The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-04-29
WNU Service, Union Trust Building
Washington, d. c.

WNU Service, Union Trust Building,
Washington, D. c.
1t was soft, Washington spring
afternoon. The late shifts of gov
eminent workers were hurrylng
home. The two guardian magnolias
that stand on the White House lawn
were tipped with the rays of the
setting sun. My thoughts were mel
Their on this blissful scene nor on
the latest news of the battlefront
which | had just finished broadcast
ing. Frankly, I was concerned chief
ly with dinner.
The announcer was just finishing
the commercial and | was picking
my hat up from the sofa in the
studio when saw the engineer beck
oning to me from behind the glass
wall OF his goldfish bowl. He held
up a paper on which was printed
stop in News Room-Important!'
did. The atmosphere was tense
as it is frequently these days. a
notice had just appeared on the news
ticker to the effect that the White
House was about to release an I'M
portant statement.
It is possible, but not probable,
that the thing we were all thinking
that statement was going to an
nounce but didn't, will happen be-
fore these lines reach print-the in
vasion of Europe. Until it does, we
shall continue to expect it and while
the busy home front keeps our nose
pretty we'll to the grindstone, one
hint from overseas and an atmos-
phere of suspense envelops the
Capitol.
Secrecys Curtain
Meanwhile, there is the feeling
that tremendous things are happen.
ing under heavy curtain OF secrecy
in Europe even the hint of which
does not reach the press or the pub
lie.
Russia, Of course, is mystery
What is happening there? Is the
remarkable Red army, which in the
past has seemed to be able to draw
endless men and supplies from no
where after each crushing defeat
finally exhausted? Spring came ear
ly to the steppes this year and thu
| Germans, If they are able. VII
| launch their annual summer often
sive a month earlier. They hope t
be able to break the Red army Thu
| time and then hold back the rem
nants with a sparsely manned bu
intricate line of defense while the.
turn their attention to the Allies II
| the West.
No one knows what the strength Q
Russia is today One does kgaos
that a terrible hate has been enkln
died in the whole race against tn
Germans and it is reported that tn
Red army has threatened that
Soviet forces ever do reach Germa
soil, they will leave no human BEN
living. One story has been sprea
through Switzerland that If an A
lies army is on the continent whe
Russia breaks Germanys easter
frontiers-if she does-.that the Ger
mans will open their western fror
to the Allies and let them in rathe
than expose themselves to the Ku'
slams.
Plan for Prisoners
Another report has seeped out
Russia. 1t is continuously repeate
that simply because of the incol
venience OF caring for prisoner
both the Germans and Russians hay
been shooting men who are capture
or who surrender. On the otht
hand the Russians are said to
carefully preserving some OF tt
men they take. Russian propaga
da, dropped over the German line
is very alluring. Some Of the pan
phlets instruct the German soldie
: to surrender and bring with the
the leahet which acts as a passpoI
Then, according to report whlt
has come in from neutral countr
the prisoners are carefully exar
/, med and a small percentage Weed'
out for Soviet indoctrination. Thu
: go through a long course of instru
ton SO careful that it IS said final
only 10 per cent are accepted
satisfactory. These elite are tn
! trained to be used as the spearhe'
of political invasion of Germany
! - Hatred, like tffat-iifi- faHssia,r h
poisoned all Europe. There is a
4 lief now on the part of many OF t
conquered countries that the ca
mans, having given up hope OF Y
. tory, intend to 60 forward with
d systematic determination OF 9th
y races within their reach, as tn
have in Poland and with the Jew
6 so that regardless of what happel
It the Teutonic stock will domino
e