Evening star., 1943-08-18


a time when air warfare was in its
infancy.
Can't, Rickenbacker might be ex-
pected. as a businessman, to be eau
tious about enthusing over Russia
and the Russians, for somehow IN
America there is curious tendency
in some quarters to fear that ap-
plause for the Russians may be mis-
construed as enthusiasm for Com
munism. But the distinguished flyer,
with a fairness and objectivity that
conforms to the tradition OF the
honest soldier, says of the Russians
that their materiel is Of the best and
that their desire is to know the
Americans and British better.
He spoke particularly Of the in
eentive plans in their industrial
plants where additional wages are
paid for both quality and quantity
Appreciation Growing.
But most important was Capt.
Rickenbacker's sympathetic picture
Of Russias sacrifices - something,
incidentally, which Mobilization Di-
rector James F. Byrnes also stressed
in his radio talk this week.
1t seems, in other words. that the
American point of view is rapidly
being crystallized into one Of ap-
probation Of Russia's achievements
In the war and at the same time
the American people are urged to
make more sacrifices on the basis
OF a longer war. Mr.. Byrnes flatly
told the American people that we
have engaged only per cent OF the
enemy's divisions, while Russia has
confronted 40 per cent Of the en-
emys troops.
Capt. Rickenbacker doesn't see a
chance for victory until the end of
1914 unless miracle happens, and
it may be assumed that he thinks
a miracle would be II Germany
cracked from within. He credits
the German people with being
courageous and intelligent in
military combat, but he doesn't
think any people-not even ours
can take the punishment being
meted out in the air bombings now
going on over German cities.
1t is natural, being an airman,
that he should have such confidence
in avia tion's power to bomb an en-
emy into submission. but it is i'm
portant to note that he does not
think of the end as coming in the
near future.
Harmony Foreseen.
What Capt. Rickenbacker brought
back to Secretary of War Stimson,
for whom he made the journey to
Russia by air, Is a secret and prob
ably will remain so, but it is known
that the Russians opened up" so
to speak. in showing the American
emissary their war plants, prepara-
tions and aerial warefare setup. 1t
is also understood that Capt. Rick
enbacker came back with a convic-
ton that Russia and America can
get along together during the war
and after the war if the proper kind
of contacts are maintained.
One may infer that our diplomacy
has been a bit inadequate and that
our method of dealing with the Rus
slams has not been conducive to mu-
tusl understanding. 1t may be that
our experience in dealing with Eu-
ropean peoples is somewhat limited
and that we will by actual trial and
error learn the way to carry convic-
tion and beget loyalty and trust.
Certainly Russia has become such
an important key factor in world
affairs that every effort to utilize
persons with knowledge of Russian
backgrounds and habits of thought
should be encouraged.
1t may be suspected that Russia
has not been too happy about the
diplomacy OF Anglo-Saxons here
tofore and perhaps the British have
not won their way into Russian con-
fidence because of the peculiar twist
OF foreign policy which character
ized Britain's dealings with Russia
prior to September, 1899. 1t is con-
ceivable that America soon may find
the added responsibility of medi-
sting as between Russia and Britain
or drawing Britain and America
together into a closer understand
ing of Russia's hopes and aspira-
tions.
Men like Capt. Rickenbacker are
rare. indeed. and when they come
back enthusiastic about the posi-
bilities OF Russian American friend
ship. they help to erase many of the
misgivings that have been ami
mating the conversations OF OBJ
servers in America during recent
months.
turtaIn Apparently Lifted.
Almost everybody in Washington
who has followed the course OF
Russian American relations from
military viewpoint has known OF
the disappointments faced by our
military men in trying to get help
ful information out of Russia. Thus,
for instance, there was time when
American experts could not even
get data on the nature of the Ger
man divisions on the Russian battle
front-information being needed to
train our own divisions in COM
batting the Nazi style OF warfare.
just why this was withheld has
never been explained. but it is
plausible to suppose that in recent
months this curtain has been lifted
and our military men know far
more than they ever did before
about battle experiences on the
Russian front.