davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-02-04
Raymond CIupper

Raymond Clapper wrote for one
of the largest audiences in America.
He held that audience by the care
fulness of his factual reporting and
the earnest sincerity with which he
expressed his honest opinions on
current events. He Influenced peo-
pies thinking, and his influence was
good. For he was a clean and high
minded journalist, as self-respecting
in his integrity OF purpose as he was
respectful of the public for whom he
wrote. His death is a loss to his
countrymen and deeply personal
sorrow to his friends.
The phrase that so often is heard
among those who are left behind,
suggestion that Ray Clapper would
have preferred to die as he did
hard at work on a great story, full
of the old zeSt and excitement that
no real reporter on the trail of news
ever loses-passed the lips Of many
of his brethren in Washington
yesterday, as the word spread. But
there is inadequate comfort in the
thought, for he met his death still
short Of the powers inherent in
brilliant mind, a balanced sense of
ethical values and a noteworthy
talent for straightforward express
sion. He had come far, but he would
have gone further, and while the
news Of these dark days tends to
accustom us to the repeated shock
of tragedy, this one touches very
close to home in those who value
the things in newspaper work for
which Ray Clapper stood. He found
and filled place in American public
affairs that will not be readily filled
again.
Evening star., 1944-02-04

security depend on the British and our
selves holding the same views for post
war reconstruction, working together
in peace as in war, believing in each
others good faith, differing on details
but never on the larger issues, standing
as unit in whatever international
organization is set up after the shoot
ing stops.
To be sure, we have other allies. chief
of whom is Russia, whose magnificent
war effort and great sacrifices have
commanded our unstinted admiration
and sympathy. We want to work with
her after the war as we'll as now. We
want to bring into the general organi-
zation China and our other allies and
the neutral nations. There is no thought
Of British and American domination
but it is impossible to believe in the
success of any worldwide body of this
sort without British American solidar-
ity. With the same ideas. the same
ideals, the same language, and the same
governmental fundamentals, that kind
of solidarity ought to be easy. At any
rate, it does seem basic And anything
that interferes with it would appear
illogical stupid, bad. At the moment,
there is some prospect that misunder-
standings that have arisen among in
dividuals may, if permitted to continue,
deepen into the kind of thing that would
interfere.
The argument is that in the peace
period British-American solidarity is the
one thing that can prevent Russian
domination of the cooperative ma
chinery and Russian dictation Of the
peace terms, both of which would be
highly undesirable. Because of the
strength of the Russian position at the
peace conference it will be no easy task
to prevent that anyhow. Give the Rus
slams chance to drive a wedge between
the British and ourselves and We may
be sure it will be driven. That naturally
would be the Russian game, but what
fools we would be to aid her in playing
Evening star., 1944-02-04
On Salvage.for-Victory
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
l was delighted to learn from YOUR
recent editorial that the schools have
passed the 1000, ,000- pound mark in YOUR
salvage-for victory program. sponsored
by The Star and the Parent t-Teacher
Association.
May I take this occasion to congratu-
late The Star and the schools on this
outstanding contribution to the war
effort?
While we are headed in the right d.
rectlon on the waste paper salvage
effort, there is still very long way to
go to get the tonnage to meet war and
essential civilian requirements. I am
impressed particularly with the worth
while things the children are doing
with the money they have earned. Ten
thousand dollars is a sizable sum and
the fact that they are using it for such
commendable purposes should make the
public more than anxious to redouble
its efforts to save waste paper and see
that the children get It,
Congratulations to The Star for con-
tinuing to help solve the critical short
age OF waste paper that exists
H. M FAUST,
Director, Salvage Division, War Produc-
ton Board
Evening star., 1944-02-04
Constantine Br01Vn

particularly interested in having q
political say In international affairs.
There is little likelihood that the idea
Of Transforming Russia into q common
wealth has sprung from desire of the
l6 republics to obtain complete auton-
omy from Moscow, as was the case when
the British government was compelled
by the people Of its four most important
dependencies to give them full dominion
status.
The dispute between London and
Moscow over the future fate Of the
Eastern and Southeastern European
states which heretofore have been inde-
pendent has neared climax in the last
few weeks. Diplomatic hand grenades
were hurled In both directions. AS the
opening Of the second front approached,
1t appeared that while militarily the
United Nations formed a solid front,
the diplomatic front was severely
preached.
The Kremlin could not retrace it's
steps. Premier Stain and Foreign
Commissar Molotov refused to discuss
at the Moscow and Teheran confer
ences the question of the border
states" They were determined to brook
no interference in this matter from any
OF their associates. Moscow has stated
openly that the Russian constitution
took precedence over all international
agreements, including the Atlantic
Charter.
1t is now obvious to most political OBJ
servers that the idea behind the crea-
ton of Russian Commonwealth of
Nations is to permit Moscow to continue
its policies regarding her western boun-
diaries without openly offending her as
sociates who are still bound by the pro-
visions of the charter.
Evening star., 1944-02-04

tallsm, in the sense of private ownership
OF the means Of production. But it has
released new private initiatives inside a
system of state capitalism.
These initiatives have not been re-
stricted to individuals National groups
have taken unaccustomed responsible
tiles
Various parts of the Soviet Union
have developed during the war into
areas of greater or lesser Importance.
Before the war, Russia proper, centered
IN Moscow, overshadowed everything to
the outer peripheries. During the war
Siberia has assumed Importance eco
nomlcally. 1t has been industrialized at
fantastic pace, and now has the eie-
ments OF becoming, in itself. within the
next generations, one of the strongest
industrial areas of the globe Already
1t is the most industrialized part of
Asia, overshadowing China and Japan.
The leaders OF the Soviet Union draw
the consequences of these developments.
They can afford to do so, because the
war has demonstrated the extraordinary
cohesion Of the union. 1t is unthinkaple
that union that has fought through to
victory will dissolve itself.
Now, the leaders are Shrewd enough
to recognize that after the war there
will be great numbers of men and
women all over the union who have
demonstrated capacities of leadership;
that these must continue to be ade-
quately employed as they cannot be in
a highly centralized state covering one
sixth of the earth.
Furthermore, they want to give the
Red Army further vision, and also, I
guess, avoid the always potential politi-
cal danger of highly centralized mill
tarism. Sixteen armies, however inte-
grated, are much less dangerous to
Evening star., 1944-02-04

base on Roi Island and the supporting
position on Namur Island, and to the
south our forces are rapidly reducing
the remaining japanese resistance on
Kwajalein Island. The reasons for this
quick and overwhelming victory may
be anaxlzed as follows:
X \ X
Cd Surprise. The japanese appar-
emily expected a step-by-step proce-
dure, using the Gilberts as jumping off
positions, and striking first against the
atolls nearest to the Gilberts-that is,
Jaluit and Mill. In all our preliminary
operations, we distributed air attacks
impartially over the whole archipelago,
serving the twin purposes Of keeping
Japanese air power neutralized and
Evening star., 1944-02-04
Frank K. Kent

IT, Despite the almost obsequious tender
ness with which some of our statesmen
speak OF Marshal Stain, no informed
person believes that the sort of mutual
trust can be established between us and
RUSSIA as between ourselves and the
BRUSH. For obvious reasons there is
not and there never will be the same
confidence in the Russian aims, ideas.
obJectives and reactions.
Hx
In the great job Of crushing GERMANY
We are prepared to give to and supnort
Mr. Stain to the limit, despite that to
lhls oay all We know about the Russian
situation is what he chooses to tell lis
ana no American nor English military
OF journalistic observers have been per-
mltteo to flnd out the facts for them
serves. But after the war is over we do
not want a Russian-dominated Europe
any more than we wanted a German
dominated Europe. The way to avoid
that is for the British and Americans to
remain firm allies in peace as in war.
We admire Uncle Joe" as a fighter and
we may even like him as an individual
put, as very wise old man is fond of
SAYING, I wouldn't go to sleep with nv
nnger In his mouth Certainly his
recent decision to magically make l6
republics out of one does not inspire
trust. 1t leaves both the British and
ourselves baff1ed as to it's purpose and
effect.
Ihere are among British high execu-
yves, as among ours, some who irritate
ana provoke. But sensible men will
recognize the relative triviality of that
and the vital Importance of unshakable
cooperation. Considering these things.
there is wisdom in the contention that
the President might serve a very great
purpose If he vigorously DISCOURAGED the
KIND OF talk among his subordinates
likely to make peace-table cooperation
ana postwar British-American solidarity
more dlfncult Clearly there is no other
nation with which we can achieve as
complete understanding as with the
British. Small things should not be
permitted to stand in the way of that
Evening star., 1944-02-04

delegates are said to have had no time
even to read the document which they
unanimously approved. Foreign Com
missar Molotov told them all they had
to know.
Diplomats, particularly British had
suspected for two weeks that the Rus
slams would make such a move, and its
implications are SO great that London
circles describe it as the boldest and
most momentous political action in
Europe in many years.
The idea Of Soviet Union composed
of free states is not new. It is in keep
ing with Lenin's idea. After the Ke-
rensky regime was overthrown in No.
vember, 1917, the component parts of
chaotic Russia were given complete
independence. For instance the Geor-
glan republic, Premier Stains home
land, was an independent republic
Evening star., 1944-02-04

No, this is much more important. In
fact, it is the most important single
event foreshadowing postwar policies, to
have happened since this war began.
1t is necessary to consider this new
Soviet policy systematically--and that
will require more than one column.
First, what does it reveal in regard
to internal Soviet affairs? All though
full students have observed that the
wars extraordinary test has not been
without effects inside Russia.
1t has increased enormously the pres
tige and importance of the Red Army;
it has led to far more energetic criticism
of past policies than would have been
possible in time Of peace; it has i'm
mensely augmented national feeling,
which for two decades was played down
by Communist theology; it has restored
the church, and it has de-centralized
administration.
1t has not restored vestige of capi-
Evening star., 1944-02-04
Red Northern Drive

The offensive begun somewhat
over a fortnight ago by the northern
Red Army group has already gained
its initial aims and is reaching, a
second stage involving political as
we'll as strategic obiectives of great
Importance. The first stage OF the
offensive was designed to clear the
Germans from the neighborhood of
Leningrad and to break their grip
on the trunk railway line running
from Leningrad to Moscow. Those
jobs have been done. In addition,
the northern jaw of the Russian
pincers has crunched westward along
the shores of the Gulf of Finland
until it stands today on the Es-
tonian border.
This formerly independent Baltic
State has a well-marked geograph-
ical frontier between it and Russia.
A neck of land less than thirty
miles wide stretches between the
Gulf of Finland and Lake Peipus,
a large body of water running prac-
tically due north and south for about
100 miles, with an average width of
20 miles. Lake Peipus drains into
the Gulf by the Narva River, near
the mouth of which stands the
ancient fortress town with the same
name This makes a naturally de-
fenSible zone which the Germans
must hold if they are to maintain
themselves in the Baltic region.
Once that line is forced, they ap-
parently have no other strong de-
fenSive position short of the Dvina
River, which would spell the evacua-
ton not only of all Estonia, but Of
most of Latvia as well.
The loss of Esthonia would bring
the Russians out of the Gulf of
Finland into the open Baltic Sea,
where their fleet could maneuver
effectively with two major objectives
in view. The first of these would
be to break German water commu-
nicationS with Finland, thereby
leaving that country not only mill
tarily isolated against Russian
invasion but also deprived of food
stuffs, oil and other supplies on
which the Firms vitality depend The
other Russian naval objective would
be to harry the seaborne trade route
between Germany and the iron
mines of Northern Sweden. whence
the Reich gets its best-grade ore
The German Navy has been so
Whitfield down during the past year
that it might not be able to main
tain even partial control of the
Baltic against the Red fleet. And
the loss of Baltic control would be,
for the Reich, a major disaster.
For all these reasons a strong
German defense of the Estonian
border can be anticipated. Mid
winter is, however, the season when
defense is most difficult, because the
Narva River is ordinarily deep
frozen, and the same is true of Lake
Peipus during the colder spells.
Recently, a most unusual thaw
upset Russian calculations, but this
springlike interlude has now passed
and normal frosts have again con-
gealed swamp and water barriers.
The test of German ability to defend
the Estonian border line is thus at
hand.
Evening star., 1944-02-04
As **KK FRIDAY, February 4, 1914
Our Dual School system

"A negro resident OF the BrOOkland
area evidently intends to make a
test Of the law under which the
Board of Education has denied his
f1ve-year-old child admittance as a.
pupil to a white school near his
home.
The validity of the law establish
Ing the Districts dual public educa-
tional system was last upheld by a
1910 decision of the Court of Appeals,
in a case involving other issues,
which found no grounds on which
to contest the right of Congress to
establish separate school facilities
for Negroes. The complainant in
the present case bases his conten-
tions, according to his letter to the
superintendent of schools, on a
claim OF denial of equal protection
under the Constitution by reason
of the relative proximity of white
school to his home and the incon-
veniently distant location of the
nearest Negro school. Aside from
whatever legal merits this claim
may possess, the superintendent of
schools has pointed out that in
Northeast Washington many white
children are enrolled in schools
located farther from their homes
than the school to which the child
OF the complaining parent normally
would be assigned
There is no doubt of the moral as
well as the legal responsibility i'm
plicit in a dual public school system
to provide school facilities for Negro
residents that are on the whole
strictly comparable with those for
white residents. The rapid develop
ment of new communities in Wash
ington and the shifts of population
have brought temporary handicaps
to white as we'll as Negro citizens in
the lack of conveniently located IA
cilities. If there were any suggestion
OF arbitrary refusal to provide such
facilities, because those needing
them are Negroes. the Negro resi-
dents would have every cause for
justified complaint and they would
find substantial support.
But such grounds do not exist in
this case. The school board has
recognized and has attempted to
f1ll the need for a new Negro school
building in this particular commu-
nifty. Adequate schools exist, easily
available If not as conveniently To-
Gated as they might be. 1t is to
be doubted that Washington's Negro
citizens will look with favor upon
an attempt to challenge, on the basis
OF social conception, a basic part
OF a public school system which
has brought extraordinarily excel
lent educational opportunities to
white and colored citizens alike. To
make that challenge at this time
seems i'll advised from the stand
point of the sound relationship
which should and, for the most part.
does exist between the white and
Negro citizens of Washington.
Evening star., 1944-02-04
Letters to The Star
Denies Right to Force
Labor for Profit
To the Editor of The Star.

To the Editor OF The Star:
Should we have universal service un-
der compulsion for war work as well as
for military purposes? This question Is
heatedly debated pro and con- Looking
at the problem from military view
point, one naturally would reason that
II the Government has a constitutional
right to draft men and women between
certain ages and according to their
physical fitness for the Army and the
Navy to help win the war, then the
Government also has a similar right
to draft men and women who are cap
able of working in defense projects to
assist in winning the war.
1t is logical to reason that II 1t is
right to draft one class of civilians for
military duty and send them to the
front to bear the brunt of the battle,
at the risk of life and limb, certainly
the Government has a right to draft
another class of citizens to carry on
the productive work at the home front
in order to win the war. Some ask:
Why should one class of citizens do all
the sacrificing and another class pursue
the usual gainful occupations?
II all things were equal in this euua-
ton, we would say on principle that
the Government has legitimate right
to draft civilians both for military du-
ties as we'll as for work in defense prof.
ects' But the equation is not equal
The civilian who is drafted for the ARMY
or the Navy to fight our battles is serv-
ing Uncle Sam directly and Uncle Sam
reaps the benefit Of his military service.
while the civilian who is drafted for
defense work is contributing to the
profits OF private individual or cor
poration. and Uncle Sam may or NAV
not reap any benefit from his labors.
II all the profits accruing to private
individuals or corporations were taken
out OF war. then we submit the Gov
ernment would have a constitutional
right to draft civilians for defense work
as well as for military duties. The Gov
ernment has no right to force us to
work for the benefit of private concerns.
G. S. LONGACRE
Evening star., 1944-02-04
Winter Night

/ ,U1lk alone beneath sky
That seems more distant such night
As this, Dhen all the earth is white
With sno,D piled smooth and high
Screening the dull fields to the sight.
I take the path, the pasture bar
Is doDn and 90 through, along
The brook that holds frozen song
Deep in its heart. Flung from the
tdrtheSt star
The ,oind sings like a siluer gong.
1t echoes in my heart, mute,
Unspoken thought OF sentient things.
bird flies past, and in me springs
knowledge of po,Der, absolute,
In silent snotD, in 1Dhirr of ipin1s.
CORNELIA B. FURBISH,
Evening star., 1944-02-04
Servicemen Lack RIGHTS

To the Eftor of The Star:
Agitation for legislation to assure
servicemen the right to vote has
reached the point where it can be de-
scribed only as sorry mess, and the
controversy is being used for the benefit
OF politicians posing as the servicemen's
friends.
1t was started apparently with the
idea that the vote could be delivered
by officers under orders of the Com
mander in Chief, for the party In power,
but when attempts were made to add
safety measures to keep it honest and
constitutional, as we'll as fair to the
servicemen and all other citizens. those
raising these questions were accused
of being enemies of the servicemen.
and these accusations will continue and
will provide quite harvest of votes
from the uninformed who feel that they
are acting in the best interests of serv-
icemen
The Bill Of Rights does not apply to
soldiers or sailors. They do not have
freedom OF speech or action. nor the
right Of trial by jury. Servicemen all
are required to listen to the Articles
OF War which are read to them at fire.
quent intervals They will tell you that
most Of the crimes or minor infractions
are punishable by death or such other
punishment as the court-martial d.
reefs" When a serviceman takes the
oath, he agrees to abide by these rules
and, whether he knows it or not, re-
nounces his rights as citizen
Servicemen from the District of
Columbia do not have a vote, but the
noisy champions of the rights" of serv-
icemen do not worry about that. The
parents and wives of District of Colum-
bia servicemen have no vote, so the
politicians do not care about them.
Soldiers and sailors wish to avoid the
consequences of displeasing or embar-
RAISING their superior officers who can
prescribe KIP" the brig, guardhouse
and other punishments at will Ser
geants wish to become first sergeants,
lieutenants crave to be captains, cap
tains want to be majors and ma iors
hope to become colonels. All advance
ments are dependent on the favor of the
superior officers. With that setup in the
armed forces, what chance is there of
securing an honest vote rejecting the
real preferences of the men?
Servicemen in other wars got along
very nicely without the vote, but they
been doing their voting since and
will continue with the aid of these new
veterans to concern themselves with the
best interests of the country as whole,
after this war is won and the veterans
return home
OVERSEAS VETERAN,
with Son Now Overseas).
Evening star., 1944-02-04
Political Changes Wanted
OVERSEAS VETERAN,
with Son Now Overseas)

To the Editor Of The Star:
While we are getting rid of the Jap
anese with bullets let us get rid of the
politicians with ballots politicians who
are responsible for allowing scrap iron,
OIL and gasoline to be sold to Japan
with which to destroy Chinas liberty.
Out OF the same scrap metal that Japan
bought from the United States were
cast the shells, bombs and bullets that
defeated and killed our men at Bataan
and Corregidor and lost to us the Philip
pine Islands.
1t is time to have house cleaning at
Washington.
WILLIAM H. HARGROVE.
California Mo.
Evening star., 1944-02-04

however, 1t has proved that there is
no such thing as an impregnable
bastion. Against superior assault
force, directed In a superior manner,
Truk Is likely to prove no more
attack-proof than the Maginot Line
and other overcelebrated defensive
positions. In any event, 1t is a prize
well worth seeking. for II 1t can be
made to fall, the japanese will be
forced to retreat over immense
areas of the Pacific, leaving the
roads to the Philippines and to
Toxic itself much more open than
they now are.
Evening star., 1944-02-04

matter of time. Re-
leased from mutual
alarm, there is a
disposition to see
flaws in partners
who in more peril
Gus days appeared
f1awless.
There have been
some indications re-
Gently that this
stage h a d b e e n
reached-or anyhow
approached among
the United Nations.
For example, some
traces of irritation
Evening star., 1944-02-04

at the very center
and keystone of the
japanese defensive
system in the Mar
shall Islands, the
forces under the
command of Ad-
miral Chester w,
NimitZ, have reapeo
the re W ard with
which fortune SO
frequently + vor S
the bold. Kwaja-
lein Atoll is prac-
tically in our hands; +;
to the north we
have taken the air