Evening star., 1943-07-05
Thousands Take
Holiday After
Quiet Fourth
Admiral Woodward
Warns Against War
Overconfidence

tranquil Independence Day 1t haC
known-a day which brought SHARP
warning from Rear Admiral CLARK
H. Woodward against dangerous
overconfidence," and a plea to the
home front mot to let up"
AS District government employees
and thousands of workers in private
business enjoyed a holiday today
citizens pondered Admiral Wood
wards statement that the calendar
and world map indicate the incon-
elusive nature of Allied victories
with long, bloody war ahead.
Urges Greater Civilian Effort.
Admiral Woodward's call fo1
greater civilian aid to the armed
forces was sounded at the principal
July 4 celebration at Sylvan The
a1er, sponsored by the Washington
Board of Trade
Patriotic events held today, as
trains and buses brought back
holiday vacationists, included the
celebration of the Association of
Oldest Inhabitants of the District
of Columbia at the Old Union En-
gine House. and an all-day patriotic
and athletic program at Langdon
Park, sponsored by the Greater
Woodbridge organized groups.
Federal Government employees
worked today as usual, but the ma
jority of retail stores in the District
oroo nhcoryoI h0lj6ov
1t is time, Admiral Woodward
warned at the Sylvan Theater cele-
bration, to take off our rose -colored
glasses. He said he knew America
could take it," but emphasized our
fighting forces are asking if the
home front can stand the elixir of
tnconclusive triumphs.
A study of the calendar and map,
1.-TWO of the best weapons against
overconfdence," Admiral Woodward
stated, shows that our victories of
the last year represent only step
ping stones to our real objectives. "
Even North Africa. he added, de-
serves its importance merely as IAN
open door to the fortress of Europe
Likewise. the Solomons themselves
are of value only as a gateway to
bigger and better japanese strong
holds at which we are already
striking"
Points to TEST" for Germans.
The German capacity for enduring
punishment is being tested by daily
and nightly raids on a scale more
tremendous and terrifying than
they themselves were able to pro-
vide. he said. But" he added,
while we wait to see how the Ger
man populace stands up under this
battering. it might be a good idea
to examine our own home front.
Ever since 1776 We Americans
have established an imperishable
tradition of coming through against
long odds. But can we take it
when we have to face a little sue
cess? Have we the will power to
stand up to good news as well as
bad? Thus far we have given our
countrymen on the fighting fronts
good cause to doubt us. In fact,
the German home front is with
standing adversely more effectively
than we are accepting success.
Everywhere you go, the trend of
conservation about the war has
changed. and dangerously so. No
longer do people speculate as to
how the war will end, but how soon.
This overconfldence becomes a
double-barrelled menace when it
boomerangs back against the men
who deserve it leaSt-those on the
firing lines. How long the war will
last depends in no small degree on
our reactions at home Today, on
the road to victory. God grant us
the icy judgment not to let up
Our first obligation to the armed
forces is to do our jobs faithfully.
constantly and conscientiously so
that we give them all possible as
slstance,' he said, adding that I'VE
are learning to pay for freedom once
again with our own flesh and blood
:. We are rededicating ourselves to
the true meaning of Independence
Day, for in this war our own in
dependence is at stake
COlOrs Massed.
A feature of the celebration was a
massing of the colors ceremony
participated in by SPARS, WACS,
WAVES. American Legion, Catholic
War Veterans, National Sojourners,
Red Cross, Women's Relief Corps,
Ladies of GAR, Auxiliary of Span
ish War Veterans, Colonial Danes,
American War Mothers, Veterans of
Foreign Wars Auxiliary. Disabled
Veterans. Boy and Girl Scouts,
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton, AWVA, st. Andrews Society
and members of the armed forces
acting as color guards. Preceding
the program, concert of patriotic
music was given by the Marine Band
under Capt. William F. Santelman.
Takoma Park Celebration.
At the annual independence Day
community celebration in Takoma
Park. Md, Rear Admiral Harry G.
Hamlet, United States Coast Guard
retired, told more than 300 persons
that plans for the punishment of
those responsible for atrocities in
this war m"st wait until after victory
is achieved.
Declaring that workers cannot af-
ford to relax their efforts in order
to determine who will be punished
after the war is over, Admiral Ham,
let emphasized that the watchword
now is work, work and more work
to supply ships, guns, planes, muni-
tions and supplies necessary to win
this titanic struggle in the shortest
possible time"
The exercises, which were held in
the municipal park, were marked
by the absence of a parade or fire.
works display. Phillip w. Huck was
general chairman of the affair while
John R. Aoams. former mayor Of
Takoma Park, presided.
The program was concluded with
the playing of a medley of patriotic
airs by the Montgomery County
School Band, under the direction
of Raymond A. Hart.
Urges Aid for Greece.
Declaring the hour has come tC
hnl L. -&z ,a-