davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-05-01
This Changing World
By Constantine Bro,gn

Days instead of weeks are now counted
before the bloodiest battles in history
are going to take place.
Two formidable forces are facing each
other-the American British Army Is
prepared to strike and the German
Army Is determined to use all its power
and cunning to prevent US from, making
deep inroads into the skilfully prepared
positions which have, been constructed
in the last two years and have been
manned with the Reich's best forces in
the last five months.
We cannot hope to take the enemy BY
surprise and must rely on the might of
our air umbrella, the power of Our naval
guns and the bravery of our troops to
establish beachheads and obtain pos
session of important ports.
In order to avoid disappointments
concerning losses and possible--though
not likely-setbacks when the first waves
attack the European fortress we must
realize that this operation is not like any
of the others we have undertaken as
yet.
In North Africa we were able to land
our forces from transports with q mini
mum of losses-less than LOO men,
because the French ports at Oran, Al
giers and Casablanca surrendered after
a token resistance.
In Sicily, and later in italy, we had
the choice of uninterrupted sandy
beaches. The italian defenders in Italy
were glad to surrender after a heavy
air and naval bombardment. At Salerno
the fight was sitter.
The coast of Western Europe has
many sandy beaches but there is no
continuous line. 1t stands to reason
that the enemy will have his defensive
forces concentrated In sections where in
vasion barges can land. The harbors
which could accommodate transports
are strongly defended.
n X
For months the British have been
mentioning openly that the Germans
have a secret weapon-the rocket gun
which is said to be capable of hurting
some six to nine tons of explosives a
Evening star., 1944-05-01

surrender. The questions of emerg-
ing Importance include those hav-
ing to do with the lands to be lib
Grated from Hitler-such as France
and Yugoslavia-and the temporary
measures to be applied to avoid
chaos as the war ends in Europe.
Not long ago, although the frame
work of Allied postwar collaboration
had already been established by
such documents as the Moscow and
Teheran declarations, American pol
icy in respect to specific problems
to be treated within that frame
work-a framework of basic prin-
ciples-appeared at times to be op-
Grating at cross purposes with Brit
ish policy, which, together with the
Russian, seemed flrmer and more
clearly defined. The talks now
ended in London-described as the
most important diplomatic develop
ment since the Teheran confer
ence-should do much to end this
appearance of confusion, and, since
the Soviet and Chinese governments
were kept informed on the exchange
of views, there is a good chance, as
a result, that the diplomacy of the
United Nations as whole will be
better integrated in the future.
Nothing would seem to he more i'm
perative at this time, for the war
has reached a point where common
Allied action in the political sphere
has become almost as urgent as it
iS In the military
Evening star., 1944-05-01
Nazi Military Mind
By Maj. George Fieldina Eliot

The German military mind does not
change very much, from year to year
or indeed from generation to genera
ton. 1t can never, for example, get over
the idea that organized slaughter is
the best way of controlling a recall
citrant civilian population The rule
OF terror is its only weapon against
civilians. When they do not respond
to it, or rather, long after they have
reacted against its first effects, the
German keeps on his chosen course,
piling killing upon killing, torture upon
torture. He knows no other way
An example of the military effect of
this procedure may be seen in the in
structions issued by the German police
general in Paris to his subordinates
throughout France, as reported from
Swiss sources. These instructions deal
with measures to be taken 'in the event
of Allied landings" They are interest
ing when analyZed.
First. Measures to be taken instantly
must include the arrest of all-known
members of French resistance groups"
The word INSTANTLY" probably means
instantly on receipt of word that Allied
troops have landed" But the organized
French underground is, of course, in
close touch with Allied headquarters
and will know the fateful date we'll be-
fore the GermanS-Who must get their
information from events Hence, it is
hardly to be expected that members of
French resistance groups" will be hang
ing around their homes and businesses
waiting for the Gestapo TO arrest them.
Moreover, Is it not a little naive to
assume that known members of French
resistance groups are being permitted
to roam at large now, and are only to
be arrested when invasion comes? Much
more likely, this order is intended to
cover the arrest of any prominent
Frenchmen who might be leaders OF
local resistance or who are suspected
OF belonging to some organization which
dlsapproves of Nazis or Vichy.
Second, "All civilians between Is and
80 to be drafted for forced labor" Those
who absent themselves, or refuse, to
be sent to concentration camps Those
VINO oHer resistance, to be shot But
VINO Is going to do all this? Who is
going to make all these Frenchmen
work? Who Is going to guard and drive
them?
II the task is to be given to the Vichy
police and Gardes Mobiles, then "quis
custodet tpsos custodes"7 The Germans
have already tried using French police
Evening star., 1944-05-01

fused to renew. The union went to
the WLB, which three months ago Or
dered extension of contract, with one
of the two members representing in
dustry dissenting.
ception to usual policy. Montgomery
Ward claimed big labor turnover since
the last election, and that the union no
longer represented the workers. The
board ordered extension of contract for
80 days and sent the case to the NLRB
for new election. 1t has been uniform
policy to presume contracts to hold
until or unless new elections result in
certifying other bargaining agencies.
There was another public hearing,
and on April the board, this time in
Guiding the former dissenting industrial
representative, unanimously demanded
that the company comply. Mr.. Avery
refused. So the case went to the Presi-
dent.
The President then acted as ordered
by law.
There Is no difference in procedure in
this case and the case of the coal mines.
The first coal strike occurred before the
Smith -Connally Act had been passed
The act was passed in order to provide
means of compelling compliance. When
Mr.. Lewis continued recalcitrant, the
President took immediate possession"
OF the mines. The President could not
take immediate possession of Mr.. Lewis
because the act gives him no such power.
Mr.. Lewis was compelled to arbitrate
and he did not get what he had asked
for.
Montgomery Ward & Co. denies that
the labor disturbance threatens the
war effort. The War Labor Board in
other instances has ruled that strikes
occurring in plants situated in centers
of war industry threaten to spread and
indirectly affect stable employment
ploye relations in war plants But in
this case 1t Is a peculiar attitude for the
company to take, since the Chicago
house has asked for no less than SO, 900
preferential priorities from WLB on the
ground that its merchandise was essen
tial to the war effort. A subsidiary
company in Springfield, Hummer Manu-
featuring Co., to which it Is presumed
the strike would have extended. is
directly engaged in the manufacture of
gun mounts and airplane parts.
Montgomery Ward has defied the law,
which is a law of Congress, specifically
directing the Presidents procedure. And
what all the yelling is about I cannot
understand-unless it is because this Is
a campaign year, and the dispute is in
Chicago
(Released by the Bell Syndicate, Inc)
Evening star., 1944-05-01
Muy Day

It was in the year 1899 that the
international Congress of Socialists,
convened at Paris, established
May l as an international working
class holiday. From then on,
throughout continental Europe and
to a certain extent, in Latin
America, May Day" was an occa-
sion for radical oratory, proletarian
parades and demonstrations with a
revolutionary tinge which, in coun-
tries ruled by conservative regimes,
were apt to result in riots, arrests
and stern police measures This
was especially true in Czarist
Russia. where annual strikes and
disturbances became political
training ground for the eventual
triumph Of communistic revolution
in 1917.
BY contrast to the contiaent and
Its Latin American offshootS, the
EngliSh-Speaking countries never
adopted this militantly class-con-
scious celebration Britain con-
tlnued to associate the date with
gay May Poles and Morris Dances,
celebrating the full advent of spring.
In the United States and Canada,
Labor Day. is a relatively sedate
performance, timed in September
and partaking of the quiet pre-
autumnal mood. The May Day cele-
bratlonS on this side of the At
lantic are confined to foreign
mlnorities and their few native
radical sympathizers. 1t has re-
malned an urban exotic.
One OF the first acts of the Fascist
relationships which cropped up over
Europe after World War l was to
abolish May Day, and it is safe to
say that in Argentina under the
current Farrell regime there will
De no celebrations permitted the
Evening star., 1944-05-01
On the Record
By Dorothy Thompson

When Sewell Lee Avery Missed 'New
Dealer" at Attorney General Biddle,
who had entered his office to take over
the plant Of Montgomery Ward & Co.,
he seemed to overlook the fact that
Mr.. Biddle was there under a law that
had originated, not in the White House,
but in Congress, and had been passed
over the Presidents veto.
The h-Connally Act had it's
origin in John L. Lewis defiance of the
War Labor Board. The purpose of the
act was to provide a means for en-
forcing acceptance by both employers
and unions of WLB orders The means
prescribed by the law was the "immedi-
ate possession" on order of the Presi-
dent, of plants in which either en-
ployers or unions failed to accept the
rulings Of the WLB, provided the
President finds, "after Investigation"
that there is an interruption of the
operation of such a plant as a result
OF strike or other labor disturbance"
and that 'the national defense pro-
gram will be unduly impeded or delayed
by such interruption"
The President has no power to act
unless a dispute which the WLB finds
itself unable to settle Is referred to him
by it. Then he Is compelled to attempt
to settle it by order and if this fails,
to invoke the procedures defined in the
Smith -Connally Act.
Since the board was established in
January, 1S42, it has settled 5000 dis
putes and referred only II to the Presi-
dent. or these IT, seven, including this
latest case of Montgomery Ward. arose
out of company rejection of rulings.
and 10 out of union rejection. OF the
seven plants involved, two were held
only few days: three have been taken
since mid-April; two are still being
operated some months after seizure
OF the 10 cases involving labor de-
hance, four were settled by the union
on telegram from the President six
involved taking possession of the
plants; four were seized but returned
to their owners in a few days: only
two-both coal mines-are still retained
by the Government.
There is nothing peculiar to the
Montgomery Ward case and exactly the
same lawful procedure was followed.
Employees of Montgomery Ward struck
when the company refused to extend
the contract with the union, which had
been certified by the National Labor
Relations Board. A similar situation
had arisen before, in 1912, when Mr..
Avery had also refused to sign a con-
tract. Then he complied upon presi-
Dental order. The contract was for a
year. When 1t expired, Mr.. Avery re-
Evening star., 1944-05-01

to guard the railways, for example
and discovered that the poor fellows
became so chilled at night that they
lit bon-fires to warm their hands
which unfortunately had the effect of
outlining the course of the railway for
the benefit of Allied n-strafing
planes.
Do the Germans really suppose that
they can count on the whole hearted
cooperation of any considerable num-
Der of Frenchmen at a moment when
an Allied army of liberation Is ex-
pected to land on French soil? Those
days of despair are gone forever;
Frenchmen see the dawn of a new hope,
and will act accordingly.
But the third provision in the Ger
man police orders suggests that the
Germans are beginning to guess some
thing of this. The French militia Is
to be modified at once, and will be
supplied by Germans and answerable
to the German regional high command
The Garde Mobile and the Vichy police
to be disarmed if necessary" There we
begin to see little light. The militia
alone is to be really trusted.
But do the Germans actually lean
upon this broken reed? Can they sup
pose that the organized forces of French
resistance have not marked down the
members of the militia, its headquarters,
its leaders, to be taken care of first of
all when the time comes? And do not
the Germans realize that their oppo-
nentS will know the zero hour before
they do? And do they imagine that in
the areas which really matter, the
French underground will be left long
unsupported and alone?
The Germans may be preparing to
do just what they have threatened so
often to do, to leave only a ruin and
cemetery behind them when they are
driven out of the lands they have oc-
cupied. They may be striving TO set
Frenchman against Frenchman, count
ing the shedding of all French blood as
q proportionate strengthening of Ger
many against the needs of the next
war. They may hope to leave behind
them cleavageS so deep and unbridgeable
that even those Frenchmen who sur
vlve can never unite to form once more
a strong and virile state.
1t seems impossible that the orders
given can have any other serious pur-
pose, save to serve as the excuse for
lndlscrlminate massacre or the torch
TO set alight nationwide civil strife.
Evening star., 1944-05-01
The Librarian

Reluctantly she greetS you Dhen you
1Ddlk
Within the treasured archiues OF her
World;
Her glance falls on you absentIy and
then
A,Day again to unSurrendered dreams.
Her fingers point resigned directions
toUard
The ro,D OF dusty books, ceremony
That briefly peils her grave fndi6er-
ence;
The hush OF years has consecrated
room
And keeper. Opening her book once
more
With breathless eagerness OF one php
knoiUS
That beauty ansUers beduty's everv
need,
She gathers to her heart the singing
words:
"Ho,o do ! lore thee' Let me count the
nays :" T.
PHYLLIS SUTHERLAND HANSON.
Evening star., 1944-05-01
Bombing Might Help.

To the Editor of The Star:
The magazine section of The Sunday
Star recently carried an article by one
of the seven survivors of the British
liner Athena, torpedoed somewhere in
the North Atlantic during the early
days of the war.
This lady survivor told how from the
small talk of the drawing room about
fashions in Paris, tweeds bought in
London" she-almost in a twinkle after
the torpedo struck-found herself
struggling for life in the briny deep.
The article was entitled, What Really
Counts"
Beautiful Washington! Springtime
Washington-in all it's glory! Some
times now referred to as the Center
of the Universe
What are we talking about; thinking
about in this generally conceded climatic
period of World War II?
Well, there certainly is no adjourn
msnt Of politics in the Capital CITY.
Cocktail bars and parties seem to be
DONG better than usual. The Secretary
OF War "a man whose judgment and
Underwriting devotion to principle we
all hold in highest esteemp pleads for
unity of purpose and action between
the Army and the civilian population
He would have us understandable
academic truth-that this war is our
war, is eVerybody's war; that we all sink
or swim together. He also lets us know
that the war is far from won.
Does anybody doubt but that We would
have a national service law if this was
not an election year?
Perhaps the greatest service the Axis
could render the Allied cause would be
to drop bomb on our beautiful, DO
lltical, office grabbing metropolis. But
the Axis are too smart for that. 1t
might wake America up to the menace
at our door-the menace that threatens
civilization and the world of free men
everywhere. WILBUR H. CLOSE.
Evening star., 1944-05-01

distance of about 100 miles. There Is
no conclusive proof so far that such q
gun actually exists. II the Germans
have constructed this secret weapon
they have not used 1t yet and are
awaiting the actual invasion before
using 1t against the American British
forces. It is even possible that they
may not use 1t when the first wave
attacks.
The morale of the Allied troops wait
ing to enter Western Europe is reported
to be very high and hope naturally is
being placed on the tremendous air
umbrella which will support the land
ing of our divisions. The weather
probably will be much more favorable
than it was in italy and there are no
mountains to interfere with uninter-
rupted bombardment by Anglo-Amer-
lean planes.
But we must reckon with the mobility
of the enemy forces. The German
troops, which according to the latest
reports have been placed under the
command of Field Marshal Erwin Rom
mel, have q substantial number of tank
and motorized divisions and a far bet
ter system of communications than they
had either in Russia or italy.
There is an excellent network Of rail-
ways, roads and waterways in Western
Europe. Past experience shows that
bombardments from high attitudes cam
not seriously interfere with the enemys
lines of communications. This was
proved amply in italy, where Allied
planes were not able to interrupt the
very vulnerable Brenner Pass road nor
to prevent the Germans from bringing
reinforcements to Southern italy al
though they had at their disposal only
two railroads and two highways from
Rome to the Casino and the Anzio
fronts.
This summary, pointing out the diff
culties which the Allied forces will en-
counter in what many term the "last
gigantic battle" of the war in Europe,
shows that the American home front
will have to exercise restraint during
the first weeks of the invasion.
Evening star., 1944-05-01
Labor Leaders Bigger?

To the Editor of The Star:
l am very much amused to read
Representative SabathS assertion on
the Montgomery Ward seizure case. I'VE
must realize that no concern is bigger
than the United States" I wonder if
he ever heard of bushy-browed fellow
who lives in Alexandria and whose name
Is John L. Lewis. He further may in
form himself by knowing James C.
Petrillo, about whom you commented
excellently in your editorial. 1t seems
as though these politicians have only
one eye. j. II. p.
Evening star., 1944-05-01
Eric Johnston
From the Arkansas City Traveller.

From the Arkansas City Traveller.
Eric Johnston's forthcoming trip to
Russia to inspect Soviet production ia
cilities is another unusual step in the
career of an exceptional man.
Mr.. Johnston is a big businessman,
and as president of the United States
Chamber of Commerce occupies a po-
sition generally regarded as mouth
piece for all big business.
But Mr.. Johnston is far from the
usual type of big business leader that
has been SO literally and often rightly
assailed by New Dealers, labor leaders
and the like. Instead he is man who
freely recognizes the mistakes of busi-
ness in the past and does not propose
to repeat them in the future.
Evening star., 1944-05-01
MucArthur's Withdrawal

In his own words, General Mac
Arthur neither covets the Repub-
lican presidential nomination nor
would he accept it. He has thus
unequivocally ASSOCIATED himself
from the political scene and made
it clear that the only role he will
play between now and next Novem-
ber Is that of military leader-a
role he has played superbly we'll
ever since the start of the war in
the Pacific. In the circumstances,
it is safe assumption that individ-
uals who have heretofore been Wig
orouSly promoting him as a COP
possibility will henceforth center
their efforts around another name.
AS far as the Republican party
goes, this clears the air of much
doubt and leaves the field more open
than ever to Governor Dewey. Fur
ther than that, in national sense,
1t puts an end to situation in which
General Macarthur, because of the
activities Of some of his well-inten-
toned friends and admirers, was
beginning to find himself in a posi-
ton open to unfortunate and dis
turbing interpretations. This was
inevitable, once the impression was
spread that he was willing to become
a presidential candidate. BY and
large, the public reaction was not
good, especially after the recent re-
lease of the exchange of letters be-
tween himself and Representative
Miller of Nebraska. It is a whole
some American tradition that in
war as in the development of basic
foreign policy, partisanship is out
OF place, s,ld in this case the broad
feeling appeared to be that no man
charged with vast and crucial
military command should divide or
appear to be dividing his attention
between that all-engrossing assign
ment and the maneuverings of a
nome . front political campaign
thousands of miles away.
OF course, If we are to Judge bv
the brilliant record achieved in his
area OF command, we must recognize
That politics has had no perceptible
effect on the great battle being led
by General Macarthur. Yet the fact
remains that as long as he counte-
nanced the active and widespread
promotion Of his name in connection
with the Republican presidential
convention, he tended-however un-
wlttingly-to compromise himself
and I'LL many Americans with mis-
gtvings. In his statement on the
subject, he himself recognizes the
existence OF this reaction, and with
but few clear-cut words. he has
ended 1t, debating completely all
past efforts to boom him for the
nomination.
General MacArthur's declaration
In this respect seems as final and
unqualified as anything could be.
NO matter how well equipped he NAV
be for the White House, he refuses
to be candidate for it. AS he him.
self has intirnated more than once
IN the past, his overriding interest
In life still appears to be to get back
TO the Philippines and smash the
japanese. At this moment in our
history there is hardly a bigger lob
Tor any man, and all Americans will
be Wholeheartedly behind him as he
carries 1t through to completion.
Evening star., 1944-05-01

Prime Minister'S Remark Hurt
To the Editor of The Star
The Prime Minister of Australia, John
Curtin, who has conferred with Presi-
dent Roosevelt at his Southern vacation
site, seems to be taunting us publicly
over the success of Australian girls in
winning American boys as husbands.
I'VE used to call you Americans our
cousins" he is quoted as saying, but
there have been so many marriages of
American soldiers to Australian girls
that now I guess we, ought to call you
our in-laws."
There is an old saying that goes
something like this: Many a truth is
said in jest" Perhaps the American
people should profit by the Australian
Prime Minister'S boast" and give a
little thought to this question: Shall
the American Army of Occupation be
composed Of Americas single or mar
ried men?"
II all of Americas young single men
are to be exposed to the wiles of the
girls in allied and occupied countries,
what will become of our American girls?
That old refrain, There Was I Waiting
at the Church" may become the Ma
tion's theme song
Let us give this question little seri-
Gus thought right now and not wait
until the whole world calls us "in-laws"
and our American girls become the
"out laws" NATHRA NADER.
Winsted, Conn.