davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-01-11
Stalking q Claim

IT the official announcement from
Moscow that Russia will insist upon
substantial restoration of its 1899
border with Poland proves disturb
ing in this country. 1t will be pri-
marily because of the manner in
which that claim is being enforced.
From the language of the Moscow
statement, it seems clear that the
Russians intend to dispose of this
matter by imposing a unilateral
settlement on the Poles. To be sure,
the statement suggests a negotiated
settlement-but upon terms laid
down in advance by the Soviet gov
ernment. That is not the kind of
boundary settlement that falls
within the popular American inter-
probation of the Atlantic Charter,
and, to the extent that it may serve
as precedent, it is not too promis-
ing for the amicable adjustment of
territorial disputes which may be
expected to arise in the future.
When these things are said, how
ever, the fact remains that RuSsia's
historical title to the area in queS-
ton cannot be dismissed out of
hand 1t is true that the 1889 claim
to the territory rests upon plebi-
Scite conducted in the presence of
the Red Army, and the Poles will
contend that this was not a free
expression of the popular will. But
on chronological grounds, there is
much to support the Russian posi-
ton. Furthermore, had the issue
been settled after the First World
War on the basis of the "Curzon
Line" Russia's claim to the territory
would have been recognized at that
time. To very large extent, the set
tlement finally worked out ignored
the fact that in many sections of
the disputed territory the people
were predominantly Russian, and
not Polish. 1t is only natural there
fore that Stain should regard the
award of those areas to Poland as
an injustice, and one which he is
determined to correct.
Finally, it is imperative that the
realities of this matter be taken into
account. Without regard to the
merits or otherwise of the Russian
demands, the plain fact is that the
Soviets are able to impose whatever
settlement they believe to be equi-
table. Americans and Britons may
disagree, but as practical matter
there is nothing they can do about
it. That being the case, there is
nothing to be gained, but perhaps
a great deal to be lost, by indulging
now in hasty criticisms which may
lack substantial foundation, and
which, in any event, would be apt
to fall on deaf ears.
Evening star., 1944-01-11

area, but the most authentic ethno-
logical maps, such as that contained in
Bernard Newman's The New Europe"
justify Russia's claim to the boundary
of 1899.
There is evidence, not quite clear IT,
is true, that Russia, in fixing that
boundary in 1899, exercised a commend
able restraint. For it is said Hitler was
willing to fix the boundary further to
the west. No doubt, Stain is proceed
ing in the belief that he is rectifyinp a
great injustice growing out of the
versailles peace. The war in 1918 was
ended on the basis Il Wilson's fourteen
points. one OF those points declared
Tor a Poland inhabited by "indis-
putaoly Polish populations" The peace
nnaiiy concluded, however, grossly vio-
lated that point, and at the expense
Of Russia.
A hundred miles to the north, the
population changes from Ukrainian to
White Russian. But Russians still pre-
dominate. The Russian claims will be
firm there, too. Still farther north
around Wilma, Poles predominant. The
issue there will rest upon other grounds
II Russia makes further claims.
The whole situation is so confused now
that the wisest policy for Americans is
to withhold judgment on details and to
hold to Stains promise that Poland will
have a permanent place among the ma
tions. A terrific flood of propaganda
from all sides will engulf us as peace
approaches. But while We are winning
the war, such propaganda can safely
be taken with grain of salt.
In the midst OF current discussion of
Evening star., 1944-01-11
Significant Pessimism

AS the mighty Red Army con-
tinues to smash forward with SEEM
ingly irresistible force, the language
of official spokesmen in Berlin is
becoming so extraordinary, so pes
simistic, SO openly desperate as to
appear even more significant than
the actual battle itself.
In June, 1910, just before the COL
lapse of France. a highly placed
French officer declared that "the
front no longer exists" That was
his way of saying that further re-
sistance had become virtually hope
less. Now we hear almost identical
words from Berlin: I'm the east there
is practically no more front. The
situation is so confused that only
headquarters knows the details of
the operations and can direct them"
Similarly, through another official
German statement, foreign CORE
spondents in Berlin have just been
told that "the outcome of this war
now depends on the battles in the
east, not on the comparatively in
significant fighting in Italy nor on
the eventual second front"
1t would be foolhardy to read too
much into these gloom laden Nazi
words. They must be taken with
more than grain of salt. They do
not justify any quick and over
optimistic conclusion-j jumping as to
the possibility of an early German
collapse. Actually, they may be de-
signed to mislead us, or the pessi-
mism they contain may be deliber-
ately exaggerated in order to frighten
Hitler's satellites into extending
greater aid to his armies, or they may
be calculated to prepare the Reich
home front for the psychological
shock of vast and disastrous with
drawal from the whole of Russia.
These reservations aside, however,
the language of the Berlin spokes-
man most certainly reflects pro-
foundly depressed Nazi frame of
nina. year ago Hitler was still at
Stalingrad, some 1,4O0 miles from
Berlin. Today he is engaged in what
German sources themselves have de-
scribed as a chaotic" retreat, and
the Red Army, instead of being 1,400
miles away, is now within 900 miles
Of the Reich capital. Meanwhile,
like every other key city in Germany,
that capital is being blasted away by
British and American air power.
Meanwhile, too, the U-boat feet is
being massacred at sea, our forces
continue to advance in Italy, and
massive new Allied invasion moves
are in the making. Everywhere.
north, east, south and west, the po-
sition of the Nazis Is so obviously
bad that the pessimism of their
Evening star., 1944-01-11

OF our high command to assign ship
ping to a task in which so many yalu-
able ton-hourS were lost on the return
voyage. Two other factors now mill
tate against extra tonnage for Mount
batten, however: One is the famine in
India, which demands for civilian needs
a great part of such additional tonnage
as may become available for the long
eastward trip; the other is the stepping
up OF preparations for the invasion of
western Europe, which inevitably re-
suits in demands from Gen. Eisenhower
Tor all sorts Of additional material which
ne finds necessary as he begins his sur
Vey OF that tremendous operation.
This latter factor also will affect
Mountbatten's air strength, both as to
the number of planes which can be
made available to him, and as to fuel.
lubricants, spare parts and ammunition
An overwhelming air superiority is es-
sential for any amphibious operation,
Mountbatten must be prepared to meet,
not only the comparatively weak Japa-
nese air strength now in Burma, but
everything which the Japanese could
concentrate against him by way Of their
interior lines and interlocking system
OF air bases stretching all the way from
the home islands down the China coast
and across Indo-China and Thailand.
AS to troops, aside from such aid as
he may get from the Chinese, it is
apparent that Mountbatten must de-
pend very largely on the Indian Army.
A certain number of British units will
be available, but for the most part the
troops will be Indian. Great progress
has been made In raising and training
Indian troops during the last two years,
but 1t should not be supposed that India
Evening star., 1944-01-11
War History


There should be an official Amer
lean history of the Second World
War. 1t follows that the new his
torical branch of the War Depart
ment will be an institution and an
enterprise of public concern from
the start. The announcement that
soldier-writers are being sent into
the field to record military events
and procedures at first hand
undoubtedly already has attracted
universal attention.
1t seems eminently worthwhile to
prepare accounts of distinctive
actions for the reading of the men
who took part in them. Similarly
there should be detailed narratives
of integrated operations and cam
paigns. A good, scholarly, readable
one or two volume chronicle of the
whole tremendous inclusive en-
deavor naturally would bring into
unified relation the data made
available in the proposed pamphlet
series.
Lieutenant Colonel John NJ KEN
per, formerly teacher of history at
West Point, is in charge of the work.
One of his most important discov-
cries in connection with it has been
that the job could not be done from
n1 tn To hi
from the several fighting fronts. He
is sending trained personnel to the
various theaters to gather material
while it still is fresh. The purpose
of the department is by no means
strictly literary. 1t has been ex-
planned that the particular objective
of the effort is to produce informa-
ton of technical value to troops in
training.
The official undertaking, of
course, in no way affects private
writing about the war. Accredited
journalists have been and will con-
tinue to be on every front. They
are contributing to the growing
annals of these tumultuous times
day by day. and it is fair to think of
them as historians in the accurate
sense of the word. What the Gov
ernment is doing is something more
formal, perhaps more deliberately
scientific. A like idea was respon-
sible for an Official history" of
Australia in the First World War,
edited by c. E. w. Bean beginning
in 1921. The same instinct prompted
monumental study of the armies
of France in the conflict of 1914
1918. The Belgian account was
published in serial form in the
Bulletin des Sciences Militaires. For
Britain, Brigadier General Sir ]. E.
Edmonds wrote an authorized
analysis in four volumes. The
American aspect of the First War
was discussed at length by General
John ]. Pershing in his Final Re-
port" issued in 1919. If ethical
guidance is wanted for the task
Colonel Kemper now is attempting,
Evening star., 1944-01-11
Constantine BrO1Vn

were refreshed" every five or six days.
When the imperial staff realized that
defeat was in sight it decided to sue
for peace in order to save the remainder
Of Germany's manpower.
Il
The same situation might occur In
Russia. The Nazis still have some 800
divisions. At least 100 Of them must be
kept in Western Europe, Italy and the
Balkans. At least so divisions must be
retained as general reserve pool. If
the remaining ITO divisions, which are
believed to be on the eastern front, can
be kept in good shape by intelligent
retreats the fight will continue until we
can apply pincers movement by an
invasion from the west.
II, however, the entire force is COM
PEELED to fight In the east, as the
Germans were forced to fight on the
French front in 1918 and the Russians
dispose OF vast reserves, the Nazis might
collapse In the next few months.
II the Dnieper army, composed of
between 80 and so divisions, collapses.
there is strong probability that the
entire eastern front will fall In such
event the generals will attempt to
come 10 terms with the Russians They
will use the remainder of their armies.
which still are capable of fighting a
defensive war inside the German bor-
ders, as an argument for a negotiated
peace with the rest of the Allies. They
might even threaten the Allies with gas
warfare and fight to the last man if
the peace conditions were too obiec-
tlonable. They probably will use the
argument that the complete destruc-
tlon OF Germany will not compensate for
the Allied losses.
But if the Germans can extricate
themselves from the trap we are told
tne Russians have laid for their Dnieper
army, and retire in good order, as they
have done since last July, the prospects
OF an utter Nazi defeat will be slim and
we shall be compelled to fight it out
with them from the east and the west.
this year, and possibly longer.
Evening star., 1944-01-11
This and That
By Charles E. Traceueu.

Did you know that badger hair
shaving brushes are selling for as high
as S25 each?
Templeton Jones found this out after
Christmas. Some one gave him a big
stoneWare shaving mug filled with soap
Jones hadn't used such a thing for
more years than he chose to remember.
He had adopted his own plan of shaving
with a cake of toilet soap.
His method, he swears, is much easier
on the skin. The brush, he says, makes
it tender.
Here he was with a big shaving mug
He thought that at least he had to
give it try.
Maybe he had been mistaken all these
years. Perhaps the millions of men
who fused around with mug and shav-
ing brush were right, after all
Secretly, Jones doubted this; millions
OF men are wrong about thousands of
things. If this were not true, the world
wouldn't be in the shape it Is today.
Still, perhaps he had better get him
self shaving brush.
He couldn't find his old one, so he
stopped in at store and inquired.
Yes" said the clerk, I'VE have them.
although not very many. Here is a
nice one for SIS"
What" roared Templeton Jones.
Why, can get one like that for 49,"
Not any more, my friend" smiled the
man. There is war on, you know"
Jones had forgotten about the war,
Tor second. Now he recalled it with a
bang, but still he wasn't licked.
That's too much" he said.
The man grinned.
How about this one?" he asked.
That looks bit better-how much
is it?"
The clerk smiled innocentIy.
Genuine badger" he declared, "a bar
gain at $25."
So Jones went back home.
he refused to pay that much for a
shaving brush.
Looking into the medicine cabinet. he
suddenly spied one-hidden behind a
bottle.
Triumphantly he hauled it forth.
IL was stubby, worn down by manv
years use, but to Jones it seemed worth
mllllon-er, $40, at the least
What changes time brings" he
unused, looking fondly at the old shaving
so opush. i Yes, you are worth at least
20 iron mem"
SO saying, he dipped the old brush
INTO water and then began paving it
around in the new shaving mug.
He couldn't work up the lather he re-
memoered making in the old days.
he had vision of gallons of foam.
his face fairly buried in lather. Wasn't
That the way the old shaving soap ads
had it?
Templeton Jones whisked and
brushed, but no foamy lather arose.
Maybe it's the soap-and the war"
he smiled to himself and then stopped
smiling as he took in an ounce of Iather,
Shaving soap inside the mouth is not
as good as outside.
Jones whisked away, each second
believing more firmly than ever in his
old method.
He finally got his shave done and it
wasn't a bad shave, either. Men are
particular about their shaves.
He washed out the new mug carefully.
He rinsed the old brush and carefully
put it away-for the last time.
He was going to stick to his own
method, even if his shaving brush had
taken on new value in world of rapidly
changing values.
1t was nice of Aunt Edith to send him
that big mug. He would always
treasure 1t.
Evening star., 1944-01-11

about all that every one admits to be
Polish, are many lines of ethnology, his
torical interest and economic necessity.
And every one of those lines ends in
big question marks.
X
Within the limits of this column, 1t
Is possible only to speak of that part of
the Polish problem which lies immedi-
ately ahead of the Red armies west of
Kiev. Straight ahead to the west, some
$50 miles, lies the boundary fixed by
Russia when, in 1889, they moved their
armies westward as Hitler struck at
Warsaw
If the Red armies proceed in that
direction, they will pass through an
area populated, before the war, by
very large majority of Ukrainian Rus
slams. There are spots of Poles in that
Evening star., 1944-01-11
Gould Lincoln

toes Indeed, to talk with Wiilkie sim
porters is to gain the idea they believe
every mans hand is against them if
the man so much as looks at another
candidate. Mr.. Willkie, therefore, will
never be compromise" nominee, He
must either win hands down by virtue
OF snow OF strength or be defeated
Inc Wlllkieites are going so far as to
threaten their man will run on an in
dependent ticket if he fails to receive
the Republican nomination. This NAV.
De largely bluf-for purpose. Former
Gov. Stassen of Minnesota. now in the
Navy, never made any such statement
as Gov. Dewey-he never said he would
not become a candidate, although he
has said he was not a candidate Hs
simply joined the Navy and temporarilv
dropped out Of politics personally His
irlends, however, have picked I'D the
torch and are very active, with head
quarters established in Chicago and
elsewhere. They do not intend to have
Mr.. StasSen vanish from the national
political field because he has gone m
war. They will do all they can IN
keep him in the limelight They might
WIN 1or MIN vice presidential nomi-
nation II not the first prize. Anyway,
they are convinced that when 1e48 rolls
around the presidential nominee must
have had war record.
r
That brings UP Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur. who already has a war record
OF great proportions. No Macarthur
headquarters are here, vet his name
Keeps cropping Up in conferences, Gov.
warren of California, who still main
tains he is not candidate, is dabblinY
MS feet in the water. He has decided
70 head the California delegation tn
tne convention, and he presumably will
nave great deal to say about its make
up and what it does later
Evening star., 1944-01-11
Landscapes

Nature, Dith but shrug and toss,
De say,
Can fashion landscapes tai7er than q
dream;
The pine-wood edging to crescent bav,
The toamy gorge, the WilloW- mirroring
stream.
Yet, ah, the ages when Utth laborinq
hands
She scooped the canyon, flung the sno,u-
peak high,
Sculptured the cliff, and on the change
ful sands.
Sttted her species, ,Datchtng myriads
die;
And for thousand million seasons
tDoDe
To make one oak-leat futteri1g in the
1Dood,
To shape the dome OF one cathedral
groDe,
To curDe one hill, one mountains
glacier hood
But 1De, tDho cannot read times toll
Dorn heart,
Stare, and behold a moments casual
art.
STANTON A. COBLENTZ.
Evening star., 1944-01-11

exile, suggests that
once more the eter-
nal Polish problem"
is sticking its head
up above the battle.
The first step in
getting q view of
that problem" is to
realize that it is a
many-sided problem.
1t d e pc n d S upon
which side of the
Poland of 1919-1939
you are looking at.
For, reaching out in
all directions from
Warsaw which is
Evening star., 1944-01-11

it might be found in the sentiment
OF John Buchan, Viscount Tweeds-
muir, late Governor General of
Canada, who, in his History of the
Great War;" declared: II have
striven earnestly to tell the truth,
so far as could ascertain it, free
from bias or petulance or passion.
The story is too noble one to be
marred by any 'vileinye Of hate
Evening star., 1944-01-11
Letters to The Star
Opposition to Food Stamps
Comes From Rural Georgia.
Tn thu Editnf Of D,l,a n Rtar

To the Editor of The Star.
1t seems that from news reports Sena-
tor Austin has come back to Capitol
Hill determined to renew his efforts to
set up a system for helping the low
income group by giving food stamps to
those whose income Is insufficient to
maintain decent standard of living.
To me it seems that these proposed
stamps will be as offensive as were
the stamps that caused the noted Boston
Tea Party. This plan, 1t Is said, will cost
the Government $4,000, 100000. At the
same time it will cost millions of Amer
leans their self-respect, and will do in
calculable harm to our social order
At the present time there are great
many low-salaried people who are find
ing it difficult to make the proverbial
buckle and tongue" meet. Many of
these people have enough praiseworthy
pride to prevent them from asking for
the stamps. On the other hand, there
are great many people with plenty
of money and very little pride that
will not hesitate to take the stamps.
One of the most sordid pages in Amer
ican history was written in connection
with the distribution of surplus COM
went hungry rather than ask for these
commodities while others who were
amply able to buy these foods, did ask
for them.
I know one large operator who sent
trucks to the surplus commodity depot
and received supplies for rs of his work
ers. These supplies were placed in his
commissary and sold to his workers at
regular market prices. am certain in
my own mind that this procedure was
duplicated in many cases throughout
the land. I hope that if the Congress
cannot go along with a well-planned
subsidy system, it will at least leave off
the stamps. 1t would be better for peo-
pie to 60 hungry, that lose their self
respect
OF course, the subsidy will be as ex-
pensive or more so than the stamp plan,
but 1t will have the merit of letting the
whole population eat out of the same
spoon, and those who are able to pay
higher prices for their commodities will
do so through the medium of taxes.
This system would not classify a great
mass Of American people in the So
called low-income group.
I. S. CALDWELL.
Jyranc -,
Evening star., 1944-01-11

about 300 divisions
$500, 900 men-are
moving westward re-
] e n essly. The
Nazis do not appear
to be able to stop
them. Whether the
failure Of the Ger
man high command
to check the Reds is
due to strategic con-
sideration-the real
ization that a strong
resistance would be
too costly and the
forces sh ould be
SY,ared for moro i'm
Evening star., 1944-01-11

formally thelr can
didacy-Gov. Bricker
of Ohio and Repre-
sentative Dirksen of
Illinois.
Chicago, W h e e
the Republican Ma
t / O n a | Committee
and r e pu b Ii C a n
State chairmen and
vice chairmen are
holding a two = day
pow wow, is a hot
bed of rumors and
surmise. 1t Is re-
ported h ere that
Wendell L. Willkie
Evening star., 1944-01-11
CommendS Editorial
On Golf Course Contract.

TO the Editor Of The Star:
The membership of our club has read
with a great deal of interest your dis
cussion of the new public links golf
contract.
We think that the article which ap-
peared on the editorial page on Wednes-
day, January S, expresses our feelings on
public golf in the District.
We hope that The Star will continue
It's fight to have the operation of the
courses taken over by the District Rec
reat1on Board, which will have the in
terest OF the golfers at heart, at least
more 50 than private operator who is
purely businessman and who never has
played golf in his life.
WILBUR w. SEAY,
Treasurer Anacostia Golf Club.
Evening star., 1944-01-11

Southeast Asia. A
month or so ago the
Japanese were show
ing some activity in
improving their po-
sitions along tn e
Salween River, pre-
sumably as provision
against Chinese Of
fensives in cooper
alton with a British
attack on Burma,
but since then there
has been only air
action reported from
this theater.
Thoro con ho Nh
Evening star., 1944-01-11

spokesmen is fully warranted. and
since it is impossible to keep the sit
uation secret from any one, the
sudden new frankness is not alto
gether surprising.