davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-08-19
Discusses "Wedge"
To Break German Morale,


To the Editor Of The Star:
Due to Americas being the arsenal of
freedom, whatever peace terms we insist
upon are bound to have full weight In
the United Nations council. For this
reason, whatever promise warnings" we
may radio to Germany are certain to
receive attention from the German pop
ulation.
Therefore, let us make full use of these
true weapons, promises and warnings
Let us not fire them merely in the gen.
eral direction of Germany, but let us
aim them as carefully as guns are aimed.
For instance, if we issue terrible warn
ings concerning what we intend to do to
the German nation as Whole--so many
to be executed, so many to be imprisoned
etc-and say nothing concerning what
difference it would make if Germany
surrenders within, say IL months, rather
than fighting II years, then the only real
effect such warnings could possibly have
upon the Germans would be that OF
making them fight all the more desper-
ately. Fear can make men fight as surely
as it can make men run.
What we should do is to make such
tremendous distinction between sur
rendering soon and surrendering only
after, say another year Of bloodshed, as
must give pause to every German alive.
We must so voice our promise e-warn-
ings" as to make Germans use the last
ounce Of whatever freedom Of will they
still possess for peace.
The distinction we may make between
surrendering soon and surrendering
much later Is the greatest wedge we
Evening star., 1942-08-19
THIS AND THAT
Bv Charles L. Trdcefpell.

feeding than the male Baltimore oriole.
He never stops.
Locust trees are seldom used by birds
for nesting.
Perhaps this is due to their knowledge
Of the brittle character OF the limbs OF
these trees.
Summer storms are always bringing
down locust boughs
The knowledge OF birds is part and
parcel of every fiber of their being. 1t
is not, as with us, something which we
like to think of as residing in the brain
Yet every person who has suffered a
fall without particular injury knows that
the muscles have sort of knowledge OF
their own.
The accident happens so suddenly
that there is, literally. no time for think
ing. No time for thinking that is, by the
brain.
What does happen is that the muscles
act of themselves. Their coordination,
We say, is perfect.
The fall is made in just such way
that no injury results. The right arm
stretches out, and acts as a buffer to
take the shock of the fall The more
brittle bores are saved from the impact.
Just how one does 1t is unknown, but
the victim picks himself up, none the
worse for fall which might have killed
him.
Two of cur most beautiful songsters,
the cardinals and the catbirds, do not
seem to be very wise, especially some
summers
We have often noticed that in summers
where one species of bird makes a poor
selection of nesting site, other species
will do the same thing,
One summer catbird nested in a
shrub by porch, not more than four
feet off the ground.
cardinal put her nest on top OF a
fence, about the same distance.
All the baby catbirds were killed by
marauder, and also all the cardinals.
The latter were pecked to death by
erackles as they sat on the fence for
the first time.
There will be few persons who have
put out TODD for birds but who will
not be willing to say that the songsters
show great deal Of common sense in
their acceptance. After they have been
fed little time at one place, they 60
directly to it, thereafter, and If supplies
are not forthcoming they will fly impa-
tiently over to the house, and some
times even peck on the window to
secure notice.
This may seem elementary, in way
but 1t Is great wisdom, too. 1t is such
good knowledge as is wholesome in itself
and for the birds. Too much OF mans
knowledge is unwholesome, and terrify-
! ing to all creatures.
Evening star., 1942-08-19
The Public Interest

In statement issued after he had
been ousted as chairman of the Pub
lie Utilities Commission, Gregory
Hankin said he had been warned
that he would be removed from the
Craftsmanship if he Continued to
protect the public interest" Since
Mr.. Hankin was removed by vote Of
his associates, James H. Flanagan,
e who will succeed him as chairman,
and Engineer Commissioner Charles
W. Kutz, it seems quite plain that he
Is accusing them, by implication, of
being opposed to the protection of
the public interest.
Obviously, this is very serious
charge for Mr.. Hankin to bring
against his fellow commissioners,
since it tends to impair public conf
p dence In the PUG, and it should not
have been made unless there was
ample evidence to support it. But
Mr. Hankin cited no such evidence in
his statement, and none appears in
the commissions records. In the
light OF these circumstances, how is
the public interest being served?
This is not the first time Mr.. Han
kin has indulged in statements OF this
sort. Shortly after taking office he
charged at public meeting that he
was being hampered in his work by
the District Commissioners. The
principal basis for this complaint
seems to have been that he was not
satisfied with the office space allotted
to him. Several months later, at an
other public meeting, he accused
Commissioner Kutz OF favoring utu-
ity interests. Later, he apologized to
the Commissioner.
It seems hardly necessary to point
out that the repetition of such
charges makes 1t difficult for any pub
lie agency to function satisfactorily,
and II the accusations were generally
believed the confidence OF the public
in their officials would be destroyed.
Fortunately. there Is nothing to in
dicate that there has been any such
result in this instance. Unless there
Is change for the better at the Dis
trict Building, however, the public is
going to lose confidence, but not
necessarily in those individuals who
have been singled out as targets by
Mr. Hankin.
No one doubts that Mr.. Hankin
really wants to protect the interests
Of the people of Washington, but
there is small chance of accomplish
Ing much in this direction while he
continues to work against his asso-
ciates instead Of with them.
Evening star., 1942-08-19

Do birds sense In advance the dangers
of certain nesting places?
Many of their friends will be sure Of
It, Various species, previously nesting in
certain trees, some years fail to do so,
and soon the reason is easily seen.
Here is pear tree, favorite Of many
songsters. The family has watched the
tree with delight for many years.
This summer not bird nested in that
tree, and every one wondered why.
AS the pear crop ripened, the reason
was easy to see.
So loaded down with fruit were the
branches that many of them broke of.
The birds knew this in advance.
We recall the Baltimore orioles which
made a nest in locust tree.
They selected, as they always do, the
very tip of long bough.
This branch hung out directly over the
middle of the yard.
It was excellent for observation pur-
poses.
The wonderful nest, held securely to
the end, was completed in record time.
Then. Just as everything seemed all
right, the birds deserted 1t.
Several weeks went by, and nobody
could figure out why the orioles had left.
Then great afternoon storm came up.
u
and the long branch with the nest at the
end of it broke off and fell to the ground.
1t would have been impossible for any
one to convince the members Of that
family that the oriole pair did not know
in advance exactly what was going to
happen.
This is called instinct" but perhaps
instinct is often no more than divine
common sense. 1t might have been that
the orioles, used to nest-making, could
tell by the very feel Of that branch
that 1t was not safe.
The mother oriole OF course, is the
nest builder. She 1t is who selects the
site, and who binds the structure with
cord in way that human mechanical
engineers might envy.
If no strings or cords are put out for
these birds, the female must make cords
out of milkWeed and other fibers.
This is quite job.
Many gardeners think they are playing
smash when they put out great long
pieces of string but these are just the
sort that should not be used, since the
female oriole often gets entangled in
them, and always has difficult time in
pecking them apart.
The male oriole does nothing about
building the nest, nor does he help In
cubate the eggs
Where he comes In is in the feeding.
Few parents do a more consistent Job of
Evening star., 1942-08-19
BruziIiun-AmericunT Ties

Those developments which have
brought Brazil to the verge OF war
with the Axis powers have also had
the effect OF strengthening the tradi-
tional friendship between the largest
country in South America and its
principal neighbor to the North
Thus it is possible to suggest that
history in 1912 is repeating the per-
Torrance of 1917.
But it should be stressed that the
accident OF having identic enemies
Is not by any means the only tie
between Brazil and the United States.
The two countries would have en-
1oyed a mutual amity if no German
submarine ever had been seen in the
Atlantic. Visitors to Rio de Janeiro
are familiar with the monument to
the memory Of James Monroe erected
in 1894 to testify to Brazilian-Amer-
lean support of the Doctrine enun-
ciated on December 2. 1923. barring
European interference in the Western
Hemisphere. The importance of that
pronouncement Is apparent when it
is remembered that Brazil had de-
clared It's independence of Portugal
as recently as September T. 1922. II
the United States did not actually
guarantee the integrity of the Brazil
ian government, it at least expressed
a constructive interest In its pres
ervation.
So has it been ever since. Through
out the reign of Dom Pedro II
a period OF half of century-there
was steady growth Of enduring
bonds of commerce and culture from
which the United States and Brazil
alike benefited. Persons still living
recall seeing the Emperor at the
opening of the centennial exhibition
at Philadelphia in 1876 Even the
tragedy of the American Civil War
had the effect of drawing Brazil and
the United States together. Traces
persist even now of families of Con-
federate expatriates, settled in the
provinces of Parana, Sac Paulo and
Para after the surrender Of General
Robert E. Lee at Appomatox Court
House. There are Brazilian citizens
whose ancestors were residents Of
Virginia and Georgia, South Carolina
and Texas.
Many distinguished statesmen have
contributed to the maintenance Of
harmony between Brazil and the
Evening star., 1942-08-19

United States. Among the number
must be mentioned Simon Bolivar
who. In 1924, summoned the first
congress of South American republics
to ratify the Monroe Doctrine and
provide for its translation from
theory into fact; Henry Taylor Blow,
Minister to Rio de Janeiro from 1859
to 1871; Thomas Larkin Thompson,
Minister from 1893 to 1897; Edwin v.
Morgan, Minister from 1912 to 1898;
Hugh Gibson, Minister from 1888 to
1887, and others. Brazil broke
off relations with Germany on
April II, 1917, following the tor
pedoing of the steamer Parana.
It's decree of neutrality" was revoked
a few weeks later as a mark of CON
tinental solidarity" and specifically
in support of the United States. More
ships were sunk by U-boats, and war
finally was declared on October Is,
1917.
Evening star., 1942-08-19
Portrait of q Teacher

Some o,on-tolk say the teacher
should retire
And Others that she's earned the
right to stay.
Serenely she detours around such
talk,
Pouring her life into each worktng
day.
BetDeen arithmetic and history, She
reads
A thank-you note a diplomat has
mailed,
And, guided by three postals, marks
her map
At three ne,o ports to uhtch her
boys hare sailed.
Then history books dissolpe chalk
smell and desks
As she makes lining sagas OF the
tUord,
For "curly-heads" and treckled "car-
rot-tops,"
Standing brioht-eyed and pert IKE
some small bird,
A bird ,phich from a nest OF mud and
strings,
Sends hedolinps forth ~ strong
and soaring sotn1s.
ANoB8L ARAAOUR.
Evening star., 1942-08-19
Wants Streetcar Operators
Pursued by "Cops."

To the Editor of The Star:
I have crossed the Atlantic with but
slight discomfort from seasickness, but
it takes only short ride on a WASH
ington streetcar to make me thorough
ly nauseated. Ninety per cent of the
operators seem to have but one goal in
mind: To make the car behave like a
roller coaster or bucking broncho.
And their complete disregard of the
safety and welfare of their passengers Is
only exceeded by their contempt for
every other type of vehicle that crawls
on the ground. Red and amber lights
all look green to these roughriders, and
stop sign Is merely base from which
attacks are made upon unsuspecting mo-
torists who happen to have the right
of-way. You may be 100 or you may be
only 10 feet away from the corner-they
will pull right out In front of you re-
gardless of whether you are able to
stop in time to avoid crash or not.
Today I heard squeezing of brakes at
the corner of East Capitol and Second
streets and moment later a crash.
Upon investigation I found one of these
roughriders had made an attack upon
Navy station wagon in exactly the same
manner as that described above. The
sailor, coming from the right, on a
through street, was challenged. by the
streetcar, coming from the left, on
stop street, and, unable to stop in time.
barged right into the streetcar. The law
plainly states that vehicle shall pro-
ceed after halting at stop sign only
after through traffic has cleared the
intersection. The streetcar operators
just dart into traffic in plain violation of
the law, knowing that auto drivers will
rather burn up brakes and tires than
risk collision. The cops get after
reckless motorists Why not concen-
trate on some OF these hard-riding
streetcar operators for changer
H. C., r,
Evening star., 1942-08-19
Advocates Gesture" to India
To Win Enthusiastic Co-Operatio !"

To Win Enthusiastic CO. Operation"
To the Editor Of The Star:
The Stars editorial on the outlook in
India" evades issues of significance to
the United States by the current practice
of emphasizing riots without explaining
them and exaggerating Indian political
differences along communal lines.
1t is high time that the people of the
United States we're awakened to the i'm
portance of their stake In India and were
given the facts necessary to an under
standing and evaluation Of her current
struggle.
Though India at present occupies a
prominent place in newspapers and news
broadcasts, neither are contributing in
any substantial degree to public under
standing OF this problem, which. far
from being purely British affair, Is
vital to the United States.
SO far as our own material interests are
concerned, We first should realize the
urgency of an all-out war effort in India.
A dozen or more Indian soldiers could
be equipped for the cost OF getting one
American soldier to Asia. Moreover,
Indias tremendous resources are capable
Of producing war materials cheaply and
close to battle areas. Neither of these
advantages can be realized without the
whole-hearted cooperation OF the
Indian people.
1t therefore behooves us actively to
court such enthusiastic cooperation
rather than to concur by our silence in
an attempt to enforce unwilling CO.
operation.
Secondly, we should ask ourselves
whether it Is not both morally just and
tactically expedient that the Allies
make some gesture Immediately to prove
the sincerity Of their announced aim of
freedom for all. Where can this high
principle be applied more appropriately
than to our own ally? All Asia today
Is asking these questions, including our
brave ally, China, already on record as
favoring India's aspirations. Burma
raised similar questions before making
her recent unpopular choice
MINERVA F.. DESING.
Evening star., 1942-08-19
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdsktn,

A reader can get the dnsper to any
question OF fact by ,prtttno The gre-
ming Star Information Bureau. Fred
eric J. Haskin. director, Washington,
D. c. Please tnclose stamp for return
postage.
Q. What is the punishment for deser-
ton from the Army In warttme'--
r. E. H.
A. In time of war the punishment for
desertion from the United States Army
is death or other punishment AZ tho
court-martial directs. Such twartime>
deserters will be forever incapable OF
holding any once Of trust or profit
under the United States and will not be
able to exercise any of the rights Of
citizenship.
@. Which State has the most automo-
biles and which the least7-C. c. N.
A. In 1941 California led IN number
of registrations with q total Of 2996,77
motor vehicles. Nevada had the least,
the total being only 49,868.
c. What Is the f1ercest fish?-M, H, e.
A. The piranha OF South America.
Though comparatively small 1t Is noted
for It's ferocity. 1t will attack human
being and tear him to pieces.
Evening star., 1942-08-19

Q. How long Is 1t since the Hebrews
existed as a nation?-T. E.
A. The Kingdom of Israel was finally
destroyed by Assyria In 722 BIC, and
that Of Judah by Babylon In 5as BIC,
and thereafter the Hebrews ceased to
exist as a nation.
O. What is the derivation Of the
word "clue"?-M. T. D.
A. It comes from an old English
"cluwe' meaning "a ball OF thread"
It's present-day meaning comes from the
story of Theseus, the ancient Greek
hero, who was guided through the
labyrinth by the ball Of thread held
by Ariadne.
O. When and where was Tschaikow-
skys Overture 1912" first performed2-
J. c. j.
A. This overture. commemorating
Napoleons disastrous invasion of Russia
in 1912, was frst performed In the
public square before the Kremlin at
Moscow in 1881. A huge orchestra was
assembled, augmented by brass band
and cannons to be fired at certain dra-
matte moments.
@. Is it fact that Pope Plus xI was
buried in three cofins?-D. j. E..
A. Three collins were used, the trst
OF cypress, the second Of lead and the
third Of elm.
@. Was Paul Robson, the Negro
singer, football player9-G. r. r.
A. He was rated by Walter Camp as
one of the all-America ends In football.
Q. What is the official language Of
Belgium?-T. T
A. Belgium is bi-lingual. Public docu-
ments and the like are required to ap-
pear both in French and Flemish.
@. If billion dollar bills were
stacked in a pile, how high would it
be?-P. w. F.
A. Aaron Bakst, in 'Mathematics--Its
Magic and Mastery" says that billion
one-dollar bills stacked in one column
would be SO $40 miles high.
Q. What is the origin Of wedding
bells?-C. c. A.
A. The custom originated In England.
where in the Middle Ages church bells
pealed as the bride entered the church
and again as she left.
@. Which is the deepest fresh-water
lake in the world?-T. r.
A. Lake Baikal in Siberia, $3.50 feet
deep. Lake Tanganyika in Africa, with
depth of 4,190 feet, ranks next.
Q. Who was the first Roman Catholic
to be nominated for President?-J. B. C.
A. Charles O'Conor of New York. He
was nominated in 1872 by the Labor
Reform branch of the Democratic party.
@, Under what conditions may an
Arabian stallion be registered as q thor
oughbred In the American Stud Book
S. F.
A. Native-bred Arabians are eligible
only when their sire and dam are reg
istered with the American Stud Book,
imported Arabians only when accom-
panied by stud book certificate Of pure
breeding, issued by Messrs. Weatherby
& Sons OF England. or the Minister of
Agriculture of France.
Evening star., 1942-08-19

A "foolproof' system of predicting
forest fires has been announced, de-
pending on temperature, humidity
and other weather data. 1t will
hardly be foolproof, however, until
1t takes into account the fool who
starts them by leaving campf1res un-
attended.
Evening star., 1942-08-19

Needlework-Welfare units all over
the country are busy knitting and
sewing for the needy abroad, and our
boys in camps here. If you aren't
handy with needle-either knitting
or sewing-and you want to do your
share of this kind of work send for
copy of the booklet on Needle
work The instructions are simple
illustrations are included to make
the directions clear. To secure your
copy of this publication inclose 10
cents in coin, wrapped in this clip
ping, and mail to The Star Informa-
ton Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1942-08-19
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the ,Uriter, although the use of
pseudonynl for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters Nth
DieaO to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-08-19

The Toxic propaganda bureau, In
view OF It's many claims of sinking
the American Fleet, certainly can
not be accused Of missing any boats.
Evening star., 1942-08-19

possess for splitting German morale Let
us see that this wedge is made as sharp
as we can possibly make it.
BOILING SOMERVILLE.
Evening star., 1942-08-19

. 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.
Evening star., 1942-08-19

began 10 burn brightly. Impatiently
they started away from where they had
been stopped, and within a minute
streams OF gold were flowing through
the streets again. Then the street lights
came on, just as they had gone off
but this time marking out their patterns
In glittering strings until all the city
was ablaze again.
Then for the post -mortem, after we
had landed, under the gentle probing
OF Gen. Cox. Capt Woodrow SWanscott,
our good pilot, had been over the city
In each of the preceding blackouts. This.
he said, was the best one yet. Col.
Bolles beamed and Commissioner Mason
smiled. A long way still to CO. they all
agreed, but we were getting there. Some
more practice, better work by the police
next time-and perhaps the Mount Ver-
non Memorial Boulevard would come
along, too.
But why, some one asked, do we stick
to lessons learned in England, where
alarm signals were devised to meet a
situation that does not prevail here?
Why do we not devise our own alarms?
Why do we not sound the alarm i'm
mediately, without SO much preliminary
business of the yellow" and the blue
II there is danger of a raid?
II there are planes heading this way,
no matter how far away, the citizens
want to know 1t. The alarm should
be sounded then. Then we might be
able to turn those street lights out by
the time the planes arrive.
And II anybody has any ideas about
what to do about the moon and the Po-
tonae River, please notify Col. Boues.
Evening star., 1942-08-19
Member Of the ASsoeiated Press

Entered as second-cIass matter post office,
WASHINGTON, D. c.
Evening star., 1942-08-19

@. What is the oficial language OF
Belgium?-T. T
A. Belgium is bi-lingual. Public docu-
ments and the like are required to ap-
pear both in French and Flemish.
Evening star., 1942-08-19

@. Was Paul Robson, the Negro
singer, football player7-G. r. r.
A. He was rated by Walter Camp as
one of the all-America ends In football,
Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1942-07-09

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