davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-01-14

compelled to take every fighter away
from the Russian and Mediterranean
fronts IN order to provide this home
cover they will have to do Just that.
So what our day bombers have lust
done may have effects that will be felt
not only on the Western front, but In
Italy, the Aegean and in Russia where.
incidentally, the Luftwaffe has lust
made its appearance in sudden strength
over the crucial counterattack area
north and west Of Vinnitsa.
Presently such forays will become
impossible to the Germans, they will no
longer be able to use their air power
as mobile reserve In critical situations
as they seem to have done at Vinnitsa.
or If they do they will have to reduces
greatly the area Of its responsibility,
that Is, they will have to give up a
great deal Of the territory they now
hold IN order to be able to protect the
rest.
But 1t seems likely that the major re-
suits Of the campaign against German
fighter production viii be felt in Western
Europe, where the greatest need for
fighters exists. We should not draw the
conclusion from Tuesdays operation
which is only one Of many directed to
the same end-that invasion Is only two
weeks on. Probably there is good deal
more to be done before the air situation
will be favorable for invasion from our
point Of view. We should, however,
realize that from now on the Germans
will make increasingly concentrated
efforts to protect their fighter plants
and We shall probably have to pay
fairly heavy price for their destruction.
(copyrisht, 1914. N. 2. Tribune. Inc)
Evening star., 1944-01-14
Prohibition and Lobbying
Discussed With Disapproval.

TO the Editor Of The Star:
Seemingly, prohibition has reared It's
ugly head behind the lines. We, who
went through that siege once, never want
1t to happen again.
The evil of drink has come down tn
us through the ages and 1t is the work
Of the devil. person who drinks to
excess is harmful only when he infrinees
on the rights and liberties of other per-
sons.
In the past we were told much about
freedom, tolerance and liberty.
Why should small groups of people
want to force their beliefs upon millions
of American citizens? MY answer Is to
gain power to rule the people.
Our fighting men are dying for free
dom. Wouldn't it be mockery to de-
prive them of their beer?
Lobbying in the halls Of Congress is
just as great an evil as the drinking of
intoxicating liquors. A lobbyist is paid
to harass congressman. If he is sue
cessful and the Congress passes the bill
the way he wants 1t, who is cheated?
The Congressmen's constituents. Is that
fair to the people? Our form of Gov
ernment Is for the people, by the people,
and the good citizens of these United
States of America should keep 1t that
way.
I believe in the rights of individuals,
in the rights of the States and in the
rights of a Nation. am not q follower
of Bacchus, but hope I have sense
enough and I am broad minded enough
to recognize the rights of others, even
though disapprove of their habits.
You can't legislate morals into human
beings. A SQUARE SHOOTER.
Evening star., 1944-01-14
Pierrot Lunuire

Blue moonlight clocks strange hour on
the dial
And under the blue-tohite to,Ders In
this spectral time,
Pierrot, the moth, the POWDERED siluey
cloDn,
Describes his fatal ntnuet in pan
tOnlime.
Slo1D figure spaced to music OF small
cricket nlGndolins,
The dance n1oDes on final and moon
frosted 1Dings,
And Colunabine, the moon nfo,oer, mods
in icy elegance
Precisely timed to surge OF insect
strings.
And deep IN the sable shGdotp Of
espdlered iDy screen
The spider, Harlequin, smiles IN his
spun-gldss nest,
Smiles In his anttc trapptnps OF pied
silUer and cold black,
Waiting his cue for last enormous test.
FREDERICK EBRloHTg
Evening star., 1944-01-14

Indeed, 1t may be said that at this time
the destruction or naturalization Of the
Luftwafie's fighters is the primary OBJ
jecttve Of our daylight operations. We
cannot even think of beginning the
invasion Of Western Europe until our air
superiority is thoroughly established.
The Germans have by converting their
bomber plants In large part to fighter
production In some cases by SWITCH
ing men and materials from bomber
plants to fighter plants-succeeded in
increasing their fighter force by about
1000 operating planes over the total
they had at the beginning of 1943 This
increase our daylight bombers must f1nd
. means Of offsetting-and that Is why
the extensive damage inflicted on the
Focke-Wulf, Messerschmitt and Junkers
assembly plants must be rated major
victory for the Army Air Forces.
Evening star., 1944-01-14

tack against the Nazis across the Chan
mel. They have the most definite as
surances Of Russia that the Red armies
will strike simultaneously from the
east with the same vigor they are now
displaying.
Every conceivable preparation is be-
ing made to assure the success Of our
offensive in the west. The bulk Of the
American invasion force has not been
In action before. It will meet tried
Nazi veterans. It's training, however,
Is so thorough that there Is little con-
Germ in high military quarters as to
how the American soldiers will fight
The Americans haYe shown their
mettle In Tunisia and now in Italy
where able Nazi divisions are opposing
them. They have shown what they
can do in the Pacific where the warfare
is so different from previous campaigns.
They took to jungle warfare In the
Solomons and New Guinea as If they
had been reared in the jungles. That
much the American high command
knows; hence its optimism in its evalu-
alton OF our chances of making q sue.
cessful invasion of Western Europe.
But neither the American nor the Brit
ish general staffs can say how well the
Nazis are going to fight The length
OF the campaign depends on that un-
known element exclusively.
According to some responsible mill
tary analysts, II the morale of the
German armies and people does not
collapse, the Reich will be able to fight
on both fronts for some time. Whether
this time element can be measured in
months or years no one is willing to
predict.
1t Is pointed out by these authorities
that on the Eastern Front the Nazi
armies can withdraw inside the Reich
and fight defensively for longer period
than the public has been led to believe.
Evening star., 1944-01-14
Frank K. Kent

he has no further responsibility, It Is
perfectly clear that we will have neither
q national service act nor q decent tax
law.
On the other hand, If Mr.. Roosevelt
backs up his message with the full
weight OF his administration and his
own personal strength, there Is very
good chance Of his whole program going
through. In the New Deal days before
the war. that was the way he operated.
He not only made strong personal ap-
peals to individual congressional leaders
but he sent cabinet members and White
House aides to the Capitol. He and
they used every means of persuasion
they had-which were many and potent,
If this time he will do Just half he did
In his fight to pack the Supreme Court he
almost surely will get through his chief
recommendations. In his court fight he
had bad cause and public sentiment
against him. In this case he has good
cause and public sentiment with him. In
brief, II he supports his own proposals, as
he has supported others, he will win,
strikes will be made impossible and the
war shortened. If he does not support
them strongly, If he fails to follow
through, If he says, in effect, "Oh well,
I've made the recommendations the
fault Of Congress If they do not 20
through'-then they will not go through
and the country will have a right to
question his sincerity Those are the
facts. As for Congress, that body might
well recognize that to reject the Presi-
dents request for national service act
is, as Gen. Marshall said of the recent
railroad and steel strikes, to give the
enemy a propaganda weapon which.
conceivably, may prolong the war.
Evening star., 1944-01-14
Constantine Bro1Vu

In Western Europe, where deep sys-
TENS OF Notifications have been con-
structed, the Wehrmacht can put up
an excellent show 80 long as its morale
holds and the German marshals and
generals believe that fighting can save
the Reich. II we are to estimate the
duration Of the war in Europe by the
physical ability Of the German armies
to fight, the conclusion must be that
the Nazis have sufficient men and equip
ment to resist for long time.
4
The morale element Is something In
tangible. Today, according to the best
available reports which are not slanted
by propaganda, German morale still Is
high. The heavy blows received in the
east have created an atmosphere Of
gloom, but have not yet shaken the de-
termination Of the people and the armies
to fight to the bitter end. In morale.
however, what is true today may no
longer be true tomorrow.
II by a combination Of circumstances,
such as continuous body blows from the
Allied armies and an intelligent propa-
ganda, the German people are primed
for surrender, the job ahead Of us will
be easier and the war may be over in
few months.
If on the other hand, the German
nation, regardless Of the attitude of the
Reich's satellites, decides to fight a
suicidal war, 1t is possible that we still
will be fighting next year.
This Is even more true In regard to
the Pacific, where an all-out campaign
against the main stronghold of the Japs
cannot be started until the European
situation is liquidated. We may push
the japanese out Of their peripheric de-
lenses Of this year; the Japanese home
land may be bombed again and more
frequently. But we and the British are
so heavily engaged in Europe that 1t is
not conceivable that we will be able to
ciU a AZ
Evening star., 1944-01-14


There Is no such thing as certitude
in warfare. Hitler and his generals
unquestionably weren't entitled in the
summer Of 1910 to take most opti-
mistic attitude in regard to an early
end OF the war. At the time the East
ern Front was secure because the Rus
slams were Germany's allies and In the
west all resistance, except that offered
by the British, had been crushed
England herself was in a bad way.
She was unprepared-except morally
for a stiff resistance had the -NaN
decided to take the same heavy losses
we are prepared to accept in an in
vasion Of Western Europe. The Brit
ish lacked arms, had only a handful
of planes and few trained divisions.
Hitler and Goering are said to have
been convinced that Britain could be
bombed into surrender. This over
confidence lost the war for, the Axis.
4
The high-ranking American strate-
gists know when we will open the at
Evening star., 1944-01-14
All, All q Dream

In perhaps the most interesting
discovery of the year to date. Re-
publican Representative Ellsworth
OF Oregon has found that the farm
bloc" does not exist. There's no
such thing" he says. 1t lives only
"in the imagination of some writer's
and commentators" and is no more
substantial than the elves, lepre-
chauns and ghosts which children
sometimes dream Of.
1t may be that some people will
scoff at Mr.. Ellsworth's findings. 1t
may be that few narrow critics will
ask. well. how come these drives
for higher agricultural prices, and
how come things like the united
front in the cattle industry?" But
Mr.. Ellsworth, who has spent year
investigating this matter, will retort
that appearances are deceiving and
that what looks like something else
is solely and simply a group of farm
State Representatives who just hap
pen to vote all the same way. Which
ought to make it quite clear to every
body that we are letting our imagi-
nations run riot when we suppose
that the farm bloc" is anything but
a mere funny coincidence.
The significance of Mr.. Ellsworth's
startling discovery is that if we have
thus been so plainly mistaken about
the existence of farm bloc" we
very probably have been suffering
from the same sort of hallucinations
in respect to the so-called "silver
bloc" and the so-called labor bloc"
and any numbersof other so-called
"blocs." It is enough to make the
mind totter. It is as If Bishop
Berkeley were back preaching that
nothing exists outside the mind, or
as If some whimsical philosopher,
with pure and unassailable logic,
were proving to us that we ourselves
are mere figments of the imagina-
ton and that the objective world is
reality only to the degree that we
think 1t is.
In any event, on the less meta
physical plane. Mr.. Ellsworth's dis
covery must leave the American peo-
pie quite as puzzled and charmed as
A. A. Mines little boy who found
that halfway up the stairs isn't up,
Evening star., 1944-01-14

British, American and Russian collab-
grafton in economic reconstruction, and
Is realistically aware that this must be
accomplished by the economic systems
already existing.
It means that the Soviet Union Is
convinced that any attempt radically to
change the private enterprise system
in the United States or any measures
that would contribute to its breakdown,
would only result in violent counter
reaction Of q Fascist and nti-Soviet
nature.
1t means that Mr. Browder himself is
convinced that the private enterprise
system Is capable of realizing for the
masses of the people enormous social
gains and material improvements, if
exercised with intelligence and a high
degree Of patriotic zeal for the achieve
ment of national purposes.
Despite the dissolution of the COMM
tern, the worldwide Communist parties
have been, and still are, primarily in
terested in the welfare Of the Soviet
Union. They still take their main direc-
tives from Moscow, since Communist
leaders have become extremely intelli-
gent in interpreting what the Soviet
Unions intentions and desires may be-
Mr.. Browder's speech makes it crystal
clear that the Soviet Union, operating
purely out OF enlightened self-interest,
wishes to assure peace for herself and
open the possibility of political and
economic collaboration with us, by frank
recognition Of the existing economic
and social structure of the United States.
~ n -
In brief, world peace and not world
revolution is the Soviet aim. And 1t
goes even further. With whatever in
fluence the Soviet Union is able to
exert through its organized supporters
in other countries, it will work to pre-
vent revolutionary actions.
For, as Mr.. Browder's speech makes
Evening star., 1944-01-14
The Italian Front

To the layman the italian front
has become chronic disappoint-
ment. The road to Rome, which
looked so promising after the fall Of
Naples, turns out to be a tortuous
and bloody trail beset by incredible
difficulties due to terrain, weather
and tough enemy resistance. Pro-
gress is exasperatingly slow, and
even Rome, when attained, is not
the end but rather stage toward
still other objectives.
However, the campaign in Italy
should be considered in it's larger
strategic aspect rather than from
immediate tactical moves on the
existing battle front. To begin with,
the invasion of peninsular Italy was
a gamble, political as we'll as military
in character. The first fruits of the
venture largely compensated for sub
sequent losses and delays. The COL
lapse of Mussolinis Fascist regime,
the fracturing of the Rome Berlin
Axis, the surrender of the italian
feet, and the establishment of the
Badoglio regime friendly to the Allies
were all major triumphs for the
Allied cause. Furthermore, the gains
might have been greater still. If the
Germans had not acted so swiftly,
their defensive system might have
crumbled from the Alps to the Ae-
gean. And this danger was averted
only by diverting reserves of men
and equipment badly needed on the
Russian front.
Having failed to achieve the maxi
mum, the Allies were compelled to
conform to the pattern OF German
strategy, which eninently favored a
tenacious defense. The topography
Of Central Italy badly handicaps an
invader from the south. At this
Evening star., 1944-01-14

point the peninsula averages only 80
miles wide and Is q mass Of rugged
mountains reaching on both sides
almost to the seaboard. This region,
known as the Abruzzi, is one Of the
widest and least accessible parts OF
Italy. The winte- climate Of those
lofty peaks is severe, and the few
roads winding through narrow val
leys are impossible until the domi-
mating heights have been secured.
No troops could probably have done
better than the 5th and 9th Armies
in surmounting the difficulties in
their path. On so narrow and rugged
front the number Of men and
amount OF material employable are
limited. This is true of both antag-
onists.
However, the Germans have been
obliged to keep substantial reserves
immobilized in Northern Italy to
guard against possible leap-frog"
AoioAA6o 4dA 1AiCi up VIC pCAAAllould
by the large Allied formations gath
cred in nearby Sicily. North Africa
and Corsica-Sardinia. That is an
important factor in the overall stra-
tegic picture, since German man
power and equipment is strained as
never before to make good the ter
rife wastage on the Eastern front
and maintain the defense OF Western
Europe against imminent invasion
from the British Isles. Thus, even
an indecisive holding campaign in
italy has its part in Allied grand
strategy which cannot be evaluated
merely by tactical operations in the
AbruZzi highlandS.
Evening star., 1944-01-14

For example, had he shown anything
save disapproval, national service act
could have been passed two years ago.
And, while he now appeals for real
istic" tax law it was his opposition that
long ago prevented enactment Of a gen.
eral sales tax, which is the most realistic
and needed Of ALL
Finally, 1t is q little absurd for him to
ask Congress to transcend politics"
when he has not transcended politics
himself. All these things are true and
they account largely for the lowered
prestige of the President and the cool
ness with which Congress now regards
his pleas.
But there is no use stressing these
things now, though the self righteous
ness with which the message reeks and
the way in which he avoided frank
presentation Of the ugly labor facts are
temptation to indict him both for a
Evening star., 1944-01-14
Dorothy Thompson

clear, the Soviet wishes not only to
align itself with the strongest nations
on earth, but with the strongest forces
inside those nations, and recognizes
that the strongest forces are not labor
alone, but businessmen, industrial and
financial capitalists and their man.
ayers, who have effective direction Of
the nations economy" and, secondly.
the working classes, organized labor
and the farmer"
Thus Mr.. Browder's whole speech
was plea for unity between industry
and labor. not only for the war, but
even more Importantly for the peace,
during long terms of years"
Mr.. Browder advocated reform by
gradualism, and only such a reform
as could be achieved in continual COL
laboration with the actual instruments
OF economic power.
Now, commentators have raised the
question whether this speech was Sin
cere," or a "maneuver," but the real
MARKHAM Communists who heard it had
no doubts whatsoever. They got up and
left the hall. For the theological fanat-
les 1t was the bitterest of blows.
Mr.. Browder's speech explains the
great attempts Of the Soviet Union to
come to a reasonable understanding
with Poland. 1t explains the attempts
Of the Soviet Union to reconcile King
Peter and the partisan leader Tito.
1t explains the fact that in Cuba, q
fortnight ago. the Communist party
changed its name to Social Demo-
cratic Party"
1t reveals, therefore, that neither
Roosevelt Churchill nor Stain domi.
mated the Teheran conference and die.
tated terms. Teheran really reached
an agreement-and Stain is beginning
to implement that agreement right
now.
Released By the Bell Syndicate. Inc)
Evening star., 1944-01-14
Letters to The Star

Argues That Public Housing Critics
Do Not Represent People"
TO the Editor Of The Star:
Your editorial, "A Risky Precedent"
January 10, sounds warning note at 4
critical time In respect to the changing
OF zoning restrictions. As builders and
landowners pointed out at the recent
hearings, If changes are made to meet
the complaints Of property owners, they
cannot carry out their commitments.
What is important is that the greater
good OF the greater number OF people
shall be considered
The testimony of many OF the repre-
sentatives of the two objecting citizens
associations showed that they are op-
posed to all apartment houses and to all
loW-rent housing as well as to having
tenants as neighbors. Some even OBJ
jected to apartment houses anywhere in
the city, Notwithstanding 10 per cent of
the people of Washington are renters.
Although the present zoning has been
in force for 20 years or more, none of
those testifying for rezoning admitted
having made any protests heretofore.
Nor did they raise . voice against the
hundreds Of apartments built in their
neighborhoods in the past i've years
or so.
Only when they learned that the pub
lie housing to be built by the National
Capital Housing Authority and the low
rent private housing to be built were for
Negroes did they object Yet these
neighborhoods are now and have been
for years more than so per cent occupied
by Negroes. It is difficult to believe that
the witnesses objecting truly represented
the people Of these areas or their own
citizen associations.
On the other hand, one must take
issue with the writer of the editorial
when he says: Those interested in pub
lie housing should be in q position by
this time to demonstrate that q COM
munity is improved rather than injured
by public housing" etc. The facts speak
for themselves.
First, any one who will take the trou-
BILE to examine old files Of The Star
the past Ave years-will see the steady
increase in value Of properties for sale
or for rent adjacent to permanent public
housing developments.
Second, any one who seeks to buy or
rent property adjacent to permanent
public housing developments easily can
ascertain values by consulting real estate
men as to prices. Some will volunteer
information on prices OF the same
property few years back BY compar-
ing these prices OF the various agents,
it is easy to see how values have en-
hanced. Tax assessments usually have
not kept up with these advances, but
neither do they show reductions in
values.
Third, any one visiting the neighbor-
hoods Of these permanent public hous-
ing projects can see the amazing
changes that have taken place. Even
humble little old houses have been
painted and shined up as If to thumb
their noses at their new spic and span
neighbors.
AS for war housing, which the public
frequently confuses with permanent
public housing, these dwellings are ex-
pected to be removed six months after
the cessation of hostilities. NCHA has
been outstanding in insisting that such
arrangements for removal, adequately
financed, shall be provided.
HELEN DUEY HOFFMAN,.
Evening star., 1944-01-14

from the beginning
Of the war.
In fact, 1t can be
truthfully said that
the domestic situa-
tions, which he now
deplores. are largely
OF his own creation;
that the remedies he
proposes are the ones
he has consistently
refused to apply;
that he. himself, has
been the chief OBJ
stacle to action along
these lines.
Evening star., 1944-01-14

offer. And another
speech, far more
sensational, m a d .
last Monday night,
has gone without
sumcient attention
and analysis. I refer
to Mr.. Earl Brow
der's a d dress in
M a olson Square
G ar d e n In N ew
York.
The Importance Of
Mr.. Browder's ad-
dress was completely
misunderstood by
most commentators.
Evening star., 1944-01-14

tives were thre e
German fighter fac
tories, all of which
suffered very serious
damage. We lost 60
bombers, or slightly
more than 8 per cent
of tn e to t al en-
g age e d; this is a
heavy loss. but GER
tainly was justified
by the results OBJ
tanned.
The q erm a n
fighter force is the
natural enemy of
the day bomber
Evening star., 1944-01-14

required peIOTe the
Germans or the
Japs are defeated.
Military chic is
are consistently re-
luGant to speak
with any degree Of
positiveness about
how long the war
will last. They have
come to realize that
optimistic predic-
tions. which some
of them feel that
they are justified In
making, have an
unfavorable effect
Evening star., 1944-01-14

Branch Hickey fears that profess
sional football may displace base
ball in the affections OF the Ameri-
can public. It may soon become
necessary for insurance companies
to raise the premiums on referees as
high as those on umpires.