davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-12-13
Maj. George Fielding Eliot

There could be no question Of offensive
operations; only good luck. magnificent
courage and fighting qualities enabled
the conveys to get across at all, and
then at grievous costs.
X
But gradually these conditions bet
tered. With Americas entry into the
war more destroyers were available and
more aircraft. Bases In Newfoundland
and Greenland were developed. Longer
range aircraft came into service. The
heavy bombing attacks on U-boats and
building yards had their effect. Swarms
OF new escort craft appeared. These
furnished the immediate escort, while
the destroyers were gathered into killer
groups Tor offensive, follow-up opera
tions.
Then came the escort carriers, pro-
viding air protection out in "the death
gap" In mid-Atlantic, and they were re-
lnforced by the new air bases on the
Azores Islands. We progressed toward
the ideal condition when every convoy
would have complete air coverage all
the way, and a sufficient defensive sur
face escort, plus margin for offensive
action; and when this offensive action
could be supplemented by powerful, fast
killer groups" In sufficient number 50
that one would always be available when
wolf pack might be located. Appar-
emily We have very nearly, II not quite,
reached that condition now.
1t Is no longer q question, from the
point Of view of the submarine COM
mander OF running in to attack a convoy
at favorable moment, and trusting to
ship handling to elude the escort and
make getaway In the comfortable
knowledge that the escort is 50 weak
1t dare not leave the vicinity Of thu
Evening star., 1943-12-13

been at loggerheads with his German
imposed Premier, decided to broadcast
statement to the French nation about
three weeks ago stating that at his
death the powers intrusted to him would
be handed over to the representatives
OF the nation.
Laval got wind of the marshals plan.
His stoolpigeons in Petain's encourage
told him about it. A number of lesser
lights who have been encouraging the
86-year-old marshal were Immediately
arrested while representative of Field
Marshal Gerd Won Rundstedt, the Nazi
commander in Western Europe, was
rushed to Vichy to tell Petain that this
was not the appropriate" time to make
such a broadcast.
Evening star., 1943-12-13

ern powers. 1t came into being as the
result of the collapse of the Austro-
Hungarian Empire. The fact that the
leading constructive Czech mind,
Thomas Masaryk. was able to convince
the western powers Of the usefulness OF
a Czechoslovak state in Eastern Europe
brought it about.
So the Czechoslovak alliance with the
west was a cornerstone Of the state
At Munich this cornerstone was with
drawn.
The original western orientation of
the Czechs was cultural and historical
The history Of the Czech people lies
exclusively in the orbit of western civili-
zation and in this they are unique
amongst the Slavs. A large part OF Po-
land had been incorporated for a CEN
tury and half in the Russian Empire
The Balkan Slavs all lived for centuries
Evening star., 1943-12-13

This means that the Allied antisub-
marine forces in the Atlantic at last
have sufficient margin OF strength to
take the offensive, to go after the wolf
packs" and keep after them until the
enemy ships are destroyed or driven
back to their bases. It is development
OF the highest Importance.
In the beginning, the British Navy
and the Raj could not even furnish
adequate defensive escort for conveys.
The U-boats took q heavy toll. There
were not enough destroyers, not nearly
enough, even after the transfer Of so old
American destroyers to the British flag.
There were not enough aircraft, and
there was long gap in the middle of
the Atlantic where British aircraft could
not operate. Even the occupation of
Iceland did not wholly bridge this gap.
Conveys had to sail without sufficient
escort for their immediate defense.
Evening star., 1943-12-13
Generals and Politics

The ruling that Army and Navy
officers, subject to severe limita-
tions, can accept political nomina-
tions and run for Office seems to be
proper one, and the announce
ment makes interesting Monday
morning reading. Unless there Is a
decided and unexpected change in
our military fortunes, however, it
seems unlikely that the decision will
play any significant part in the next
presidential campaign.
In these times an officer of i'm
portant rank has to be a specialist
In the science of war. He is trained
to conduct military, not political,
campaigns, and there Is a world OF
difference between the two. AS past
experience has shown, the ablest
politician often makes the worst
military commander and the best
Of generals is apt to prove inept in
public Office.
This being so-and it is even more
likely to be the case today than in
the past-there Is a diminishing
likelihood that a reputation won on
the battle field will prove a pass key
to high political Office. This might
not hold true If we were to meet with
serious military reverses-if faulty
direction Of the war should make 1t
desirable to place a trained soldier
at the head of the Government. But
there is no reason to believe that
this will be the case. On the con-
trary, there is every reason to be-
lieve that this war is being very
skillfully directed-so much so that
the next political campaign in all
probability will be waged on do
mestic rather than military issues.
Finally, there is the question of
the attitude of the officers affected
by the ruling. They have spent
their lives preparing for the su-
preme duty Of serving this country
as military leaders in time of war.
Is 1t likely that any OF them would
want to turn from the military to
the political in the midst OF the
greatest war in history? 1t seems
highly improbable, to say the least.
Evening star., 1943-12-13
Frank K. Kent

was not strong enough 70 carry him
through.
Then came Pierce and Buchanan. II
the exponents Of the military thesis
want them, they are welcome to them.
Next Lincoln, who beat down Little
Mac CMcClellan) in his second cam
paign. After the martyr came johnson,
then Grant. Need we 60 into Grants
eight years? God forbid! This much
should be said: Grant had never voted
the Republican ticket in his life, when
he was nominated in 1868. He had been
Democrat. Horatio Seymour had q
popular vote 50 close to Grants that,
had Virginia, Mississippi and Texas
been permitted to ballot, Seymour prob
ably would have been elected. Grant
got 3,0l5,000 votes and Seymour 2,7l0,-
900 votes on the skeleton basis. Then
came succession of resounding titles
majors, generals and colonels-but not
one Of them was lifted to sudden atten-
ton by military prowess Certainly you
cannot find the Napoleonic spotlight
focused on such as Hayes. or Garfield,
or Benjamin Harrison, William McKin-
ley or Theodore Roosevelt (even though
he was the hero of Alone in Cuba!D
or any one since. AL mentioned had
military records, but that didn't get
them very far. They went upward and
onward because Of their political abili-
ties.
The lesson of this Is that Douglas
Macarthur hasn't Chinaman's chance
tto quote distinguished veteran OF the
Sum for the Republican nomination
for the Presidency. But-and this is a
big but-there might be a chance for
history to be turned over by Gen. George
Marshall. He has touched the public
imagination and captured public faith
and confidence as few military figures
have done in the history of our country.
Although I have an idea that Mar
shall does not want to mess around in
politics, there is always the possibility
that he might be drafted. There are
at the moment two figures bulking big on
our political stage who know how elias
tic the draft Is. Perhaps I should say,
one knows and the other expects to
Learnt"
Evening star., 1943-12-13
What Will Bulgaria Do?

Whether Turkey will enter the war
on the side of the United Nations Is
still uncertain. But its obvious evo-
luton in that direction is causing
strong repercussions in its Balkan
neighbor, Bulgaria, which would be
the inevitable battle-ground in a
Turco-Allied invasion Of the Balkans
with probable Russian landings on
the Black Sea coasts of Bulgaria and
Rumania as we'll. In such an even
tuality, the attitude Of Bulgaria
would be a vital factor. In the last
war, Bulgaria's desertion of the Gen.
trail Powers spelled the beginning Of
the end. Will history repeat itself?
Bulgaria's story is tragic one. 1t
Is the tale of a nation which has
consistently guessed wrong. The
Bulgarians were the last Of the
Christian Balkan peoples to be lib
Grated from the Turkish yoke, and
their freeing was due to Russia
who went to war for them in the
late 1870s. Russia wanted to clinch
its victory over Turkey by making
Bulgaria the leading Balkan power,
but Britain objected; 50 the big
Bulgaria" planned by Russia was
whitfield down to modest propor-
tions and the heart Of the Balkans,
Macedonia, was left under Turkish
rule. Still Bulgaria soon became
the strongest of the Christian Bal
kan states, and its fine army played
the leading part in defeating the
Turks when those states combined
and expelled Turkey from the Bal
kans in the war of 1912.
Then the Allies quarreled over the
spoils, and Bulgaria was beaten by
the Greeks and Serbs AS result,
Macedonia was taken by the vic
tors. Indeed, Rumania which had
taken no part in the war against
Turkey, forced beaten Bulgaria to
cede territory to it, while the Turks
regained much that they had lost.
AS result, Bulgaria was denoted
from its Balkan primacy and left
embittered and vengeful, it's political
life run largely by Macedonian
exiles who dreamed only Of retalia-
tion. In such mood, Bulgaria was
bound to take the side of the Central
Powers in the First World War. For
this, Bulgaria paid dearly in the
Versailles settlement, which deprived
her Of more territory, including her
access to the Aegean Sea. Since
Serbia had now expanded into Yugo-
slavia and Greece was also enlarged,
Bulgaria became relatively insignif-
icant. However, the ranking griev-
ance remained, and when Germany
went to war against Greece and
Yugoslavia in the spring of 1941,
Bulgaria struck again at her old
enemies, becoming satellite power
Of the Axis and gaining rich terri
torial rewards.
The outbreak Of war between Ger
many and the Soviet Union q few
months later complicated Bulgaria's
attitude, because the Bulgarians have
Evening star., 1943-12-13

Germans were expected to stand tor
the winter. The prompt cracking
Of that line at Kiev and at the big
bend to the eastward raised conf
dent hopes that the German armies
would be routed throughout South
ern Russia and be either encircled
or driven in disorderly flight beyond
the Rumanian and old Polish bor-
ders. It was likewise anticipated
that the German-Rumanian garri-
son Of the Crimea, isolated simulta-
neously with the Russian Dnieper
crossings, would soon collapse,
thereby opening the way for Rus
sian sea-borne invasions of the
Rumanian and Bulgarian Black Sea
coasts.
However, neither of those desired
eventualities has happened. BY and
large. the Germans have held key
points in the Ukraine, have kept
the Crimea intact. and. as already
remarked. have pushed back the
Russians before Kiev. Even where
they have retreated, as at Gomel on
the upper Dnieper, they have done
so skillfully without heavy losses.
The broad picture is one OF relative
stabilization.
The coming Of high winter will
now disclose how much of this Rus
sian showdown is due to the climatic
handicap Of autumn, with its plague
OF mud and wet SHOWS, and how
much to German resistance and
able strategy. The latter is certain
ly a factor. Taking leaf out Of
the Russian book, the Germans are
applying the same method of trad
ing "scorched earth" space for time.
The Russians have done marvels in
improvising communications over
the broad band Of devastated terri
tory they have reconquered since
June, but they cannot work miracles.
Also. there can be no doubt that
they have suffered tremendous cas-
ualties and have used up equipment
on a gigantic scale. The stubborn
German resistance almost every
where was overcome at a price. The
winter season now beginning will
post the balance sheet OF profit and
loss between the antagonists in the
greatest battle arena the world has
ever seen.
Evening star., 1943-12-13
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TrdceDsu

~ Nftuft tCo 1TQCSUSu.
The inevitable" Templeton Jones
called 1t.
The way things work out. he ex-
planned. He cited the case Of the
Snow White drinking glasses.
Several years ago dairy patronized
by Mr.. Jones gave away q set OF eight
tumblers emblazoned with Disney draw
ings Of Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs."
These glasses contained a now un-
known substance called in those pre-
war days cottage cheese
4
Who remembers how cottage cheese
tasted?
Templeton Jones does.
This astute gentleman, with his pl1ilo-
sophical mind Gas much philosophy as
the average mind can relish) and his
keen interest in the little everyday ad-
ventures, loved his cottage cheese.
That was why he had as much interest
as any child in the Snow White glasses.
He particularly loved Snow White
herself, in which fondness he was not
unique.
OF manv an adult.
The glass showing her was in black
lines, and these, with the color of glass,
made her fascinating creature, in
deed.
When the tumbler was filled with
milk. Snow White really became snow
white.
Jones liked his milk best, as many
another grown-up child, in the Snow
White glass, but would take it from
Dopey, Doc, Sneezy, Happy, Grumpy or
Sleepy.
The name of the seventh dwarf he
never could remember, except when he
had 1t before him.
Templeton Jones knew, from long ex-
perience with the inevitable, that snow
White would be the first to go.
If any of them became broken, he
realized, Snow White would be the one.
The grotesque dwarfs would outlast
her, seven to one.
So every effort was made in the Jones
household to treasure the little beauty.
She was carefully placed on the shelf,
at the back.
No chances were to be taken for the
inevitable to get in its deadly work with
Snow White.
Then, one day. Jones happened to
drink his milk from Dopey.
Where is Snow White?" he sud-
denly demanded.
There was complete silence.
Nobody said word
"Dopey," said Mrs. Jones, "is so cute"
Templeton Jones sighed.
Yes" he admitted, "Dopey is cute.
But he is not beautiful, like Snow White.
doc is not bad, either. Happy is a.
friend OF mine. Even Grumpy has his
good points, although do not like his
color.
"But what has happened to Snow
White? That is what want to know.
1 realize now that haven't seen
her around for week.
"She has been gone q week, and I
didn't miss her before.
1T is the inevitable You don't have
to tell me what has happened to her"
Templeton Jones sighed.
I know. know from long experi-
ence. II I have had a plant deeply
cherished, its leaves were first to wither
III had a gazelle, which hadn't, it,
eyes would be first to show sickness.
I know what has happened to Snow
White. She has been knocked OF the
shelf. There Is no use of any one saying
she wasn't ] know 1t. It was In
svitsble."
Evening star., 1943-12-13
Mr.. Lewis Comeback"
Irritates a Bystander.
o the Editor OF The Star:

TO the Editor OF The Star:
A remark attributed to John L. Lewis,
executive leader of the coal miners
union, in recent issue of The Star
prompts a question.
The spokesman of one of the coal
companies had said that he could not
speak for his company on a certain is
sue until later" Mr.. Lewis mastery
comeback was: How late? There is a
war on, you know"
Coming from man who for more than
six months resorted to bulldozing, CO.
ercion, and ruthless exploitation Of the
extremities OF his country engaged in
war, one would like to know Just how to
interpret his language. Was it merely
an exhibition of sadly perverted sense
OF humor or just an ll-time low in
shameless gall? OBSERVER.
Evening star., 1943-12-13

n a M e undoubtedly
will be presented to
the Republican con-
vention, has been
formed. Variou S
newspapers are urg-
ing the nomination
Of Gen. Marshall
and polls are being
printed measuring
the popularity OF
both.
Without the re-
motest encourage
ment from either, it
is clear that their
names will figure
Evening star., 1943-12-13

not Czechoslovakia
who abandoned her
allies, but the west
ern allies who aban-
doned Russia, and
broke the small ma
tion that was the
b r l d & e b e t W e e n
them.
From the view
point Of the Czecho-
slovak government,
this had signif-
c nce e. Czechoslo-
vakia was not the
foster child of Rus
eio hl,t of tho u,oct
Evening star., 1943-12-13
Polish Landlords" Defended
BY q Member of Their Glass.

To the Editor Of The Star
Having read the communication OF J.
Anthony Marcus in The Star OF De-
cember 9, Landlord Glass Of Poland
Reported Feared bv Russians" I. too,
have decided to shed some light on the
subject, for 1t happens that also am a
native Of the eastern part of Poland,
and feel that the American readers
are entitled to more light than Is found
in Mr.. Marcus letter.
Mr.. Marcus does not know history. I
suggest that he look up "A Political and
Cultural History of Modern Europe" by
Carlton j. H. Hayes published by the
Macmillan Co. in 1899. On pages 648-
649, in volume 2, he will find two maps
Of Poland. one OF It'll, before the par
titions; the other, after the Versailles
larger was the size Of Poland in It'll
River was not "the historic boundary"
thinks.
AS to "the landlord class" "the arro-
CANT and selfish Szlachta" CMr Marcus
misspelled the worO happen to know
1t better than he does, having belonged
to 1t, and therefore I can say with as
surance that 1t had nothing in common
with "Prussian junkers" as the events
since September !, 1899, have proved.
Mr.. Marcus indulges In ISLANDERS, wheth-
er he realizes 1t or not. AS to being "a
menace" to Russia. Mr.. Marcus evi-
IDENTIFY does not know that the total
population OF Poland in peacetime was
only $4,000. 900, while Russia had no.
100000. Since the war both aggressors
Of Poland saw to it that its population
Is greatly reduced. A POLE.
Evening star., 1943-12-13

Science tells US that no fewer
than twenty-five minerals, some of
them rather rare. are to be found
IN the human body. About the only
well-known one that is missing is
gold, and what with almost uni
versal devaluation, we can probably
continue to get along very we'll with
out that particular one.
Evening star., 1943-12-13

AAA SSAASAAASAAtesA = oAAS
This crisis is ex-
pected to be precipi-
tated by Marshal
Petain's desire to
name the French
Parliament, W h l c h
made him head Of
the nation In 1910,
as his successor in
stead Of the present
successor = designate,
Premier Pierre La
val. Some 500 par
liamentarians are
still living in occu-
pied France.
patoin uyhn hoI
Evening star., 1943-12-13

hve German U-boatS
and damaged three
others. None of the
warships was dam
aged, only three air.
craft suffered inju-
ries, and the two
conveys under the
protection of these
forces came through
without a scratch.
During the preced-
ing week, Allied air.
craft in the North
Atlantic in a much
longer running fight
sank six U-bOatS.
Evening star., 1943-12-13

Premier General TOTO told his
countrymen on the second anniver-
sary Of Pearl Harbor:: "The war can
not be won easily and simply" It
would be good Idea If the American
people were persuaded to believe the
same obvious truth.
Evening star., 1943-12-13

War Mobilization Director James
F. Byrnes says the Nation is facing
a crisis on the home front" II 1t
really is facing the problem, there
ought not to be anything to worry
about. The danger would arise from
vainly trying to avoid facing do
mestic difficulties.
Evening star., 1943-12-13
Letters to The Star
Mr.. Adamic Protests
Story About His Book.

Mr.. Adamic Protests
Story About His Book.
TO the Editor OF The Star:
Travelling in the Middle West I learn
that The Star has had a front-page
story concerning me and the fact that
my book, "The Natives Return" has
been sent to servicemen overseas in a
special Army and Navy edition. I am
certain that when you published this
attack upon me you did not realize
that it was part OF a smear campaign
for some time now conducted by those
who are desperately trying to discredit
the Partisan revolution in Yugoslavia,
which, to my mind, is in the same
mainstream OF historic events as the
American revolution in which I glory
with every other progressive American.
1t may interest you that have within
the last month received letter from
Chief Justice Stone saying he read "The
Natives Return" with satisfaction and
pleasure" suppose that makes Chief
Justice Stone communist sympathizer
in the eyes of these people.
May point out that the smear CAM
paign Is aimed not so much at THE
Natives Return" which was published
10 years ago, as at my latest book, MY
Native Land" in which I outline the
process whereby the Yugoslav peoples
are currently liberating themselves not
only from the Nazis but from the whole
corrupt prewar ruling crowd in Yugo-
slavia.
know the high character Of your
newspaper and am sure 1t was not your
purpose to serve reactionary aims. You
cannot possibly know the ms and outs
of Balkan politics as practiced here.
You can believe or not what I say in
this wire which am sending you from
Detroit, but in either case I request
you publish 1t. LOUIS ADAMIC.
Detroit Mich
Evening star., 1943-12-13

In former times when a well-to-
do American lost everything he had
he was broke. Today the same man
is not only right back where he
started, but owes his Government
thousands of dollars.
Evening star., 1943-12-13
On The Record

The Czechoslovak government has
always taken its treaties seriously. On
the occasion of one of the greatest
treaty breaks, that Of Munich, it was
Evening star., 1943-12-13
The Great Game of Politics

The efforts to make presidential can
didates out of military heroes apparently
are increasing in intensity. A commit
Evening star., 1943-12-13
Wolf Packs Turn Tail

The news from the North Atlantic Is
highly significant. Last week, British
warships and American and British air.
craft, in two-day running fight, sank
Evening star., 1943-12-13
This Changing World

Quarters which are keeping In close
touch with French affairs expect some
spectacular developments to break out