davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-11-13

1t is belated to pay tribute now to
great man who died in Washington
three days before the elections. But
Americans, like Britishers, should know
and remember, Field Marshal Sir John
Dill
The popular heroes of wars achieve
prowess on the fields of battle. Every
schoolboy in all the countries of our
great coalition knows the name and
face OF Montgomery, Alexander Eisen-
hover, Timoshenko, Macarthur. Gen
Sir John Dills contribution was less
spectacular. He was merely the man
who took over responsibility for the
British army ut time when no one
wanted it. He became chief OF stan,
after he had seen the position which by
virtue OF seniority and service should
have been his much earlier, bestowed
upon others. under a war minister who
thought youth was of prime Importance
When war broke out Gen Sir Edmund
Ironside was chief OF staff. succeeding
Lord Gort, who gladly vacated it to be-
come commander in chief of the British
Expeditionary Force.
Things looked bad enough even then.
For the army in Britain has always been
the step-child of the nation, as it has
been in peacetime America The navy
always could get appropriations; the air
force, small as it was, was a popular
idol. Antimilitaristic instincts In de-
mocracies are always csntered on the
army, not the navy or air force. Yet
We believe somehow that when the
Nation needs defending an army will
spring, as 1t were, from the mind of Jove,
and march to battle as eflciently as
long-prepsred Navy takes to water.
But when Sir John was called to
become chief of staf1, the date was May
26. 1910, the Norwegian expedition had
failed: Boulogne had fallen; Calais was
tottering; and the BEF was struggling
back toward Dunkirk Gen. Sir John
Dill was summoned home from his
command in France to do the impos-
sible-to win war which by every rea-
sonable calculation was already lost
with an army which might. by miracle
be brought home, but without equipment
and to win war with that army, and
without an ally on earth.
And. no less, he was called to defend
a worldwide empire whose communica- =
ton lines were threatened as never be-
fore in history.
When strong men assume such rare
and dreadful responsibilities they stand
alone. If they fail the onus of failure
falls wholly upon them II they succeed,
success creates new figures in more spec
tacular positions who win the glory.
Evening star., 1944-11-13
On the Record
By Dorothy Thompson


Field Marshal Sir John Dill's glory will
60 down in military textbooks, but
hardly In the popular annals of the war.
He would not mind. In public contacts
he was a man Of such retiring modesty
that he hardly attracted attention.
Called upon, now and then, to speak he
almost invariably opened his remarks
with the phrase, Il speak with some
difidence"
But he did not meet the greatest
crisis Of Britain with difYidence, but
with steely courage and icy intellect.
He abandoned all wishful thinking.
Unlike many, he had never been de-
ceived by the long 'phony" war He
foresav that Hitler would attack in
1910 and with at least 200 divisions. He
knew that Britain would have the fight
Of her life and could not win it without
allies. He believed they would come,
but, like Winston Churchill. that If they
did not come and Britain lost. she would
have to fight for imperishable remem-
brance. He vax one of those rare heroic
souls able bleakly to envision defeat
without shred Of defeatisn.
He took prodigious risks-when they
had to be taken, either for political or
military reasons. He risked the venture
in Greece for Britain to show the
world she was alive. He reinforced the
British armies In Egypt and the Middle
East when 1t looked as though Britain
might be invaded any moment. Had
she been he would have faced the worst
disgrace. But had he not Egypt and
the Suez Canal would have been lost.
The short line through the Mediter-
ranean was closed He had to send re-
Inducements around Capetown and he
might have lost both Egypt and Britain
while they were underway OF course,
all these decisions were taken under
the responsibility Of Churchill. Dill was
his military adviser and of the same
caliber as the Prime Minister.
Eventually he came to Washington
TO maintain liaison with the American
chiefs Of stan AS member Of the
combined committee planning coalition
strategy
He lived to see the strategy put into
operation and victory assured He did
not live to see the final triumph of his
courage, faith and brains While per-
forming his duties he had been Ill Of an
anemia which medical science has found
no strategy to combat.
He slipped out of life as inconspicu-
ously as he had slipped into a vacant
and unwanted chair in 1s40
He was an authentic hero the true
nobleman who takes upon himself the
burdens of all.
Rsleassd BY the Bell Syndicate Incl
Evening star., 1944-11-13
Letters to The Star
Complains About Taxi System
At Union Station

At On1OH DtdtlO0
To the Editor OF The Star:
On returning from New York to
Washington one night recently carried
my heavy suitcase to the taxi loading
stands at Union Station and endea-
vored to get into 4 taxi bound for the
midcity section. The cabs apparently
were going to the distant points OF the
city and to the downtown hotels and
after waiting for 10 minutes in 4 biting
wind, after having left 4 superheated
train, went to the front OF the station
and asked a police ofhcer If I might
get taxi there. He stated that no
passengers could be loaded there-only
unloaded. ! looked at the continuous
stream OF taxis leaving the station
empty and wondered who could have
been responsible for such a situation.
then returned to the loading area
and after waiting Is minutes longer
was permitted to enter a cab bound for
the section in which I reside Many
people waiting for taxis commented to
me on the discourteous treatment they
received at the hands OF the starters.
KATE GEORGE.
Evening star., 1944-11-13
Needed Short Cut

One of the important local bills
awaiting action by the Senate Dis
trict Committee is the measure to
broaden the administrative powers
Of the Commissioners in certain
felds Of local regulation.
This measure was approved by the
House after considerable discussion
IN committee, in which Representa-
tive Hebert Of Louisiana took an &C
tive part. 1t has a number OF ad-
vantages. 1t is in line with the tend
ency in recent years to give the
Commissioners more discretion in
the draft OF local regulations cov-
ering specific subjects, thus elm
mating the cumbersome and time
consuming process OF going to Con-
gress for permission to dot every 81"
or cross every st." It delegates to the
Commissioners more of the author
ity which so often is hoplessly di-
vided between them and Congress.
It does not affect in the slightest the
exclusive legislative control by Con-
gress over the District. It merely IA
cilitates such control.
An article in The Sunday Star in
dicates that this bill is one of the
measures on which prompt action
will be sought when Chairman Bilbo
calls a meeting of the District Com
mittee. 1t is to be hoped that the
forecast Is accurate, for the bill has
been delayed already and If the Sen
ate does not act on it before the
session ends, the lengthy process OF
getting it started through the leg
islative mill must begin all over
again. Some members of Congress
occasionally complain of the time
they must give to consideration of
relatively trivial, routine local leg
islation. This bill provides one op-
portunity to do something about it.
Evening star., 1944-11-13

muzzle velocity dncluding temperature
OF POWDER; variations in atmospheric
density; variations in atmospheric tenn
perature; variations in the velocity and
direction Of the wind at various points
along the course the projectile follows
and for 10000 yards it rises to consid-
cradle heights; rotation of the earth
variation Slight, but importantly in
weight of projectile.
All of these affect the flight. and
therefore the point OF contact of q
projectile and hence the trial and
error method Is the only one which will
produce hits. The longer the range,
the greater the effect at the far end of
an initial error in firing data. And
please note that since some of the fac
tors to be considered have to do with
atmospheric and weather conditions,
firing data which produces hits on one
day may not produce hits the next day
even from the same firing position
against the same target.
Now, let's apply all this to the Ger
man problem In trying to hit something
important with their W. rocket The
W. Is . new weapon of undetermined
$1,000 ~SNSA A'SASo' AAC SClul0lb C2IlIlOU
see where each rocket hits. All they
can do is to try to make the right ad-
justments and let 1t 60. II they could
only observe, and Immediately report
the result, they might be able to adjust
the next rocket to do better; but thew
cannot do that because they cannot
have the indispensable observer with
his communication system. Their air
observation is kept down by our fisht-
ers; even though an occasional German
airplane might sneak through, 1t could
not remain very long in one vicinity to
obserc the fire Of the Va and anything
like planned program Of observation
and adjustment Is quite out Of the
question.
The Germans may have spies In areas
where the Va is falling, but these spies
do not have the direct communication
with the firing point which is essential
for adjustment Of hre. They may get
message through by devious means,
but that takes time, and it is not much
use to the German rocketeers to learn
that last week 4 rocket landed at So
and-so about such q time.
Evening star., 1944-11-13

The nation which plays the part Of
the impartial arbiter in international
affairs runs the risk Of offending one
or the other or both parties which have
controversial problems. When the
fighting has ceased in Europe or the
Germans are ready to collapse, the
matters which the British have in mind
could be discussed more freely. Be-
cause Of these consiaera tions, the init
mate political advisers Of Mr.. Roosevelt
suggest that he had better delay talks
with Stain and Churchill on ANAL set
tlement Of the European problems
Besides these political considerations
there are some political reasons which
make an early meeting Of the Big
Three somewhat dificult.
Stain does not wish to leave Russia
at this time He gives as reason his
reluctance to be away from Moscow
when major military operations are in
progress. He has indicated very clearly
that while he Is willing to meet with his
partners he does not intend to leave
Soviet soil even to 60 as far as Teheran.
This would mean that Mr.. Roosevelt
and his stan would have to 60 some
place in Russia.
Mr.. Churchill is always ready to take
trips regardless of how long and how
uncomfortable they may be. President
Roosevelt, who has undergone a stren-
uous political campaign and has many
hard problems facing him, is not as
anxious as Mr.. Churchill to attend a
meeting in the subzero climate of Mos
cow, except in an emergency. Since this
does not exist, so far as the United
States is concerned, he may wish to
wait until the Russian leader is at liberty
to meet him and Mr.. Churchill some
where not quite as far as Moscow
OF course nothing had been definitely
decided and the whole matter Of the
Roosevelt-Stalin- Churchill meeting is
still under consideration But if Mr..
Roosevelt follows the suggestion Of his
advisers there is only a slim chance
that the meeting will take place this
VAar
Evening star., 1944-11-13
w Rocket Control
By Maj. George Fieldinf Eliot

Let's consider this V-2-the giant
rocket which the Germans are bringing
into Use. We do not yet know much
about 1t. but there are certain points
which we do know and which are ca
pable Of analysis.
First Of all, it is projectile fired
from q ixed starting point against
very distant targets. 1t is q rocket,
provided with fuel sufdcient to carry it
. great height, from which it dives
down in the direction of its target. It's
range is measured in hundreds of miles.
Obviously, 1t must be controlled by
adjustments Of one sort or another in
order to make 1t go in the desired di-
rection and to the desired distance.
With weapons Of very great technical
precision, the heavy artillery guns OF
today. it is not possible to hit distant
target except by observation and ad-
justment of flre-that is, by trial and
error. The gun is aimed in the right
direction as far as can be judged from
the data available; its elevation is
adjusted to give the correct range-as
estimated-from the gun to the target.
A trial shot is then fired.
It's fall must be observed-either from
an airplane or from some position on
the ground, where the observer can see
where the shell goes The observer
must be able to communicate with the
gun to tell what he saw; then the neces-
sary adjustments are made, according
to the Observers calculation Of the err
rors in direction and range, and the
gun IS fired again. The observer again
reports whore the ahell hit, and once
more adjustments are made-and 50 on
until the shell finally hits the target.
When this Is accomplished, the cor
rect firing data may be given to all
available guns and heavy concentrated
fire may be directed upon that particu-
lar target.
Note that the essential features OF
this procedure are:
% An observer who can see the fall
Of the shots.
CD Direct and immediate two-way
communication between observer and
gun.
Why can't the gun be laid correctly
by calculation-thus We are ct point x
on this large-scale map, we desire to
fire at point Y 10000 yards away over
here; W point the gun exactly at poipt
Y, We set the sights 1t 10000 yards, and
We blaze away. That sounds all right,
but 1t doesn't work in practice. There
are too many other factors In the eQua-
tion.
sass q thsss srH variations IN
Evening star., 1944-11-13
Supporting Mr.. Mason

Following suggestions by Senator
Capper Of Kansas and Senator Bur-
ton OF Ohio, letters from an impos-
ing number OF Washington organi-
cations OF citizens have been sent to
the Senate District Committee in
favor of prompt confirmation of
Commissioner Mason's reappoint-
ment. On the other hand, not a
single protest has been received.
This expression Of local sentiment
Is somewhat unusual. For the peo-
pie Of Washington are 50 thoroughly
excluded from any effective form Of
participation in the selection Of
their municipal ofncials that they
usually remain silent on local ap-
pointments and hope for the best.
In this case, however, citizens are
recording themselves not merely in
favor OF the deserved reappoint-
ment of a capable Commissioner,
but against the injustice which
would be represented in adverse ac-
ton ostensibly based on the discred-
tied Gallinger Hospital investiga-
ton. One purpose OF that investi-
CATION seems to have been to make
Mr.. Mason the goat. 1t would be
dangerous in the District II such
tactics were successful.
The number Of communication
supporting Mr.. Mason should assure
the favorable committee report on
his nomination, which has been de-
layed by the illness OF Chairman
Bilbo and the election campaign re-
cess Of Congress.
Evening star., 1944-11-13

approximately q decade had passed
before velazoues made 1t universally
famous.
Meanwhile, the Dutch were getting
ready to retrieve their lost strong
hold. Prince Frederick Henry took
Breda from the Spaniards forever
in 1887. During his exile, Charles II
Of England resided in the neighbor-
hood. His declaration" OF the terms
on which he would return to the
throne was issued there In 1850.
Under the Treaty Of Breda, seven
years later, the colonies Of New York
and New Jersey were awarded to
the English, with results on this side
Of the ocean which everybody knows.
Evening star., 1944-11-13
Bredu

Mention o. Breda in relation to
the campaign against the Germans
in the Netherlands must have
prompted many an American reader
to think OF Velazquez. The con-
nection Is obvious and historic. It
was the greatest of Spanish artists
who painted the often reproduced
picture entitled Las Lanzas," now
in the Prado ut Madrid, and the in
cident depicted therein occurred ut
the confluence of the Rivers Merk
and A in North Brabant.
Sir William Orpen, in his Outline
OF Art" tells how Philip Nv sum-
moned Velazquez to aid in the dec
Grafton OF his new palace, Buen
Retro, and how the celebrated mas
ter rose to the challenge OF the
opportunity and produced 4 COM
position "as moving in its sentiment
As any picture artist ever painted"
From 1868 onward for nearly 4
century, a struggle for possession Of
the Low Countries was waged by
the Spanish crown. Much besides
nationality was involved in the con-
test. The lighting was savage in
character. Breda, an important
fortress bravely defended, was taken
in 1925 and was one of the last
triumphs OF Spanish arms before the
tide turned against them" Velazauez
chose a canvas nine feet high and
eleven feet wide. Upon it he i'm
mortalized the best values of a whole
inclusive civilization as we'll as 4
military event.
Notwithstanding the armed crowd
and multitude of uniforms, the noble
bearing OF the principal figures is the
first thing that arrests attention.
The gestures Of 6pinola, the Spanish
commander, and Of Justin, chief rep
resentative Of the defeated Dutch
men and bearer Of the key to the city,
are poignant in expression, and what
movies Us most of all is the incom-
parable humanity of the scene. There
40 Az AAAOSGlCC AL GllS 0p1nl8Q con-
queror, who lays his hand consolingly,
almost afiectionately, on the shoulder
OF Justin; In the Dutchman there is
all the tragedy Of defeat, but he Is
still dignifed and does not cringe to
the victor.
Velazquez must have loved his
work. There is 4 tradition that the
soldier with the plumed hat on the
extreme right is hirself-a sigma
ture" Of 4 sort. BE the legend true
or false, it is supported by the fact
that several other persons in the
picture are looking directly at the
artist, ~ II they, too, desired sspe-
cially to be remembered. The COM
position takes its title from twenty
eight lances held high In the middle
background. II was On June 5, le7S,
that the aerrsadsf took plaes. and
Evening star., 1944-11-13
The MISSING Fuehrer

1t Is curious fact that Adolf Hit
Ter, by failing to show himself or
to let his voice be heard during the
postponed celebration of the Munich
beer hall putsch, becomes a more
significant figure than II he had
made his usual theatrical appear
ance.
Had Hitler appeared in public, or
had he broadcast his own proclama-
ton, it would have been an event Of
no particular Importance or interest.
There was nothing in the statement
itself to excite the world or the Ger
man people. Its content has worn
thin-the old appeal for fanatical
resistance to the bitter end, the
promise OF death to those Germans
who weaken or who might turn
against the state, the claptrap about
a peoples army OF 100000 men to
achieve the victory which has been
beyond the power OF the regular
German Army. All of this is old
stun, and il it had come from Hitler
himself it would have been dismissed
by every one as simply another OF
the Fuehrer's familiar rantings.
But the fact that the proclama-
tion was read by the Gestapo hang
man, Heinrich Himmler, excites more
than a little curiosity. What has
become of Adolf Hitler? He has not
been seen or heard from directly
since the alleged attempt on his life
last July 20. Is he dead, i'll or per-
haps a prisoner OF Himmler? Or is
the whole business another Nazi
hoax, pointed to some propaganda
end that is beyond our comprehen-
sion?
If any of these possibilities be the
true explanation, it Is important
that Himmler should have been
chosen, or should have appointed
himself, to read the proclamat ton.
Goebbels was in evidence during the
celebration, but his role was sec
ondary. The pompous Goering,
whom Hitler once designated as his
successor in event he should pass
from the stage, was not heard over
the air at all. Have they been fully
subordinated by the sinister figure
OF Himmler, and is the latter now
preparing himself to take over
openly the control OF the Reich
which he is believed to have been
exercising for many months through
the medium OF Adolf Hitler?
Whatever the truth of these mat
ters, 1t is clear that the German
Reich has reached Its last extremity.
Heinrich Himmler Is capable Of any
atrocity, and if he is to be at the
helm during the last days OF the
Reich the ordeal of the German
people will be terrible one. But
nothing that he may do within Ger
many can materially influence the
course of the war. dermanys ability
to night will end when her armies
At the fronts have been crushed.
And those armies will be crushed
when the Allies have accumulated
the men and the supplies necessary
for the Anal offensive. When that
time comes neither the German
peoples army" nor the worst that
Himmler can do will be enough to
hold together the tottering rem
nants OF what was once the worlds
foremost military power.
Evening star., 1944-11-13
New War Memorials
Prom the Halifax Herald.

We now have, without any reflection
on the memorials Of the last war, an
opportunity to learn from the expert
ences OF the past, to think, consult and
plan before action Is necessary-and to
decide carefully the principles that
should govern our memorials. Our men
who have fought and fallen in this
war, and their comrades who still are
nghtlng, have made and are making
their sacrifice not for a dead but for
a living cause.-the freedom and enrich
ment OF the life Of all mankind Should
not war memorials, therefore, be living
assets to the common life?
Evening star., 1944-11-13
Switzerland. Under Fire

To most Americans the hostility
currently shown by the Soviet gov
ernment toward, Switzerland has
come as great surprise. The hrst
revelation of this attitude was con-
tanned in Moscow's refusal to attend
the Chicago international confer
ence on civil aviation, the reason
alleged being that countries like
Switzerland, Portugal and Spain,
which for many years have con-
Quoted a pro-Fascist policy hostile
to the Soviet Union, have also been
invited" Switzerland was thereby
bracketed with two countries having
authoritarian regimes that are
strongly anti-Communist, and one
of which, Spain, is undoubtedly
anti-Soviet as we'll. Indeed, Switzer-
land was put at the head Of Mos
cows blacklist.
That this was no accident has
since been indicated by reiteration
OF the charges against Switzerland
by Foreign Commissar Molotoff, and
by Moscow's disclosure that a Swiss
proposal made early in October to
re-establish diplomatic relations in
terrupted 20 years ago had been
summary rejected. This has re-
suited in the resignation OF Switzer-
lands Foreign Minister, who says
graphically that before long circum-
stances will show the true and
profound" causes Of the Russian
refusal to resume diplomatic rela-
tions.
The reasons for Russia's strongly
inimical attitude are not clear.
Switzerland holds the record w
professional neutrality. Ever
the original nucleus of Forest
tons made their league and tn. ew
of the Hapsburg yoke more than
800 years ago, the Swiss have tried
to mind their own business and keep
out Of their neighbors' quarrels.
Perched as they are on the noun
famous apex of Europe, this aloof-
ness has long been recognized as
valuable for European stability, and
by the Vienna Congress of 1915, all
the great powers recognized the
inviolability of Swiss territory and
guaranteed its perpetual neutrality.
Switzerland has nobly lived up to its
international role, especially in war
time, and was logically chosen as
the seat OF the League of Nations.
At home, 1t has been an outstanding
example Of democratic self-govern-
ment~in the highest sense, especially
because Of the mutual respect pre-
vailing among the different linguis-
tic and religious groups which COM
pose its population.
That this small, self centered
country, devoted to neutrality and
remote from Russia, could conduct
a foreign policy hostile to the
Soviet Union" seems, on the face of
it, tnconcsivable. That it could be
"pro-Fascist," as Moscow charges, Is
still more incredible in view Of
Switzerland's stanch stand for its
sovereign rights against Mussolini's
Italy and Hitler's Germany at the
height Of their power, and the
violent opposition Of nearly al swiss
to totalitarianisms Of every kind.
Tbs Swiss people dislike Commu-
nism - an ideology along With
Fascism and Nasiism-just q most
Americans do. But why Moscow