davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-05-02
Plans Keep Nazis Guessing
By Maj. George Fieldina Eliot

Analysis Of the air warfare over West
ern Europe for the past two weeks
brings out some interesting points.
Beginning with Monday, April IT.,
there has been q major air attack or
attacks daily. There has been a great
daylight attack every day save one
There has been great night attack
every night save five. No period of
comparable activity comes to mind in
the history Of our air offensive against
Germany
Railroad targets have been under very
heavy pressure. The widespread night
attacks of the night of April 81, which
plastered rail centers in Germany,
France and Belgium with 5O4O tons of
bombs, were followed on the 22d by
a 2,000-plane attack on the great mar
shaling yard at Hamm, which did heavy
damage. 1t was, of course, to be ex-
pected that there would be especially
nigh congestion in the Hamm yard due
to the damage done the night before
at the various surrounding rail centers.
A night raid on the 23d struck at
rail centers in Belgium and France,
doubtless to interfere with and disrupt
the repair work in progress. On the
10th the RAF struck the rail wards
at Essen and Schweinfurt, and on the
9th and 30th there were day attacks
on rail centers in France This business
OF attacking railways is a specialized
and carefully planned part of our air
offensive, and will be discussed in greater
length in subsequent article.
Special attention also has been given
during the past two weeks to enemy
airfields. These have been attacked In
daylight on April %, "A and Is, over
France, Belgium and Germany, followed
by concentration on French airfields
On three successive days, April %, 20
and 80.
Coastal defenSes and military in
stallations" have come in for their share.
Ihese raids have been concentrated In
Northern France, and appear in two
closely grouped periods: April 10, 20 and
Il, and again heavy continuous at
tack during April 81, 28, 20 and 80. This
should be considered in connection with
the continuous attacks on enemy air
fields in the same region during the last
three days of April.
Finally, industrial targets in Germany
nave not been neglected. Daylight raids
against specific industrial areas took
place on April 10, "A, 26 and 20 (the
last being the great raid on Berlin),
and night attacks are to be noted on
April 2s, "A and ~, plus the attack on
the Oslo airframe factory on the 28th
But the emphasis u clearly passing
Evening star., 1944-05-02

from industrial targets to those more
Immediately connected with military
operations: Rail centers, airfields and
military installations.
1t may be too much to assume that
this means that invasion is imminent.
but 1t certainly suggests that the time
Is drawing near. The Germans claim
that invasion has already begun
that Is, that these air attacks are part
OF the immediate preliminary effort,
part OF the invasion scheme as q whole.
The Germans are, of course, fishing
for information when they say such
things, but there is q modicum of
sense in the claim, nevertheless. The
Shift to military targets from targets
OF purely industrial nature is a matter
of timing. Injury done to industrial
targets reduces the enemy lighting ef-
fort as a whole, but it does not reduce
it Immediately; it reduces his ability
to send manufactured war materials
to his depots, but it does not reduce the
stock already in the depots, nor the
movement of that stock to the fighting
forces.
The point on which the Germans
would like information is the timetable
to which the Allied operations are
geared. How soon after the shift to
military targets begins will the actual
invasion start? Or will there be two
or three Shifts forward and back, be-
fore it gets under way? Will there be
a final grand preparatory bombing of
the whole defensive area along the coast,
followed by landings-or will the land
ings come suddenly, in a period of nor
maly distributed air attacks, to take
advantage of the surprise element2
This used to be argued, from the ar
tillery preparation point of view, in the
last war; some holding that prolonged
preparation, while it did some damage,
was really giving notice to the enemy
of our intention to attack, while others
held that 1t was an absolute essential
for softening up the enemy's defenses,
regardless of the loss of surprise.
Whatever the particular method may
be, however, and whatever degree of
preparation may be considered neces-
sary at one point or another, we may
be reasonably sure Of this: That Gen.
Eisenhower, who so successfully achieved
surprise in Tunisia and in Sicily, will
seek to achieve it again, and that all
he does now is in accordance with a
well-thought-out plan, the purpose OF
which is-in the words Of Stonewal
Jackson-"mystify, mislead, surprise"
tcopyright le44)
Evening star., 1944-05-02
The Pilgrims Chorus

A far-ot singing rises among the noun
tains,
Gathering strength and beauty.
Like da,Dn light s,Dittly Frightening,
The great song stDeeps onUnrd,
A marching music, golden and tri-
umphdnt.
The pilgrims are approaching
Are close at hand
Are passing.
The joy OF their song is the joy OF
soul set free.
The burden OF sin unshouldered,
Faces set hedpenDdrd.
They haze gone their ,oay through the
Ualley.
Hills fold them In.
Behind them, the music fotDs IN q
shining trail,
Diminished, fading.
Silence then Is a closed door,
Where tears beat NTH the urgency OF
rain.
NEZ BARCLAY KIRBY.
Evening star., 1944-05-02
Waste Of Coal
From the Halifax Herald.


Canada will never supply her own coal
needs so long as antedeluvian methods
prevail, so long as we are content to dig
coal out OF the earth and shovel 1t raw
into tire-boxes, wasting many OF its most
valuable properties. Why, apart from a
few installations to burn pulverized coal,
we are no further ahead today than we
were in our grandfathers' times. It's Just
the same old process of dig it out of the
ground, hoist it to the surface, dump 1t
into cars or boats-and then 60 about
hat in hand pleading for markets" In
one breath the "It Can't Be Done" bri-
gade calls for markets" and in the next
tell us there isn't enough coal to 20
around. Well, at least we might be
working out effective plans along mod
ern lines to mine and distribute within
Canada what we can supply. And we
might be giving some positive thought
to greater Improvements in the use of
what we can mine, in processing, in
methods for the extraction of by-prod-
ucts, for the production of electrical
energy, for the integration of our coal
policies with those affecting other forms
OF fuel also produced in this country.
Evening star., 1944-05-02

Convention, ready to support Mr.. Stag
sen Tor the nomination, have already
been chosen. Further, should Mr.,
Stassen not be nominated for President,
there Is the chance he might be named
Tor second place on the Republican ma
tional ticket. How available he would
be, therefore. for appointment to the
Roosevelt cabinet is decidedly question.
Unless the President should deem it
necessary to make an immediate ap-
pointment under the war conditions to
I'LL the vacancy in his cabinet, Mr. For
restal will continue to be Acting Secre-
tary OF the Navy for the immediate
future. 1t will be remembered that
when vacancy occurred in the Office
of Secretary of War, due to the death
OF the late Secretary Dern, the Presi-
dent kept the then Undersecretary of
War, Harry Woodring, as Acting Secre-
tary for many months before finally
appointing him to the cabinet. Mr.,
Woodring was . former Democratic
governor OF Kansas. When he retired
from of11ce he turned away from the
New Deal administration. In recent
months he has been actively opposing
fourth-term nomination OF the Presi-
dent.
1t has been suggested that the Presi-
dent may turn to Admiral William D.
Leaf1y, "chief Of stah to the Commander
In Chief" and make him Secretary of
the Navy. Such an appointment would
be excellent.
ss.E Few men, If any, have given more de-
voted service to their country than
Secretary Knox. An Army veteran Of
two wars, Col Knox literally worked
himself to the final limit in the present
war. He was hard worker who never
ApAfeN himself When he took the once
Of Secretary Of the Navy he knew that
ne would be criticized by other Republi-
cans. He declared, however, that he was
an American first and that If he was
able to do anything to help build up the
defense OF his country he would do it.
Although he was past the age of active
military service, Col. Knox carried on.
giving to himself harder tasks than are
assigned to many younger men. He not
only devoted himself to the Job of build
ing up the Navy to proportions that have
made 1t the greatest fighting force that
ever sailed the seas, but he also gave
MS attention to its coordination, in
nghting zones, with the British Navy.
Indeed, 1t was Col Knox's idea that in
the postwar period the American and
British Navies would present . ready
made police force to help maintain
peace. An idea which has been en-
Enthusiastically received in other ollartars
Evening star., 1944-05-02
This Changing World
By Constantine Broucn

Washington observers who have been
watching closely the progress Of the
war in the Pacific have revised some
what their views as q result Of two
recent disclosures which they believe
may have an important bearing on the
battle against the Japanese.
First was the announcement that
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, commander
of the Southwest Pacific, and Admiral
Chester w. Nimitz, commander Of the
Pacific Fleet, had held their first con-
ference of the war; second was Gen.
MacArthurs statement withdrawing,
once and for all, his name in connec-
tion with speculation over this falls
presidential election.
Ever since the Casablanca conference
between President Roosevelt ind Prime
Minister Churchill in January, 1943,
there has been no hiding the fact that
Hitler has been made the Allies No.
enemy, with the Japanese taking Sec
ond place as far as q real offensive
operation was concerned. The fight
against Japan was to remain q defen-
sive-offensive operation and Gen. Mac
Arthur and Admiral william r. Halsey,
commander in the South Pacific, were
to receive only suficient men and ma
terial to conduct their part Of the
global war on that basis.
Now, however, in view Of the Nimitz-
Macarthur conference and the tone Of
Gen. MacArthur's statement, observers
here are speculating on the possibility
Of 4 stepped-up drive toward the
Philippines or the Kurile islands coin-
Gliding with the forthcoming Allied in
vasion of Western Europe.
This possible blow at the Japs may
take the form of strike at the Philip
pines, south Of Japan, or 1t may reach
to the north and land on the Kuriles,
Tokyo's important holdings southeast
OF the Russian mainland. It Is recalled
that Secretary Of the Navy Knox said
shortly before his death that the Kuriles
would be invaded by American forces,
Evening star., 1944-05-02
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

-Four years ago President Roosevelt
appointed two Republicans to key places
IN his cabinet One was Col. Frank
Knox, whose death last Friday lost to
the country an effective and hard d-work.
ing Secretary Of the Navy. The other
was Col Henry L. Stimson, Secretary Of
War. The appointments were made ut
. time when the crisis in Europe was
extreme, just before the Republican
National Convention. The two Repub-
hcans, despite the fact that 4 presi-
Dental campaign was in the making,
accepted the appointments as patriotic
duty. They were bitterly attacked at
the time by some Of their party leaders,
who charged they were selling the COP
down the river.
That bitterness has long since passed.
Both Secretary Knox and Secretary
Stimson, from the beginning of their
tenures Of office, avoided politics, par.
ticularly in the conduct of the tasks
allotted to them. The Republicans were
not the only critics Of the appointments,
however. There were important Demo.
Gratis who contended that these high
ofnces should have gone to faithful and
deserving Democrats.
The death of Col. Knox has left q
vacancy which the President must fill,
either by appointment of another Re-
publican or q Democrat. The logical
thing for him to do, 1t has been urged,
is to advance Undersecretary Of the
Navy James v. Forrestal and make him
a cabinet of1cer. Mr.. Forrestal is on
the Job already-up to his neck in the
administration Of the Navy Department,
particularly the upbuilding Of the Navy.
He has all the details at his finger tips.
Mr.. Forrestal Is q Democrat. It re-
mains, therefore, for the President to
determine whether he wishes again to
place Republican In the ONCE Of Sec
retary Of Navy, and 80 continue in the
same ratio what has been called a DO.
itical coalition" in charge Of the war
effort, on the theory it helps to unite
the country.
The first name that springs to mind,
In case Republican is to be appointed,
Is that of 1t. Comdr. Harold E. Stassen,
now serving in the South Pacific. He
was three times elected Governor Of
Minnesota and showed himself q fine
executive. resigning his Office year ago
to enter the Navy.
Mr.. Stassen is, however, virtually q
candidate for the Republican presi-
Dental nomination. He has expressed
his willingness to run for the presidency
II he be nominated, although he said at
the same time he was not a candidate.
Delegates to the Republican National
Evening star., 1944-05-02

but he did not say. when. 1t could well
be that the late Secretary was thinking
Of an early attack tying up with the
cross Channel assault on Europe.
The fact that Admiral Nimitz and
Gen. Macarthur never had conferred
prior to their recent meeting Is no sign
that there has not been the greatest
cooperation and coordination between
ground and naval forces In the Pacific
theater. Admiral Halsey and Gen. Mac
Arthur have worked hand-in-hand in
their drives to recapture territory.
&+ -
Press dispatches from Gen. MacAr-
thurs headquarters on April 8 pointed
out that most OF Americas recent fight-
ing against the Japs had occurred in
Gen. MacArthurs Southwest Pacific
command and that the generals forces
had virtually effected . juncture with
those Of Admir1l Halsey to the east.
It also was reported that there would
be no change in the Macarthur COM
mand regardless Of any future change
in the status Of the South Pacific area.
There had been rumors that Admiral
Halsey would be assigned to . new Inn
portAnt post. Subsequent dispatches
have thrown no further light on this
speculation.
Last fall Warrington observers held
little or no hope for the recapture Of
the Philippines before 1o45. They point
ed out that Gen. Macarthur was re-
ceiving only small numbers Of men and
small quantities of material and that he
could not expect to launch an intensi-
ned offensive unless he were given more.
Today they are more optimistic. They
point out that - far Is the invasion
OF Western Europe is concerned most
OF the men already are at their en-
barkation points and the equipment they
need already Is available to them.
The fight against the Japs is far
ahead Of schedule, We have been told,
50 why couldn't 1t be stepped up even
further?
Evening star., 1944-05-02

this is the sole purpose Of this latest
mission to Moscow" however. 1t Is
not apt to be productive of much
that will be beneficial to the Soviets,
for Father Orlemanski will find that
his campaign" has been prejudiced
at the outset by the circumstances
surrounding his visit.
There remains, of course, the
possibility that Stain has other
purposes in mind, such as the use
of the incident for his own propa-
ganda ends in Poland itself as the
Red Army moves into that unhappy
country. If this is the real motive,
time should soon establish the fact.
Evening star., 1944-05-02
Wushinqton in Bloom

Perhaps its contrast with other
things that fill our minds these DAYS
is what gave an added touch to the
beauty of this spring in Washington
Certainly the city has never been
more lovely, despite the sprawling
growth of temporary buildings that
has taken over so large an area OF
the park system.
The results of an orderly program
Of planting, designed for a series OF
striking displays to herald the COM
ing OF spring, are already apparent.
They will improve with the years.
The sequence begins with a display
of golden bell on a terrace in Dunn
barton Oaks in Georgetown, where
the park officials are preserving and
adding to the collection of rare
plants begun by Robert Woods Bliss
before that part Of the estate be-
came public park. The overpub-
licized cherry blossoms around the
Tidal Basin usually follow within
week or so, along with the magnolias
in Rawlins Park, between the old
and new Interior Buildings. Soon
thereafter (it was Sunday a week
ago this year, the Towering crab
apples in Anacostia Parkway reach
full blossom and this week the lilacs
in many of the small parks and the
grove of dogwood near the District
War Memorial in Potomac Park are
at their best. The pansy bed near
the Jefferson Memorial, OF the ap-
proach to the Highway Bridge, is
another spot worth visiting this
week. It sets the stage for the roses,
later on, near the same spot.
One Of the finest displays Of lilac,
in year or so, will be found be-
tween the Bureau Of Engraving and
Printing and the Tidal Basin in the
parking between the new roads,
where plants were set out this
spring. For later on in the season,
collections of rare water lilies are
being assembled for the fountains in
Meridian Hill Park, Rawlins Park
and the Lincoln Memorial Rejecting
Pool.
Evening star., 1944-05-02

because the natural instinct Of
civilized people responds to honor
able endeavor to benefit humanity
at large. The essential difference
between the effort of the United
Nations and the resistance of the
Axis enemies lies exactly in that
circumstance-the free peoples fight
and work and strive to save the
common inheritance not for them
selves alone.
Evening star., 1944-05-02
Letters to The Star
MIR. Davis Explains Restrictions
On OWL Activities,
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
In yesterdays Star Frank Kent COM
plains that we are not doing enough
to counteract German lies in this coun-
try, and suggests that we distribute a
pamphlet to the American people ex-
posing these lies and answering them
one by one.
Mr.. Kent is suggesting that we vio-
late the law. The National War
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1914, pro-
vides that no part of this or any other
appropriation shall be expended by the
ONCE Of War Information for the prepa-
ration or publication of any pamphlet
or other literature except the United
States Government Manual for distri-
button to the public within the United
States"
In conformity with this act we have
not issued any pamphlets to the Amer
ican public for almost = year.
There are, of course, other ways Of
dealing with DIR. Goebbels' lies. For
the past 18 months our Foreign News
Bureau in Washington, a. part Of its
regular service, has been exposing these
lies day and night by 4 wire service
direct to all the leading news agencies
and to the New York ONCE of any
newspaper which wishes to have the
service. The result is that lies which
might otherwise be circulated are ex-
posed and denatured before they gain
circulation.
The story Of Americas war effort,
which the Office Of War Information
has been telling through its news re-
leases and other channels day by day.
Is living refutation of the Goebbeb'
falsehoods. As for Allied and neutral
peoples overseas, and to those under
enemy domination as well, our overseas
branch has been exposing DR.. 0oebbels
continually by short-wave radio across
the Atlantic and Pacific, by Leaflets
dropped from planes, by pamphlets.
motion pictures and other media, and
now by the new American broadcast
ing station in Europe which began
medium-wave operations only few days
ago
II MIR. Kent wishes any of our over
seas publications, which We are for
bidden by act of Congress to distribute
to the American people, he is, Of course,
welcome as newspaperman to see any
Of them. ELMER DAVIS.
Director Once Of War Information.
Evening star., 1944-05-02
The Imperial Conference

OF Prime Ministers which con-
vened yesterday in London as of
deep and special significance. The
first of these reasons is that it
should be held at all and at this
particular time. Imperial confer
ences are infreQuent, II for no other
reason that it Is hard for the execu-
tive heads Of parliamentary govern
ments simultaneously to absent
themselves from their respective
countries, take world-girdling jour-
neys, and be away for relatively
protracted periods. The last impe-
rial conference occurred in 1887.
The exigencies and vicissitudes of
nearly five war years have hitherto
not sufflced to bring another into
being. 1t Is thus logical to presume
that highly pressing motives induced
this particular convocation of what
London commentators term the
British Empires family council of
war"
Undoubtedly one motivating fac
tor is the imminence of the wars
supreme test, the gigantic invasion
Of Western Europe, wherein the
pooled resources Of Britain, the en-
pire and the American ally will be
flung. Before that decisive opera
ton begins, 1t is obviously desirable
that the empires responsible lead
ers should confer together, explore
the vast field of possibilities, and
concert some general lines Of policy
for both the war and postwar pc
.riods. The first topic will doubtless
be the invasion preparations, but
the full agenda will repeatedly in
clude such matters as armistice
terms for Germany, rehabilitation
of redeemed Europe, treatment Of
enemy states, plans for the subse-
quent crushing of Japan, and the
empires structure and position in
the new world order envisioned for
the postwar future. That is a heavy
schedule, and the exalted conferees
are expected to deliberate for several
weeks. Indeed, a quick collapse of
Germany might prolong their ses-
sions into the greater United Ma
tions' conference which would in
evitably follow the end Of the Euro
pean war. ="
Although Winston Churchill will
naturally play the host to his col
leagues from Australia, Canada, New
Zealand and South Africa, he will
be strictly one among euuzis fse
Statute Of Westminster, passed IN
1881, legally confirmed the complete
equality of Britain and the domin-
ions defined in the tImperiai Confer
ence OF 1925 as equal in status, in
no way subordinate one to another
in any aspect Of their domestic or
foreign affairs, though united by q
common allegiance to the Crown
and freely associated as members of
the British Commonwealth of Ma
tions." The best proof of the valid
ity of this formula is the absence Of
one important member of the COM
monwealth-Eire, which voluntarily
chose neutrality in the present war
and was not constrained to enter it,
despite general disapproval Of its
decision. Fire, however, is the ex-
ception which proves the rule. The
rest of the empire is today reat1irm-
ing in the London conference its
basic unity, solidarity, and will to
constructive future.