davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-11-20
On the Record
By Dorothy THOMPSON

In the talk OF future. peace the sim
plest fact is overlooked. We ask. What
form Of organization will prevent ag-
gression? What safeguards can we set
up?
And many safeguards are suggested
all except one. Yet this is the one that
had to be removed in order to make
this war possible: The freedom of the
people to control their governments.
Surely 1t Is worthy of attention that
in order to lead his people into war
Hitler had to abolish parliamentary OPP
position and civil freedoms. Surely it
is significant that the aggression of
Japan was preceded by a military
putsch! Surely 1t is pertinent to observe
that in countries where the people con-
trolled parliaments they all but COM
mitted national suicide rather than take
up arms even against aggression!
Thus, We discuss how to prevent war
when the most obvious fact is that all
peoples everywhere hate war.
Our enemies fight desperately after
years of indoctrination. first because
they are under such efficient control
that peace movements cannot be or
ganized; and second. because they ap-
prehend that this war has become that
monstrous thing. war for survival -
whereby defeat suggests truncation, dis
memberment, economic servitude, and
defenselessness against infuriated neigh
bors Il
In time of victories they love success.
Yet, all reporters indicated that even
then there was curious apprehension
and fatalistic lack of enthusiasm They
did not even then love war.
It is the heartbreak of the world that
could stop war, If We would cease put
ting our entire trust in mechanical
means, If we would formulate a few
basic and universal principles to be-
come law of nations. and under them
mobilize the peoples as effectively for
peace as for war. That means mobiliz-
ing their minds and hearts.
1t involves the faith that in all
peoples. without exception lives-to
quote the Presidents words-"some in
stinct for truth, some attraction to
justice, some passion for peace" This
is the democratic faith which disap-
pears If we deny its universal validity.
1t involves the recognition. also, that
one worldwide community. encompass
ing enemy and ally already exists
Evening star., 1944-11-20
Compulsory Training

President Roosevelt again has re-
newed his suggestion that after the
war America should have some form
of universal, compulsory training for
its young men. And while he de-
clined to elaborate on just what
form this service should take. he
made it clear that what he had in
mind was system under which
youth will be prepared not only for
war, but for civilian life as we'll.
The case for military preparedness
is too obvious to require detailed
argument. Twice within the lifetime
of middle-aged men the United
States has been forced into an orgy
of wasteful spending in eleventh.
hour preparations for fight that
was not of its own choosing. Indeed,
1t is likely that had the United States
possessed large and well-trained
citizens army and air force in 1899
and had been in a position to back
its diplomacy by the threat of i'm
mediate and effective force, Ger
many and Japan might have been
halted in their course of conquest
without plunging the world into War.
American officials, in private con-
versation, admit frankly today that
the reason for their failure to take
stronger diplomatic stand against
the Axis powers was the knowledge
that this country was ill-prepared
for war either in Europe or the
Pacific.
The constant argument used by
paciflsts and other opponents of uni
versal military training is that it
would develop in the minds of youth
a blind faith in force and an i'm
perialistic spirit. That is a possibil-
ity but by no means necessity.
For example. under the militaristic
teachings of the great German gen.
eral staff the youth of the Reich was
1nculcated with those doctrines.
French boys, on the contrary, served
year in the army but never dis
played the extreme nationalism and
aggressive spirit of their German
neighbors
Under the guidance of an en-
lightened and iberal-minded chief
of staff such as General George C.
Marshall, it is quite possible to build
up a system of universal military
training under which American boys
could learn the highly complex tech
niques of modern warfare, and also
be taught that war is always a pos
sibility in this imperfect world and
that a strong ard self-respecting
nation should be prepared for it. In
addition, however, they would learn
that the inevitable trend in human
evolution is toward the peaceable
settlement of international disputes.
This type of indoctrination, COM
bined with the obvious physical and
mental benefits OF a year of military
training and the learning of some
trade or subject that will be useful
In civilian life, should remove from
the minds of reasonable persons any
objection to the plan.
It il fortunate that the President
Evening star., 1944-11-20
Up to the People

Harold B. Butler, the British Min
lister to Washington. speaks very
good sense when he says-as he did
last Friday in speech at Cincinnati
that the next peace "is going to
depend on the man in the street and
on the farm"
First of all, of course, if there is
to be any real and lasting security
in the world, that security will have
to be mainly the responsibility of
the major powers. because they are
the only powers with the capacity
to wage modern war and to prevent
1t. So it is absolutely vital. If ag-
gressors are to be checked in the
future, that these powers-particu-
larly the United States, Britain and
Russia II Cooperate closely in the
years to come.
But agreements to this end be-
tween governments are not enough.
No formal new world organization
will be enough. In Mr.. Buffers
words, "the most perfect piece of
machinery will not function unless
there is will to make it work." and
this will must come from the peoples
themselves-"the will of the man in
the street and the man on the farm,
Of the woman in the kitchen or the
office or the factory"
The old League might have worked
had there been such will behind
it, but the will was not there. Whose
fault was it. asks Mr. Butler, that
the democracies did not club to-
gether against the Axis while there
was still time? And although he
speaks only for Britain. his answer
is applicable to us as well: The fault
was in no small measure the peoples
fault. Their government may be
blamed for not warning them of the
danger, or for not having armed
sufficiently to meet it, but the fact
remains that the people were op-
posed to spending enormous sums
on armaments and were profoundly
pacific, utterly averse to war. And
In the end. just because they had
clung so desperately to peace. they
found themselves almost at the
mercy of the dictators."
The point made by Mr.. Butler is
central to the problem OF the future:
Unless the great broad masses Of us,
and not Just our leadership, commit
Evening star., 1944-11-20

flank of their army along the Vosges
front to a serious threat-a possible
American thrust from Blamont and
Avricourt toward Sarrebourg and Sa-
verne. This would be serious enough.
but it is from the south that the real
threat to the German troops in the
Vosges seems to be shaping up. Here
the French 1st Army has pushed swiftly
forward to within 21z miles of Belfort.
and has outflanked that fortress by an
even swifter advance to Dele, along the
Swiss border. The French are moving
on Belfort by twin drives on both sides
OF the River Doubs, and they are going
much faster than previous reports of
4. the strength of the German defenses in
this area had indicated as likely Should
Belfort be taken, the French might
break into the Rhine Valley and would
&. then be in a position to advance rapidly
northward behind the German troops
still holding the passes of the Vosges.
Unless both these flanking drives can
be stopped, and especially unless the
Germans can stiffen their resistance to
the French in the Belfort area. the
German troops in the Vosges will have
to withdraw across the Rhine very
quickly to avoid being cut off. 1t is
possible that this decision has already
been taken. +,
fk
These conditions along the southern
front, examined as whole, seem to be
one more indication of the lack Of
reserve fighting power available. to the
German high command.
That the battle in the south is NOV
Ing more rapidly than in tie north
despite the more dif1cult terrain is due.
IN part, to the fact that the possession
OF Marseilles permitted the Allies in this
area to- get time-advantage in the
matter Of supply; but 1t is very largely
due to the even more important fact
that the German resistance, worn down
by long pressure and hard local fighting,
is not being supported by adequate
reinforcements.
Field Marshal Won Rundstedt seems
to have been compelled to accept retreat
to the Siegfried Line because he has
been unable to hold Metz, and may be
compelled to retreat across the Rhine
from the Vosges passes because he
seems to be unable to hold the Belfort
gap; all of which probably means that
he has no reinforcements to send to
the southern sector Of his front, and
must there accept the fortunes Of battle
with such troops as he already has In
the area, because he Is boarding his
reserves to deal with . possible break
through In the north.
NcsDvrisht. 1o4lJ
Evening star., 1944-11-20
Progress on the Home Front

During the first year of the war
there was citizens revolt against
the number of questionnaires and
forms sent out by Government
agencies. Congress enacted law in
December of 1912 requiring Budget
Bureau approval of any Government
form sent to more than twelve con-
Germs. A Budget Bureau report Just
sent to Chairman Murray, of the
Senate's Small Business Committee,
indicates that the revolt is bearing
fruit.
The bureau seems to have eStab-
lished reputation for being hard
boiled about forms. It's disapproval
of requested forms from July
through September, 1914, reached IA
per cent, and the number of re-
quests is on the decline Complica-
tions, however, are ahead Just as
war forms are on the downgrade,
postwar forms are taking shape.
The War Production Board, as might
be suspected, leads all Government
agencies with 912 forms. But the
runner-up is surprise. For by this
time one would have thought the
Department of Agriculture, with its
764 forms, would have become rath-
er self-conScious about asking a
farmer anything.
The Budget Bureau system now is
to discourage every new form, ap-
proving only those for which neces-
sity is demonstrated and other
sources of information lacking. Such
triumphs as the following are now
possible: g. One agency needed
report on each shipment of each of
120 commodities to each of seventy
odd countries from each of 5000
exporters during a three-year Pc
riod." But the Budget Bureau per-
suaded another agency to make spe-
cial tabulations of data already in
its possession, which evidently suf-
feed. That, ladies and gentlemen,
is progress.
Evening star., 1944-11-20
Western Front Action
BY Maj. George Fieldins Eliot

On the northern sector of the great
battle along the western front, the fight
ing is approaching the crisis stage: on
the southern sector, the crisis stage
seems to have been reached.
On the northern sector, American and
British troops are overcoming the initial
German elements of resistance, and
have beaten off counterattacks launched
by local reserves. Here the German COM
mander will Very soon have to decide
whether he will put in additional re-
serves or attempt to fall back to new
positions.
AS examples of the present situation,
it may be pointed out that Eschweiler,
a major center of German resistance,
is now virtually enveloped and in the
Huertgen Forest. front reports state that
the Germans are throwing cooks, head
quarters clerks. truck drivers and mes
sengers into action as riflemen, and that
unless reinforced the Germans are not
likely to be able to hold on more than
another "a hours.
1t should be pointed out that, consid-
ering the stage of training of great
part of the German troops, a steady
fighting withdrawal may prove very diff
icult, especially as the weather con-
tinues fine, affording opportunities for
our close-support aircraft. 1t is there
fore possible that the German comman-
der has been trying to hang on with his
front-line elements until the weather
breaks, so that he can withdraw under
cover of low-hanging clouds This Is,
OF course, a gamble-a gamble which he
may lose In that case considerable
and perhaps rapid Allied advance may
follow.
On the southern sector of the fighting
front. from the Saar to the Swiss from
tier, events are piling up more rapidly.
The Germans appear to have abandoned
Metz as far as first-line troops are
concerned, leaving the city to be de-
Tended by the wretched Volksturnl,
fighting under the leadership of local
SIS security men. Over great part of
the Sd Army front the Germans are in
full retreat for the Siegfried Line.
The reason for this is clear enough
from glance at the map. Along the
Saar frontier, the left flank of the; Sd
Array is rushing rapidly ahead and just
south Of the Sd Army's right flank, the
18th American Army is gaining ground
around Blamont. II the Germans con-
tinued to try to hold their positions
southeast OF Metz, they would be in
danger OF q double development. There
fore they must retire.
But IN 20 doing, thsy opsn the right
Evening star., 1944-11-20

ourselves to international co-opera-
ton and actively support 1t through.
the years, then all present talk about
an enduring peace is mere empty
rhetoric destined to be drowned out
by the thunder of another war
within the next two or three dec
AIDES. The lesson should be clear t1c
all of us by now. 4
Evening star., 1944-11-20
Livino Costs Report

The long delayed report on the
cost of living from the committee
headed by Chairman Davis Of the
War Labor Board offers nothing
that is new or especially helpful in
the settlement Of the Little Steel
controversy.
In effect, the report represents the
conclusions of Mr.. Davis. The in
dustry members and the labor men,
bers agreed with him on some points
and differed on Others For his part,
Mr.. Davis adopted the findings of
the Mitchell committee, a group of
expert statisticians, who surveyed
the problem at his request and made
their report public last June.
The report confirms the finding of
the Mitchell committee that the
cost-of- living index of the Bureau
of Labor Statistics is substantially
accurate in what it purports to
measure. Mr.. Davis agrees with the
Mitchell group, however, that from
three to four points should be added
to the BIS figure to cover hidden"
rises in living costs, and thereby ar
riveS at the conclusion that the &C
tual increase in the cost of living
since January /, 1941, is between 29
and 80 per cent. Labor spokesmen
had claimed that as of last March
the true increase was 444 per cent,
or about 20 points higher than the
BIS calculation.
There may be several valid ex-
plantations of the discrepancy. One
of them, however, certainly is that
the conflicting figures deal with
somewhat different things. The BIS
figures deal primarily with prices
the change in the cost of certain
items in a particular locality in a
given period of time. The labor
spokesmen, on the other hand, seem
to be more concerned with living
standards, as distinguished from
living costs, and this introduces a
number of variable factors that are
very difficult to appraise.
For instance, if a man moves from
a rural community to Washington to
take a war job, it is certain to cost
him more to maintain his prewar
living standards than would be the
case with man who had always
lived in Washington. This is true
because the cost of maintaining
given standard of living has always
been higher in Washington, or in
most other large cities, than in
small town. The offsetting factor, of
course, is that, generally speaking,
the man who leaves a small COM
munity to take war job in big
city will receive higher wages in the
new location.
Thus, if the issue is the mainte-
nance of prewar living standards,
the actual earnings of the individual
worker must be taken into account.
The Davis report, in line with the
Presidents instructions, deals with
living costs, not wages. But the BIS
figures also show that urban wage
rates are up % per cent and that
gross weekly earnings are up II per
cent. In the light of these increases,
it is going to be very difficult to JUS
tify an upward revision of the Little
Steel formula on the plea that Amer
lean workers as whole need higher
wage rates to maintain the standard
of living to which they were accus-
toned prior to the war.
Evening star., 1944-11-20
No Place Here for Them

To the Editor of The Star:
Robert Ingersoll, the great iconoclast
who was mentally crucified by cruel
critics for boldly expressing his views,
said: Fear is the dungeon of the
mind" And there are countless other
dark cells in biased brains. which in
clude hatred, intolerance and bitter
bigotry.
This Nation was founded on freedom
of speech and religion. Unfortunately
hosts of narrow minded men and wom-
en- resent criticism of their pet, personal
views. Such intolerant types should re-
side in Germany where free speech is
forbidden.
EDMUND X. GoLDsBoRoUGH.
Evening star., 1944-11-20
Mr.. BoIdwin's Solution
From the Ottawa journal.

Apropos of the coming scramble for
export markets once the war is over, 1t
was Stanley Baldwin who once observed
that Britain's economic problems could
be solved If the German population
could sink below the sea as producers"
but remain alive as consumers" Thus
he projected a literal impossibility to
clarity logical truth-a truth that win
be more significant after this war than
even when MIR. Baldwin was Prime
Minister.
Evening star., 1944-11-20
Criticizins the Critics
To the Editor OF The slsr.

To the Editor of The Star:
for some time have read criticisms
of your two columnists, Frank Kent and
Lowell Mellett. Indeed it becomes anus
ing to see to what extent the criticism
goes in bringing out the so-called false
assertions of the respective individuals.
But would like to put this thought be-
fore the critics: AS an average thinking
American can you place your reasoning
In the light of the past and govern your
judgment on facts? If so, you have
gained your purpose for your personal
assertions.
AS critic it would be interesting to
me to see Mr.. Mellett assert facts in
stead of the indoctrinated yagueness
which characterizes his, public views.
r. F. j.
Evening star., 1944-11-20
Objects to Crooked

To the Editor OF The Star
have read with interest the articles
In your paper in which charter advo-
Gates of Montgomery County cast re-
hections of dishonesty on the $4,000
residents and the 1900 soldiers who
voted against said charter.
More than ever do We, feel grateful
that we have escaped leadership by a
group that cries crooked" to the ma
lority Of voters. Their accusations since
election prove that it would have been
tragic to have placed the affairs of our
county in such hands.
R. DEANE SHURE.
Evening star., 1944-11-20

has decided to seek action by Con-
gress in the near future. Once the
war is over and the Nation returns
to peaceful pursuits, the tragic les
son Of unpreparedness may be for
gotten again as it was after 1918.
Evening star., 1944-11-20

Many generals have nicknames,
some of which are distinctly not
fattering. Perhaps no war leaders
ever had nicer ones than "Marse
Robert" for Lee, and Daddy" for
the Britisher Hill, that rotund, be-
nevolent and tigeriSh peninsular
battler who was so kind to his men.
Evening star., 1944-11-20

Statisticians say that the English
language grows at the rate Of at
least 5000 new words year. 1t is
strange thing that our rather
meager supply of profanity has in
creased not at all since the days Of
ShakaSneare.
Evening star., 1944-11-20

A big boom is coming in japanese
war plants, says the Tokyo ministry.
The same thing is being said by
hundreds of Superfortress pilots, as
they stand by waiting to make the
prediction come true. SO
Evening star., 1944-11-20

An invention unique in modern
Patent Office records has just been
recorded It's inventor claims that
the gadget positively cannot be
manufactured from Soybeans.
Evening star., 1944-11-20
From a Proponent of Neatnes IS

From a Proponent of Neatness
To the Editor of The STAR
Looking out of my apartment window
on Adams Mill road, have counted
Sc fragments of discarded newspapers,
ranging from mere fragments to large
parts of whole sheets of newspapers.
That's enc for each of the Sc signers
of the Declaration of Independence
How fortunate are the free people
of Washington, the Nations Capital,
that they are privileged to litter up
their fine city until it's untidy condi-
ton is disgraceful proof of their
negligence and slovenliness-broken bot
ties, discarded whisky and milk bottles
upon every hand; that's Liberty with
capital L.
And how distressing to many thou
sands of persons who do not contribute
to this untidiness one iota Above all,
how utterly unnecessary it, is, how
thoughtless and ungenerous. E. A. C.
Wrong Number
To the Editor of The Star:
The article headed Tin and Paper
Collections Slump as Need Increases"
made me see red
housewife who has saved tincans
calls Republic 8488, as The Star suggests.
The. young lady who answers says:
Where dya lve?" When the housewife
tells her, she answers: I'm sorry, but
you'll hafta call National 5000, Extension
582." When the housewife inquiries:
You mean you don't do the collect-
| ing?" the same young lady replies:
That's, right"
Now, wonder why were we told to
call Republic 8488
can understand why some house
wives won't bother trying to save tin.
A, L. B..
Editors note.
Salvage Committee, War Production Board
unit, National 6000s Extension 5S2. is the
number number Of the supervisor Of city refuse in the
Horace walker, executive secretary of the
operators at Republic Sass are Instructed to
nation where they live Many Of the calls are
Alexandria the caller is. given the locations Of
hos a e psrc, nsr s
referred 70 ths city refuse once % Co coss.ie aiaaa
.s.sn se. suss ssSsGasHas ssss E nus.1 as.n e e
'sss: sss:'sss ssss: Il ( :s,.: s:s
Evening star., 1944-06-01
\XEl.,s;' !; S. S

DISCUSSION
Town Hall of the Air, Jewish
Community Center, Sixteenth and
@ streets NV, $50 o'clock tonight.
DRAMA
''Sing Out, Sweet Land" musical
comedy, presented by Catholic Uni-
versity Theater Players, at Catholic
University, $50 o'clock tonight.
EXHIBITS
Canadian Army art show, Cor
coran Art Gallery, Q am. at 4:3o
pm. daily, through June ii.
American q. art display, Phillips
Memorial Art Gallery, 2l56 Florida
avenue NV, daily between 2 and
6 pm, through June 5.
Maritime exhibit, Commerce
Building auditorium, 10 am. to
6 pm. daily through June S.
MUSIC.
Marine Band concert, Marine
Barracks band auditorium, 1880
pm. tomorrow.
FOR SERvICEMEN.
Stage Door Canteen, Belasco
Theater, tonight: Charles Victor
Orchestra, Johnny Shaw Orchestra.
Beatrice Moore, pianist, and Ricardo
Zapponi, tenor.
THE Road to Morocco" movie,
starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and
Dorothy Lamour, Eighth and PENN
Sylvarlia avenue NV. $50 O'Clock
tonight.
Service men and women may OBJ
tain additional information on
other activities by calling the United
Nations Center, National $500, or
any OF the following USO num-
bers: Executive 042S, Republic 1927,
National 3431, National 0614, or, for
colored servicemen, Decatur 1854.
Evening star., 1944-06-01
Victory Symphony
Concert Devoted
To Czech Music
By ALICE EyERSMAN.

The program given in honor of
the American women in uniform by
the Victory Symphony Orchestra
saw the services well represented
last night in the audience at Con-
tinental Hall. This third concert
by the symphony was devoted to
Czechoslovak music, sponsored by
the Ambassador of Czechoslovakia
and Mime. Hurban and had as SOLO
ist the renowned contralto from
that country, Rose Delmar. Nine.
Delmar opened the program by
singing her national anthem with
the orchestra and closed 1t with
THE Star Spangled Banner"
A group of folk songs not only
demonstrated further the fine
quality. strength and range of Nine.
Delmar's voice, but also revealed