Evening star., 1943-09-18

conservative, David Lawrence.
tactual and persuasive. The mes.
sage is splendid mobilization Of
the facts OF war and great docu.
mert for reading throughout the
world because it tells a story in the
broad perspective of global war.
Unlike many of Mr.. Roosevelt
previous messages it contains a min
imum OF controversial paragraphs
and a maximum CT information. II
tells not merely what has happened
but, if read carefully, it tells what
lies ahead
Although devoted largely to an
explanation Of the European phases
Of the war, the President gives the
most welcome assurances concern
Ing the stepping up of our warfare
In the Pacific and draws particular
attention to the aid which Anglo
American naval forces hitherto oc-
cupied in the Mediterranean may be
able to give in the Bay Of Bengal
as the pincers movement against
the Japanese in Burma begins soon
BY land, sea and air.
Dramatic Moment.
Mr.. Roosevelt points to the heavy
losses that may be expected. He
chose dramatic moment to dis
cuss this, because the country has
been inclined to feel, on account Of
the Badoglio governments surren-
der, that the end of the war was
just around the corner-a feeling
that was believed to be retarding
production somewhat.
The President, in masterful fash
Ion, narrated the story of our Afri-
can and Italian campaigns as if he
were answering the arguments OF
those who have insisted on the sec
ond front" II the Presidents speech
is printed in the Russian press or
broadcast over the Russian radio, 1t
should serve to remove some OF the
doubts supposed to be prevalent
there as to the value Of the Anglo
American contribution to date.
Clearly, the President gives great
credit to the Russians for their mill
tary achievements. If the Russian
ofncials reciprocate by giving the
Presidents message in full to the
Russian people, better understand
Ing will be built up between the
Russian nation and our own.
There was only one defect in the
Presidents message and that was
merely a matter Of judgment. The
President lashed out at his critics
and endeavored to minimize the
mistakes that have been made in
Washington. As a matter OF fact,
the message would have been a
lot stronger il the President hadn't
argued about the criticism, because
the truth is criticism has been the
most healthful and helpful inhu-
ence democracy could have in
wartime. He might better have
given it credit for helping to avoid
pitfalls and for correcting mis- axes.
Without criticism, there is sloth-
fulness. Government officials often
become involved in red tape or in
quests for individual power and
only the prodding of critics makes
them snap out of 1t and get on with
the war. Thus the report written by
Bernard M. Baruch and Just made
public by Senator Vandenberg gives
the public the kind of frank and
outspoken criticism that it should
have in wartime. Economic Mobi-
lization Director Byrnes, in permit
ting the report to be made public,
said that the recommendations were
being adopted. He spoke of it as
an "inter-otnce" memorandum not
intended for publication. and it is
obvious that only public pressure
forced the release OF this construc-
tive document.
Minces No Word.
Mr.. Barucl1's findings show that
the manpower problem has been
messed up by conflicting agencies in
Washington. He tells of the serious
consequences Of that kind of blum
dering and he frankly suggests that
some Of the key individual supervi-
sors already drafted into the Army
by a careless selective service system
should now be given leave from the
Army to 60 back to the factories
This is only one OF several recon-
mendations, but, as is customary
with Mr.. Baruch's reports, they do
not mince words or regard any
bodys personal feelings.
That's the way ofilcialdom should
function and it has been this cor
respondents observation both in the
World War and in this war that
criticism does penetrate and inf1u-
ence the action Of administrative
and legislative personnel. In fact,
free press-even with its occasional
mistakes. both Of judgment and of
taste, which 1t freely Acknowledges
is the real force that drives free
people to greater and greater mira
cles Of achievement on the battle
fronts and on the industrial fronts.
For 1t is the end result that
everybody wants-and there usually
Is plenty Of credit for the President
or Congress in office when the VIC
tory is achieved.
Reproduction Rifhts Keserved)
Mrs. Harriet Lynch, 81,