davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-02-26
Crescendo Year

The year is not yet two months
old, but already enough violence,
enough greatness, enough history
have been packed into it to mark it
as year of momentous climax and
decision. Events do not move at an
even pace on plateau any more;
they occur swiftly, rising steadily in
fury and tempo, as if feeding on
each other to grow cumulatively
more explosive and far reaching.
On virtually every battle front,
east and west. Allied offensives
mount in intensity. The initiative
held by the United Nations is not
limited to one or the other side of
the world. Staggering blows against
Japan apparently do not have to be
held up pending the liquidation of
the Nazis. While the Russians con-
tinue to smash forward toward
Berlin, while our armies in Italy
beat back the worst that. Hitler can
throw against them, while our
naval and air forces strengthen our
mastery of the Atlantic and Medi-
terranean, while great fleets of
British and American bombers
hammer the cities of Germany and
the invasion coast of France, the
Empire Of the Rising Sun feels
ring OF steel being tightened around
it and is losing, in rapid succession,
some of its most vital defensive
outposts.
In less than two months in the
Pacific, following close upon our
conquest Of the Gilbert Islands, we
have seen our forces capture Kwa-
jalein and seal the fate of the
enemy in the Marshalls. We have
seen them seize the Green Islands
to trap some $4,000 Japanese and
Evening star., 1944-02-26
Favors military" Man.

10 the Eoitor OF The Star:
Where several persons are discussing
their respective choices for President
In the approaching election, some one
is apt to suggest Gen. Macarthur.
Immediately one or more of those who
prefer some one else will say: 1--WE do
not want a military man for President. +"
Such a statement merits rebuke. The
history OF the United States refutes it.
Washington, Jackson, William Henry
Harrison, Taylor, Pierce, johnson, Grant,
Hayes, Garfield, Arthur. Benjamin Har-
rlson, Mckinley and Theodore Roose-
Velt were military men. When the Re-
publicans nominated Garfield, the DEM
ocrats nominated against him Gen. Ham
cock, because of his reputation as a
soldier and because of that reputa-
ton as a soldier, Garfield defeated him
only by the small margin Of 5000 votes
out OF 100000 votes cast.
No American dare SAY WASHINGTON
did not make good President. Andrew
Jackson is the deity of the Democratic
party, worshiped by all members of
the party.
The statement also should be rebuked
because military man is a soldier and
soldier is military man and it i'm
plies that there is not a man In the
100000 Americans now under arms
who Is mt either now or hereafter to
become President of the United States!
The truth Is, this is the time when we
need a military man at the head of
the American Government to bring or
der out Of the chaos which will exist
IN this Government when the war is
over
Gen. Macarthur is not only the
most available, but the best equipped
man yet mentioned for the high office
OF President. He is neither a Democrat
nor Republican in a partisan sense,
but Is great American who could be
nominated for the presidency by either
the Democratic or Republican conven-
ton, or by both. TIL. McGREGOR.
Austin, Tex
Evening star., 1944-02-26
Gould Lincoln

message itself, to assure the passage
OF the tax bill over the Presidents dis
approval 1t seems certain that If the
President again attempts to lay the
whip across the shoulders of Congress
he is likely to lead to another and even
more serious revolt on the part of the
Democratic members.
The new" leader of the Senate Dem.
ocrats has won for himself new place
in the Senate. He took the lead in q
demonstration of congressional resist
ance to the will of the Chief Executive
that promises to be historical. This does
not necessarily mean that Senator
Barkley will oppose a denomination Of
the President. Indeed, the chances are
he will support such a denomination.
But 1t does mean a new declaration Of
independence on the part of Congress
The Presidents attacks on Congress
may or may not make him votes. You
can get opinions both ways on Capitol
Hill. In vetoing the tax bill the Pres
ident made another appeal for support
by organized labor which strongly op-
posed that provision in the bill which
~ouiQ CoLhpcl ldDOT uillOIlS 10 make
financial reports to the collector Of in
ternal revenue, setting forth gross in
come, receipts and disbursements. This
may mean labor votes in November for
the President. On the other hand, the
Presidents demand for $4,000, 900 900
additional taxes on the millions Of tax
payers already heavily taxed may lose
him votes
1t is clear that Congress does not in
tend to take lying down the Presidents
effort to lay blame on Congress for the
mistakes of his administration.
Evening star., 1944-02-26
ton" toward . continuing per
centage decline In our own losses.

ton" toward q continuing per-
centage decline In our own losses.
Another enormously important
factor in the picture Is the round
the-clock character Of our British
American air offensive. When our
U. s. Air Force strikes by day, it
makes it easier for the Raj striking
by night, and vice versa. Thus, as
Prime Minister Churchill has point
ed out, our American losses in the
massive raid of last Sunday morn
ing were greatly reduced by the
fact that enemy fighters had been
scattered beforehand by British
operations the night before" and
were so thrown off balance that
they could not rise readily to meet
our bombers.
Taken together with the Gripping
blows inflicted upon German plane
production and Nazi craft shot down
in combat-hundreds by Americans
alone in the past week.-Mrs. day.
and-night pounding must constitute
one of the most crucial, most critical,
most pressing problems confronting
Hitler. All reports strongly suggest
that it has driven the Luftwaffe to
the point Of progressively diminish
ing resistance, so that we may rea-
sonably expect-barring sensational
surpriSes-to see our percentage
losses hold to the present downward
trend as our unprecedented air Of
fensive mounts steadily in weight
and violence.
Evening star., 1944-02-26
Samuel Grafton

popular interest, and it will outlive Col
Robert r. Mccormick These will be
fixed interests, for the entire foresee-
able future, and the schedule of our gen.
GRAFTON calls, not for the forclble re.
moval OF one or the other. but for the
striking of balance between them. If
that balance be only temporary, so are
we temporary: so is every man alive
today temporary
But history, taking its awful snap
shots OF us, day by day, catches us in
inexpressible attitudes. leering and
gloating, drunk on the delusion that
right or left can win in our time. Neither
can, but we all can lose. That a basis
Tor compromise exists is shown by the
TACT that there are not even any great.
specific demands being made today, by
either the right or the left. ONLY the
postures remain, the leftover attitudes
OF 10 years ago, squaring of at each
other over so empty a husk OF an issue
as the tax bill
The actual content of the fight be-
tween liberal and conservative has, very
largely, disappeared; but the fight goes
on; fight which grows the more frantic
as 1t becomes the more basically mean.
ingless and the more thoroughly pro-
fessionalized
To enforce the peace on all these
proudly posing political John L. Sulli-
vans Is the real battle Of our time. The
true patriot will be he who holds their
arms, not their coats.
Evening star., 1944-02-26

that the Russians are In VltebSk Is a
very different matter indeed.
Vitebsk has long been the connecting
point between the German northern
and central fronts Military observers
have considered it the hinge" on which
the German northern flank might pivot
in swinging back to Lake Peipus or
even to the Dvina
But that consideration was based on
German ability to maintain the central
front fortress line southwark from
Vitebsk through Orsha and Mogilev to
zhlobin and Mozyr. When Mozyr was
taken, this line was imperiled from the
south. Now Rogachev has fallen, cut
ting off Zhlobin from Mogilev; and now
Vitebsk is in Russian hands, leaving
only Orsha and Mogilev of the original
central front fortresses still held by the
Germans
All these fortress towns are points
where railway lines from the west
join the great Leningrad vitebsk-Kiev
trunk line from north to south. From
all Of them, withdrawal to the west is
still possible Except Vitebsk, where the
line to Polotsk Is reported CUT. It
looks very much as if the Germans
were preparing general withdrawal on
the whole central front Just what
would this mean?
It would mean that, having pulled in
the northern flank of their line, and
having lost connection between the
central sector and the southern flank,
the Germans are now preparing to
withdraw In the center and thus do two
things: Cd Bring the central front in
line with the northern flank, eliminating
. dangerous salient. ca Re-establish
connection between the southern end
OF the central front and the northern
Evening star., 1944-02-26

as the party leader of the Senate, not
as the White House leader.
His first act of leadership-on yester-
day-was to help bring about the pas
sage of the tax bill over the Presidents
veto. 1t was over this measure and the
Presidents vitriolic veto message that
the old Roosevelt-B Barkley alliance fell
to the ground.
II this is criterion of future inde-
pendence on the part of the new"
leader, it will mean that the President
will have to pay more attention to his
party leaders in Congress than he has,
or else there will be more incidents and
party.
The President sought to soften the
blow, which it was evident was about
to fall, by writing a letter to Senator
Barkley expressing hope that Senator
Barkley would continue as leader In
this letter Mr.. Roosevelt expressed his
affectionate regard for Mr. Barkley and
his confidence in him, and also dis
avowed any intention of attacking Mr..
Barkley's integrity or that of other
members of Congress. In the light of
the message itself, however. either the
President did not understand what he
was saying to Congress and Mr. Barkley
in that message, or in his letter he was
retracting that language.
Senator Barkley has replied to the
President with the assertion that he,
too, still retains an affectionate regard
for the Chief Executive. How far Mr.
Barkley is prepared to go in again
accepting the Presidents leadership in
legislative matters is another matter
Mr.. Barkleys outburst in the Senate
did more than anything, except the veto
Evening star., 1944-02-26
Our Air Losses

1t is significant fact that as our
mighty air assault against Hitler in
creases in fury the percentage of
our losses shows a clear tendency
to decline. Since August, 1912, when
the United States inaugurated it's
attacks on Germany, our losses in
bombers have been kept to the
amazingly low figure of 81 per cent,
but from the first to the twenty
second day of this month they were
kept down to even less than that
to 90 per cent.
In other words, during this month,
when our operations over Europe
have been greater than ever before,
our losses have been almost a full
percentage point under the average.
And although the same decline has
not been noted in the rate of loss of
our fighter planes, it is remarkable
that in this category-with vastly
accelerated combat activity - the
figure has remained less than / per
cent, rising only by a scarcely per-
ceptible fraction in the past three
weeks.
The implications of these figures
just revealed by our Eighth Air
Force in Britain-will not come as
a surprise to our Allied air comman-
derS, however. They have contended
all along that the heavier and more
frequent our blows the fewer our
losses would be, particularly if those
blows included steady pounding OF
the enemy's plane production. To-
day we know that plants turning
out Nazi fighters have been targets
with an Al priority, and they have
been so hard hit that United States
Strategic Air Force headquarters in
London now feels confident enough
to declare that such a good job has
been done in this respect that
henceforth every German plane
shot down will be "a vital contribu-
tion toward knocking the Luftwaffe
out of action" And by the same
token, 1t will be "a vital contribu-
Evening star., 1944-02-26

all but bring to a victorious end the
long battle for the Solomons. We
have seen them continue their
sweep forward on New Guinea and
their devastating naturalization op-
erations against Rabaul. And we
have seen them, within the past
few days, send powerful forces
against Truk and the Marianas, in
flicting such punishment on those
key bastions as to leave Japan
stunned. So quickly have these
events occurred, and so overwhelm-
ing has been the power our forces
have displayed in them, that further
action-climactic action-is clearly
foreshadowed for the balance of the
year, with the possibility that the
Japanese may be forced to fall back
over millions of square miles of
ocean, leaving the road to the
Philippines open to us and precip-
itating other consequences of the
most decisive sort.
Meanwhile, in the European the
ater, apart from the fierce fighting
in Italy and the gigantic British and
American air offensive and the
surging advances of the Red Army,
the atmosphere is filled with great
and grim expectations as the hour
approaches when our Allied armies
striking from England and per-
haps from other points-will open
new fronts against Hitler on a scale
dwar1ng anything yet attempted in
amphimous warfare. Now that
spring is nearing, this new violence,
this last phase of the titanic cam
paign to destroy Nazidom, may start
momentarily. In any event, ten
months still remain to 1914, and
paced by what has already hap
pened during this month and last,
political and military developments
are almost certain to come with
dizzying acceleration.
All the signs and portents declare
as much. 1t is the year of crescendo
in the terrible test between free men
and those who would enslave them.
1t will be hard year, bitter and
bloody one, time for stout hearts
and the greatest degree of resolu-
tion and unity among us. But at
the end Of it, given an unsparing
effort not only by our Allied forces
on the firing line, but by our Allied
home fronts as we'll. we should be
able to see the shape of total mill
tary victory plainly before us, and
we may, in fact, already have won
tin Europe, if not in Asia.
Evening star., 1944-02-26
Maj. George Fielding Eliot

end of the southern front, perhaps some
where in the vicinity of Kovel-or
perhaps even Lutsk, provided German
counterattack can retake that junction
which now seems very likely German
objective.
Where does all this leave the Ger
mans? 1t leaves them, except in the
south, completely out of Russia ION the
basis of the 1899 frontier. 1t gives
them much shorter 'front.' and one
which can be made shorter yet by
further withdrawal of the southern
flank, which seems inevitable despite
Hitler's panicky insistence on keeping
the Russians away from the Rumanian
frontier.
1t means the isolation of the German
forces in the Crimea, and their eventual
surrender or destruction unless they
can be evacuated by sea. 1t means Fin
land out of the war. almost certainly,
with the fate of the German troops
in Finland dependent on Gen. Dietls
ability to withdraw over bad roads into
Northern Norway. 1t probably implies
an eventual evacuation by Germany of
Estonia and most of Latvia Here a
SOOu Oedl uCPClIOS VII WllelllcT FSkOV
can be held, and, therefore, whether a
temporary stand can be made on the
Pskov-Polotsk line, about which pos
sihdlity there are some doubts being cur
rently and rather frankly voiced by
Berlin commentators.
But If the Germans can do all this
without losing any more in the way of
prisoners and general cohesion than
they have done in their retreat from
Leningrad to Lake Peipus, then they
will certainly be able to release from
their northern and central fronts some-
thing in the neighborhood of 20-25 di-
visions, and very considerable amount
OF locomotives, rolling stock and motor
transport which can be used elsewhere.
This Is consideration which the Ger
man high command cannot afford to
overlook.
The one question to which there is
as yet no apparent answer is the situa-
ton In the south. Here the elimination
of the "Cherkassy pocket" and the fall
of Krivoi Rog have just about put the
Germans back to the line of the River
Bug. That line is not impossible to
hold provided-very definitely provided
the deep Russian penetration to
Lutskr and Rovno can be eliminated so
that the connection between the Ger
man southern armies and those OF the
center can be solidified.
Here again, We see the necessity for
Evening star., 1944-02-26
Counsel of Wisdom

The thoughtful address whicc
Justice Jackson delivered before the
Canadian Bar Association a few
days ago must commend itself to
those who are concerned for the
future of sound government in this
country. The speech dealt with the
leadership that bench and bar must
exercise in democratic nations in
the postwar world In it's broader
aspects, however, it was wise counsel
for the American people. carrying a
note of warning for the extremists
who would set up class rule either
to serve the supposed interests of
proletariat, as in Russia, or those of
a military industrial class, as in
Germany or Italy"
Justice Jackson notes the grow
ing trend toward centralized gov
ernment and increasing acceptance
of the principle of advancement of
collective interests at the expense
OF the individual. While he doubts
that the end of the war will witness
mass break either to the right or
left of this line by q majority suf-
flciently large to weigh the scales in
one direction or another, he does
foresee a deeper cleavage between
the extremists on both sides that
would intensity their struggle for
power. "The increased role of CEN
trail government in matters such as
labor relations, social security, un-
employment compensation, price
control, industrial regulation and
| fiscal policy have raised the stakes
OF power higher than ever before"
When and if this battle line is
drawn, Justice Jackson says, "the
security of democratic institutions
may depend" on keeping the
struggle from getting out of legal
bounds. While he holds that this
task OF adjustment and reconcilia-
ton will fall primarily upon
parliaments and congresses and
VIC CACIuCAFCo, IL Will Dc J1lC COul CS,
he believes, which finally must as
sumo the burden of reconciling the
controversies springing from clash
ing PHILOSOPHERS. They then must
be ready and willing to challenge
arbitrary or capricious authority
without resorting to obstruction for
obstruction's sake
The justice finds one disturbing
note in the thought that destiny of
the country may rest so largely in
the law. This grows from the tend
ency in smart intellectual circles"
to repudiate the doctrines of natural
law and embrace the philosophy of
absolutism of the state. Then law
becomes only phase of state pol
ICY he says. when policy is made
manifest in legislation or executive
action or administrative decision, it
follows that its finality is not to be
questioned. From such premises it
is hard to avoid the conclusion that
in America all is law that has the
votes, just as in some parts of
Europe all is law that has the guns.
We thus have a New World variety
of the European PHILOSOPHERS of
no law"
Evening star., 1944-02-26

Mr.. Barkley wanted. Then the caucus,
with equal unanimity, reelected him
leader-and Mr.. Barkley was prevailed
upon to accept. He was out of office
only few minutes.
As the "old" leader of the Senate Mr..
Barkley was President Roosevelt's man
he was the White House leader of the
Senate. His very leadership was ac-
complished by White House pressure
back in 1887. when the President pre-
ferred Mr.. Barkley to the late Senator
Pat Harrison of Mississippi. Now he is
leader in his own right, by the unani-
nous vote of his colleagues The Dem
ocrats as a whole, including the anti
New Deal Democrats, and those Demo-
Gratis who have differed with the Presi-
dent, expect Senator Barkley to act now
Evening star., 1944-02-26
The Grand Desian
From the Winnipeg Free Press.
l. Il

from the winnipeg Free Press.
The report from Washington of three
day discussions between the Govern
ments of the United Kingdom, the
United States and Canada on "the re-
duction and even the elimination Of
tariff barriers is most welcome. This
announcement means that the three
governments are now shaping the key
stone in the arch of postwar recon.
struction and security. The grand de-
sign at last takes final form. The
crucial Importance of trade in every
phase of postwar reconstruction-do-
mestic and internationally obvious and
has been repeatedly stressed in these
columns. All the international economic
planning hitherto undertaken has been
designed to the single end of creating a
freely trading world And every ma 1or
declaration of policy on behalf of the
United Nations has agreed that the
freeing OF trade is the chief war aim on
the economic side.
Evening star., 1944-02-26

nave ever read In my lie, or felt or
thought or known, say that the middle
position is the one for sound men among
us to take.
Our old political habits are no good
to us now. 1t will be easy enough for
anti Roosevelt writer's to make lovely
ink-pies of Senator Barkley's speech of
resignation as majority leader. And
every little liberal in the land need but
touch his typewriter to have it mechan-
ically pound out the assertion false, of
course) that Senator Barkley is a re-
dictionary who has betrayed the people
and the future.
But these exercises will take lis no.
Evening star., 1944-02-26

The 7-year-old Prince would. of
course, govern only nominally. A strong
regency composed of the most liberal
elements, also including either Com
munists or Communist synlpathizers,
would be appointed to guide the son Of
the heir apparent, Prince Umberto.
Whether this solution would answer
the purpose Of the Allies is debatable.
1t appears to be the best, however, that
can be found at present in view Of the
various commitments of Britain to the
House OF Savoy and the desire Of Mos
COW to establish strong liberal govern
ment
Evening star., 1944-02-26

left among us. it
must be exercised
now. Men of good
will, II there be
such, must step for
ward to end these
appalling domestic
hostilities.
There are three
possible positions in
this battle, not two.
One can be for
Congress. One can
be for the President.
Or one can be for
peace between them,
and by everything I
Evening star., 1944-02-26
Prepare to Duck
From the Kansas City Kansan,

from the kansas City Kansan
Every indication visible points to the
1874 presidential campaign as one Of the
bitterest, most partisan in history, at q
time when II there is one thing the
Nation needs it is unity. Yet the truth
Is there seems no possible escape from
such . campaign. The seed has long
been sown, the plant has grown and Il
Is merely the harvest that Is at hand. )
Evening star., 1944-02-26

permanent govern
ment In italy. "
Although no final
decision has been
reached and Is not
likely until the road
to Rome Is clear, 1t
appears that q COM
promise will be ar
rived at soon where
by the Prince Of
Naples, Victor En-
manuel, the grand
son Of King Victor
Emmanuel, will be
placed on tn e
kl~>-
Evening star., 1944-02-26
DebocIe's Cuuse
he Montreal Star

FIUIn tHe MOntreaI Star.
When Adolf Hitler first took of1ice in
Germany his plea to the German people
was, in effect: You follow me and IN
lead you to prosperity" When war broke
out he followed the same line with
both people and military experts: "Fol-
low me and my intuition and I'll lead
you to, victory" Well. his intuition has
led to the present debacle in Russia,
to a hemming in of German forces
throughout the whole of Europe, and to
the sure and certain prospect OF ulti-
mate defeat and humiliation.
Evening star., 1944-02-26

CCllGCl.
The northern flank
has been driven back
to Lake Peipus but
may not be able to
anchor there If Pskov
cannot be held. The
fall OF Dno Is of
comparatively little
Importance, like that
of Staraya Russa,
since it long had
been obvious that
these points could
not be held by the
Germans. But the
German admission