The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-11-16
COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS


Despite the terrible ordeals whicl
the population of the occupied Meth
erlands must face in the immediate
| future unless the allied armies finC
themselves in a position to enforce
without much further delay, a gen
eral German withdrawal from the
Low Countries, there is nothing il
the reports from Holland pointing tt
any weakening in the determination
of their inhabitants to see it through
to the bitter end.
Rather to the contrary. The near
mess of liberation appears to have
inspired them with that all-sacrificing
heroism which renders them immune
to the usual intimidation of mental
and bodily terror, and enables them
to defy even the most disastrous con-
sequences of the German lust for
annihilation.
To us, Hollanders and Americans
alike, who follow the desperate life
and death struggle in the Neither
lands from safe and well-ordered
vantage ground, far from the scenes
of battle and devastation, there is in
that mass contempt of death and
destruction something which utterly
confounds US. Perhaps the Dutch in
Holland themselves would not have
understood it before the supreme and
terrible hour had struck in which
they were put to the ultimate test of
water and fire, of death and starva-
tion.
We honor them highly for their in
credible bravery, for their unlimited
sacrifice, for their entire self-denial,
for the stole courage with which they
face a morrow which may be incom-
parably more terrifying even than
Today. This, however, is not the
proper time for analysing the multi
pie sentiments inspiring a nation into
of the most desperate fate
IN the interest of ultimate victory and
Instead we must consider that
people, displaying such heroic virtues
and unshakable fortitude under such
devastating circumstances, cannot be
lestroyed-even by those master de-
;troyers of the human race, the Ger
mans. Their dikes may be pierced
md their factories demolished; their
carried away and broad |
lcres of their once fertile soil render |
ID sterile for years to come, but they |
will be as strong and brave in re-
'uilding their country and it's pros
'erity as they are now, in these days
f deadly visitation.
That great task of reconstruction,
erhaps from the very bottom up
7ards, must sooner or later begin.
When they set to that task, the
butch, knowing that their future life
epends upon it's accomplishment,
yill put all their strength and energy,
ii their courage and patience in it.
hey will need no pity; the one thing
hey will then be in need of, is tools.
Give them the tools, and they will
o the job. The earlier they get them,
ne better they will do it. They will
eed the tools of machinery and the
,ols with which to rescue their dy-
lg acres.
And they will need the tools with
hich to revitalize their perishing
odies, the indispensable tools of
punishment and health. For though
leir spirits be strong and undaunted,
leir bodies are undermined by hun
er, want and cold, and may well be-
)me exhausted.
Their deliverance may be matter
another few weeks; it may, on the
her hand, be matter of many
inter months which count double
n deadly want and privation. When
comes, may the tools come in it's
AXE the tools of labor and the tools
ith which to rebuild bodily strength
I'd health