davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-08-18

popular government. The only peace
that will stick will be one that will
be enforced to the letter. A Cartha-
ginian peace will not be not, at
least, by Britain and America. Some
years after the war isolationist and
pacifist trends will again appear In both
Britain and America. So will liberal
and idealist trends. 1t is only realism
to recognize this.
1t takes money, effort, and sacrifice
to enforce any postwar Arrangement
If that effort requires vast forces and
far-od responsibilities exercised over
many years, neither Englishmen nor
Americans will retain undiminished en-
thusiasm. And If it violates every prin.
ciple that Americans and Britons have
thought they were fighting for-those
OF the Atlantic Charter. for instance
II 1t Is not, that Is to say, in harmony
with normal concepts OF justice, 1t will
simply lapse by continual whiting
down.
After the last war, for instance, the
original and almost limitless reparations
began almost Immediately to be re.
considered. John Maynard, now Lord
Keynes. attacked them as economic
nonsense almost before the ink was
dry on the peace treaty, and 1t was
not long before economists In al Allied
countries were convinced that their pay.
ment, even If possible, would wreck the
world economy. The end result of ask
ing the impossible was that Germany,
In effect. paid nothing at all.
: Now, the Economist asks, apropos
these present proposals, whether 1t is
likely that 10 years after the war either
British or American representative
bodies would be prepared to 60 to war
to prevent say, the Rhineland or West.
phalia from rejoining the Reich, or be
prepared to send boys to fight to retain
for France or Poland territories that
were never French or Polish since the
emergence Of nations, and are inhab-
tied wholly by Germans. I am posi-
tive that we would not, and thus the
same step-by step diplomatic process Of
pairing down the peace would begin
again, and with many considerations
OF history and justice on the side of
the Germans.
Rsleassd By the Bell syndicate. Ine)
Evening star., 1944-08-18

other German force can come to the
rescue of the 7th Army. The tempo
rary bridges over the Seine represent
little real prospect of help, unless we
have another unprecedented spell of
bad weather; the liberation of Orleans
rules out help from the south, and the
strong Allied positions taken up along
the Eure and Aunay Rivers east Of the
line Dreux-Chartres bar the way for
German reinforcements coming from
Paris.
The fact seems to be that the German
high command has from the very be-
ginning been the prisoner Of its original
underestimate Of the Allied power. It
began by trying to contain within the
Normandy Peninsula an Allied force
which 1t did not believe could build up
sufncient strength in that congested
area. over open beaches. to break out.
The Germans were constantly con.
fronted with tactical situations which
required the Intervention Of such re-
serves as reached .the battlefield over
roads constantly harassed by our air.
craft, 80 they always had to use their
reserves piecemeal and were never able
to get together really powerful force
for counter-attack. Then when we did
break out. we were in far greater
strength than the Germans had ever
antici ipated, and they Immediately
found themselves confronted with q
battle whose purpose became, not hold.
ing back the Allied flood, but saving
their Seventh Army from the imminent
throat Of destruction.
Again they put in reserves piecemeal,
made frantic counter-attacks at various
parts Of the front-and at that price
they have saved part Of their army by
losing the rest. But the lesser envelop-
ment from which the remnants have
escaped Is now contained within the
steel ring of q greater development,
and once again tactical necessities have
deprived the Germans Of the means to
regain strategical freedom Of action.
It is still possible that Hitler has
simply left the Seventh Army to be
destroyed west OF the Seine in order to
gain q little time for the completion of
his preparations east and north of
that river Tor the launching Of secret
weapon attacks on Great Britain. But
II that Is 80 then the time = getting
short, for the sands Of the Seventh
Army are running swiftly out and our
armored patrols Will be Allng thei,
radiators with Seine water before many
days have passed.
Evening star., 1944-08-18
The Fate of Poris

The rout of the German Seventh
Army in Normandy and the east
ward sweep of American armored
spearheads almost to the edge of the
Paris metropolitan area inevitably
raise the question what is to happen
to the French capital. The query is
intended more from the human than
the strategic angle. Allied spokes-
men have repeatedly emphasized
that their objective is the destruc-
ton OF the German armies rather
than the capture OF Paris despite all
the psychological and political con-
sequences that would be involved.
Yet, calloused though our war torn
world may have become to destruc-
ton and suffering, the prospect of
the devastation of the traditional
"City Of Light" could not fail to be
a deeply painful one. 1t is therefore
important to estimate the chances
that Paris will. or will not, become
part of the battle zone.
The Germans would presumably
not hesitate to turn Paris into an
other Stalingrad If 1t served their
strategic purposes. The question Is
whether, with their limited forces,
they can afford to defend a vast
metropolis teeming with a desperate
and high-spirited population against
a full-scale Allied assault. The River
Seine at and around Paris is not a
very formidable water barrier for
modern engineering methods, and
the whole country around Paris is
open terrain. Thus Paris could easily
be by-passed on either side, and the
necessarily large German garrison
isolated and doomed. The fate of
Paris thus presumably depends
upon the entire course Of the cam
paign in Northern France. 1t is
strategically merely one point on
very large military chessboard.
Even though Paris escapes being
made battle-ground, the human
otdhCS AAlFOlNCO IA CAlc CNl4 civ Cd4A1.
paign are very great and increase
with each passing day. The disrup-
ton of communications between
Paris and the regions to the west
and south have produced terrible
living problem for its vast metropoli-
tan population. The Germans have
appropriated all surplus foodstuffs
for the past four years; so Paris
lacks the reserves Of food, fuel and
other necessities which it normally
possessed All available evidence
indicates that the city is literally on
the verge of starvation, and that in
addition all the public services are
In progressive collapse. It is easy to
visualize the fate of the inhabitants
If an Allied occupation is long de-
layed. One of the great human
tragedies of the war may impend.
Evening star., 1944-08-18
On the Record
By Dorothy Thompson

Since I began this series. the peace
proposals with which it deals have been
confirmed by the London Economist,
top-ranking British weekly. with close
connections to winston Churchill, and
more privileged sources Of information
than this column.
But within the last days, this pic
ture, as far as territorial matters are
concerned, has been further confirmed
and from sources other than the Econ
omist. London correspondents have
quoted Polish and Czech authorities as
considering massive transfers Of Ger.
man populations into reduced Reich,
and the number they estimate conforms
to mine-some 100000 souls.
The Economist also takes seriously
proposals to truncate the Reich by CIV
ing parts to Poland, Belgium and
France and also refers to mass popu-
lAtion transfers. To these proposals,
considering the importance Of its
source, must be added that Of Sum-
ner Welles, to disintegrate the Reich
into three States And demilitariza- =
ton proposals, with which this series
has not yet dealt, 90 far beyond any
traditional concepts of disarmament,
and would, If carried out, wreck Ger
man industry.
It BIsone comfort to me, who, in
this series, has been q lone voice, to
know that these ideas alarm the Econ
on1ist no less than they do me. Its
editors cannot be accused of any soft
ness" toward Germany. This. distin-
guished British weekly was never for
appeasement and maintained a sharp
sighted realism through the fogs of
1937-39.. Now its editors argue, and on
the same realistic basis, for peace
of moderation" BY moderation they do
not mean leniency, but would include
punishment of war criminals, . period
OF physical reparation, and possibly
some frontier rectihcation, where ex-
changes as opposed to transfers Of pop
ulation would be possible"
The Eeconomist does not argue for
this on grounds Of principle or moral
ity. It finds that the chief object of
. peace is to avoid another war. 1t
does not believe that these proposals
will help avoid another war, but hasten
it. The reason lies in the nature Of
Evening star., 1944-08-18
No Backward Look

"Yo9 hare eroson DID," thsy said, "ress
viu be good,
And earth, long -lovsd. ,otu Offer sane.
tuary;
Be reconciled to holy quietude.
Lies burden oro,os too great for aae
to carry"
And thus they speak, the young who
still must treep,
Who stu are capttue to the flesh,
Upon the ambient flame, tho right to
keep
Inperious and free and eloquent.
HoD easily the young speak Of the dead,
And neucr haring hved they sing oj
lite:
While age. tnuulnerdbls, Is con,torted
Just to remain aloot from human
strife:
He sDould not walk again where he has
trod.
He only looks scross the yedrs 10 God
PHYLLIS SUTHERLAND HANSON.
Evening star., 1944-08-18

waite and can. afford to act as long
range artillery to the advancing ground
forces. The German strategists are still
able to escape from the steel traps laid
by the Allies, but they can fight at
present only . rear-guard battle and
are willing to sacrifice much Of the
occupied territory In order to reach Q
permanent defense line which IL be-
lieved to be east Of Paris on the right
banks Of the Seine, Oise and Marne
Rivers. Until they reach this line 1t
is highly improbable that they viii be
In position to stab back at the Pat
ton forces. All they can hope for is
delaying action to enable them to
extricate their main forces from the
area now being overrun by the Allied
armies at relatively small psice.
The withdrawal of the German ar.
mics in Southern France is said to have
been almost completed. "A skeleton
army not exceeding three divisions on
the we1l-defended Toulon and Mar
settle areas Is facing an overwhelming
American-French force nearly four
times its strength. The operations Of
the Germans In Southern France can
be described as . nuisance strategy in
tended to inflict as many casualties as
possible on the Allied forces without
hope, however, Of checking their prog
reSs
What kind of a stand the Germans
will offer the advancing Allies is still
unknown. If the internal/ troubles
within the Reich have affected the mo-
rale of the Germans, in Southern
France. 1t is probable that they will
either surrender or disperse without
much fighting. In the areas where the
Patton, Bradley, and Montgomery ar
mics are operating the resistance un-
questionably is stronger. Elite and SIS
armored and infantry divisions are
fighting bitterly to enable the rest Of
the German forces to escape to the
east. The Patton army's "blitz" Is
being facilitated by the actions of the
French regular underground" and nom
commissioned officers who were organ
lied into regular fighting units by the
former French general staff long time
ago. They differ from the communist
and De Gaulle underground inasmuch
as they are all fully trained men who
are not fighting guerrilla actions but a
regular warfare in the rear Of the Ger
mans.
Evening star., 1944-08-18
Resistance to the Death

Americans may regard the German
"last stand" at Saint Malo as fool
hardy, while respecting the SOL
dierly determination Of Colonel
Andreas Won Aulock and his men to
continue their resistance as long as
1t was humanity possible to hold out
Something similar happened in
the history of Texas one hundred
and eight years ago. The revolt
against Mexico in 1885 swept the
province clear Of Mexican forces,
but, as Sam Houston expected, the
Mexicans came back the next Febru-
ary. Between four and six thousand
of them appeared against San An
tonic under the leadership of the
famous General Santa Anna. The
Texans, captained by william Barret
Travis, James Bowie and Davy
Crockett, took refuge in the Mission
San Antonio de Valero, commonly
called "the Alamo" after the cotton
wood trees in the vicinity.
What followed Is a familiar folk
legend of the Southwest. The total
number of defenders Of the make
shift fort was one hundred and
eighty-seven To Santa Annals de-
mand that they yield, Colonel Travis
replied: II have sustained a con-
tinual bombardment and cannonade
for twenty-four hours and not lost
a man. Our nag still proudly
waves from the wall. shall never
surrender or retreat. Victory
or death!" The battle ragged for
thirteen days. About five hundred
Mexicans were killed. Then at 4
o'clock on the morning of March 6,
1886, Santa Anna stormed the Alamo
on all sides. Marquis James, in 1.-THE
Raven" explains:
The first and second assaults were
broken up. Day was dawning when
the Mexicans attacked again. The
Texans guns were hot, their am
munition nearly out and, though
casualties had not been numerous,
men were dropping from exhaustion.
Finally, the walls were preached.
But the valiant defenders never
thought OF giving up the struggle.
The fighting moved from building
to building, room to room within
the mission compound until 1t
reached the chapel. Crockett and a
dozen volunteers from Tennessee
we're the last to fall. The garrison's .
Evening star., 1944-08-18
German Seventh Armv
By Maj. Georfe Fieidins Eliot

AS the headlines tell Hsfn huge let
ters just how far the Allied reconnais-
sance elements are from Paris, we shall
do well to keep calm and continue
along with Gems. Eisenhower and
Montgomery to keep our mental eyes
fixed on the ball: which is still the
German Seventh Army
A great part of that army-especially
its infantry components-has already
been destroyed or Is in course of cap
ture or destruction. Some of its rear
echelons. and no doubt q part Of its
mobile fighting force (armored and mo-
toriSed troops is Withdrawing east
ward, having foueht its way out Of the
Allied encirclement through the gap
between Falaise and Argentan.
But 1t has done 80 only to f1nd itself
within the steel claws Of yet another
Allied development, provided by the
American armored troops which, have
taken Chatres and Dreux, thrust BRIDGE
heads eastward across the Aunay and
Eure rivers at or near those places
to prevent German interference from
the direction Of Paris and flung out
1anking force to seize orleans and thus
cut the last lines Of communication
between the German armies west Of
the Seine and those in Southern
France
These American troops have thus ef-
fectively intervened between the Ger
man 7th Army and every hope Of aid
or reinforcement it can have, except
such as may reach 1t across the river
Seine.
The permanent bridges over the
Seine are all down. The Germans can
construct temporary floating bridges at
night, but the river is being closely pa
trolled by our aircraft, so that these
floating bridges are subject to imme-
diate attack as soon Is dawn reveals
their existence. 1t is not by such means
that an army can be Withdrawn or
supplied. During Wednesday our air
craft also attacked ten bridges over the
river Risle, which parallels the Seine
some miles to the westward and lies
directly across the line of retreat of
the bulk Of the German forces pulling
back from the Caen- -Falaise front.
The heaviest German Withdrawals
are said to be in the direction Of BernSy,
IN important road junction lying about
6 miles west Of the Risle, with roads
radiatine from 1t in all directions. This
may be the rallying point OF the Ger
man remnants.
There now seems little hope that any
Evening star., 1944-08-18
This Changing World
By CoSsfastiSs Broom

1t. Gen. George 3. Patton may enter
Paris with his armored divisions within
the next few days. The stormy petrol
Of the American Army and unquestion-
ably the most colorful general the Al
lies have yet produced Is moving fast
IN that direction and may reach the
French capital before the end Of this
week.
Gen. Patton's tactics resemble those
successfully used by Marshal Rommel
at the height Of his career, when he
was pushing the British armies hard in
Tripoli and Cyrenaica. Rommel, who
would have been the only German gen.
eral to match Patton, Is now lying In
hospital in Germany with poor PROS
pect Of ever getting into the field again.
The secret Of Gen. PattQns success
Is that he has thrown caution aside
and pushes .. defeated enemy as hard
as he can. The troops under his COM
mand have complete confidence In q
leader who spares himself even less
than he spares his men. They follow
him In spite Of fatigue caused by the
relentless pursuit Of defeated enemy.
AL u04ly ICoHCCNo SCu. 1AtJOll 10 LilS
counterpart Of Admiral william r. Hal
sey. Both believe in hitting the enemy
with everything they have when he is
on the run, without too much regard
for what the book says. Gen. Patton
Is fully aware Of the psychology of the
soldiers. who disregard fatigue and
hardship when they are on the winning
side, but become demoralized and slug
9ish when they are losing.
BY applying this elementary psyche
logical factor he knows that he can
demand the utmost FROM his own men
regardless of how tired they may be-
provided the enemy is on the run.
The details of his campaign in France
are not yet fully known. But it is evi-
dent that he is pushing the Germans
harder than any other Allied general
has ever done. He is confident that
the NaM divisions. discouraged by con-
tinuous reverses and retreats, will not
have the heart to strike back. This
simple strategy is possible, of course.
only when the advancing forces have
all the necessary war material and re-
placements at their disposal and can
also rely on 100 per cent air COW
erAge.
The Allied air forces in France now
have 10-to-1 superiority over the Luft-
Evening star., 1944-08-18
Mrs. McCracken Defended

To the Editor Of The Star:
In recent issue Of The Star, read
a notice Of the conviction Of Mrs. Clara
McCracken in the court OF Fairfax
County, Alexandra, Va, on q charge of
cruelty to 80 dogs, In that they had
not been properly fed, and they had
rickets and summer eczema. With the
notice was picture of Mrs McCracken,
her accuser and one OF her doss-an
English setter. From the appearance of
the dog in the picture, wondered
about her conviction.
On Monday, August IA, was near
Mrs. McCracken,s home, which Is on the
old Mount Vernon road, south Of Alex
andria and went in to see her dogs.
saw about IS of them and all were in
good shape, especially for the extremely
hot weather We have been having, and
none were emaciated or poor, nor did
any Of them appear to be sick in the
least. Their coats appeared In good con.
dition.
Mrs. McCrscken seemed extremely
fond OF them all, and it would be
pity If such q fine lot of dogs should
be destroyed. 1t is my hope that she
Will be able to find homes for all Of her
pets before Monday, August a, the
effective date of the court order. Any
person desiring a pet might be able to
flnd just what he wants among Mrs.
McCrackens dogs.
do not know the laws of Virginia,
k,,f 60
Cracken would not have been convicted
in Alabama, my home State, under a
similar statute, for cruelty to animals.
w. 8. SHERRnL,
Major, J. A. G. D., Res.
Evening star., 1944-08-18

ed Senator Bone, Democrat Of
Washington, to fill q vacancy on the
Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals. He
was confirmed promptly by unani-
NOUS vote Of the Senate, the Re-
publicans being under the impress
sion that he would resign from the
legislative body to assume his ju-
dicial duties. But Senator Bone did
not resign, and reports began to
circulate that he intended to hold
onto his seat until after the Novem-
Der elections so that the Republican
Governor of Washington would be
denied opportunity to name 4 sue,
cessor, presumably one of his own
political faith. On April 8 Senator
White, the acting Republican lead
er, took cognizance of these rumors
and told the Senate he would re-
gard such q device as 4 breach of
faith with the Republicans who had
voted for confirmation. On April
~ Majority Leader Barkley an
nounced that Senator Bone was re-
ceiving hospital treatment for 4 leg
injury and that his plans for the
future would be determined after
leaving the hospital. With less than
three months remaining until the
election, however, Senator. Bone still
retains his Senate seat and the ju-
dicial vacancy to which he was NOM
mated and confirmed on April /
remains untitled. II he wanted to
do 50, Of course, he could resign
from the Senate, take his oath as a
member Of the court and still con-
tinue the treatment of his injured
leg.
A somewhat similar situation pre-
walls with respect to Senator Tru-
man, the Democratic vice presiden-
tial nominee. His term has more
than two years to run. II he should
be elected Vice President In No.
vember and then resign Immediate
ly from the Senate, the Republican
Governor of Missouri would have
the privilege Of naming a success
sor. It happens, however, that Mis-
souri, is holding a gubernatorial
election in November, and II the
Democratic candidate should win
that contest he would take office
about two weeks before Senator
Truman would have to resign from
the Senate on January 20 to become
Vice President. Hence, the Mis-
souri, Senator, 1t Is announced, will
not be hasty about resigning. In
fact, II q Democrat is elected Gov
ernor, he will remain In the Senate
until after 4 Democratic successor
has been appointed to fill his Sen
ate place.
This Is what Is known as prac-
tical politics. Perhaps the Repub-
licans, with the tables turned,
would do likewise. But 1t is not a
practice that can be said to belong
in the category of good government.
Evening star., 1944-08-18

fate inspired the raising Of q new
army which, with Houston crying
Remember the Alamo!," defeated
and captured Santa Anna at San
Jacinto on April II the same year.
The difference between Won
Aulock and the Texans, Of course, is
Z Diligence in purpose. Travis
fought for high ideals: the Germans
at Saint Malo were brave, but their
courage was the courage Of fanatics.
Evening star., 1944-08-18
Doubts Peoples Reverence

10 the Editor Of The Star:
Three rousint cheers for those who
are planning spontaneous" celebration
rs result Of victory.
Call out the reserve police. open wide
the whisky and beer stores. and other
places Of commercialized entertainment.
Things soon will be normal again.
Not . word to be mentioned about
opening the churches, but, Of course,
the people will be happy. too self.satis-
fled to bother to give thanks to God.
Okay, leave God out Of the celebra ton
and, as before, there1l be another war.
EDWARD 8. WRANEK,
Evening star., 1944-08-18
Senators to the Lost

Il one may Judge from the trend
of events, the unof1cial battle cry
Of the Senate Democrats Is: Don't
give up the seat-especially If there
is 4 chance that the Republicans
may get It," .....
On April l the Presideut nominate
Evening star., 1944-08-18
Says Indians Are Different

10 the Editor Of The Star:
In your letter column of August Il
there appeared communication under
caption Suggests Racial Commission"
The plan called for board or commits
sion to be appointed including Negroes
ana whites. The colored members, It
was stipulated, should come from areas
that are thickly populated by Negroes,
and the white members should be sym
pathetic sto the Negro and realistic." /"
The writer of the letter thinks that the
question can be solved in the same way
as that Of the American Indian. Per.
haps the writer does not know that the
American Indian prefers the primitive
life and would rather remain as he Ia,
while the American Negro desires merely
to live as any other American does-no
less, no more. HERBERT 4. WILSON.