davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-10-06
Babies Not "Smothered"


To the Editor Of The Star:
Time after time, and again on Sep
tember 28, have read reports in The
Star and In other newspapers that q
baby "suffocated Cor smothered in its
crib" The baby usually is from two to
four months old. Now am not doctor,
but my son suffered q similar fate, and
have talked to many doctors and baby
specialists about this matter. Babies,
am told, do not suffocate or smother in
their cribs. My heart goes out to those
mothers who think that their children
did 80, and that they, somehow, were at
fault.
understand that the cause of these
reported deaths, If not status lymphat-
icus," Is in all probability similarly re-
lated to the transition from prenatal to
postnatal life. The assumption that
the child ~suf7ocated" or "smothered," !"
however, y so common that even
coroner may be In doubt.
These erroneous reports are SO FREE
quent that feel that some public state
ment should be issued BY ! responsible
authority. This might at least serve to
alleviate some OF the unwarranted re-
morse that many mother must suffer
otherwise. A. DELAFIMD SMITH
Evening star., 1944-10-06

But ct Patrai the British are In the
north OF the Peloponnesus, % that
this avenue Of escape Ii threatened.
Meanwhile, to the northeastward,
despite some lighting With Bulgar-
ians, the Vardar corridor has thus
far been held. But the Naxis face =
pressing menace much farther to
the northward, where advancing
Russian troops threaten to cut the
main route from Belgrade into Hun
gary. Should this occur, the Ger
mans retiring from Greece and
Southern Yugoslayia would be iso-
lated and doomed. It is too soon to
predict who will win this race
against time. But the Balkans are
lost to the Germans In any event,
together with command OF the
Aegean Sea which has blocked con-
tact between Russia and the West
ern Allies via the Straits and the
Black Sea-.
Evening star., 1944-10-06
On the Record
By Dorothy THOMPSON

certainty that the Western Allies will
never move into defenseless Germany
for their own purposes, and the Western
Allies need the same security. No coun-
try will permanently accept disarm-
ament unless it feels secure from attack.
Only the joint Allies can create that
security.
In point the Senator demands res
toration of properties seized by the
Nazis and their return to the original
owners or their heirs. The principle is
acceptable but the proposal will not
cover the situation. In the case of
Jewish property, some families have
doubtless been extirpated. The prop
erty could be turned over to fund for
the rehabilitation of Jewish exiles.
There also have been legal" exchange
of property in occupied countries which
cannot perhaps be returned to original
owners for political reasons. doubt
whether Marshal Tito or any Jugoslav
government will be prepared to return
the great Bor copper mines to the
French stockholders who sold them to
the Germans. So the detailed procedure
will have to be, in some cases, trans
formed into wholesale returns of
properties to the states in which
situated.
In point Senator johnson seeks to
limit the number of intelligence agents
which each Ally may keep in Germany
to 100 each. The number is matter for
experts, but If we all want to get on to-
gether, the principle of limitation and
equality is sound.
Senator Johnson's sixth point is most
important. Germany may adopt the
government of her own choosing; but
shall not limit or abridge, by Law or
otherwise, the freedom of the press,
speech, nor religion" Not enough. To
these must be added habeas corpus
freedom from arbitrary arrest and In
generation without warrant or indict-
ment. Otherwise the other three free
doms will be insecure. No tyranny in
history could survive where these four
were maintained.
Finally. the Senator wants 1t estab-
hshed that any violation of the fore
going, If so determined by any two Of the
Allies, will result in immediate military
occupation by all three of them.
The hitch in this is that suppect the
Soviet Union inclines to regard Britain
and America as one, and calculates they
will vote together. Therefore think
she would demand either agreement be-
tween all three, or the right of any one
to move on its own Judgment. The lat
ter should be avoided, and it would be
best to make it unanimous.
But on the whole these points make
sense; one can see q reason for them
and imagine that they would work.
ReleaseG by the Bell Syndicate. Inc)
Evening star., 1944-10-06
Spanish border If matters get out Of

Spanish border II matters get out Of
hand.
Perhaps the action Of the Maquis
represents little more than q group
OF men letting OF steam now that
France has been liberated. Until we
can be sure Of its precise meaning,
however, 1t win bear watching, for
If it should grow more serious than
1t seems to be. and If the De Gaullist
authority should be ignored by those
responsible for the situation, it could
lead to incidents making it neces-
sary for General Eisenhower to ex-
ercise his powers as supreme COM
mander of Allied forces In Western
Europe.
Evening star., 1944-10-06
Spanish Muauis' Action

Though reports on the subject are
meager and confused, it appears
clear enough that a force of Spanish
Maquis - said to number 10000
have set up an independent regime
OF sorts in corner of France near
the border of Spain. Apparently the
situation has not reached a serious
point, but it could conceivably cause
a great deal of tension between
General de Gaulle's "de facto au-
thority" in Paris and the Franco
government in Madrid.
The reports suggest that these
armed Spaniards are made up
largely Of Loyalists who found haven
in France after the Spanish civil
war, and their present activities
accompanied by rumors of, an out
break of guerrilla fighting in North
ern Spain-seem calculated to set
opposition in motion against Cen
eralissimo Francisco Franco. Ac-
cording to the news dispatches, they
have already seized one or two OF the
Madrid governments consulates on
French soil in the neighborhood of
Perpignan. II this is true, some kind
OF protest from the Franco regime is
not unlikely, in which case General
de Gaulle, with his limited powers,
would be faced with delicate
problem.
In some diplomatic quarters the
situation is believed to be more
fantastic than critical" and not one
to cause worry. But the seizure of
consulates-if accurately reported
must be viewed by the Madrid gov
ernment as hostile act carried out
against 1t in France. And since
Franco, who came to power with the
help Of Mussolini and Hitler, must
be particularly sensitive these days
to any sign of an uprising against
him, it is not unthinkable that real
trouble may develop ct the French
Evening star., 1944-10-06

where break-through of the German
defensive positions as now held would
bring the Allied troops up against still
stronger positions and deeper into
difficult terrain The pouring of flood
Of Allied armor into the northern plains
OF Germany must still seem almost ir-
resistibly attractive to our supreme
headquarters as the best possible
chance Of finishing the German war
before winter.
If this is correct estimate Of the
situation, then it would seem likely that
strong Allied reserves are moving up
behind this part of the front, perhaps
even being shifted northward from the
Sd and 7th Armies now on the right
flank, and perhaps including elements or
even the bulk Of the 9Th Army It is
impossible to avoid comparing this
situation with the Tunisian campaign,
when just such backf1eld shift by Gen.
Eisenhower was productive Of the final
and decisive break-through.
Since Prime Minister Churchill has
said that the future buildup of the
Allied forces in Western Europe will be
largely American, 1t Is logical to assume
that the bulk OF the reserves now
at Gen. Eisenhower's disposal are
American troops. If they are put in
for q decisive smash. 1t would be good
guess that they viii either pass through
the American 1st Army, or perhaps
come into the line between the left
flank of the 1st Army and the right
Of the, British I'd. Army. It would
not do to mix up American ana British
supply lines; q free now Of supplies
without administrative complications is
just as essential to the success OF an
offensive as hard fighting by the 'front.'
line troops.
AL this Is the obvious strategy Of the
immediate future. It u suggested by
every element Of the situation - we
can see 1t from here The Germans, Of
course, can see al this just - well;
they can be expected to do everything
they can to meet the growing danger,
danger Of which, to Judge from the
increasingly frantic tone Of their prop
uganda, they are perfectly aware.
It may well be that their reserves are
now at 50 low an ebb that there is
little more they can do. In that case,
Gen. Eisenhower may well have deter
mined to 60 ahead with the obvious
pattern
Evening star., 1944-10-06
This Changing W World
By CossfSssiss Breass

Estimates Of the internal situation In
the Reich support q conclusion that the
Germans will hold out until next spring
unless they suffer some unexpected dis
aster In the meantime. This conclusion
tallies with the latest views Of military
observers. Since the slowing down OF
the main Russian Offensive from east OF
warsaw. the American British high
command became more reserved in its
estimates OF an early termination Of the
war,
Previous hopes for an early ending Of
the war were not based on wishful
thinking but on information coming
from within the Reich particularly dur
ing the weeks after the attempt to as
sassinate Hitler. That abortive at
tempt was followed by witch hunting
campaign In the best 0estapo style and
was directed principally against the old
army generals, the Junkers and the
conservative intelligentsia.
Hitler handed over to Himmler's
hordes the entire Reich and gave him
such unlimited powers that the
Gestapo chief actually has become the
"tyrant" of Germany in the full mean
ing Of the word.
But until the streamlined Gestapo
machine really got to work there were
strong indications that the morale Of the
home front had become very shaky and,
under the impact of the spectacular
Allied victories in the west, would coll
lapse at any moment. This might have
happened, according to those who have
an intimate knowledge of the situation
as 1t existed several weeks ago, had our
Russian allies pressed their offensive
from the east with the same vigor as
Gen. Eisenhower's forces were pressing
1t from the west.
For reasons which neither Washing
ton nor London has yet been able to
appraise, the Soviet offensive did not
come. Hitler and Goebbels were parry
ing for time. From their utterances. 1t
was obvious that they believed they
could save the Mani regime temporarily
and obtain new hold on the people II
Evening star., 1944-10-06
As FRIDAY. October 6. 1914
Communists Rebuffed

Inc FreSlQenC, apparently con-
eerned that his more articulate
Communist supporters might alien
ate substantial number of inde-
pendent votes, turned a decidedly
cool shoulder to the ism" groups
in his second political speech" last
night.
The Communists are 100 per cent
behind the President in this cam
paign, just as they were 100 per cent
against him in 1910. This does not
mean that either Mr.. Roosevelt or
the Communists, as individuals, have
changed during the past four years.
All that has changed is the slant
and direction of the party line, and
II by some chance the party line
should veer back to its 1910 position
prior to November, we would see the
American Communists Scrambling
over each other in their rush to
desert the President.
In these circumstances, when MIR.
Roosevelt says that he has never
sought and does not welcome the
support OF any person or group COM
mitted to communism, or fascism, or
any other foreign theology which
would undermine the American
system of Government, he is making
a statement of fact which has little
real significance. For in this elec-
tion, barring the improbable chance
of change in Communist doctrine,
he Is going to have the support of
the Communists whether he wants
1t or not.
Furthermore, it Is quite con-
ceivable that the Communist vote
may represent the margin of victory
for Mr.. Roosevelt. The President
finds it desirable to plead with loyal
Americans to register and vote, and
it is fact that millions of them
are so Indifferent to the privilege
of the ballot and the welfare of their
country that they will not vote with
out the greatest prodding. But this
Is not true of the Communists. They
will register and they will vote, and
in a close election in pivotal Stats
like New York they can swing the
decision one way or the other.
That is why the Political Action
Committee, whose support the Presi-
dent does welcome, has no difficulty
in working in close collaboration
with the Communists. The President
may remain cool and aloof but to
the party workers down the line a
vote Is a vote, and they are not
going to lose any sleep over the
theological predictions of the man
or woman who casts the vote.
Nor need good Americans, be they
Democrats or Republicans, waste any
time denouncing the role of the
Communists in our political system.
If the American people as a whole
will take the trouble to vote the
Communists can be nothing more
than nuisance. But If millions of
Americans ,shirk their responsibility
on November 7, thereby enabling a
handful of Communists to swing the
election, the nonvoters will have only
themselves to blame.
Evening star., 1944-10-06
Rock Creek Park

Gray rock and red branch 80.
And black boles OF trees
With 1Ddter singing ouer fords -.
Hon comforting are these
Eternal symphonicsi
Here Is delight, retDard and rest
In this GutumnaI solitude,
This glory OF the golden bouohs,
And burning, crimson food
That oUerfosrs the ipood!
Such tDonder lifts the Tagging mind
And spurs the taltering mill
This yearly beauty coming back
To autumn tpo0d and hin,
70 bring ~ comfort stilll
AGNES KENDRICK GRAY
Evening star., 1944-10-06

given 4 few weeks resrtte In which
they could reorganiae the high
command.
Apparently they have succeeded. OF
the old line generals only = few are
still In responsible positions. The rest
Of the army divisional and resimental
commanders are good party men" They
may lack the technical knowledge Of the
old regular army oficers, but since the
problem before them IL exclusively one
Of defense behind existing fortifcations,
this Is MT = serious handicap. It re-
qutres less imagination and technical
knowledge to night such q defensive war
II the commanders have the men well
IN hand and the supplies are arriving
In satisfactory quantities.
Reports from Germany say emphati-
cally that the possibility Of . repetition
of the revolution of 1918 must be ruled
out. The factory workers and the other
civilians have no weapons of any kind.
This makes it possible for relatively
small but well-armed Gestapo troops to
control every little town and village
within the Reich.
- -
The Gestapo has highly mobile force
with important reserves stationed at
strategic points from which they can
be rushed wherever they may be needed.
The slightest indication of "insubordina-
ton" on the part Of the civilians Is ruth
lessly dealt with. There have been in
cipient rebellions in some Of the prin-
cipal industrial centers but they have
lasted a very short time. Every one in
volved was executed on the spot. Sub
versive" falkland the word peace now
becomes subversive in the Reich-is
punished with the same ruthlessness.
Goebbels is helping the Gestapo ef-
fectively. He tells his people that peace
as the Allies understand 1t means real
enslavement. He points out that WASH
ington and London have adopted a
policy similar to that Of. the Romans
in regard to Carthage and the bulk Of
Germany's able-bodied men will be sent
to Russia. Poland and Czechoslovakia as
slaves and will never return.
Evening star., 1944-10-06
Commends F. d. RS Speech

Commends F. d. RS Speech
To the Editor Of The Star:
Some Of your letter writer's and Frank
Kent in his column seemed much
wrought up over the Presidents speech
of September %. The teamsters, how
ever, enjoyed it and, listening in,
thought I caught the laughter in it
not for its politics exactly but for its
sheer game fighting spirit and good
humor.
Why shouldn't the President say he
was four years older If he wanted to-?
Why mightn't he boast little over So
cial security and fair employment prac-
tices since he instituted them? Why
shouldn't he give the isolationists a
dig? And wasn't 1t well to acknowledge
American laboris tanks, planes and %
billion rounds of ammunition per year
since they produced it all?
SAMUEL IRWIN.
Evening star., 1944-10-06
Immediate War Strategy
By Mai. Gsorss Fielding Eliot

so far, the attack Of the American
1st Army north of Aachen does not
appear to be full-scale offensive.
It would seem likely that 1t Il another
of Gen. Eisenhowers minimum and
maximum operations the minimum
gain to be the attraction to that front
Of German mobile reserves, thus taking
the sting out Of the German counter
attacks east Of Nijmegen, which were
getting rather serious three days ago;
the maximum might be the punching
of hole through the German defenses
which might permit further exploita-
ton by larger forces.
The general Allied situation on the
whole left flank-from the sea to Co
logne-shows considerable improvement.
The enemy has been cleared away from
the vicinity of Antwerp, good progress
has been made by the Canadians north
of the Antwerp Turnhout Canal, the
road centers Of Tilburg and Hertogen-
bosch are coming within our reach;
the grip Of the British I'd Army on
the country between the Mas (Meuse)
and the Waal is widening, and the Brit
ish are extending their positions north
of the WAL along the south bank Of the
LEX and northeast of Nijmegen, where
the threatening German counterattacks
have been beaten back, at least for the
time being
Farther south, the American 1st Army
is making slow but steady progress east
ward in methodfcal attack which the
Germans are having great difdculty in
holding. The German shortage of good
infantry is especially notable. according
to front reports; the few good battalions
they have are being constantly shifted
about to meet American thrlsts, and
must be suffering severe casualties and
great fatigue.
There is, however, nothing in all this
to indicate that anything ike . major
offensive Is in progress. The whole
business looks much more like prepara-
tory fighting, probing for soft spots, ABB
sorption Of the enemy reserves, while
the commander in chief watches for
an opportunity to strike decisive blow.
It would seem, In view Of the time
limit imposed by the approach Of winter,
that an Allied attempt for a quick de-
cision must BE made on this part Of
the front, and not farther south where
the country = far more di1hcult and
Evening star., 1944-10-06
Letters to The Star
Wants Data on Food Prices
To Justify Wage Increases

To the Editor u The star:
The raises IN wages for CIO employees
which apparently are being favored BY
the administration are said to be war
ranted by increased costs Of living. But
II the administration Is willing to do the
square thing in these cases, it viii make
public the specific details OF living cost
totals over . period Of time. It can as
semble and publish practically complete
data OF this sort, II 1t chooses to do no.
The labor leaders seem to claim In
published statement that living costs
have risen approximately 5oS and the
Government labor bureau rise OF ap-
proximately as per cent. In neither case
has there been any estimate published
showing the details which 60 TO make up
the totals. Is 1t not probable that no
estimate can be made which will sub
stantiate either Of these claims and
that that is the reason why none such
has been published? The administration
probably prefers to have the voters think
that the rise lies somewhere between
these two stated figures; that is, be-
tween Is and SO per cent. The voters,
however, would prefer the truth.
A few months ago the Safeway Stores
published q comparison in their WASH
ington food prices between those Of q
year ago and those Of the publication
date year later and this data showed
that no rise had taken place in their
food prices during that year.
No claim is made herein that there
should be no change made to square
wages with living costs, but it should
be made equitably and honestly and
on the basis of published facts.
r. WARREN ALLEN.
Evening star., 1944-10-06

Senator johnson of Colorado was, as
recall, an isolationist. But his seven
points, for defeated Germany demand
consideration on their own merits.
He suggests, in point one, that the
German borders remain as of 1882, with
the exception of East Prussia, which be
"set apart for other disposal" while
the German population be moved from
there as well as from the Baltic states
and Poland.
The Allies themselves set the pre-
Hitler German borders. There is no
valid reason for changing them, except
for East Prussia, isolated from the rest
of the Reich by Polish strip. The Poles,
I think, should consider. however,
whether they want solution which
will create eternal dissension between
themselves and any conceivable Ger
many. And we should deliberate whether
1t is wise to establish that populations
can be moved around at will, regardless
Of nationality.
East Prussia Is wholly German.
Centuries ago, before the birth of mod
ern nations and popular states, it owed
allegiance to q Polish king. I hope we
for precedents
Moving 2,250.0Oo people from their
homes Is not an enviable job. And there
is evidence that the Soviet Union, slated
to occupy this territory, has other ideas.
Some weeks ago. when the Russian in.
vasfon Of East Prussia seemed imminent,
the Moscow radio appealed to the popu-
lation to stay ''in their native land" and
not fear. The Soviet Union will, am
sure, divide the Junker estates among
the land-hungry East Prussian peasants
Then I wonder how = plebiscite would
turn out, permitting them to choose
between incorporation, rs an autono-
nous state In the Soviet Union, and
having their home without themselves
go to Poland. think know.
-
Senator johnson (point two) demands
the trial OF German war criminals, but
wants to limit the number to 50,000
I don't know how he arrives at this
figure. But we ought to make 1t clear
that we don't intend to extirpate whole
classes en- masse, on the ground that
all, without differentiation, are guilty.
Also trials against Naxis who have COM
mitted atrocities against Germans-
they are at 1t now with renewed fervor--
ought to be left to the Germans.
Point 3 suggests the total and per-
manent disarmament Of Germany cx-
cept for sidearms necessary to internal
policing, and the prohibition of mill
tary training and all armament produc-
tion. This means the naturalization Of
Germany, and OF necessity involves the
guarantee Of German frontiers by all
the Allies. The Soviet Union needs the
Evening star., 1944-10-06

Senator Truman declares that a
brick aimed at a bureaucrat would
probably hit Republican. Possibly
so. Mud is a far less accurate weapon
and besmirches both target and
thrower,
Evening star., 1944-10-06
Attention: Movie MANAGERS

AJSntlOH. Movie INanaSeES
To the Editor of The Star:
If the war travelogues shown in the
movies were not followed Immediately
by "sillies," the effect of the fighting
scenes would strike many of US with
more force. The order of a program
has much to do with its success. War
scenes are shown as news, and when
released by the War Department are
intended also to impress us with the
seriousness Of the fighting and the
necessity Of backing up the fronts with
purchase of bonds. Much of the effect
Of the fighting scenes is lost when the
silly" follows and drives the war pic
lures from the mind. It is almost as
bad as the buying Of bonds and then
cashing them after the 60-day period
has expired. w. E. ALLEN.