The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-12-07
Observations
Bombings Seen
as Confession
Of Degradation
BY Helen Esssry

often vouder.v what God IN His
heaven thinks Of the human beings
he created Does He griere or is
He moved TO righteous anger When
lie sees what they are doing TO
each other m the world lie gave
them?
since He is a just God lie must
be tempted sometimes TO destroy
both he sorld and the people there.
IN.
The Vastefulness and brutality
OF the air raids of modern warfare
aimed at virtually helpless cities
of defenseless civilians must sicken
Him with the handiwork He Great
cd IN His own image and likeness.
Yet even more sickoning than the
raids themselves is the pride some
. OF US feel when We report gleefully,
for instance. that We dropped 500
tons Of bombs last night
II We OF the United Nations have
10 do this slaughter in order 70
get the horrible business over. let
get il over as quickly as possible.
But for decenCy's sake. don I lets
gloat over the misery we have in.
fhcted
| was discussing air bombinss o,
civilian populations with. d colonel
in the United States Army He
said they we're a confession OF hui
man degradation.
once was in a city IN Europe. "
he said. "V hen the Germans bombed
4 railway station. Four trains were
taking on old men, women and
children who were trying TO escape
the invaders. arrived at the sta
ton less than five minutes after
the bombs had been dropped
Il have seen much fighting in
my lifetime | must admit that 4
have got a. certain thrill out OF
hand.to-hand combat. or opposing
tanks in action. This sort OF fight
ing is sort OF duel between even
" matched. evenly armed warriors.
But when ! looked at that hid
eous railway station. at the bleed
ing bits Of women and children
scattered amongst flames, fras.
ments OF bricks and iron | thought
This is the end There is nothing
more that human beings can do to
each other I wonder Why God
doesn't smite US down forever
The question in every mind to-
day is When will We get through
with all this degradation OF war;
Some authorities think the war In
Europe cannot last longer than a
FEY months Certain eXiled Nor
vegians have taken passage on the
first ship out Of New York for Der
ger and are getting their affairs
here 4 order preparatory to tho
return home Czechoslovakian
Prime Minister Edusrd Benes dc
Clared when he was in Washington
that the New Year will see Germany
out, Many military men say tha'
the var is far from non.
They beg that We remember that
great racial characteristic OF the
Germans-efficiency. II the world
had not forgotten German eftlcien-
cy At the end OF the last war. they
insist. IL IL had NOT 'ulled itself in
10 thinking that Germany was fin
ished as a nation World War II
might not have come about
Here and there however YOU are
told incidents that help you to- be
lieve Germany rs reaching her last
resistance William l. BAIT. vice
chairman Of the War Production
Board says when talking informal
~ that Any sredes with whom
he talked on a recent tour Of STe-
den believe that Germany will soon
ask for an srmistice. In proving
this happy prediction. the SVedes
point 70 the Jokes about Hitler
which are now being told openly
in GERMANY
should like 10 add my roman's
last word to laffaire Patton. Public
sentiment may swing 10 the defense
Of the general who struck she'll
shocked soldier. Yet. ! doubt II It
will ever swing vide enough to OBJ
scure the perfect picture Of total.
tsrianism given by General Patton
and the authorities who concealed
his outrageous conduct
II you pluck the Patton story from
its background you have the model
for a four-star movie Of Nazi bru-
tally and secrecy. The secrecy is
worse than the brutality. II is stu.
pid and unnecessary and makes civ
ilians ask what is going on in this
Army anyhow.
Out OF the evil. however. has
come some good. Disappearing pun
lie opinion is certain to make tfe-
military esta blishment realizg that
it is a servant and not the ru1sT Of
the people Among the thousands
OF officers serving their country