davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-12-16
Dr.. Bocock's Service

BY adopting as findings of fact"
the conclusions of its subcommittee
which investigated Gallinger Hos
pital, the Senate District Committee
has destroyed whatever value might
lie in DR.. Edgar A. Bocock's con-
tinued service there as superin-
tendent.
This has nothing to do with the
value of DR.. Bocock's past services
to the hospital and to the COM
munity which began sixteen years
ago today. That stands for itself
and cannot be destroyed. He was
largely instrumental in developing
Gallinger from the "alms' house."
which he found when he came here,
into the excellent municipal hospital
which it is today, only recently able
to acquire the solid foundations on
which to build its future growth.
This failure to take into conSidera-
ton DR.. Bocock's real achievements
in the recommendation for his dis
missal now Is as out of focus and
as i'll considered as the findings of
fact" on which the recommendation
is based. He happens to be the
logical victim, and no doubt he will
have to pay the price. But to those
who have made an effort to weigh
the nature of the damaging evidence
against him and his hospital as
against the evidence in their favor
which was discarded, or belittled, 1t
Is impossible to escape the conviction
that the findings of the investigators
are exaggerated and the recommen-
dations are unjust.
The Gallinger investigation was
authorized by a Senate resolution
which, as amended, provided that
the committee, or subcommittee,
shall call upon the United States
Public Health Service for such pro-
fessional technical or other as
slstance as it may deem necessary
for the purpose of the investiga-
ton" But the commendatory testi-
mony of the Public Health Service
Assistant Surgeon General was
ignored in the report; the testi-
mony of Government hospital ex-
pert was ignored; the testimony of
distinguished surgeons and doctors
who practice at Gallinger was never
sought. AS whole, the findings of
fact" were in themselves contradic-
tory to the testimony of these ex-
perts.
The results of the investigation do
not win confidence of those sin
cerely interested in Gallinger. The
recommendation for DR.. Bocock's
discharge is a cynical commentary
on reward for successful public
service. But they obviously have
denied any opportunity for DR..
Bocock to continue his services as
superintendent with any hope of
benefting the hospital. The job now
becomes one of reconstruction.
Evening star., 1943-12-16
A Sharp Rebuke

The sharp language used by Sec
retary of State Hull in rebuking
Senator Butler of Nebraska for the
latters attack on the good neighbor
policy doubtless was intended for
Latin American as well as domestic
consumption.
It hardly need be said that the
Butler statement was in the nature
Of personal affront to Mr.. Hull.
The good neighbor policy has been
largely his creation, and it has
served this country we'll Natu-
rally, the Secretary was personally
offended by the timing and the
tone of the charges made by Senator
Butler. 1t is reasonable to assume,
however, that Secretary Hull was
moved by more than purely personal
feeling in denouncing the criticism
as being replete with inaccuracies,
fallacies, misstatements and gross
Misrepresentation" The vigor of
this language suggests that he was
deeply concerned at the possible
damage done to the good neighbor
policy itself, and that he was deter
mined to reassure the Latin Ameri-
can countries that this Govern
ment's attitude toward them would
not be Influenced in any way be-
cause of the attack made by the
Nebraska Senator.
Whether he will be successful in
this effort remains to be seen. Sec
retary Hull's statement was predi-
Gated on the report made to the
Senate by Senator McKellar. Ac-
cording to this report, the total of all
American expenditures in Latin
America and all loans since 1899 Is
something less than $4,000 600, 900.
Senator Butler had placed this over
all figure at $6,oOO,OOO 900, and had
implied that large part Of it was
wastefully spent.
This was denied by both Senator
Evening star., 1943-12-16
Gould Lincoln

ent when the vote was taken. It was
therefore only by the narrowest margin
that the tWo-thirds' rule was adopted.
and not majority rule John Hav. a
great Secretary of State. once called
this tWo-thirds' provision "the irrepa-
rable mistake of the Constitutional
Convention"
This thirds rule has not ONLY
defeated outright important treaties,
negotiated with great care, but it also
has caused former Presidents to with
draw many treaties. among them Presi-
dents Theodore Roosevelt and William
Howard Taft.
The executive department of the Gov
ernment has evolved a method of get
ting around this obstacle-the "execu.
tive agreement" with foreign nations.
Apparently the main difference between
a treaty and an executive agreement is
that one is submitted to the Senate for
ratlflcatlon and the other is not. Sena-
tor Gillette cited dozen of these execu-
tive agreements entered into recentlv
all OF the greatest importance to the
American people. Two of these are
the agreements regarding relief and
rehabilitation and food.
The question arises, shall the peace
ana future commitments of this country
De made by executive agreement or bv
treaty? Shall the President determine
what is to be submitted to the Senate.
or the Congress, for ratification and
What Is not to be submitted for rati1ca-
tlon? Good practice, Senator Gillette
insists, requires congressional action
he points out that already it has been
seriously proposed that there be no
formal peace, but merely a prolonged
srmlstlce at the end Of the present war
WIN the Executive continuing to i'm
pose wartime regulations and to MAIN
tain the fighting forces intact
Evening star., 1943-12-16
No Easy WAY Out

Early last september In his en-
bittered and venom filled speech on
ItalyS unconditional surrender, Hit
Ter made a statement meriting at
tention at this time because of its
direct bearing on the report that
Bulgaria has approached us in an
effort to pull itself out of the war
and that it has been warned by
Berlin to stop toying with the idea
or suffer the consequences of strong
German retaliation
Hitler's September words were
these: "The measures taken in Italy
for the safeguard of German in
terests are very hard. AS far as
they concern Italy they are already
being carried out according to plan
and are successful. The example of
the treachery of Yugoslavia has
given us healthy knowledge
beforehand. The fate of Italy may
be a lesson for all of us never to
forsake honor, not even in an hour
Of most bitter trial or utter dark
ness. 1t will teach us to be faithful
always to our allies"
In saying this, Hitler was address,
ing himself to his satellites. In
effect, expressed in the language of
his real meaning, he was saying:
II am going to make Italy pay
terrible price for daring to act in it's
own best interests, just as I tore
Yugoslavia apart for refusing to sell
out it's honor and independence. And
I am going to do the same thing to
all within my reach who act con-
trary to my will. Let the Firms, the
Hungarians, the RumanianS and the
Rulgars heed my words. II they
desert me, will have my revenge on
them"
There can be no doubt that this
is a matter Of high policy with the
Nazis. AS their actions in Italy
have shown, they are ready to
pounce on any satellite attempting
to make separate peace with us.
The devil Is hard to get rid Of once
man or a nation strikes a bargain
with him.
Evening star., 1943-12-16
Letters to The Star
Armchair Strategy
Applied to Pacific.
o the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
All indications in the Pacific presage
an early attack on the Japanese held
Marshall Islands. When such an assault
occurs, 1t is hoped lessons will have been
learned from the Gilbert Islands battles
The casualties in those operations were
so great that attacks in a similar man.
ner should be undertaken only when
no alternative exists.
The attack on Tarawa was made with
overwhelming firepower from both fleet
and airplaneS. Yet a careful examina-
ton of that battle indicates that the
command erred in believing most of the
enemy installations and men on the
island had been wiped out before the
landing boats pushed ashore. Such was
not the case and, due to this mistake,
hundreds of marines died. Landing
barges were grounded on reefs, which
reefs should have been charted, and the
barges became stationary targets to be
sunk by Japanese batteries. No smoke
screens were laid down in front of the
boats, and the marines were easy tar
gets for the machine guns Of the enemy.
Great confusion existed, some OF which
was unavoidable, but much seems to
nave Deen unnecessary II proper cover
and neutralizing action had been taken.
After the struggle. when Gen. Smith
was asked if block-busters might have
helped, be replied in effect that they
might" The question one asks one
self is why should not men in command
know whether certain methods will or
will not work?
Soldiers must die to take important
enemy positions, but they should not be
sacrificed needlessly, and losses should
be held as low as possible. 1t is hoped
that when the necessary future attacks
are made on strongly held japanese
atolls, everything will be done to reduce
losses to minimum. j. &C.
Evening star., 1943-12-16
Another Body Blow

1t will be a national calamity of
the first magnitude if the five oper-
ating railroad brotherhoods stick to
their decision to strike December 80.
The strike would cripple the Nation,
paralyze transportation, slow down
or close war industries for lack of
fuel and materials. The National
Mediation Board exhausted its own
normal resources weeks ago, although
it continues to work for settlement
OF the wage dispute that has been
hanging fire nearly year. The
processes prescribed by the Railway
Labor Act have been followed by the
unions in pressing their wage de-
mands. The biggest stumbling block
to additional concessions to the $780,
900 train, engine and yard men is the
administrations sterilization policy,
policy designed, at least, to stave
off another national calamity in the
form of imitation.
The present wage dispute began
last January, when the unions pre-
Sented their demand for an increase
of 80 per cent, or 50 a day Months
of fruitless negotiation followed and
President Roosevelt appointed an
emergency board to study the case.
This board recommended an award
Of cents an hour-about tenth of
the amount sought-but at the same
time clearly indicated it's belief the
men were entitled to more, explain
ing that its findings were governed
solely by principles laid down earlier
by Sterilization Director Fred M.
VinSon in denying an Scent hourly
increase to incorporating rail workers
as in violation of the Little Steel"
formula. The strike vote followed.
So, once again, the country Is
threatened with tie-up in a vital
induStry-not because of a unions
difficulty with management, but in
protest against Government policy.
The unions, of course, denounce un-
Sparingly the injustice" of the
Little Steel formula and everything
connected with it. AS matters stand
today, only a modification of that
policy-another break in the line
will prevent the strike Congress,
which Is threatening to overturn the
Vlnson ruling on incorporating
wages, may inject itself into the
operating case also. But whatever
is done to satisfy the rail employees
will be at the expense of the stabil-
1zation program. weakened already
by concessions to the United Mine
Workers.
In a statement justifying the
strike, heads OF the operating unions
concede their awareness of "its i'm
mediate effects on Nation at war"
but assert that "in the long run such
action on the part of large and
powerful labor group will rebound
both to the military success of the
war and the present and postwar
welfare of the common people of
this Nation.",
Such sentiments reflect no credit
on the intelligence of those express
ing them.
Evening star., 1943-12-16

more changes from the monarchic to
the republican form Of government than
any other country in Europe.
The first King of Greece who was
put on the throne after the liberation
of that country from the Turks was
Bavarian princeling by the name of
Otho. He was deposed after a few
years when a Danish dynasty was in
stalled. The second king of that
dynasty, Constantin. was kicked out
during the World War because of the
strong pro-German feelings of his wife,
German princess. His son was placed
on the throne and Constantin spent
pleasant holiday in Switzerland. The
son, Alexander, died from a monkey bite
and Constantin returned and reigned
for two more years Until another revo-
luton forced him to flee.
George was then placed on the throne
for a short while. King George abdi-
Gated in 1923. A republic was established
and lasted for II years. The Greek
people, tired of the republican form of
Evening star., 1943-12-16

push back to the Dnieper and recover
Kiev. Also, it is not clear whether the
results he has attained have been
worth their cost.
In estimating the effect on the course
of the war as whole of the events
in any particular theater of operations,
it is always necessary to hold a careful
balance between achievement and cost.
Thus during the Russian advance from
the Donetz to and beyond the Dnieper,
he had always to keep in mind the fact
that the Russians were gaining ground,
but that they were not smashing and
destroying the German armies. On the
other hand, the Germans were with
drawing to shorter and better lines Of
defense and supply, but that would not
benefit them unless they got net gain
out Of 1t in increased strategic reserves.
II they had to use up in counterattacks
to avoid disaster, the net balance OF
troops which they might otherwise have
transferred to their reserves as Z result
Evening star., 1943-12-16

of the shortened lines, there would be
no entry in the credit column of their
military ledger.
We may apply this yardstick to what
Won Mannstein has now accomplished.
He has avoided disaster So far, so
good, from the German viewpoint He
certainly was in dire peril of being cut
on from Won Keuchler, showed back
against the Black Sea and the Dneister,
and destroyed. He made a well-handled
counterattack in the very nick of time,
and he has restored his lateral COM
munications, pushed the Russians part
way back toward Kiev, and is still
hghtmg hard. What has been the cost?
Judging from Russian estimates of
the rate at which he has been using
his armored forces, the cost has at least
oeen sufficient so that no additional
armored troops can be detached from
the Russian front in the immediate
future and sent west. The German pur-
pose was to do just that. They need
more armored troops in their central
reserve and their western forces. Their
whole strategy calls for an easing of
their military commitments in Russia
IN favor of increasing. their reserve
They must regain their freedom of
action, especially in view of the better
Allied coordination of effort promised
by the Teheran conference. If the bulk
OF the German forces, especially the
mobile elements, continue to be alb
sorPed on active fighting sectors, the
high command is fatally weakened in
its ability to deal with the unexpected,
with new attacks whether from east or
west.
There are two great mobile masses
of land power now in the possession of
the Allies: The remaining reserves of
the Russian Army, and the Anglo
Evening star., 1943-12-16
To q Certuin Soldier
In England

So you 1CiH, strangely, kno,D an English
Christmasl
Year after year
We read old tales to sharpen our o,pn
season;
NO1D you are near
The scenes that IrUing saU-,UiH you
remlember?-
We loDed them all.
Will you be camped, perhaps, in tramp
ing distance
OF Bracebridge Hall?
VIII you haze Dickens goose for Christ
mas dinner,
Or Lambs roast pig?
VIII you see Christmas Spectres-euen
Marley
Complete aDith 1Dig?
Will you hear aDaits, or uHl the songs
be silent
Because of tDdr?
Will you hear English picars read OF
shepherds
And the strange star?
VIII 1t seem real or like dream
dreamed oDer,
or 1DiH 1t be
Just camp routine? Whatever pou
are doing,
Write 1t to met
DOROTHY BROWN THoMPeoN.
Evening star., 1943-12-16
Constantine Br01Vn

rancher by the name of Kara-George
(Black George.
The Karageorge dynasty has had its
ups and downs. Occasionally it has been
kicked out by the rival dynasty of the
Obrenovitch. Members of both royal
families have been frequently murdered
rather than dethroned. Peters own
father, Alexander, fell victim of an
assassin's bullet at Marseille, France,
In 1884
Peter was hoisted to the Yugoslav
throne in 1941 when the pro-German
prince regent Paul and his pro-NaI
cabinet were ousted to enable the pro-
American and pro-British elements
around Peter to join the Allies. The full
sovereignty of the country then was
promised to the King. who knew only
too we'll that he would not be able to
stay in Belgrade for long time since
the British forces in Greece were not
sufficient to prevent Yugoslavia and
Greece from being overrun by the Nazis.
Peter went to London. A few months
ago he was allowed to establish his
headquarters in Cairo SO he could be
closer to Yugoslavia and to Gen. Draja
Mihailovich, commander of the guer-
rillas, who were loyal to the dynasty.
II \
Although the British government has
not told Peter to get out, considerations
Of high politics have compelled London
to suggest that he submit his eventual
return to plebiscite. The Partisans,
who are strongly supported by Moscow
and are said to have been killing more
Germans in some sections of Peters
Kingdom than Gen. Mihailovich has
been killing, have their own ideas about
the future of Yugoslavia.
1t is hard for the 20-year-old King
to understand why the very powers
which have been cajoling and praising
him should now ask him to put off his
return to Belgrade until invited by his
own people. He feels that his people
want him
Evening star., 1943-12-16

deed, that is what those who are openly
isolationists and those who are 1sola-
tionists at heart, rely on. That pro-
vision of the Constitution remains the
safeguard of isola ationism.
Senator Gillette, speaking recently
in the Senate gave an intensely inter-
esting analysis of the situation. He
pointed out that unless steps are taken
to amend the Constitution, the country
will find itself face to face with the
necessity of considering the most vital
treaty agreement ever presented to it
under the archaic provision calling for
two-thirds vote of the Senate to
ratify.
He showed that under this provision
1t would be possible for II votes in the
Senate to defeat a treaty Zone third,
plus one Of bare ma jority of the
Senate, and that these II votes might
come from States having only one
twelfth OF the population of the United
States.
When the Constitution was written.
there was tremendous hatred of ex-
ecutive authority, growing out Of the
treatment of the Colonies by King
George III. At first it was proposed to
place in the Constitution a provision
under which the Senate should have
power to make treaties and appoint
ambassadors. James Madison suggested
that, since the Senate represented the
States tthen regarded as independently
1t would be wise to have the President
act as the agent for negotiating treaties.
This suggestion was adopted. And it
was decided that treaties should be
ratified by a two-thirds' vote of the
Senate. A proposal to have a ma ajority
vote Of the Senate sufficient to ratify
was defeated by single vote-5 to s.
The representatives OF two Of the
thirteen original States were not pres
Evening star., 1943-12-16

american Army in the British Isles
II tnese strike simultaneously and the
Germans nave not the reserve strength
10 meet both one will go through and
perhaps do lrreparable damages, If one
strikes and absorbs all the remaining
German reserve strength to stop it.
there Will be nothing left with which
to stop the other.
remember that the real strength of
any linear defense lies in its courter-
attack element. Any line of fortifca-
tlons can be broken through if it is hit
hard enough: what counts is the ability
to do two things-1D break through the
defenses: 90 having broken through.
to defeat the mobile forces backing up
the defenses. The first can almost al
ways be done. as innumerable examples
In this war and the last have proven:
1t Is the second which is not so easy.
But 1t Is easy enough If there are no
considerable mobile forces to be dealt
with, as we saw In Tunisia.
So If Won Mannstein has saved his
army group at the cost of further i'm
pairing the strength of the German
strategic reserve, then he has made
negative and local gain at best, and
in the greater balance of the war as
whole, the scales tip in favor of the
Allies. The steady Russian pressure
may not have achieved the destruction
of any great part of the German Army.
may not have inflicted classic military
defeat upon the Wehrmacht; but if it
has prevented the German high COM
mand from gaining better position
in the matter of its ability to deal with
the coming decisive attack in the west,
1t has served most useful purpose, it
has made an important contribution to
the final victory.
: tCopyright 1e4S, u. =. Tribune, lneA
Evening star., 1943-12-16

The messiest thing which has hap
pened recently in the Naples area has
been the suppression of Croce's Irregu-
lars. This was kind of Italian guer-
rilla or partisan army which some Of
the Neapolitan liberals recruited to fight
alongside the Allies. No sooner was 1t
formed than Marshal Badoglio snatched
it, drafted it into the regular Italian
army. placed it under the command of
the monarchist general, Basso, and then
sewed the personal emblem of the King
on the shoulder of each man, like a
brand on a maverick
X x
That was so italian liberals would
not forget their places in the scheme
Evening star., 1943-12-16

Mcclellan and Secretary Hull, and
it seems highly probable that sena-
tor Butler was grossly in error. The
latter insists that he was right, how
ever, and promises to submit Gin
dependent" proof to support the ac-
curacy of his figures. This means
that the controversy is not yet at an
end, but the sooner 1t can be dis
posed Of the better it will be. Enough
harm has been done already.
Evening star., 1943-12-16

follow 1t. Well, II
for a few weeks no.
body says anything
about Victor EN-
manuel, some under
ling in charge Of
c h e C k n G up on
Grafton might say:
Looks as If there's
not much interest
in opposing the King
any more" I would
not want this fellow,
who probably needs
his job, to draw any
false conclusions, so
this is strictly for
his flpS
Evening star., 1943-12-16

vote can block the peace.
Here is a good example Of the tell
wagging the dog. 1t happened in 1919
20. 1t can happen again. And so far,
nothing is being done about It, Senator
Gillette, Democrat, of Iowa, OF the
Foreign Relations Committee. and Sen
ator Pepper. Democrat, of Florida, an
ether member Of the committee, have
both knocked at the door. They have
resolutions to amend the Constitution
so that majority vote Of both houses
of Congress. or of the Senate alone. can
ratify treaties negotiated by the Chief
Executive.
There has been a wide expression OF
opinion for the creation, after this war,
of an international organization to
maintain peace. This is concurred in by
Republicans and Democrats alike, in
Congress and out. The thirds
rule for ratification Of treaties however,
might block any such proposal In