davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-12-06
A Unique Breed

1t is interesting and perhaps in
Structive to compare the stories OF
Pantelleria and Tarawa. Both is
lands-the one in the Mediterranean
on the road to Sicily and the other
in the Gilbert group Of the Pacific
share the distinction of having
quivered under far more concen-
trated bombardment than any areas
of similar size on the face of the
earth. They are alike. too, in that
both are now firmly In our hands,
but otherwise they differ in many
important respects.
Pantelleria. it will be remembered,
capitulated to our Allied forces last
June IL after having been bombed
for nineteen consecutive days.
Forty-flve square miles in area. full
Of Gibraltarlike surface and under
ground fortifications, and garri-
soned by more than 10000 Italian
troops, it was so pounded with high
explosives-at least $500 tons-that
it could stand no more and laid
down its arms before a single Allied
soldier set foot on it's soil. Air
power alone made 1t surrender; not
life was lost in the landing parties
going ashore
How different is the story of
Tarawa. Smaller by far than Pan
telleria-the main objective of our
recent attack being hardly more
than a mile square-and held by a
japanese garrison only about half
the size of the one on Pantelleria,
it suffered a naval and air lombard
ment which concentrated in the
space of hours almost as much pun
ishment as was inflicted on Pantel-
leria in nineteen days. A total of
1900 tons of shells of all sizes
screamed fire and death at it. In
addition, our planes smashed at it
with 700 tons of bombs, and millions
OF rounds of 50-caliber machine gun
bullets were poured into it before
our landing forces moved in to take
over. One would have supposed, as
many of our marines did suppose,
that no effective opposition could
conceivably have been left after
such a deadly offshore attack on
such small and isolated spot. Yet
the opposition was there, and it was
violent enough to result in 1888
American casualties-1, ,026 of them
representing the dead.
Why this striking contrast be-
tween Pantelleria and Tarawa? The
experts very probably can point to
many excellent reasons of a techni-
cal nature, including duration of
bombardment and differences in
terrain and position. But still the
most convincing explanation of all
seems to be that the japanese SOL
dier belongs to a unique breed. He
does not recognize a hopeless situa-
ton when he is in one. He fights
on at all costs. He fights on to the
death, even though no real military
purpose appears to be served by so
doing. Tarawa thus stands out as
particularly graphic measure of
our enemy in the Pacific. II here
tofore some Of us saw the job ahead
rs 4 relatively easy one. we should
now know better.
Evening star., 1943-12-06
THIS AND THAT
By Charles f. TrdceDell.
haps two birds will be taken by hawks

haps two birds will be taken by hawks
year.
This is not a large average, when one
considers how many birds feed.
While there has been an increase in
hawks in recent years, in our corre-
spondent's vicinity, we believe that
hawks have better hunting grounds in
fields and in farmlands
They do not choose suburban areas.
1t Is only the hawk on a trip which,
happening to see congregation of birds,
drops down for a sample meal
What has always amazed us is that
such hawk does not come back the
next day.
Three hawks have made trips to our
own yard during the past year.
Weeks intervened
We believe that 1t is a good plan for
any one interested in feeding the birds
regularly to have hawks on the mind, If
living in the suburbs
This probably won't prevent victim
from being taken, but it will scare the
hawk away, and evidently keep him
away, If the situation is handled cor
rectly.
This simply means that the house.
holder. when he sees the small birds
vanish. and especially if he hears the
screams Of a blue jay, should rush into
the yard, taking with him a gun, if he
has one-a rife, or an umbrella or even
roll of newspaper
Only the crackshot will be able to hit
hawk, so we do not believe a rife will
do much good, except to point at the
hawk. Shots should not be fired except
in real emergency in suburban areas,
anyway
The idea is to intimidate the hawk.
These birds are very smart. They know
what gun means. A roll of paper
pointed at them, in gun fashion, sticks
in their memory, evidently.
An umbrella or cane or stick will have
the same effect
In this way the bird of prey will come
to believe, we feel, that it is dangerous
for him TO come back
Large hawks are sometimes the red
shouldered. and small ones are most
likely to be the sparrow hawk. so-called.
The latter has a most handsome wing
spread, seemingly out of all proportion
to the comparatively small hawk, him.
self.
Depreciation by hawks now and then,
must be accepted As a part of the natu-
raj scene.
1t is no occasion for giving up feeding
the small birds
The latter need the food we can spare
for them. The presence of a hawk, now
and then, means that these larger birds
are hungry, too.
Senseless slaughter of hawks is i'll ad-
vised. Out Of the many species. there
are only about four which are real enc
mics of man and his desires. Unless one
knows his hawks, he should think twice
before killing them as general practice.
They are part of natures way of tax
Ing care Of things, in which we inter-
fere only to our own detriment.
Evening star., 1943-12-06
A Merited Reputation

The Senate Appropriations Com
mittees refusal to approve funds for
administrative Improvements at
Gallinger Hospital represents a
sharp reputation of the Holman
subcommittee's investigation of that
institution last fall 1t doubtless
will be interpreted as typical ex-
ample OF hopelessly divided control
and responsibility in the District of
Columbia. In q sense, that interpre-
tation is justified.
But there is another way of look
Ing at it. The Gallinger investiga-
ton was fine example of irrespon-
sible mud Singing but it was lacking
IN merit as a constructive effort to
help Gallinger. It's recommended
tions were most unfair. Why should
the Senate Appropriations Commit
tee, considering emergency supple
mental appropriations for national
defense, be stampeded into appro-
priating more money for Gallinger
on the strength of what was brought
out by the Holman investigation?
No reason at all. sThe items for
which appropriations were sought
have only incidental connection
with the muckraking type of matter
with which the Holman subcommit-
tee dealt
The, proper place for the recon-
mendationS on Gallinger improve
ment is the District appropriation
bill, which is being shaped now for
presentation to Congress. There is
much merit in what the Commits
sloners are asking-a deputy and
assistant superintendents to share
the administrative detail at CALM
ger which for so many years has been
centralized with the superintendent
alone. These new positions should
be created in line with Gallingers
steady improvement as one of the
finest hospitals in Washington.
But there is not much justification
for dumping them suddenly in
supplemental appropriation bill for
national defense. That savors too
much of the superficial, hit-or- miss
approach to things for which the
Gallinger investigation itself was
correctly criticized.
Evening star., 1943-12-06
A Negative Stund

Alfred M. Landon, who speaks for
an important segment of the Re-
publican party, has taken a position
with respect to the Moscow agree
ments which is difficult to recon-
cile with the vote of the Senate Re-
publicans who supported the Con-
nally resolution embodying the
essential features of the Moscow
declarations
Mr.. Landon, the COP presidential
candidate in 1896, hopes for the
best, but he is apprehensive. He
finds no evidence in the agreements
or elsewhere that the Russians have
abandoned any of their well
known" territorial aspirations or
political ambitions. He detects in
the whole business an inconsistency
with the Atlantic Charter, and he
cautions his fellow Republicans
against taking a stand in support
OF the agreements.
The announcement of views such
as these is matter for concern II
Mr.. Landon is not willing to indorse
the achievements at Moscow, for
what does he stand? And what
position does he want his party to
take?
There are but few who would con-
tend that the Moscow agreements
are complete and entirely salts
factory answer to the perplexing
questions that will confront the
world after the war. But they do
represent a measure Of accomplish
ment, and they set out basis for
hope that is not to be found else
where. In their own party inter-
ests, and in the interests of the
United States, the Republicans can
Ill afford to be content with a
stand -off1sh policy which neither
indorses what is being done nor pro-
poses any tangible alternative. At
this critical juncture in our national
affairs, a brand of leadership that Is
purely negative can hardly be ex-
pected to commend itself to the
American people.
Evening star., 1943-12-06
Lessons of Turuwu

Secretary of the Navy Knox has
entered into an unfortunate con-
troversy with unnamed armchair
strategists" whom he accuses OF
improperly criticizing the prepara-
tions for the Tarawa battle.
Since Secretary Knox neither
Identifies the critics nor sets out
their comments it is hardly possible
to evaluate the pros and cons of
their dispute. It is safe to say,
however. that while mistakes ap-
parently were made in the planning
and execution Of the attack, the
layman, lacking both information
and understanding of the problems
involved. is in a very poor position
to indulge in off-the-cuff criticism.
That something went wrong" is
attested by the eyewitness account
of Master Technical Sergeant Jim
Lucas, marine combat correspond
ent, whose report of the fight has
been cleared through censorship and
published. He was in the water at
daybreak with the second assault
wave, scheduled to land shortly
after the first wave had reached the
beach. Despite repeated attempts
In the face OF heavy fire, however,
Sergeant Lucas contingent could
not land until after midnight-a
delay Of around eighteen hours.
What this signifies is best illustrated
by the comment of Assistant Secre-
tary OF the Navy Bard, who told an
audience at Cherry Point, N. c., that
speed in landing is essential in am
phibious warfare. Any serious delay
is apt to mean the difference be-
tween life and death.
Another unexplained factor which
caused heavy loss of life among the
marines was the grounding of some
Of the assault boats on hidden reefs.
Secretary Knox blamed this on a
change of wind Assistant Secre-
tary Bard said the boats were held
up by uncharted reefs. And in a
cryptic story from Honolulu, q
correspondent of the New York
Herald-Tribune quoted Major Cen
eral Holland Smith, ranking marine
officer, as saying: "A fight was made
to obtain certain landing craft, with
the positive statement made that
unless they were obtained there
would be no landing-that it would
be impossible" There was no ex-
planation of this statement, but
from the context of the story it ap-
pears that the certain landing
craft" were not obtained.
These things, with others, indicate
that the attack did not 60 accord
Ing to plan. But this does not
necessarily imply justifiable criti-
eism OF any one. In actual combat,
rs distinguished from paper cam
paigns, perfect planning and perfect
execution is only rarely. if ever,
achieved-especially when the op-
Grafton Is Of Z novel character, a.
Evening star., 1943-12-06
Warns Against Appeals
That Are Unworthy,

TO the Editor Of The Star:
Between now and Christmas many of
your readers will be asked to contribute
to certain national and local charitable
organizations. These contribution ap-
peals may come to them by letter tele-
phone or personal call
slogan of the National Better Busi-
ness Bureau is: "Give-But Give WISE
ly.' This slogan is an important safe
guard to contributors who follow its
advice because not all so-called "chari-
ties are honest and sound; on the
contrary, some of them are merely
fronts for unscrupulous racketeers, Gre
ated TO collect money for themselves
rather than for the needy they pub
licize. No one likes to be a sucker. but
some generous citizens are just that
because they do not know how to give
wisely. This is proved by the fact that
the intake of racketeers and unsound
charities each year is in the hum
dreds Of thousands, and they particu-
larly Specialize on uninformed con-
tributors.
If all contributors followed certain
simple rules, the racketeers and unsound
charities would automatically be run
out of business. Here are the rules:
l. Refuse with 4 blunt No" all tele-
phone requests from strangers for con-
Tibutions, even If the telephone strang-
er uses the names of prominent local
citizens
2. Refuse to buy books or merchan-
disc which a strange salesman assures
you will benefit \ national veteran or
charitable organization. In almost
every case the salesman is paid a high
commission and full expenses (his pious
denial Notwithstanding, and little if
any. of your gift" reaches those for
whom 1t was intended
;. Never automatically assume that
letterhead names assure an organiza-
tion's honesty or soundness Racketeers
use names without permission as a
routine practice. because many people
put excessive trust in letterhead names
T. Check up on each solicitation with
which you are not we'll acquainted before
you give, rs follows:
Telephone or write either the Council
Of Social Agencies, 1l01 M street NV,
Zone S, Phone Metropolitan 1884, or the
Better Business Bureau, Star Building,
Zone 4, Phone National sl64, and ask
whether the organization is honest and
sound. These advisory and reporting
services are free and are constantly
used by careful contributors.
Christmas is a time of generous CIV
ing. If your readers follow these simple
rules. they can give with the heart
warming assurance that their gifts will
do what they intend Disregard Of
these rules at any time during the year,
involves the very grave chance of a
person being a sucker rather than wisely
generous.
HERBERT L. WIILETT, Jr.,
Executive Director,
Community War Fund.
Evening star., 1943-12-06
BETHESDA, Md.

Dear Sir:
Il have a bird feeding station. Re-
Gently 1t has been visited by hawks
twice, and I am beginning to wonder If
I am doing right to maintain 1t, Just to
lure the birds to provide food for hawks.
The first time an immense hawk with
tremendous wing spread came over
about midday He seized q pigeon which
happened to be among the feeders. I
have not been much bothered by
pigeons, there being only one or two,
and these not all the time. I can
imagine that flock of them would be
a great nuisance.
THE second hawk came earlier in the
morning. 1t was q small one, but with
considerable wing spread. He took
snow bird. much to my sorrow.
Both times tried to chase the hawks
away. I chased them away, all right,
but they carried their victims with them.
Il have been amazed that these hap
penings did not frighten the birds at my
feeding station a great deal more than
they seemed to do-the first time the
birds all came back within an hour, and
this second time they returned within
few minutes. Perhaps the small
as the large ones.
Il would like your opinion as to the
advisability Of continuing bird feeding,
under such circumstances l do not like
the idea Of using small live birds as
decoys.
Sincerely yours. M. F."
Depreciation by hawks is no good rea-
son for giving up the pleasant and help
ful sport of bird feeding.
Such things will happen.
Nature is large: she contains multi
tudes, as Walt Whitman puts it.
There seems to be room In nature
both for songbirds and hawks, without
the latter exterminating the small ones.
Nature solves this among her pure
creatures, by not teaching them how to
organize.
Organization, it would seem. is capable
OF great good-and also of great i'll.
Human ills, so manifest around the
world, are due to organization.
If the hawks were organized, and
could swoop down on place where win
tering birds are gathered, we'll, that
would be the end Of bird feeding
No one would feed birds then, because
1t would be impossible. and would be
visiting great injustice and danger
on the songsters.
AS 1t is. only an occasional bird is
taken.
We hold to the rather comforting
theory that only the sick bird Is seized,
That is. 1t is only the manned or sick
songster which is not able to get awav.
We realize that this is only theory.
The counter-argument is that the hawk
Is after only one bird at a time, and, of
course. the others get away!
At an average bird feeding station
anywhere in the suburban sections. per-
Evening star., 1943-12-06

was the attack on Tarawa. From
the information which has been
made available. the thing which
needs doing now is to apply the les
sons Of Tarawa to future operations.
and that is what may be expected
from the Pacific commanders. Ger
tain it Is that nothing constructive
can come out of a battle between
Secretary Knox and the anonymous
armchair strategists."
Evening star., 1943-12-06
Boy Feeding Love Birds

never knetD the boy could stand 30
The leaper. jumper, hand spring.
turner, one
That races ,oith the pind, nor gets
his 1ll
OF exercise through day to set OF
Yet there he stands. He scarcely
bli1,ks an eye,
While from, his steady hands t,oo
lope birds feed.
1t seems the muscles OF his arm and
thigh
Are made OF something firm as
steel. Indeed,
1t seems as though the boy I thought
tDds mine
Is some one else, and that mysteri-
ously
He has descended from a different
line,
And is a fair, young god that xo,s
see.
ROSE MYRA PHILLIPS.
Evening star., 1943-12-06

Denies Accuracy Of Figures
On House Vote Cited by Mr.. Kent.
To the Editor of The Star:
In his column of December l, Frank
Kent violates not only the essentials Of
accurate news reporting. but revealed
the serious inconsistencies that exist in
his own thinking and in the thinking of
the administration opposition.
Mr.. Kent cites the vote on the subsidy
bill rs an example of the Presidents loss
of control over the Democratic majority
In Congress. He says: "On that issue
(subsidies) 10 more Democrats voted
against the President than voted With
Evening star., 1943-12-06

Autumn, like everything else, has
altered notably in recent years
around here. For instance, what
used to be traditional and substan-
tial pm. Sunday dinner has for
many thousands of people been
changed to lone with" and a paper
cup of lava"
Evening star., 1943-12-06

him. Reference oo the record vote on
the subsidy bill reveals that Mr.. Kent
has deliberately or unintentionallv dis
torted the facts. The House vote on this
bill was 278-l17 against the continuance
OF food subsidies. OF the 278 members
voting against subsidies, l7s were Re-
publicans and SO were Democrats: of
the lit members voting in favor of
subsidies, 100 were Democrats and IS
were Republicans 1t is true that the
President didn't get the solid support of
the House Democratic delegation: but
where in this record vote are the "7s
more Democrats who Mr. Kent alleges
voted against the President than voted
with him? Ninety-eight Democrats
voted against subsidies land thereby
against the President,, and 100 Demo-
Gratis voted in favor of subsidies.
HERMAN SCHEIN.
Juvenile Delinquency" Declining
As Viewed in Relation to Population.
To the Editor of The Star:
The rather incomplete picture of the
extent of juvenile delinquency the gen.
eral public gets from newspaper ac-
counts is quite confusing. For instance
In all the news stories covering discus
sions Of the subject the only figures
mentioned are those showing the per-
centage of increase in delinquency cases.
There was just one exception as far as
l know and that was the report of a
few days ago on iuegitimate births and
pregnancy among school-age girls.
Usually we read of delinquency cases
having increased Is per cent, 25 per
cent. 80 per cent over year or two ago.
I have just talked with the Juvenile
Court office and was told that there
were 1882 cases in 1941 before the court,
3,2l9 cases in 1912, and that the total
for l943 apparently will be less than in
1912!
The public school enrolment for 194l
was l08, 800. Adding an arbitrary figure
of $4,000 to cover children in private and
parochial schools and children above
school age up to l8 years makes total
VA Aoo,ooo a Vi GIlc
194l population of the District under
18 years of age. Thus the Juvenile
Court cases for 1941 are FL per cent of
the child population
Without considering the increase in
population for 1912 and l943 the delin-
quency rate for 1912 is "a per cent and
less for 1943. Thus the actual increase
in delinquency cases in Juvenile Court
is only three-tenths of l per cent for
two years and really is less because of
increase in population.
The increase in number of cases in
1923 over 1941 Is per cent and 50
stated may seem larger, but considering
war conditions 1t seems anything but
alarming in Washington. Surely we
must expect some increase. OF course,
any increase is a matter for concern,
but does 1t justify the stir it now Is
creating?
wonder If the national picture would
not be more realistic If the percentage
Of increase Of delinquency were keyed
to the total child population, as has
been done above, instead Of to the
number Of cases.
We have enough worries today with.
out making them seem worse than they
are. JAMES E. sCHWAB.
Evening star., 1943-12-06
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the writer, although the use OF
a pSeudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters 1Uith
q UielD to condensation.
Evening star., 1943-12-06
No Shortoae Here

Prom the South Bend Tribune.
There may be a scarcity of some types
of Christmas toys. Grandpappy Jenkins
fears. however. that there will bs the
usual ample amount Of Christmas ties.
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1943-02-12

Melvin Schultz loaded u OF perlsh
a mostly against the day when ratonng becomes general
on all foods.
would able afford stock of
locker wealthy who afford such uxuries often
speaking he mprovdnt workers who do not lay
thing for the rainy day"
Moreover the peculiar thing is that those who must work for
living inclined unparoicay hoard than those who
have the to do it.
that whatever raonng is yet to will be
handled the that which marked the atoning Of
Shoes although this is doubtful.
TAXATION
those who least able to stand hem
brackets who quite acuae in
defending themselves from tax which would permit them
a net income of $4,000 per year
compulsory bond buying for work
brackets would be far just and equitable
purchase the bonds being made from each
pay the bonds being protected from liquidation until after
the
SAVINGS FUND
buying program would several advantages In
place would provide the with the necessary
the second it would savings program
the give the ended
country returning normal industrial and commercial
pursuits
fund of money accumuang months would become
buying which might well become the
making transition from peacetme business
the country from through period
such marked the close of the last
Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1943-02-12
LINCOLN

The better angels of nature to stir our nober
thoughts when recall the sad, smiling of Lincoln.
Deep his for this wonderful land of ours-and the
tall branches of mighty oaks breathe the free
and gladly send their roots far into the good earth DER which
he trod
Let rejoice for the clay of America wherein
free born who shall strike at the root of
that they may remain forever free.
Among tall trees, staunch and strong
cabin the hillside stood;
While February winds blew cold
child was born to do much good.
Within the fireplace flames eaped high,
symbol of the future man;
AS Sarah held her first born love,
nations fate in her hand.
And from to oak
His arms, like branches, high held
Tc do good deeds for human needs,
Until at last the feled.
No need for to loud acclaim
The lowly Lincoln God made great
Let's bear in mind the words he'd say
0, carry my ship of state.
DON PARSoN
"The Bard Of Flatrock"