davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-12-29
Inventory

No,o as the year s,oings on It's pendulum,
AtDditing soon the last, reperbernnt
chime,
Held in moments equilibrium
1t faces the tribunal clock OF time.
Here must it take final inventory:
Count and assess, mark OF and re-,
dpprdise-
An April haloed in a rainbotDed Clory: !
October dying In golden haze.
These it shall mark as profts-but its
losses
Hoao can it count thsm9 Hotp cun
these be told? !
Across the tDorld, on named and nanaes
less crosses-
IN prayers and fears no human heart
can hold.
The final balance shah not bs Yevealed
TM Times dark archires are at last
anSedled!
MAE wrNKLER GOODMAN. !.
Evening star., 1944-12-29
Goal Within Reach

The campaign to raise $4,000 to-
ward the cost of the desired site for
the long awaited Cleveland Park
area branch OF the Washington
Public Library now has reached a
point where final and complete sue
cess seems definitely to be within
reach. 1t was reported at the most
recent meeting of the Library Com
mittee of the Connecticut Avenue
Citizens Association that approx
mately $21, 900 has been contributed.
BY the time Of the next gathering
OF the group on January 8, 1t Is
hoped that the remaining $1,000 will
have been pledged.
Certainly, the showing to date is
most encouraging. The men and
women who have sponsored and
conducted the drive are without
exception volunteers and amateurs.
Their effort has been given freely
and without any expectation OF per-
sonal advantage. No professional
agency has been enlisted in the
endeavor. The whole undertaking
has been in the truest meaning Of
the phrase a community enterprise.
Many of the contributions have
been offered as memorials to soldiers
and sailors from Washington. 1t Is
anticipated that the names Of those
thus commemorated will be inscribed
in the library building when 1t Is
finished and inaugurated into serv-
ice. This surely, in the language Of
Abraham Lincoln, is fitting and
Evening star., 1944-12-29
Proqress at Athens

Mr.. Churchill's bold visit to Athens
has already begun to pay dividends.
The mere fact that he and other top
flight British political and military
leaders went to the strifetorn Greek
capital, at considerable personal risk
to themselves, was convincing proof
that the British government recog-
nizes the gravity of the Greek prob
lem and Is bending every effort to
solve it.
Under Mr.. Churchill's auspices
round table conferences have been
held, attended by representatives of
all Greek factions, including the
embattled ELIAS, whose delegates
appeared under safe conducts. Those
conferences revealed the depth of
Greek factional animosities. The
delegates were wisely compelled to
check their arms at the door; but,
Notwithstanding, they almost came
to blows, while everybody talked SO
loudly and rapidly that the stenog-
raphers were unable to record the
angry babel Of argument and invec-
tive. Archbishop Damaskinos, Or
thodox Primate of Greece and gen.
orally respected, presided. and his
dignified presence probably averted
a violent breakup. Indeed, at the
second session, all parties agreed in
principle on the formation of a
regency, though nothing was done to
implement the decision and the con-
ference adjourned on the under
standing that it will not be re-
convened until another meeting is
deemed advisable. Meanwhile, no
truce has been arranged and fight
ing continues.
Thus, technically speaking, little
has been specifically accomplished.
Nevertheless, something has been
done to clarity the issues at stake
and fix responsibility for subsequent
complications. if such occur. Should
the ELIAS persist in their aggressive
tactics and refuse all genuine COM
promise, they would reveal them
selves to be substantially what Mr..
Churchill described them-an armed
minority seeking to impose ruth
less dictatorship upon Greece. In
that case, the way would be clear for
what the Prime Minister describes as
an international trust" to rule the
country If the Greeks are unable to
settle their differences amongst
Evening star., 1944-12-29
This and That
By Charles E. TraceDell.

After the ashes and q few live Goals
were shaken down, the ash pit door
was swung open.
Out staggered a ghost cat.
1t was poor old Tigey, who evidently
mad succumbed to curiosity, that old
foe of his tribe, and had been shut in.
He was a gray cat now, literally cov-
cred with ashes.
His whiskers were Singed
There was a slightly burnt patch on
his left hip.
The old cat ran across the furnace
room and stopped.
He gave himself a good shake
The ashes flew in all directions.
Close inspection showed his eyes un-
hurt
Mostly cats are protected by their
fur in such accidents. Unless the burns
are extensive, the main trouble comes
in the eyes
Mineral oil may be dropped in them
to soothe the membranes.
Burnt hair makes a great smell.
The odor soon filled the house, out OF
all proportion to the half inch of
whiskers burnt of.
1t was the sort of happening cats are
noted for, and which no amount Of
human precaution will prevent, evi-
IDENTIFY.
It was the first time the old cat had
ever crawled into such a place
His desire for more warmth than the
basement would afford was due to his
history.
Now in his 18th year, he had spent all
his life previous to last fall in the out
DOORS
This was because of his habits. which
were not good. He belonged to some
people who moved away, leaving him
shut up in the attic. Probably he had
run up there in fright at the activities
OF moving and had been shut in.
Discovered by some neighborhood
children, he had been cast on the COM
munity and had been so hungry that at
last he had been seen eating sunf1ower
seed at bird feeding station.
Fed literally, he became a looking
animal, but one which invariably raised
paw against the hand which fed him.
Ihls was due probably to having been
pes1ereo Dy small children as kitten
X *
Wv ilOt except
occasionally, to enter his new home, but
was fed so we'll that he seemed to
thrive in the outdoors
One early morning it was IS degrees
nelow zero, but Tigey did not mind in
the least
This went on for dozen years. En-
plres came and went, wars began and
wars went on, men made regulations
and lost them and all persons were
growing older.
Still Tigey lived in the outdoors
When the fall of 1914 arrived, how
ever, the cat was old.
He wanted in. One rainy spell he
hugged the doorstep so persistently that
ne was invited to share the home.
once In, he would not come out.
This old bounder had enough of the
great outdoors. Nothing could move him.
He lived in the basement, never COM
ing up except for meals.
X
Hour after hour he slept in some dark
corner SO that the householders got
used to paying no attention to him.
except at meal times.
Then he would come upstairs. stow
away good meal and depart for the
neither regions.
That was how he managed to get into
the ash pit and be shut in without any
oas knowing II.
Evening star., 1944-12-29

the Germans In the Cologne region. The
area was blazing with lights.
The Interpretation given to this re-
port was that In all probability the
Germans were preparing for last
ditch defense OF that key city on the
Rhine and were likely building new OBJ
stacles against the American armies.
It would be unfair to say that Gen.
Eisenhower's staff Of officers, well
trained In field intelligence, could have
misconstrued so completely the mean
ing OF these reports. 1t may be assumed.
however, that In order not to disturb
before the Christmas holidays-the
people at home who had enjoyed only
favorable news from the battle fronts,
the war correspondents were not cau-
toned that there might be something
more important behind the night move
ments Of the Nazis.
The tendency to give an overall op-
timistic picture was particularly obyi-
GUS when 1t. Gen. George S. Patton
was driving at top speed through North
eastern France. His movements as he
neared the Siegfried Line were blacked
out for reasons of military security.
But the correspondents were allowed
to speculate that at the rate of IS
miles q day his forces were then ad-
vancing, nobody would be surprised II
in q short time he penetrated rs or
more miles into Germany. A co-opera-
tive censorship should have objected to
such dispatches since military men knew
that the Siegfried Line could not be
conqueret with the same ease with
which Gen. Patton was chasing the
Germans from France.
The newspapers and the radio are
the only means through which the
The statements of responsible officials
at home are frequently SO contradictory
that no one can make heads or tails Of
how the war Is progressing. But the
reporters who risk their lives at the
front are trusted because they see things
they report. If sometimes their con-
clusions are in contradiction with sub.
sequent events, the fault is not theirs,
but that of professional officers who do
not discourage them against adopting
either an overoptimistic tone or do not
interpret certain reports, such as the
reconnaissance Of the air forces in De-
cember, in their true light.
The result Is that every time our
operations are progressing satisfactorily,
and this is reflected in front-line dis
patches, q wave OF superoptimism grips
the United States and people are in
clined to believe that the war Is almost
over
Evening star., 1944-12-29

meeting takes place. At that meeting
we may assume that certain matters
will be agreed upon. after discussion, by
all those present. Certain others would
be deferred for consideration at the
next meeting.
As soon as the Secretary of State
returns to Washington, his subordinate
who is In charge Of these details would
have to get busy preparing for the
next meeting, and also seeing to it that
the decisions taken at the first meeting
are put into effect and that the matters
reserved for future examination are
more thoroughly gone into. In so doing
1t will be necessary for this officer to be
in constant consultation with the British
and Soviet Embassies, and to keep the
Embassies Of the United States in Lon
don and Moscow informed of the prog
ress that is being made.
All Of this will require hard work.
collaboration with the other powers con-
cerned, because three months is COM
paratively short period OF time in which
to get 50 much done. Indeed, the great
virtue Of this plan is the fixed dates; II
you have to meet your colleagues at
a certain time with an intelligent pres
entation of your views on given sub
ject, you are virtually compelled to
make up your mind-to have a policy
and that is development which makes
for progress.
1t is also to be noted that this plan
makes the best use Of the existing ma
chinery rather than setting up q new
agency, and 1t preserves the lines of
responsibility through the respective
Secretaries Of State and the Ambassa-
dors, so that the decisions can be clear
cut and the troublesome question of how
much power may be given to the repre-
sentatives Of the governments concerned
does not arise. The exact extent to
which Secretary of State or an Am
bassador may commit his government
Is well understood by all concerned.
The need is not for more or less au-
thority for these officers, 1t IS for unity
OF purpose and effort which can only
be achieved through the creation OF
some permanent agency by which those
who already are charged with the con-
duct OF foreign policy may be brought
together 1T stated intervals to consult
upon common problems, and may have
the necessary organization to carry out
the common decisions thus reached.
toopSrishA 1o44)
Evening star., 1944-12-29
Parting Shot at Bus Service

Parting Shot at Bus Service
To .he Editor of The Star:
For the past II months I have been
on duty at the headquarters of the
Marine Corps in the Arlington Annex
Throughout this period I have resided
In the suburbs, namely, Clarendon, Va
My grippe is relative to the bus trans
portation system from my place of duty
to my residence
For the above mentioned period, I
have been fairly fortunate in obtaining
pickup rides IN the mornings by stand
ing at bus stops. Nights are different
question, however. At 4:30 pm, when
we are released from duty, there is
mad footrace to the BUS stop, in what
usually turns out to be vain attempt
to board what laughingly might be
called cracker-box bus On rare oc-
casions I have seen as many as three
buses waiting for the Clarendon Balls
ton or Lacey-Ballston commuters.
Usually, however, there is only one bus
provlded-entirely inadequate for the
people who have to 60 to the Clarendon
area. In addition to this, it has been
my experience that when it is raining
there very rarely is any bus at all wait
Ing the homegoers. Many times I have
stood with groups of 30 to 40 people
and been soaked to the skin, while hop
ing that the next bus would be the, one
for Clarendon.
II you do not get on the bus at 4:3O
pm, you may as well take taxi (if
available) or start walking and hope
for ride. The buses after 4:3O pm.
have come from the District by way of
the Pentagon and do not slow up when
they get in front of the Annex, for they
are generally loaded to capacity and
better.
Now, am fortunate enough to be
leaving for another tour of duty in
the Pacific war theater, and will not be
worried with your transportation prob
lens, but feel that 1t Is my turn to
beef, If for no other reason than for
the unfortunates who have to stay
here and buck the system. It would
seem to me that the ODT could make
sosns effort to cope with this situation.
J.v.
Evening star., 1944-12-29
This Changing World
By Constantine Bro,On

While the fighting at the front and
the war effort at home have been
streamlined for efficiency, the military
censorship system, and particularly the
haison between the staff oficer," who
is the Army,s spokesman at headquarters,
and the war correspondents, is still
obsolete.
This explains why the American public
is so frequently overoptimistic and until
quite recently believed that the war was
all over but the shouting.
This does not imply by any stretch of
the imagination a criticism OF the war
correspondents, who are doing their
utmost to send reliable and compre-
hensive dispatches at the risk of their
lives. For the first time in history a
large number of war correspondents
have been killed, wounded or captured
IN carrying out their duties at the front.
Something is lacking in the head
quarters setup. Nobody objects to mill
tary censorship intelligently applied on
outgoing dispatches. But there appears
to be lack Of liaison between the war
correspondents and the general staff as
far as the correct Interpretation of the
various phases Of the war is concerned.
In Washington the joint and combined
chiefs of staffs-an American and an
American-Britisho organization composed
Of top-ranking ofncers-receive daily dis
patches from the front. The of1cers are
all specialists In their own line. Yet they
have to discuss and interpret dispatches
from general headquarters before OBJ
tanning clear picture Of what is hap
pening on the fighting fronts.
An advisory group Of officers should be
established at headquarters in France to
discuss rather than censor the war dis
patches to the press. The war cor
respondents are professional reporters,
but not strategists. They see things or
are given information received at head
quarters. Some Of them with their per-
functory knowledge Of military affairs
may place q different Interpretation on
what is told them or what they have
seen. From the way their dispatches are
being cleared, 1t does not appear that
there are competent officers sufnciently
interested to give the professional slant
to the war correspondents. The naison
between the Army and the reporters
seems to be based on publicity rather
than on correct Interpretation.
Here are two obvious illustrations Of
this situation. On December is, Just
before Marshal Won Rundstedt started
his counterof1ensive, the war correspond
ents filed cables informing the public
that air reconnaissance had reported
fevertsh night activity on the part Of
Evening star., 1944-12-29

themselves. This governing board
would be set up after conference
between Churchill. Roosevelt and
Stain, either personally or through
diplomatic exchanges on the Greek
question. In the meanwhile. the
Prime Minister states that the Brit
ish forces would not evacuate Greece
until they have received guarantees
in which we can believe that a fair
and decent government would, be
set up which would not pay off old
scores on either side"
Evening star., 1944-12-29
Suspects British in Ethiopia

Suspects British in Ethiopia
To the Editor Of The Star:
The real political and territorial as
pirations Of the top spokesmen for Great
Britain might be indicated by what
has been taking place in the East Afri-
can nation Of Ethiopia.
Within year after the Fascist hordes
from Italy were banished from East
Africa, the British began roofing spheres
OF influence deep into war-weakened
Ethiopia. English military commissions
took over full control Of what remained
OF the Ethiopian Army and the civil
police force. Bankers and financiers
from England lost no time in "stabiliz-
ing" Ethiopian currency and setting the
fiscal affairs of the East African coun-
try in order" They explored the pos
sibilities of future world markets for
Ethiopia's raw materials and laid plans
to develop commerce and trade that
would be profitable to England Eng
lish commissions on mining and min
eral extraction. together with English
engineers, staked out claims upon Ethi-
opia's natural resources. Justices from
Great Britain were placed on the bench
of all the major civil courts In the
East African country.
Reports of armed clashes between
British forces and rebellious Ethiopians
have not been confirmed. 1t is known,
however, that the repeatedly rich Har-
rar and Ogaedon Provinces of Ethiopia
have been taken over by the British,
under the pretext Of aiding" the people
Of these provinces.
When We read reports OF what is
happening in Athens today, 1t would
be well to keep our eyes on the maps
OF the Mediterranean, Suez Canal, Red
Sea and Gulf Of Alden areas. 1t is with
in those areas, linked one to another,
where one finds the answer to Great
Britain's dominant aspirations: Future
security for the life line" of the Brit
ish Empire-even If it means the politi-
cal death of Italy, Greece and Ethiopia,
by armed conquest if necessary.
The same, wise Emperor Halle Selas-
sic who stood alone at the closing ses-
sions at Geneva, and inveighed against
Fascist Italy's invasion of his country,
now stands alone in the midst of anoth-
er invasion. That his territory is being
overrun by partner in the United
Nations means nothing in the face of
traditional national greed. His same
voice that warned the world of coming,
world -shattering events II Fascist Italy
were given free hand in the conquest
of Ethiopia is unheard and unheeded
by the ears Of world opinion.
DUTTON FERGUSON.
Evening star., 1944-12-29
Letters to The Star
New Year Prayer for Peace
Offered by Reader
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
When on Christmas Day, 1914, we
might have had ION earth peace, good
will toward men," we were, sobered by
the turn of events on the blood-stained
fields of Europe
How history repeats! From all the
sieges endured by the city Of Jerusa-
lem in ages past to the frantic assaults
upon Stalingrad and Leningrad in our
days. humanity has suffered untold ago.
nies. And our sympathies 60 out to the
populace of Athens torn by civil strife,
overwhelmed with imitation, submerged
in chaos.
Will our dearly bought freedom Of
centuries past hold in our present era?
Has the Atlantic Charter become an
other scrap Of paper, merely a memo
of good intentions? Has this pact been
torpedoed as the opening stroke of q
declaration Of war upon the rights Of
all beings who pinned their faith upon
the four freedoms? God forbid! We
of men Of caliber, of statesmen who will
guide us to a safe harbor under the
guidance Of Almighty God
May the year of 1945 bring good
tidings and peace; If not, may the same
year bring us the will to resist evil the
power to do good and the determination
to stand against every attempt to de-
moralize our faith in God and mankind
CHARLES ALLEN RENTFRO.
Evening star., 1944-12-29

Moore's Sentiment Remembered
To the Editor of The Star:
The following lines from the Irish
bard, Moore, during these days OF
stress and storm may be not amiss:
Shall ask the brave soldier who
fights by my side in the cause Of man
kind If our creeds agree? Shall I give
up the friend have valued and tried
If he kneels not before the same altar
with me? Your glass may be purple
and mine may be blue but while they
are filled with the same bright bowl, the
fool who would quarrel for difference
Of hue deserves not the comfort they
shed DER the soul" DAN MURPHY.
Evening star., 1944-12-29
Not Wholly Useless

Reproduction Rights Reserved.)
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-11-21
WANTS CHANCE IN
 ROSE BOWL RULE

COLUMBUS, OHIO, Nov 2l.- Ohio State has again reopened the fight to have the Western Con- ference permit members to play in the Rose Bowl, but an unofficial poll of members gave none too bright prospects for the change
 State Athletic Director L. w. St John disclosed that the undefeated, united Bucks have received a ten tative bid for the game and an- nounced the move to have rules changed A majority of the con- ference will have to vote for the switch and several schools are ex- pected to oppose it.
 Conference Commissioner John Griffin refused to comment when St. John said that Ohio will accept if it gets the bid and the rule is changed
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-11-21
By STANLEY ROSS Ap Features

BUENOS AIRES Argentine au- i. thoritles have refused a clemency appeal by members of the Maffia, once-dreaded Sicilian crime organi- zation which spread terror through out the world.
 The Argentine Maffia leaders, imprisoned after g sensational na- tion-wide chase four years ago, had applied for a reduction of their sentence from eight to four years.
 For many years, Juan Galiffi (known to the organization as s"Chico Grande," chief of the Mai fla was a respected and wealthy member of society in Rosario, Ar gentinas second city. His beauti- ful daughter, Agata (The Flower of the Maffial, married into a re- spected family, Juan's position in the Maffia was even less suspected because of his warm personal friendship with Benito Mussolini, sworn enemy of the Maffia and it's { exterminator in Italy.
 Argentine newspapers say the Maffia ran crimin a activities throughout Argentina for years, specializing in blackmail, counter feiting, bank robbery and murder
 Finally, in 1940 Galiffi and his daughter rented a house diagon- ally across the street from the Bank of the Province of Tucuman From the cellar of this house the . -Maffia dug a tunnel 250 feet to the bank and burrowed to a spot directly under the vault. Instead
The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-11-21

Of simply running off with the money, which would expose them as the perpetrators, the Maffia planned to substitute the provincial treasury and the banks funds with an equal amount of it's own coun- terfeit bills. It was planned that the theft should not be immediate ly discovered and that when it was, l it should look like an inside job
 Unfortunately for Galiffi, big, heavy watchman pounding his beat stepped on a spot directly over the tunnel several night before the scheduled switch of currency. The tunnel caved in and the plot was discovered.
 The Galiffis fled with the police hot on their trail. Using planes, launches, railroads and private autos. the Maffia leaders scattered, but were tracked down.
 The Flower of the Maffia almost gained her freedom a year ago when, dressed as a nun, she reach ed the front door of the jail before being recognized.
 Police are still trying to prove the Maffia's participation in a score Of major crimes but Argentines refuse to sing" Many of them, of Italian descent, know that the Maffia code imposes obligations never to apply for justice to the legally constituted authorities"