davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-02-25
Bratcher's S ATTEMPT
To Escape Removal
To Alexandra Fails
Orchestra Leader
Held for Federal Court
On Draft Charge

After an unsuccessful fight to
escape removal from the District,
Everett M. (Washie) Bratcher, or
chestra leader, was ordered held for
the Federal District Court in Alex
andria by United States Commits
sioner Needham c. Turnage yester-
day, on a charge of seeking to evade
the draft through the use of drugs.
Bratcher was released under $500
bond when he appeared before JUS
tice Matthew F. Mcclure later in
the day. Justice Mcclure ordered
him to appear before Justice David
Pine at 10 am. Wednesday, when
the Government will make formal
application for a warrant of re-
moval.
Trial Set for June.
Mr.. Turnage set Bratcher's trial
in Alexandria for June S, the same
day set for trial Of IL others ac-
cused of draft evasion.
The Government charges Bratcher
used benzedrine before taking his
induction physical examination
last November to induce high blood
pressure and affect the results of a
urinalysis.
Bratcher has admitted using the
drug, but denies he did so to evade
induction. The musician said he
habitually used benzedrine as a
stimulant to ward of fatigue. His
mother, Mrs. Mary Martin, 1887
Twenty-first street NV, yesterday
supported that contention and said
her son had used the drug for
quite few years" because he was
"a very nervous type" Other wit
nesses. including several members
Of Bratcher's orchestra, also said
they had known he frequently used
the drug. : sv
Sharp Exchanges at Hearing.
Sharp clashes involving the Com
missioner and Defense Attorney T.
Edward O'Connell and Assistant
United States Attorney John c.
Conliff, jr.. marked both sessions of
the hearing yesterday. During one
word exchange, Mr.. O'Connell
charged Mr.. Turnage with being
deliberately unfair" to his client.
At another point, the defense at
torney accused the Commissioner
of making speech for the record
OF the District Court.'s
The Government brought removal
proceedings against Bratcher and
the other defendants because the
alleged offenses occurred at the Fort
Myer (Va) induction station.
Evening star., 1944-02-25
Berlin, Here on Surprise Visit,
To Take Show toNorth Africa
EnIivens Conference
At Pentogon With
New Song Hit
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

irving Berlln, veteran song WTlIeI
of two wars, is returning over
seas soon to rejoin the cast Of
his unforgettable military show,
'"This Is the Army" in an invasion"
of North Africa and italy.
The famed Army troupers, having
completed q conquest of England in
a three-month campaign, Mr.. Ber-
lin showed up Unexpectedly IN
Washington yesterday afternoon TO
plan for the Mediterranean tour OF
camps and hospitals. He left with
officials an indelible impression OF
how the show is harmonizing Anglo
American relations.
At the Pentagon, where anything
can happen, he broke with the ira
ditional dullness and dignity OF
Army press conferences by singing
for delighted newsmen verse Of
MY British Buddy" new Berlin
song hit written especially for the
overseas version of the show.
If you haven't heard the lyrics,
here they are:
MY British Buddy,
We're as different as can be.
He thinks he's winning the war,
And think it's me;
But we're both in there pitching
And on one thing we agree
When the job is done
And the war is won
Well be clasping hands across
the sea-"
First Song Discarded.
Mr.. Berlin confessed he had pre-
viously written a heavy, pompous"
song called England and America, F"
but substituted the foregoing verses
before the troup sailed overseas. II
tried them out on some Britishers
first and they agreed that the lines
wouldn't create rivalry because they
expressed what they thought, toe"
he explained.
THE song requires voice." Mr..
Berlin protested mildly. But he
sang it without benefit of micro
phone in a faint, sweet and unaf-
fected tenor. It's a real hit.
This Is the Army" has netted
$1,000, 900 for the Army Emergency
Relief, he disclosed. The screen
rights have accounted for about
$4.500,000 of the amount, he said,
with several hundred thousands still
to be dispersed.
In Britain, where, one-third of the
seats at each performance was given
free to American and British SOL
diers, the II weeks engagement
netted approximately 1922, 100 for
British War Service Charities.
Mr.. Berlin, who says American
soldiers prefer the sloppy, senti-
mental songs of this war to the
heroic. f1ag-wsying type" said the
troupers sang themselves right into
the heart of the British Isles.
There's a new hit scene in the
show-a burlesque on the WACS
called "Daddy's Furlough" Dad
doesn't know his wife has donned
uniform and in anticipation of his
homecoming, their three small
children sing He'll Be Glad to
Meet a Bomb, When He Meets
Nom"
New Song Included.
zone other new song is The Kick
in the Pants" and Mr.. Berlin also
wrote a 1914 version of his famous
World War bugler that all soldiers
wanted to murder. 1t. goes, he ex-
planned, something like "a quarter
of a century has gone but the bug
ler's just the same"
The producer personally missed
taking part in only one Of the 127
performances in Britain. That was
when he befriended a legless Ameri-
can flyer, Capt. Henry Dick, a for
Evening star., 1944-02-25
Coolidge High Holds
Drill Contest Tonight

The second annual platoon COM
petition at the Coolidge High School,
sponsored by the Fort Shepherd
American Legion Post, will be held
at 7:45 o'clock tonight at the Silver
Spring Armory.
Judges for the contest will be Col.
William E. Barkman, military in
structor at Mckinley High School;
Capt. Mark Patterson of the Mary
land State Guard, and Tech. Sergt.
Thomas Mcdonald, military instruc-
tor ct St. Johns College.
Evening star., 1944-02-25
james Boyd, Historical
Novelist, Dies at 56
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
PRINCETON, N. j., Feb. 25.-
James Boyd, 56, author of historical
novels, died today in Princeton Hos
pital. He had suffered a stroke
last night.
His best-known novels were
runs Marchcing On" Long Hunt" "
Roll River" and Bitter Creek"
Mr.. Boyd was q graduate Of
Princeton. University and Trinity
College, Cambridge, England. He is
survived by his widow, Mrs. Kath-
arine Lamont Boyd Of New York,
and three children.
Evening star., 1944-02-25
2More Teen-Aee Girls Found
Guilty in D. c. Vuqruncy Cases

Two teen-age girls, found guilty
OF vagrancy, were scheduled to be
sentenced today in Municipal Court
by Judge Brice Clagett. The girls,
one former hat-check attendant
in night club here, were said by
police to have stayed out on the
streets night after night.
Hearing the second group of two
such cases in two days, Judge
Clagett referred the girls to the
probation ofncer in the hope that
q plan of rehabilitation might be
recommended.
The defendants were Betty Jane
Evening star., 1944-02-25
$42, 200 in Bonds Sold
By Sandy Spring Pupils

The Sherwood High and Elemen-
tary Schools at Sandy Spring. Nd,
sold $4,000 worth Of War Bonds
during the fourth War Bond cam
paign, it was announced today.
The sixth grade took top honors
with total sales Of $10,325, and
Henry Harris received highest stu
dent rating with sales amounting to
$5,025. The School Bond Committee
includes Clara Liskey, Louise Hard
ing, Katherine Kimball and Lor-
retta Carroll.
Evening star., 1944-02-25
Suve This Newspaper

Many paper mills are shut
ting down for lack of waste
paper to convert into cartons
for Army and Navy supplies
shipped overseas. Every pound
OF old newspapers apd maga-
zines Is needed. Telephone your
nearest school or notify some
school child In your block to
have your paper picked up.
Evening star., 1944-02-25
Slayer of Butcher
Hanged in Maryland
BY the Associate; Press

BALTIMORE. Feb. 25.-William
Charles Holsey, colored. was hanged
at the Maryland Penitentiary early
today for the murder of Charles L,
Melster. Baltimore butcher. Holsey
was pronounced dead at 1874 am.
He was convicted in the Carroll
County Circuit Court November Is
OF f1rSt-degree murder. The State
contended the murder occurred dur
ing a burglary, after which Holsey
fled with $3.50 and a motor truck.
Evening star., 1944-01-11

OF the two ways-the placing Of Gov.
DeWey's name formally before the COIL
vention, with nominating and seconding
speeches, or a vote by delegates favor
ing him on the first ballot-the latter
seems at present the reasonable way.
Gov Dewey's name scarcely could be
offered to the convention by a nominat-
ing speech-when nominations are in
order-without it being said that Gov.
Dewey had given his assent and con-
nived in the movement to nominate
him.
The Bricker technique is understand
able. 1t is to make friends wherever
possible. To make friends even in the
camps OF other candidates-so that in
the event of deadlock in the conven-
tion these friends may turn to the Ohio
Governor. The Bricker managers are,
therefore, proselyting among the State
chairmen and national committee mem
bers, pointing out that Gov. Bricker
has three times been elected Governor,
and that he has given his State a good
and economical administration.
They make no present claims to great
gains for Gov. Bricker. He admittedly
has had bad press for the last six
months, largely due to the fact that
he declined to take an immediate stand
on issues of the day-among them the
question of foreign policy. The Bricker
managers say he is now correcting this,
that he has clearly demonstrated he is
on the side Of international collabora-
ton to maintain peace in the future.
The Willkie technique Is to fight
without gloves if necessary. Gov Wills
OF Vermont, in his recent speech at
tacking certain Republicans as the
"four-year locusts" who turn up to de-
mand their way at every presidential
nomination, is a case in point. Mr..
Willkie himself has not hesitated in
recent weeks to tread on Republican
Evening star., 1944-01-11

Will throw his hat in the ring with a
definite public statement within the next
two weeks
Technique of the camps differs. For
example, Gov. Dewey Of New York, who
fatty has said he will not become a
candidate-has more support than any
other potential nominee, yet there is no
Dewey headquarters" in Chicago. Effec-
tive, perhaps, are the New York ma
tional committeeman, J. Russell
Sprague, and the New York State chair
man, Edwin F. Jaeckle-strong sup
porters of the Governor known as the
Dewey "Dr. Jekyn and Mr.. Hyde" they
do not go about seeking delegates to the
coming national convention but listen
to glowing reports of Dewey strength
from all sections of the country. Now
and then they let drop a significant
suggestion that no man, Gov. Dewey or
any one else, can turn down a major
party presidential nomination. Like
wise, they are beginning to wonder"
how Gov. Deweys name could best be
brought before the national convention.
Evening star., 1944-01-11
Raymond Moley

Polish and Russian problems. il NAV hs
well to remind ourselves once more ~
the exact reason why American blood ia
oelng shed on the continent of Europe.
That reason is the presence there of the
still undefeated Nazi system. And one
OF the best evidences of its danger comes
IN the news OF murder of Kaj Munk in
Denmark. 40
kaJ Munk was the best-loyed and
most important Danish poet of our
tlne. He was also a dramatist with a
nrst-rate international reputation. He
nVed In deep simplicity as a Protestant
clergyman on the parish farm in the
nttle town OF Vedersoe in Denmark, On
many occasions he had refused to leave
ms parish for more agreeable living con-
olClons ana Tor higher income.
X
10 this simple home there came. last
week, four men who spoke with an nm
mlstaKaole German accent. Munk wa,
hot permitted to take leave of his wife
ana nve children. His body was found
4o miles away. He had been shot
through the head. The Nazis permitted
nothlng to be printed in Denmark about
the matter beyond the bare fact of his
death. 4'4'
Ihls murder is an attempt to DESTROY
something of the very spirit of the Ger.
manic race behind the psuedo-glorifica-
ton OF which it is no longer safe for
Nazls to hide and upon which it is an
parently no longer safe for them tn
depend So they kill those in whom the
spirit really lived. 1t Is this desperate
gang, in growing isolation within Ger
many itself, that we are fighting, That
needs emphasis now as never before
tReleased by Associated Newspapersl
Evening star., 1944-01-11
Agrees With Proposal
To Abandon Auto Inspections.


To the Editor of The Star
I agree with the recommendation in
your editorial, Common Sense" that
inspection of automobiles be discon-
tinued for the duration.
Forcing the public to conform to the
severe stipulations set up for automo-
.biles consumes tremendous number Of
man hours and is not in line with pres
ent war economy.
My car has window in the back about
by II inches which is supported by a
metal frame bolted to the fabric of the
top material. Glass in this window was
replaced about four years ago with two
separately cut pieces of glass about 4
by inches each, the edges of which did
not touch each other. Reason for this
was that the original glass was acci-
dentally broken and happened to have
two smaller pieces on hand which I cut
10 MT the window. Upon arriving in this
city last summer, the glass, after having
travelled safely about $4,000 miles, sud-
denly became unsafe" and I had to re-
place the two pieces with one piece or
be deprived of the use of my automobile.
I pointed out to the inspector that the
glass was not broken and had been in
stalled in separate pieces and that the
window did not roll up or down, but to
no avail.
Such stilted enforcement of regu-
lations should not be tolerated.
EXASPERATED.
Evening star., 1944-01-11

Detectors have to be used and the
mines rendered harmless before the bulk
Of the advancing force can proceed.
Any commander who disregards these
precautions risks disaster. The Russians
are not foolhardy. Their quick forward
movements are said to be frequently
halted temporarily by contraptions left
by the Nazi rear guards.
This would explain partially why none
OF the official Russian communicates
have claimed, SO far, any important cap
ture OF men and material. Reports that
several hundreds or thousands of Ger
mans have been killed in an action in
which dozen or so divisions were en-
gagged mean very little.
X
Consequently, the Moscow announce
ment that force Of some 100000 or
100000 Nazis is by way of being en-
circled in the Dnieper Bend area and
might share the fate of Marshal Won
Paulus' armies at Stalingrad is watched
with anxious interest.
Should the Russians succeed in trap
ping this Nazi force the end of the
Nazi resistance will be in sight. The
most conservative military men believe
oAAoc bAAaCi QUILL CllCuLlSUdllC6S
regime will collapse before the end of
spring and the German generals, cold
blooded professional soldiers, will try
to arrange for a cessation of hostilities.
collapse Of the German forces in
the Dnieper Bend would indicate clearly
that the German Army is worn out and
incapable of serious resistance A repe-
tition of the 1918 story is possible.
Students of military history point out
Marshal Foch had large reserves on
hand. The German reserves had be-
come so reduced that in August, 1918,
the defeat of the enemy became a
mathematical certainty. While Foch
could afford to withdraw divisions after
a few days of battle and replace them
by fresh troops, Won Hindenburg could
not do So
The German forces had to be kept
constantly in line while the Allied forces
Evening star., 1944-01-11

can supply troops in the same propor-
tIon 10 her enormous population as can
brltaln or the United States-or. for
that matter, Japan. The principal diff
Guilty. aside from questions of s,,pnlv is
IN finding officers. Traditionallv the
inolan soldier is greatly dependent on
his British officers
X
OF recent years attempts have been
made to draw of officer material from
Indian sources, and many Indian unit,
now have large proportion of Indian
omcers holding Kings commissions.
which put them on a footing of mill
tary equality with British officers. In
many instances, these Indian officers
have acquired very fine military records,
But the results as whole have been
dlsappointing-that is, there does not
seem to be as many properly qualified
candidates for commissions as there are
vacancies for officers in the Indian
Army, nor can the vacancies be filled
by British officers because of the de-
mands OF other fronts and because there
are. after all, comparatively few Eng
Hshmen with the peculiar experience
and qualifications necessary for the
command of Indian troops.
Hence the number of fully trained,
fully officered, entirely battle-worthy
Indian troops is far less than one might
suppose would be available from a ma
tion Of almost 40o,000,000 population.
Indian troops have fought splendidly in
Africa and italy when properly led;
they will continue to do so In Burma.
But there is not an inexhaustible res
ervoir Of human material in India. The
building of an Indian Army is Of neces-
sity a slow process.
(Copyrisht. 1914, BY New York Tribune. Ine)
Evening star., 1944-01-11
No Jurisdiction

In reaffirming it's refusal to hear
the st. Paul Red Cap case on the
ground that it lacks Jurisdiction, the
Supreme Court serves notice on Ne
groes that the machinery OF the
Federal courts is not available to
them in their effort to secure equal
ity OF treatment in American indus
try. This ruling was restricted to
cases arising under the Railway
Labor Act. But when it is added to
a recent decision of a three-judge
Federal court in San Francisco,
which held that it was without
jurisdiction to try a similar COM
plant from Negro shipyard workers,
1t seems clear enough that under
existing law there is small hope of
remedying this form of discrimina-
ton through any judicial proceeding.
There are other possibilities, of
course. The Presidents Committee
on Fair Employment Practices is
working on the problem, but if the
Federal courts lack Jurisdiction or
are unwilling to take jurisdiction, it
seems improbable that the commit
tee will be able to play an effective
role in contested cases, of which
there are many. 1t is possible, also,
that administrative agencies with
regulatory powers in the industrial
field may be persuaded to intervene
in behalf Of the Negro. but here
again, under the law as it stands
today, the prospect of substantial
relief is slight.
AS this problem shapes up more
clearly, it is increasingly evident
that the best hope of wiping out this
form of discrimination against
Negroes lies in congressional action.
In certain types of cases Congress
can insure relief by establishing the
Jurisdiction of the courts. In other
types, as has been suggested before.
the real remedy would seem to lie in
the adoption of legislation which
would forbid unions to exclude Ne
groes from membership while insist
ing at the same time upon the right
to compel them to pay dues, to
dictate their working conditions.
and, eventually, to determine
whether they shall be permitted to
work at ALL
This latter form of discrimination
is an outgrowth of abuse of the
closed shop, and the only effective
remedy consists of legislation regu-
lating the closed shop. If unions
can use the closed shop to abridge
the working rights OF men because
OF color, we may as we'll face the
fact that they can do the same
thing for any other reason. There is
no need to argue the patent injus-
tice Of such a condition. 1t is thor
oughly intolerable, and 1t must be
corrected.
Evening star., 1944-01-11

portant undertakings-or whether the
German armies in Russia are no longer
capable of a serious effort is a matter
which commands the full attention of
the Allied chiefs Of stats.
For the time being the Official Russian
communiques provide our only informa-
ton. They tell of newly conquered
populated localities and of a number
of Nazis killed every day. There are no
indications of wholesale surrender of
Nazi troops or the capture of large
amounts OF war material.
An army which is desintegrating or is
being pounded relentlessly as the Ger
man forces are becomes demoralized and
the men give up. If they do escape
they always leave behind tremendous
stores. No such information has vet
reached London and Washington. Hence
the conclusion drawn by American OBJ
servers is that the German high COM
mand foresaw the present Russian ad-
vance and took every conceivable pre-
caution to organize an orderly retreat.
1t Is not difficult these days because
land mines can delay the advance of a
victorious force for sufficiently long
time to permit an orderly withdrawal.
Evening star., 1944-01-11
Not q LocuI Churoe

Under a bill just introduced by
Representative Randolph, facilities
of District institutions would be
available to the victims of mental
disturbances working in the Pen
tagon Building and adjacent areas.
According to a committee which has
looked into the incidence of such
casualties, the present situation is
potentially dangerous"
The proposal sheds interesting
light on another bill by Mr.. Ran
dolph, pending in the House, under
which concurrent jurisdiction over
the Pentagon and other such areas
on the other side of the river would
be placed definitely with the United
States and Virginia.
Taking the two bills together, the
meaning seems to be that while
sovereignty over the areas in oues-
ton would be assigned to the United
States and Virginia, the incidental
expenses of caring for the victims
of such occupational diseases as
"Pentangonitis" will fall on the tax
payers of the District of Columbia.
Not long ago, when Mr.. Randolph
brought before the House his bill to
settle the old boundary dispute be-
tween the District and Virginia by
putting all land across the river in
Virginia, objections by Representa-
tiveS Stefan of Nebraska and Case of
South Dakota held it up. They very
properly wanted to know whether
the bill would lose to the District
any tax revenue. Attorney General
eiddle and others now say it would
not. But it is as important to pro-
tect local taxpayers against the
assumption of new financial obliga-
tions as it is to protect them against
the loss of revenue.
This matter of extending District
facilities to those housed or work.
ing in newly enlarged Federal areas
across the river can become sub
stantial item of expense to local
taxpayers, unless there is some
definite understanding at the outset
over who will pay the bill. For as
these areas are developed the Dis
trict undoubtedly will be called upon
to furnish other things, such as
police, fire and health protection.
Mr. Randolph's boundary bill should
be amended, with the thought of
providing that such expenses will
not be met from local revenues.
Evening star., 1944-01-11

question that Mountbatten has a tre-
mendous task before him, requiring
long preparation.
In the naval sense, his situation
should be satisfactory. The surrender
of the Italian fleet greatly eased the
British naval demands in the Mediter-
ranean. The loss of the Scharnhorst
and the damaging of the Tirpitz like
wise have eased those demands in the
Atlantic, as far as heavy ships are con-
cerned
The increase in the available mer-
chant shipping, due to the breaking
down of the submarine campaign and
the great success of the American ship
building program, should permit in
creased supplies being sent to India.
One of the bottlenecks In building up
Mountbatten's power has been the long
sea haul. and the consequent reluctance