davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-01-05
The Polish Problem

Reports of forthcoming meeting
between President Roosevelt and the
Premier of the Polish government in
exile, if true, are heartening to the
extent that they suggest the posi-
bility of a rapprochement between
Poland and Russia.
The two countries have not been
on diplomatic speaking terms since
last April, relations having been sus-
pended by Moscow at that time be-
cause of the official Polish reaction
to lurid Nazi charge that the Rus
slams had slain 10000 Poles near
SmolenSk. But the fundamental
reason for the breach between the
two has been their deep disagree
ment over the future eastern boun-
Diary of Poland The Poles have
wanted the line to stand where it
stood before September, 1899; the
Russians have wanted it so revised
as to leave a large segment of pre-
war Polish territory inside the Soviet
Union. The issue is an extremely
complex one. involving numerous
historical, ethnographical and stra-
Ii tegical factors, but it presses for
solution because the Red Army is
now hammering forward into the
disputed region and may be ejecting
the Nazis from it in the relatively
near future.
Presumably President Roosevelt
would not have the Polish Premier
come all the way to the United States
from London for a discussion of the
subject unless he felt that some good
could be accomplished Accordingly,
if reports are true and the meeting
takes place, there will be reason to
feel encouraged over the prospect of
healing the break between Poland
and Russia and thus paving the way
for sound peace structure in East
ern Europe. The boundary question
ought not to be an impossible one to
settle. Some months ago Premier
Marshal Stain declared that he
wanted to see a strong and indie
pendent Poland after the war, and
in the mutual assistance pact signed
recently with the Czech government
in exile, the Soviet Union invited the
Poles to become signatories to the
same understanding. At Teheran,
moreover, as President Roosevelt re-
ported on Christmas eve, interna-
tional relationships were discussed
with Mr.. Stain to such good effect
that the President now feels that no
'insoluble differences will arise
among Russia, Great Britain and the
United States"
And if they do not arise among
the Big Three. the Big Three should
be able to build a peace framework
broad enough to house satisfac-
Evening star., 1944-01-05

appear preposterous. 1t is, however, not
dismissed lightly by some who are in
close touch with the political situation in
England. These sources believe Mr..
Churchill intends to hand over the
premiership to the present chancellor of
the exchequer, Sir John Anderson.
There have been unconfirmed re-
ports that Mr.. Churchill, who mas been
under long, hard strain, wishes to
retire and accept an honorary job carry
ing with it peerage, possibly duke
dom. So long as the victory over the
Nazis was uncertain, he is said to have
felt that regardless of the amount of
work involved he would stick it out.
Now that plans for Hitler's defeat have
been completed and it is only a question
of time before the Nazis are crushed
the Prime Minister is believed enter
tanning the idea of retirement at the
appropriate time.
X
British political leaders, especially the
conservatives, have been much more
Evening star., 1944-01-05

tory solution of problems like that
OF the Russo-Polish border. If such
problems can be settled in spirit of
genuine give and take. in full fair
ness to all parties concerned, then
an enduring system of international
cooperation and collective security
will be within the reach of mankind.
Otherwise, after the shooting stops,
the declared aims of the United Ma
tions are likely to have little or no
meaning, except as an example of
high principles done to death by
lip service and lack of concrete
application,
Evening star., 1944-01-05

Hooded and jessed, the soul, falcon,
lCdits,
Perched on the gauntlet of a Hidden
Hand,
Held in quiescence by slender strand.
Sensing cast strength of 1Dings, 1t hesi-
tGtes
To test them; blindfold, dubious, 1t
debates
And ,Ueighs adventure against repri-
nndnd;;
Far distances of ether to be spdnned,
Bright quarry leading on through mystic
gates.
Wait, falcon, till the training time be
done
Endure the darkness nor contest the
polDer
That holds In leash your furious ecstasy
For flight and chase against the glorious
The Hidden Hand has Weu decreed the
hour
The hood be lifted and the foot made
free.
B. Y. WILLIAMS.
Evening star., 1944-01-05

where and they cannot be expected to
rush in and occupy every square mile
of territory from which the Germans
may see fit to withdraw.
X X
This sector is only part of the whole
Dnieper bend area, all of which is of
increasing interest as the Russian pres
sure against its rail communications
southwest of Kiev continues. The same
question arises-are the Germans get
ting out? Have they been getting out
these past three weeks? Or have they
been unwise enough to try to hang on
to their exposed positions too long
and to face disaster now? 1t seems
impossible to believe that even Hitlerian
intuition" could be guilty of such
military crime. Yet it was guilty of
Stalingrad In the teeth Of Won Books
advice and despite his disgusted resig-
nation. One would give good deal to
Evening star., 1944-01-05

deeper reauZatlOn OF two very clear
things-first, that the speedier the vic
tory the less the loss of life; second, that
the way to hasten the end is to unity
our effort and concentrate our resources
as has not been done before. Actually
the length of the war and the number
killed will be determined by the mood
of the people. That has been the yard
stick from the start, but it is much more
so now.
The greed OF pressure groups and the
feebleness of Mr.. Roosevelt in dealing
with domestic problems are the obvious
things to blame for the mess into which
things have gotten on the home front
and they should be blamed But basic
responsibility is upon the people them
selves. Their tolerance and inertia have
made it possible for the labor bosses,
hypocritically prating about their patri-
otism, to foment strikes which have
slowed down production, prolonged the
war and increased the peril of imitation.
Without effective protest the people
have allowed the President to retreat
from the decisions of his own agents and
inexcusably postpone action on impor-
tant issues. They have watched his aides
playing fourth-term politics, have seen
him take steps for which none but
political reason could be found and,
without indignation, have remained in
different while both the Treasury and
the Congress dealt with the vital busi-
ness of taxation from a low political
angle.
At any time vibrant and alert people
could have ended these abuses. Long
ago they could have obtained enactment
of effective antistrike legislation, COM
PEELED real wage and food price control,
forced the Treasury and the Congress
to cooperate on an adequate and non
political tax program, all of which would
have enhanced our strength abroad by
Evening star., 1944-01-05
Dorothy Thompson

by the war, and bound not to be CARED
out when the "plutocrats" didn't med
labor any more.
The famine in India, on the other
hand, Is useful Nazi propaganda, as is
all imperialism. Hitler referred at
length to the hunger in India; the Co.
man press has played 1t up for months:
and all Europe is being pictured by tae
Nazis as another India, If the "pluo-
Gratis" and "barbarians" win.
~
In Hitler's proclamation the only RI.
erence to American labor was-aprops
the postwar world-that America hld
not yet succeeded in securing work AID
bread for millions.
Hitler is not promising the Germln
masses the maintenance or restoration
OF free enterprise" as the result OF
victory. He is promising them social
security and state-built homes-two to
three million of them, in his New Yar
proclamation. The Nazi press refqs
continually to social gains"
Even more startling is the line Muso-
lini is taking. His new state is calhd
The Republican Socialist State" droo-
ping the word Fascist
Thus, in Germany, the Nazis are
stressing the socialist line, in comp-
tition with Russia, while trying to KEEP
the industrialists whom they ned
happy, while in Italy where the sur
render Is described as "reactionav"
plot. the Anglo-Americans are tauntd
as 'imperialist exploiters" and the pp.
labor line Is even stronger than in
Germany.
These observations are not made 10
condone in any way strike threats. But
it Is completely false to create the In
preston that visibly strong labr
movement Is a propaganda liability 70
us. Exactly the opposite is true.
Released BY The Bell Syndicate. Incl
Evening star., 1944-01-05

know Won Mannstein's present opinion
OF his political superiors.
1t is not, however, only the southern
wing of the German forces with which
We may now be concerned. The German
center, based on the string of rail-
fortresses from Vitebsk down to Mozyr
is imperiled. Vitebsk itself is almost
surrounded. There is pressure all along
the front. And now, with Vatutin's deep
penetration to and beyond the Polish
border, the southern flank of this Ger
man central line is turned, seems to be
very definitely "in the air"
OF course, the region behind the Ger
man center is largely the wilderness of
the Pripet marshes. 1t is bleak region,
with almost no north-south roads, the
main railways and roads, few in number,
run east and west. Though much of the
marshland is now frozen it is hardly
country suited for extensive military
naneuver.
The suggestion becomes stronger and
stronger that, this time, the Germans
have been oyertaken by the unexpected,
and that they are being compelled
hastily to revise their plans in order to
meet the conditions which the Russian
blows have thrust upon them. The sep
aration of the German center and the
German right seems to be almost COM
plete; there hardly seems chance for
the Germans to reconstitute new de-
fensive front which shall include the
fortress line Vitebsk-Mozyr as its CEN
trail portion-and if that is so, then we
shall see either German military dis
aster Of truly classic proportions or we
shall see German withdrawal along
the whole front. perhaps deep into Po-
Evening star., 1944-01-05
Letters to The Star
Arnold Benefits Wisdom
Quoted After Quarter Century.
TO the Editor of The Star:

TO the Editor of The Star:
I recently came across the following
quotation from Arnold Bennett. Writ
ten during the last war, 1t seems beauti-
fully appropriate for many people en-
gagged in war work today. I hope that
1t may be as entertaining and useful to
others as 1t has been to me:
THE war work is not the right
kind of war work. You had ex-
pected something else. This war work
your powers, or it is beyond your pow-
ers; or it Is unsuited to your individuality
or to your health or to your hands or
feet. You can scarcely say what you
had expected, but at any rate . I
will tell you what you had expected.
You had expected the ideal-work that
showed you at your best, picturesque
work, interesting work, work free from
monotony, work of which you could see
the immediate beautiful results, work
which taxed you without overtaxing
you, really important work without the
moral risks attaching to real RESPONSE
bility. Such was the work you had ex-
pected, and the chances are 10 to l
that the work you have actually got is
dull monotonous, apparently futile; any
fool could do it, though it is exhausting
and inconvenient. Or, on the lother
hand, it is, while dull and monotonous.
too exacting for a we'll -intentioned
mediocre brain like yours (you don't
actually mean that, but you try to be
modest)-n short. it is not suitable work.
Axiom: There is not enough suitable
work to 60 round, nor the thousandth
part of what would be enough. Un-
suitableness is characteristic of nearly
all war work. Lowering your great
powers down, or forcing your little
powers up, to the level of the work
offered-this, too, is part of war work"
JOHN D. EDGERTON.
Evening star., 1944-01-05

concerned than the Americans over the
future OF postwar Europe. The idea Of
a federation Of the British nation, in
cluding not only the present dominions,
but also European states, such as Bel
giun, the Netherlands and the Scan
dinavian countries, has received scant
publicity, but is one of the vital questions
discussed recently In London by such
leaders as Field Marshal Smuts, who
today rates second only to Mr.. Churchill
in British political Importance.
Sir John Anderson, an extremely able
though much less colorful man than
Mr.. Churchill, Is realist in national
and international political matters and
is said to encourage the idea of fedora
ton of British nations which should
comprise some non-English speaking
countries which, both economically and
strategically, are to become an important
portion of new family of nations en-
abling Britain to maintain the much
needed balance of power in Europe.
The job of chancellor of the exchequer
often is regarded as stepping stone to
the premiership.
Political observers recently returned
from across the Atlantic believe that
since the Moscow and Teheran meet
ings there has been some friendly d.
vergence of opinion among the British
political leaders.
Regardless of whether definite de-
cisions were made at these conferences
concerning Eastern, Southeastern and
Central Europe, the opinion prevails in
important London quarters that Russia
is entitled to obtain whatever she de-
mands in those areas and in view OF
her strength and proximity to the
territories she will obtain anything she
wants.
There has been a good deal of con-
Germ over Russia emerging as the strong
est continental power in Scandinavia
Evening star., 1944-01-05
Constantine BrO1l,n

and to certain extent in the Iowlands.
There have been some repors about
the desire Of the Belgian and Neither
lands governments In exile to form q
permanent military, political md eco
nomic :lliance with the British Empire.
Mr.. Churchill's pet idea Of "intGchang-
ing nationalities" which he offered to
the French In 1910 did not strike a
responsive chord, but is being 1t least
considered by the smaller Western and
Northern European countries as enc way
Of meeting postwar problems.
Il ~
In the past three and hal years
Mr.. Churchill has made many POLITICAL
commitments which were prompted by
the necessity OF Britain winning the
war against the Germans at an, price.
1t might be difncult for him te stand
pat on his commitments and 1t the
same time to put into effect an entirely
new imperial policy. Foreign Secretary
Anthony Eden is regarded as bdng in
the same position as his prime minister.
The traditional British policy d bal
ance of power never has been abandoned
either by Mr.. Churchill or Mr.. Eden.
But under circumstances over which
they could not exercise a direct cntrol
Britain now faces the possibility of
having only one dominant powe in
Europe.
France probably is out Of the picture
for at least one generation. Russia on
the other hand, is becoming the donin-
ating power, extending her influenc. as
far as the Elbe River in the west and
the Adriatic in the south.
Only federation of the western "a
tions could re-establish the EUROPEAN
balance, which has been upset by he
eclipse of France and the probable ds-
memberment of the Reich.
Evening star., 1944-01-05

strikes to rally mo-
rale in Germany and
the satellite coun-
tries, is not sup
ported by a study of
Nazi domestic and
foreign broadcasts
Only brief and non
committal reference
have been made u
any of the strik
threats, as far as
have been able u
check.
Actually, the state
ment shows a lack
0f 5Ip6erSt q nf}ipp ra-
Evening star., 1944-01-05
Treatment of Veterans
Draws Rebuke.

To the Editor OF The Star:
Again We say that there is nothing too
good for the boys; but do we mean 1t
any more than we did the last time?
Experience has not given much ground
Tor hope. At any rate, shortly after We
tong most deserving remedy for a most
deserving class of veterans, and after a
long career of vetoing and opposing
beneficial legislation for veterans, Pres
ldent Roosevelt came out for generous
treatment for World War II veterans.
Other politicians were not far behind.
There was even talk of a Christmas
present for the boys and a bonus. If
one analyzes these hasty proposals, it
Is found that they are neither scientific
nor charitable remedies. However this
may be, it makes one wonder whether
veterans of past wars have been ade-
quately cared for Again, if one takes
time to investigate, his conclusion must
be a negative.
Since l do not want anything per-
sonally, let me tell you what I believe is
the truth. Veteran legislation and ad-
ministration Is bureaucratic mess. Why
prolong it? The intelligent remedy would
be to llquidate the Veterans Administra-
ton. Then turn the whole matter over
to business firm. Let's say the Met
ropolitan Life Insurance Company. That
sounds silly only because it is SO sensibly
true. We have all become befuddled
by goofy goings-on in the Government.
say nothing of scandals, discrimina-
tions, graft, favoritism, pull, shabby
treatment of veterans, and much else.
AS people, we don't want to be wor-
ried. We ignore and forget and hate
those who remind us of duty not done.
We simply pass bills and say our duty's
done, I solemnly say that of all the
cruel messes, the treatment of war vet
erans exceeds anything in history. I say
this for the dead and surviving victims
WORLD WAR,
Evening star., 1944-01-05

are still strongly
held, the fact that
they do not have
good communica-
tions straight to the
rear may result in a
considerable Russian
capture of prisoners.
There has been no
recent news from
this part of the
front and 1t is hard
to know how many
Germans. are still
there; the Russian
armies cannot, of
course, be every
Evening star., 1944-01-05

of these do not know
what they are talk
ing about. But some,
like Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower, are IN
position to have a
sound judgment.
For example, when
Gen. Eisenhower says
we will crush Ger
many in 1914, it can
be accepted that,
barring very bad luck
or very bad manage
ment, that is what
we will do. Gen.
Eisenhower Is the
Evening star., 1944-01-05

to when he might
give up his high Of
fice: the other is that
plans have been ad-
vanced for the Gre
alton of a British
Federation of Ma
tions after the war
which would include
the Nordic European
states and the Low
lands.
The report that
Mr.. Churchill may
step out of the pic
ture-possibly before
next summer may
Evening star., 1944-01-05
On the Record
British political leaders, especially the
conservatives, have been much more

The statement made by high author
ity, reported to have been Gen. Marshall,
that the Nazi propaganda machine has
used the threatened railroad and steel
Evening star., 1944-01-05
This Changing World

Two interesting reports have been
received from usually reliable sources in
London. One Is that Prime Minister
Churchill already Is giving consideration
Evening star., 1944-01-05
The Great Game of Politics

A large number of persons of more or
less prominence have ventured to fore
cast events for the new year, both in
the military and political fields. Many
Evening star., 1944-01-05
Soldier Overseas
Wonders About Congress.

NVhuSIS IAOOut SOhSA
To the Editor of The Star:
My son, somewhere in New Guinea,
writes: do you think, dad, that the
war is going to last much longer? The
news in The Star seems to favor the
Allies, but nothing from the boys on
the Hill about the end of our overseas
duty. What are they doing up there
besides dickering about their own per-
sonal politics? I hope that after the
1914 election something will be done
in our interest" A MOTHER.
Evening star., 1944-01-05

Surplus Eggs Glut Market, says
headline. This is good news for the
consumer, but there are still too
many bad eggs in the black market.
Evening star., 1944-01-05

The Russian capture of Byelaya out
fanks the German positions along the -
Dnieper River from the vicinity of Kiev
down to Cherkassy. If these positions
Evening star., 1944-01-05
Human Body Defended
Against Charge of "Indecency."


To the Editor Of The Star:
I, being an artist, was interested in the
action of Postmaster General Walkers
barring Esquire magazine from the Sec
ond-class mails.
People who have had an art education
do not consider the human form
dressed or undressed-a vulgar" or
indecent" thing! Far from it, they
consider it is the masterpiece of AL
mighty God, and as such should be
admired and appreciated
1t speaks rather badly for the mental
attitude that would try to smear the
beautiful in mantle of shame!
How good it is that the old Greeks
never held such views on art!
If the nude, or seminude, is demoral-
izing to behold, then why not close the
National Gallery of Art and the Cor
coran Art Gallery. They contain paint
ings of female figures without the
adornment of any draperies whatever!
Even the Bible says, THE body is
more than raiment."
H. B, BRADFORD,
Evening star., 1944-01-05
Wood Cutters Reminded
of Wild Creatures.

To the Editor of The Star:
1t Is to be hoped that the fuelwood
cutting program in Rock Creek Park is
being undertaken with due regard to
the well-being of the wildlife population.
Rock Greek Park, or any other piece
Of countryside, is imperfect, lacking, if
it is not peopled with wild creatures.
BY their graceful movements and charm
of form and color, the wild denizens of
woods and fields bring life to what
otherwise would be dreary landscapes
Dead trees are essential habitat re-
quirements of several species of birds. 1t
is to dead trees that most woodpeckers
look for food as we'll as nest sites Dead
trees also often provide den sites for
mammals Another important factor to
remember is that these birds which rely
for food and homesites on dead branches
and trees, are species which continually,
and diligently, search for insect food
thus protecting the living trees of the
forest. EDWIN A. MASON.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-06-24
MAJOR DE SEVERSKY

DISPATCHES these days are
~ peppered with expressions
like command of the skies"
AIR superiority" mastery in
the air" They are used almost
Unfortunately and accepted
in the same vague spirit by
readers.
Yet, from the standpoint of
air power principles. there are
important differences in mean
ing. 1t is of practical impor-
lance that we avoid confusion
on the role Of air power; and
the offhand use of terms by lay
men, as well as military men,
does add TO the confusion.
Mastery of the skies" is a
condition which implies that
hostile air forces have been
fully eliminated.
We succeeded In inflicting
enormous damage on the en-
emy's industry and on his air
power, but we did this despite
fierce and costly opposition.
In the pure aerial offensive
against Germany. which ended
with the invasion. our losses in
the air, wherever we attacked
vital detectives which the Ger
mans decided to defend, were
higher than the enemy's losses.
In weight OF aircraft, rather