davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-02-10
Strategy Against japan

Admiral Chester w. Nimitz, COM
mander in chief of the Pacific Fleet
and Pacific Ocean areas. has given
the American public a hearteningly
frank and comprehensive picture OF
the overall strategic pattern against
the japanese enemy. This he did
in two press interviews, one at
Kwajalein itself. the other at his
headquarters at Pearl Harbor after
his return from his inspection tour
OF the newly conquered atoll.
The admiral emphasized the sig
nificance of Kwajaleins rapid re-
duction with only a fraction of the
losses suffered at Tarawa. The
thorough blasting of the Japanese
defenses on Kwajalein indicates
that our new attack technique can
overcome any Japanese defenses not
equipped with heavy naval guns,
which are not likely to be encoun-
tered except at one or two key points
such as Ponape and Truk. The loss
of Kwajalein isolates and probably
doomS the large Japanese garrisons
on other atolls in the Marshalls to
the eastward, and also opens the
way for advances toward the Caro-
lines, together with cleanup op-
erations on mi-isolated Japanese
positions on the tanks, from Wake
to Nauru. Once the Marshalls are
entirely subdued. our trans-P Pacific
line of communication with Aus
tralia and the battle area of New
Guinea and New Britain will be
shortened greatly, thereby partially
offsetting the handicap of distance
which Admiral Nimitz considers to
be the most formidable obstacle to
rapid progress.
The growing inability of the Jap
anese air arm to meet ours, and the
reluctance Of the Japanese Navy to
come out and fight indicate that the
plight of the enemy may be worse
than hitherto has been supposed.
The admiral thinks that japanese
air power definitely has passed it's
peak, while their fleet is badly un-
balanced by the loss of destroyers
and cruisers. All this makes pos
sible a stepping up of the tempo Of
attack in the immediate future,
with much closer coordination be-
tween our forces. all the way from
the Aleutians through the Central
Pacific to New Guinea. Indeed, the
admiral explained that a general
offensive now was possible without
waiting for the outcome of the war
in Europe. That certainly is well
come news.
However, Admiral Nimitz stressed
the necessity of setting up great air
bases in China from which the
japanese homeland can be bombed
intensively and continuously on the
pattern employed against Germany.
TN the last analysis" he said, II
do not believe we can defeat Japan
from the sea alone" This sets the
overall picture in its proper per-
spective. The downfall of Japan will
be no quick or easy task. But the
job now is well under way.
Evening star., 1944-02-10
Museum Report

The report OF the United States
National Museum for 1943 is a docu-
ment we'll worth reading, even in the
midst OF war. 1t represents the
careful observation of it's director,
DR.. Alexander Wetmore, and his
staff, and serves to show that, largely
because of the conflict in Europe and
in the Orient, the need for such an
establishment actually is increasing
rather than, as might be supposed,
declining.
During the calendar period COW
cred by the report no less than
230,23l new specimens were acquired
by the museum. At the end of the
fiscal year the total number of en-
tries In the catalogues of all depart
ments-anthropology, biology, geol-
ogy, engineering and industries and
history-was l7,81O,247. Much of the
material recently obtained for study,
If not for display, was brought back
to Washington by explorers labor
ing in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia,
Argentina, Uruguay and other parts
OF South America, as we'll as in
Mexico and in the States of Illinois,
Missouri and Wyoming A consider
able portion of the foreign" activity
OF museum personnel was related to
the strategic mineral program of the
Geological Survey.
Meanwhile, the exhibition halls of
the museum attracted 1885, 1863 visi-
tors, of whom an average of more
than thousand day we're men
and women in uniform. Not all by
any means were sight-seers only.
Many came on business connected
with victory over the Axis powers.
Various war agencies desired infor-
nation from the museum scientists
on such vital subjects as the botany
of combat areas, poisonous plants
encountered by soldiers fighting in
the South Pacific, destruction of
Notwithstanding epiphytes, ma
rine fouling organisms, etc. Data
supplied in response to these in
quiries has been used in the prepa-
ration of survival manuals and
other military and naval handbooks.
Photographs from the museums
files were distributed to soldiers,
particularly aviators, requiring aid
in identification of tribal culture
patterns in the east-for example.
religious caste markings. The mu-
scum library staff assisted in an
swering hundreds of questions on
vast variety OF problems related to
the war.
But the practical value of the
establishment Is not limited to
Evening star., 1944-02-10
Constantine BrO1Vn

German nilitarism must be crushed
and peace can be obtained only by un-
conditional surrender
The question which arises In the
minds Of many American observers.
however. is why Mr.. Hull has stated
so emphatically that the committee Is
dead. The American people have been
given the texts of the agreements
reached at Moscow. They also have
been told-and there Is no reason to
believe that this was not correct-that
there have been no secret agreements
and covenants. But the negotiations
which preceded the final formulation of
the agreements are, Of course, a matter
which Is never given out to the public.
There must have been some strong
opposition by the Americans and pos
sibly the British to the presence Of q
Free Germany Committee in Russia,
and as a result Of the objections raised
by Mr.. Hull and British Foreign Secre-
tary Anthony Eden, Foreign Commissar
Molotov must have given some positive
assurances that since the German
Committee was distasteful to the other
Allies it would be abolished.
Mr.. Hull makes no rash promises.
When he pledges his word he does
everything within his power to keep 1t.
1t stands to reason that he took tho
word OF his Russian colleague to be az
reliable as his own and on his return
10 washington he informed the Amer
lean people on November is that the
Free Germany Committee was dead.
whether Commissar Molotoys de.
clslon was reversed later by higher
quarters because Of military or propa-
eanda expediency Is not known. But
sne whole situation throws a queer
light on the Moscow Agreements
Evening star., 1944-02-10
Maj. George Fielding Eliot

for four days of combat. II devoted to
bombs, gasoline and oil alone dds
regarding spare parts, machine gun
ammunition and all other stores), it
would barely be enough for three 300
plane bombing raids on Japan per
month by large bombers-a mere pin
prick. 1t is not by such driblets of effort
that Japan will be beaten.
IT we are to 90 to China in sufficient
force to defeat Japan, we must there
fore go by sea. We must open the sea
lanes to those Chinese seaports such as
Canton and Hong Kong which have good
rail access to the interior. Our efforts
to open these sea lanes may come in
part from the Indian Ocean by way of
the South China Sea, but the main
effort must come from the Pacific,
and across that ocean we find the
shortest sea route from our sources
of power to the bases where that
power must be used against the vital
centers of Japan.
These are just plain, elemental geo.
graphic and strategic facts. They may
not be to every ones liking, but there
they are, and we must cut the cloth OF
our operating plans accordingly. Admiral
Nimitz was merely giving them due
recognition in his statement at Pearl
Harbor
The issue, unfortunately, has become
confused by a lot of catch phrases and
idle talk. OF these phrases, perhaps
the most confusing is island hopping"
Somehow that has become a term of
reproach. Time and again, some loose
thinking commentator or editorial
writer cries, why must We waste blood
and time in island hopping? Let us
strike directly at Japan" But how are
we to strike directly at Japan unless We
can get close enough? And how are
We to do that without bases? And
where do you find bases in q vast
oceanic area except on islands?
II we are to go TO China by sea we
must first make the passage of that sea
reasonably safe Tor our shipping. That
means we must find bases from which
our planes and our warships can orer-
ate, to protect that shipping from Japa-
nese attack. The Japanese island out
posts are formidable only as they afford
bases from which Japanese sea and
air power can operate.
When the Japanese cease to be able
to use them for that purpose. our ship
Evening star., 1944-02-10

exasperating than 1t is at present.
the hour u too late, Of course, to
DO anything drastic about the forms
to be flled out between now and
March IS, but If Congress acts
promptly, a great deal can be done
to make the payment Of income
taxes q comparatively pleasant
process next year. Short Of great
new victories on the battle fronts
OF the world, probably nothing could
please the American people more
than genuine reform and simpliflca-
ton along the lines proposed by
Representative Carlson.
Evening star., 1944-02-10

colors Of red, black and white should
be re-established and the life they are
leading In Russia has convinced them
that there can be q reorganization of
the German Empire as q nationalist
socialist state.
One Of the speakers, 4 former of1icer
IN the German Army, has painted an
ideal picture of the pleasant life Ger
many might have II she agreed to side
with the U. 8. S. r. Generals, privates
ministers, artisans, intellectuals, un-
skilled laborers who are among the
as one big happy family in the various
Soviet prison camps and there Is no
reason to doubt, the broadcaster said,
the same kind Of life is possible In
Germany after the present regime is
overthrown and peace is signed.
The speakers of the Free Germany
Committee add that Germany's old
established policy since the days of
the Iron Chancellor Bismarck was to
live In full harmony and friendship
with her eastern neighbor, Russia. This
policy was sadly mismanaged under
Kaiser Wilhelm and brought disastrous
consequences to the German people
under the Hitler regime. There Is no
thought in the minds of the present
Russian rulers, these broadcasters say,
to demand the unconditional surrender
OF the Wehrmacht nor to dismember
the Fatherland. Russia needs Ger
many, the committee speakers say, and
Germany needs Russia If she wants to
survive.
r
From the viewpoint OF PSYCHOLOGICAL
warfare these broadcasts would appear
useful. They certainly can affect the
German morale by creating hope among
the people more than the threats that
Evening star., 1944-02-10
To Simplify Tuxes

Senator Georges proposal for
Joint congressional action to SIM
plify the income tax offers at least
the. promise that by this time next
year the American taxpayer will be
out of the wilderness of forms and
forbidding legal phraseology now
making March IS such an unpleas-
ant date. AS chairman of the SEN
ate Finance Committee, Mr.. George
would have that group meet with
the House Ways and Means Com
mittee to cut away much of the
present red tape and effect so thor
ough streamlining as to relieve
perhaps as many as 100000 of
us of the burden of filing any re-
turns at all.
In feeling that such a sweeping
simplif1cation is possible, Senator
George appears to be in substantial
agreement with Representative
Frank Carlson, Republican, of Kan
sas, who has pioneered in Congress
for it. The main feature of Mr..
Carlson's plan is that it would end
the Victory tax, create a single tax
base with single set of rates and
exemptions, and make it unneces-
sary, through the fullest possible use
Of the present withholding system,
for the vast majority of the Nations
50000,000 taxpayers to file returns.
That his proposal has made head
way is clear not only from Senator
Georges attitude but also from the
fact that his party colleagues on
the Ways and Means Committee
have just thrown their support be-
hind 1t and are demanding imme-
diate action to write something like
1t into law.
It may be too much to expect that
S0,000,000 Of us can be spared the
trouble Of filing returns, but it is
certainly not too much to expect
that there will be a serious effort
70 make that task less confusing and
Evening star., 1944-02-10

have right to ask that he live through
the making Of policy with us; we wish to
note his behavior in the days of fux;
we have a desire to find out II issues
become clear to him before they become
clear to the majority
We wish to see potential President
whip out whatever moral yardstick he
uses and apply it to problems while
they still are problems, while they are
still raw, angry, fresh and new and
before consensus has been registered
on them A potential President should
help to make every such consensus for
us: his handwriting and the marks Of his
personality should be visible in the COM
munity opinion that finally is reached.
We do not know where Mr. Dewey stands
on Teheran or on national service, on
the tax measure or even on soldiers
votes; for on the last measure he has
discussed only details and not the basic
principle. We are living though all
these trials without him.
But We can learn about our potential
Presidents only by living with them.
We have right to observe how they
behave during the heat and dust OF
the march, on the days when the water
is short or the weather is bad. A DO
tential President must help to make
history, not merely write footnotes to it.
So while Mr.. Dewey's immersion In
the problems of the governorship makes
up a pleasant little myth, the eobbler
sticking to his last etc, We should not
be unaware of the enormous political
Evening star., 1944-02-10
Young Sheep Herder

He drills out yonder Dith the gunners'
creD,
A tireless lad tOho neuer seems to sleep,
His broDn face strong as steep red clifs
he kneD
And still as sadness in the eyes OF
sheep.
The herds that grased along the can
yon'S floor
Are dim not0, in his mind, till memory
Euokes 1Dood smoke beside a hogan door
And Star-hushed nights beneath
greGseDood tree
The son OF once fierce tribes, a meager
part
OF all that savage force now hpes in.
him,
For small cleft hoopes are patterned on
his heart,
And long peace waits him under a
canyons rim
ALMA ROBSON H1GBEE.
Evening star., 1944-02-10

ton that Mr. Hull was convinced that
what he was telling the American
people was absolutely correct.
Those who read the newspapers and
listen to foreign broadcasts, however,
hear that the Free Germany Commit
tee, far from being dead, is stronger
and healthier than ever. 1t has grown
in size and is more active than when
1t was created six months ago.
The Soviet government continues to
offer 1t all the necessary facilities for
broadcasting at least once and some
times twice a day to the peoples In the
Reich. It's speakers. ranging from gen.
erals to civilians, urge the German
people to overthrow Hitler and not to
fear any revengeful attitude on the part
OF Russia.
X
They inform Germany that the Soviet
has agreed that the old HohenZollern
Evening star., 1944-02-10
Men Do Queer Things

From the Providence Bulletin.
An American merchant ship WAS sink
Ing In the Mediterranean. The third
officer went to his cabin, deliberately put
aside his watch and ring and picked up
six handkerchiefs and . bracelet he'd
bought for his wife; another ofncer
searched frantically for the ships cat.
which was about to have kittens; a sea-
man calmly took OF his shoes and put
on two right ones; the purser opened
a drawer below his bunk, took two pack
ages Of cigarettes from a carton, left
the rest, left two valuable watches and
all his other personal belongings be-
hind. Almost every one left all Of his
personal belongings.
The queer part Of it Is that no one
appears to have known what he was
doing until after 1t was all over.
Evening star., 1944-02-10
Finland Warned Aquin

Secretary OF State Hull's latest
warning that Finland will have to
take the consequences il 1t remains
in the war has been underscored by
the aerial bombardment of Helsinki
by Russian planes and the rapid de-
terioration of Germany's military
position in the Northern Baltic
theater.
The Firms have contended that
they are fighting separate defen-
Sive war, designed only to restore
their strategic frontier with Russia.
The Soviets. OF course, dispute this,
asserting that the Firms are fighting
side by side with the Nazis and in
furtherance Of territorial designs
against Russia. But whatever the
fact as to this, of one thing there
cap be no doubt: Finland's position
is worse today than it was three
months ago. And there is every
reason to believe that it is better
today than it will be three months
from now. The Firms have little
bargaining power left; they will
have none if they wait until they
have been cut off from all German
support and are at the mercy OF an
invading Soviet Army.
The feeling which the American
people have for the Firms is one of
genuine friendship. Yet as a prac-
tical proposition it is a friendship
which has been severely strained by
Finlands active war with Russia
and the passive war with Britain.
When the books are balanced, and
regardless Of underlying reasons,
the inescapable fact is that Fin
land. by fighting Russia. has been
giving a measure of aid and comfort
to the Germans. And this assuredly
will have its influence on the peace
terms which the Firms will be
obliged to accept in the end. Per-
haps the Finnish view is that the
United States, in any event, will
have little to say concerning the
conditions under which Finland will
be permitted to quit the war. But
II 1t Is believed in Helsinki that we
would have little influence with Rus
sia now, 1t ought to be obvious that
we will have still less influence after
the Red Army has fought its way
into Finland and crushed all re-
sistance. II the men who make the
decisions for Finland are looking
hopefully toward the United States.
this is point that they should
keep in mind.
Evening star., 1944-02-10

ping can sail right by taking care only
to keep out of range Of shore batteries.
What we are doing now is. breaking
down, piece by piece, the whole Japa-
nese system of defense in the Pacific
Ocean. With every step we take We
increase the radius Of action of our own
superior sea and air power, and decrease
the radius of action of the sea and air
power of the enemy
Eventually, and at an acceleratinp
rate of speed as we 60 along, we come
to the time when we can send convoys
OF merchant shipping into Chinese
ports. At that point we must under.
take the task of opening one or more
OF these ports for our use. When that
is done, the first great step toward
the defeat OF Japan has been ac-
complished. This is the true meaning
of island hopping" and this is ths
goal toward which the course of our
amphibious operations In the Pacific
Ocean is being directed.
tUh4 ~ "
Evening star., 1944-02-10

In support of such a proposal, 1t is
said the President in this way could
avoid criticism that he is seeking to hold
off1ce continuously. If such plan were
really in mind, the nomination of Vice
President would assume tremendous pro-
portions No election up to date has
ever turned on vice presidential choice.
Another suggestion is that coalition
ticket be placed in the field, with Re-
publican-possibly Wendell L. Willkie-
as a running mate for President Roose-
welt. This isn't new. The plan was ad-
vanced in 1910 because OF the interna-
tional situation existing then.
Evening star., 1944-02-10

HoSS1Oly Inc mOSt important QueS-
ton raised by the McCarran slum-
elimination bill, which the Senator
has just introduced, has to do with
the agency which in effect will have
the power to select the areas in the
District for purchase or condemna-
ton and eventual reclamation. The
authority in this respect is so broad
that the agency will possess extraor-
dinary powers, in the exercise OF
which 1t must have the confidence of
the community.
The McCarran bill assigns this
power to Commission on Improve
ment Areas, composed of personnel
appointed by the Commissioners and
consisting OF representatives of the
District Engineer, Health, Fire and
Police Departments, National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission,
Board OF Zoning Adjustment, Ma
tional Capital Housing Authority,
Board Of Public Welfare, Board of
Education and three members who
have for at least three years been
residents of the District.
When the areas have been selected
for improvement, the National
Capital Housing Authority would
proceed, much as In the past, to
acquire and reclaim them for the
purposes designated, such as low
cost housing, commercial develop
ment, recreation, etc. The creation
OF this proposed commission seems
to follow the recommendations of
those who have advocated more
citizen representation in the selec-
ton OF areas to be condemned.
On the other hand, the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits.
sion is working on legislation which,
IN effect, would assign this power OF
selection and se-determination to
the commission. The theory of this
proposed legislation is that desirable
reconstruction of the city may in
volve considerations other than re-
moval OF "substandard housing con-
ditions," and would permit the con-
demnation of areas deemed "blighted
or obsolescent." This work, it will
be maintained, properly belongs to
a city planning agency and the Park
and Planning Commission was
created for that purpose.
General U. S. Grant, Sd, chair
man of the Park and Planning
Commission, probably will have an
opportunity during the current Bur-
ton Subcommittee hearings to pre-
sent his argument for this type of
legislation. The subject with which
the committee is concerned is much
broader than so-called slum enmina-
tion and public housing. 1t may
well involve program for the
reconstruction of whole areas of
Washington, in conformity with a
plan for the city as a whole.
While selection of the proper
agency remains a question for de-
termination of Congress, it is rather
apparent that the final legislation
must avoid the duplication if not
conflict of effort which would result
from a multiplicity of city planning
agencies.