledonia, New Hebridies,
Marquesas, Clipperton, Gambler and
Toubouai; and Is colonies on the coast
Of India. In all this comprises nearly a
million and a quarter square miles.
@. Is 1t generally believed that Samson,
In the manner Of his death, avenged
himself on the Philistines?-F. r. E.
A. According to the International
Critical Commentary Of the Bible. Sam
son in his death killed more Of the Phil
istines than he had in life; it was the
climax of his achievement, he avenged
himself on the Philistines for the loss
Of his eyes.
@. How old is the legend Of Atlantis?-
w. e. r.
A. Ancient writers such as Plato and
Pliny referred to this mythical cont.
nent said to have sunk beneath the
ocean DR.. Henry erosion Of London
has listed 237 Atlantis legends In Latin
American countries, 1l2 In Asia, almost
80 in Africa, about 40 in Europe and q
in Australia.
@. Is there an explanation Of the fact
that flowers growing at high attitudes
oftener are more brightly colorsd than
those growing lower down?-A. LC.
A. The brilliant colors of such flowers
have been attributed to the presence of
ultraviolet light in the clear sky Of
high attitudes.
O. How many paintings Of Jan Ver-
meer are known to exist?-J. j. C.
A. There are only about 40 authen-
ticated works by Vermeer known today.
Three Of these are in the National GAL
lery Of Art, notable example being The
Girl With the Red Hat"
O. What is the greatest speed that
man has been able to achieve under his
own power?-B. r.
A. The greatest velocity at which a
man has ever Travelled under his own
power on a level track is rs miles an
hour. This speed was reached by Van
derstuyft in 1928 in Paris, on a bicycle.
This speed was possible only directly in
the wake of speeding motorcycle which
considerably lessened the air resistance.
@. How are date palms fertilized-N.
J. D.
A. Date palms are either male or fe-
male. but no insect is known to perform
the task of pollination Thus it is nee
esSary either to dust the female blooms
with pollen or to tie sprigs Of the male
blossom among the female buds.
= @. How many miles of canals are there
in Europe?-R. T. w.
A. Europe has a total canal mileage
of about 13 800 out of a world total of
$4,000. 1t is possible to travel entirely
across Europe in a seagoing vessel with
out ever leaving river or canal
@. When was Christianity introduced
into Japan2-S. J. w.
A. Portuguese traders first brought the
Christian faith to Japan in 1912, and
we're followed by Xavier in l54s. BY
1894 there were IA million Christians.
In the next century, however, there was
great persecution Of the Christians in
Japan. In 1859 Christian missionary
work in Japan was revived.
Evening star., 1942-04-10
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdsktn.

A reader can get the dnswer to any
question OF fact by 1Driting The Eve-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. HaSkin, director, Washington,
D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. What effect do battles have upon
bird life?-D. L. B.
A. During the First World War it was
found that battles apparently produce
no evil effects upon birds. Blackbirds,
larks, nightingales, thrushes, finches,
martins and warblers were plentiful on
the western front in Europe.
Evening star., 1942-04-10
FAMILIAR SAYINGS - The

FAMILIAR SAYINGS - The
English language, especially as 1t
is written and spoken in the
United States. is richly larded with
words, phrases and sayings that
lend it touches of humor and add
immeasurably to its color and
graphic quality The booklet
FAMILIAR SAYINGS brings to-
gether several hundred of the
expressions, giving their sources
or origins. 1t is divided into
topics ard is indexed to make it
readily available for reference
purposes. To secure your copy
inclose 10 cents in coin wrapped
in this clipping and mail to The
Star Information Bureau.
--------------------
Name
--------------------
Address
Evening star., 1942-04-10

The Japanese are learning one
particular thing among number OF
others: It does not pay to kick an
Amsgaoau a~iatoeAs VITA
Evening star., 1942-04-10

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication Of all news dispatches
credited to it 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.
Evening star., 1942-04-10
Opposes Change
ne TervuinOJO1v

Opposes Change
OF Terminology.
To the Editor of The Star:
The attempt to change the name Of
the war Is a mistake.
believe that large majority Of those
who support the war and demand maxi
mum war production under efficient
management do 80 because 1t is war
Of defense. The terms Defense stamps"
and Defense bonds" are fully descrip-
Avo. ELLA g. 1R11AUT.
Evening star., 1942-04-10

@. Do the Diomede Islands belong to
the United States or RusSia?-N. G. D.
A. Little Diomede Island belongs to
the United States and Big Diomede
Island to Russia. They lie in Bering
Strait between Alaska and Siberia, one
each side of the international date line.
Evening star., 1942-04-10
@ who are the sikhs2-N J. w.

@. Who are the Sikhs?-N. J. w.
A. The Sikhs are members Of relig-
ious sect founded in the 18th century
in the Punjab, India. They are stalwart
fighting men, over feet, and have fur
nished England with some of her finest
troops. One of their peculiafities is that
they never cut their hair.
Evening star., 1942-04-10
Complains About "Annoyances"
OF Post Office Administration.
70 the Editor Of The Sta,

To the Editor Of The Star:
Today this writer had new and novel
instance Of post Office inconsistency to
make his blood pressure smack against
the upper limits Of safety. He received
an international money order reissue for
small amount from Great Britain
stamped as received April 6, 1912, in
the New York post Office. This morn
ing, April 8, 1912, under the frank of
the post Office of New York, bearing
cancellation stamp of 3 pm, April 7,
1912, this writer received what was pur-
ported to be negotiable international
money order reissue whose value in
United States currency was indicated
both in figures and writing. This writer
then presented the supposed negotiable
instrument from the New York post
office to local branch post Office, where
he is well known, and requested re-
demption Of the post Offices own
instrument in defense stamps. Re-
demption was refused on the ground
that confirming advices had not been
received by the Washington post Office
from the New York post Office, affirm
ing the validity and negotiability of
what this writer assumed to be a ne
gotiable demand from one branch of
the Federal Government upon another.
As it was a transaction which must be
attended to in person and could not be
delegated to another, this writer con-
tacted two other sources Of administra-
tive authority requesting explanations
Of this refusal of one branch Of the
Post once Department to refuse to
honor a supposedly negotiable instru-
ment Of another. Their answer was
to the effect that it was q department
rule. This writer's answer was the
question still unanswered: What right
does the Post Ofice Department have
to subject the public 1t serves to petty
annoyances which wise administration
and consistency could eliminate7"
THOMAS E. MATT1NGLY, M. D.
Evening star., 1942-04-10
Letters to the Editor
Readers Send Additional Names
Ene cAnond WnrId War

hSAueIS ScHu hO0luOuAl NdLuo
For Second World War.
To ths Editor Of The Star:
Since the gangster dictators started
this war, We should name 1t for them
and call it THE Gangster Invasions."
However. we do need q slogan for our
is as follows: "All for Liberty and Lib
erty for AL"
PETER J. CUNNINGHAM,
To the Editor Of The Star:
Last night I heard that President
Roosevelt doesn't want this war called
The Second World War" I would sug-
gest that 1t be called The United Ma
tions War for Freedom"
HELEN BENNETT.
To the Editor Of The Star:
suggest that this war be called THE
War Against International Gangster-
ism and Vandalism"
r. SNYDER.
To the Editor of The Star:
The President OF the United States
wants this world war accorded title In
keeping with its significance and objec-
tives, which are not World War No. 2"
and Second World War"
think the Presidents stand well
taken. This isn't q war: 1t Is. rather,
universal purging process. Hence, its
due title Is The Great Purge"
RIENZI B. LEMUS.
10 the Editor Of The star;
I see by the papers that our President
wants name for the present war.
What war?
II someone whom you know snd DO
not nlistrust too much comes up to you
and without any preliminaries whatever
strikes you below the belt, would you
call it q boxing bout?
Neither Is this a warl AS far as am
concerned it will 60 down in history
(my history as THE Era Of Axis
Atrocity"; beginning with the so-called
civil war in Spain, plus the theft Of
Ethiopia and lasting through the dura-
ton.
Period of Axis Atrocities" or perhaps
Axis Stupidities" would be better, for
attempts which do not succeed are
always stupidities whether they be for
good purpose or a bad one.
Henry McLemore says that the war Is
Hitlers baby and that he should name it.
He has something there! At least the
name Of it should be chosen from Hitlers
side Of the fence. LAURA K. POLLOCK.
Evening star., 1942-04-10
Rates by Mail-Payable in Advance.
MARYLAND and Virginia.
Member of the Associated Press.

Entered as second-class matter post once,
Washington, D. c.
Evening star., 1942-04-10

@. How many paintings of Jan Ver-
meer are known to exist?-J. j. C.
A. There are only about 40 authen-
ticated works by Vermeer known today
Three Of these are in the National GAL
lery of Art, notable example being The
Girl With the Red Hat"