davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-05-04
This Changing World
By Constantine Bro,cn

Constantin Oumansky, the Soviet AM
bassador to Mexico, unQuestionably is
Russia's busiest diplomat abroad. Rus
sia's diplomatic dealings with Mexico are
far less important than those with the
United States or Great Britain, yet Pre-
mier Stain has sent Oumansky to the
strategically important Mexican Reppb-
lie. Well-informed Washington quar-
ters believe he will be Vyacheslav Molo-
tov's successor when the present foreign
commissar is shifted to another Job.
From Mexico City Oumansky Is able
to keep in his hands the threads OF the
entire Russian propaganda in North
and South America.
The Russians are sticklers for for
mality in both major and minor matters.
A Moscow dispatch recently indicated
that the Russian people were grieved
over the fact that Prime Minister
Churchill once appeared in q siren suit
at banquet given in his honor at the
Kremlin. They also were panied because
United States Ambassador Averell Har-
riman appeared at parade of the Red
Armies in business suit, but Secretary of
State Hull's cutaway and silk hat made
a very good impression on them.
In the same manner, the Ambassador
to Washington, Andrei A. Gromyko. and
his staff are scrupulously observing the
conditions of the treaty of 1888 which
provided with other things that the
U. S. s. r. would refrain from any kind
of Communist propaganda In this coun-
try.
X
But while the Soviet Embassy here is
strictly diplomatic mission and con-
forms to all the conventionalities re-
quired Of representatives Of friendly
nation, the Embassy in Mexico Is ex-
tremely active in another manner.
Although relations between Mexico
and Russia are Of such q nature that a
small staff could handle them, more than
so persons have accompanied Ambas-
sador Oumansky to Mexico City. The
diplomatic personnel is not very large.
The actual staff is augmented by q large
number Of experts, some natives Of coun-
tries other than Russia who are ex-
tremely active in North and South
America.
Whenever certain activities which
would have fallen in the sphere Of the
Evening star., 1944-05-04
Invasion GueSSWOrk
BY Maj. George Fielding Eliot

A great deal has been written about
the difficulties of landing troops on
defended coast, especially such a de-
Tended coast as that of Western Europe,
which has been prepared and fortified
over period of years according to the
most scientific principles of modern
military art. Yet when all is said and
done, the task of defending coast
line depends on the trained men avail
able for the job: these must be suf-
ficiently numerous and well posted to
deal with any scale of attack that may
be launched against the coast, or the
defense will fail.
The obvious difficulty is that the de-
fender does not know where the main
blow of the attacker Is going to fall. He
must, therefore. hold all possible land
ing points with covering or delaying
forces and keep the bulk of his man
power we'll back, at suitably chosen po-
sitions, to counterattack as soon as the
attackers plans have developed suf-
ficiently so that the defender knows
what he has to deal with.
The practical application of these
principles results in a double system
of reserves. Each sector commander
WALL hCCp d lOCdl IcSeIVc Ill lldIlu 10 zeal
with the immediate contingencies which
may confront him, and the supreme
commander will keep a main reserve in
hand.
X
Now let us try to apply these prin-
cipleS to the defense of Western
European country-let us say France
against attacks from without.
The coast line of France totals about
1880 miles. For the defense of this
coast, the Germans have about As divi-
sions ttheSe include the troops assigned
to the Low Countries, but let us give the
enemy a break and leave out the Low
Countries) OF these As divisions, about
II are f1rst-class offensive divisions We
will presume that these constitute the
enemy'S main mobile reserve The
other 33 are defensive" divisions-divi-
SlonS which have a great deal of fire.
power, but not much mobility de, not
much transport and not much striking
power G.e., they are short of rifle-carry-
ing infantry
Let us give the enemy a further break,
and decide that of the total French
coast line, he is able to decide that one
quarter (say 500 miles) on the Bay of
Biscay is not going to be subject to i'm
mediate attack, and so can be held with
just few detachments. That leaves
him about 1900 miles to defend; of this,
we will say that one-f1alf is wholly un-
suitable for landings because of cliffs,
shoal water or for other reasons (actu-
ally ths proportion u somewhat leas,
Evening star., 1944-05-04
Pruyer

1t has been announced that when
news OF the beginning of the inva-
sion of Western Europe is received,
many churches will be opened for
prayer for divine aid for the armed
forces and "all who minister to their
needs" The Right Reverend Henry
st. George Tucker, president of the
Federal Council of Churches of
Christ in America as well as presid-
Ing bishop Of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church in the United States.
has written and released for publi-
cation a petition to the Father of
all mankind" especially intended for
D-Day services. He appeals to the
Creator as the "lover of every life"
IN behalf of "those who struggle and
endure to the uttermost," begging
Tor them guidance and protection
that "they may be kept from evil."
But 1t is not merely that lives may
be spared that people will pray.
Bishop Tucker expresses the instinct
OF the Nation-yes, the anxiety of
the whole company of nations allied
against the Axis enemies-when he
asks for "a victory of Righteousness"
through Gods Transforming power"
Out of the anguish of this season
Of bitter conflict, he calls for "a
new order which shall endure" be-
cause it represents the will Of the
Almighty "in earth as it is in
heaven"
There is great meaning in any
such words. All men die. What mat
ters is that they who fall for liberty
and brotherhood shall not be lost
in vain. In the zero hour of their
sacrifice, those who give themselves
have the right to demand the full
f1llment Of their sacred crusade. Let
no doubt or hesitation, no question
OF purpose, arise to mock those who
are spent for civilization. Now, as
when Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg,
"the living" must be dedicated with
Increased devotion" to "the great
task remaining before us"
Evening star., 1944-05-04

taking the French coast as a whole
So the enemy must defend $50 miles of
shore line with 80 divisions. That means
an average of about % miles per divi-
sion.
Suppose these divisions have their full
complement of nine infantry battalions
each, so armed and organized as to make
up in fire power what they lack in mo-
bility and striking power. If each divi-
sion commander wants to hold out one
regiment (three battalions) as his local
reserve, and he can hardly do with less,
each OF the remaining six battalions
must cover a front of about four miles,
or say 1000 yards.
In a normal outpost position the main
line Of resistance must include strong
points not less than 800 yards apart, in
order to bring effective interlocking fire
to bear. Thus each German defensive
battalion must man from eight to nine
such strong points just to have a single
line of defense, which means that the
average garrison of each strong point
will be about 100 men.
To support this line there will be
Gn the average German division) about
60 guns and howitzers; but let us sup
pose that this number Is doubled by
adding guns from corps and army ar
tillery and guns of position. This gives
about 100 guns per divisional front, or
something like 1000 guns in all for the
whole coast line (Which tallies pretty
we'll with the reports we have been
getting).
Now stop and think about this-so
far we have only one thin line of strong
points, 800 yards apart on a 23-mile
front, supported by the fire Of 120 guns
and Howitzers. Then consider what
will be concentrated against that line
at the point where the attacking forces
decide to make a main effort. Bat
talon after battalion of infantry, sup
ported by the gunflre of battleships,
cruisers, destroyers and armored sup
and hOWitzerS. Then consider what
port craft, and by hundreds of airplanes
carrying anything up to tons of bombs
each. The break-through is an absolute
certainty if those be the conditions.
Then stop and think what we have
been told about the German -defenses:
Not one line, but line after line in enor-
nous depth, with guns at every village
lane and crossroads for 100 miles back
of beach, ETC., etc. How many men
would they need to man such a system?
Five or six times as many as they have
available now, without providing for
reserves.
The truth Is that the conditions at
any one point Of attack win be largely
Evening star., 1944-05-04
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

The Roosevelt grip on the Democrats
of the South still stands II the renomi-
nation of Senator Hill of Alabama and
Senator Pepper Of Florida in Tuesdays
primaries are correctly interpreted.
Desperate efforts were made by the
anti-New Deal and anti-fourth- term
Democrats in those States to retire both
Hill and Pepper, who have been ardent
supporters of the administration.
In both States the ants rolled up big
votes-but missed victory. Senator Hill,
who placed President Roosevelts name
In nomination for thifd term at Chi
cago in 1910 defeated James A. Simpson,
who has been popular State Senator.
Senator Pepper, a booster for a Roose-
velt fourth term for months, had four
opponents. He succeeded, however, in
polling a majority of the total vote cast
This gives him the nomination without
the necessity Of run-of primary.
The very size Of the votes cast against
Hill and Pepper indicates that the peo-
pie Of the South have been by no means
happy over conditions on. the home
front.
The fact that a number of delegate
candidates, for the Democratic Ma
tional Convention, pledged to Senator
Byrd of Virginia, ran 50 strongly In
Florida, is just another indication Of the
feeling against fourth term in the
South. Senator Byrd has declared him.
self not candidate for the presidential
nomination. Alabama delegates were
"uninstructed," but they will be for
Roosevelt, the leaders say.
The proof of the pudding, however, is
In the eating-and the final proof Of
political feeling appears when all the
ballots are counted. Senators Hill and
Pepper have been able to keep the
Roosevelt banner we'll af1oat in their
States. Both sides in these contests
fought hard, and the administration
forces left no stones unturned. They
knew that rejection of either Hill or
Pepper-or both-would have a de-
cidedly bad psychological effect, not
only in the other Southern States but
also in the rest of the country. T
How many of the Democrats who
voted against Hill and Pepper on Tues
day will vote against President Roose-
welt next fall 1t is not possible to esti-
Evening star., 1944-05-04

now dissolved Third Internationale re-
quire attention, American Communists
or Communist sympathizers take quick
trip either to the border or to Mexico
City itself for consultations with Ou-
mansky's technical advisers.
The new German Committee In the
United States, patterend after the Free
Germany Committee in Moscow, Is said
to have come into being after q number
Of Germans who organized 1t conferred
with Oumanskys experts. Among those
reported to have seen the Ambassador
sui general in New York, Paul Schwartz,
who resigned his Office soon after Hitler
assumed power in Germany. Schwartz
remains in this country because Of his
strong democratic feelings which would
have sent him to a concentration camp
had he returned to his native land. Un-
der the pseudonym Of Dimplomaticus he
wrote articles on international affairs
for the Stats zeitung, the foremost
German newspaper in the United States.
The former German consul, Ike some
other of his countrymen in this coun-
try, appears convinced that the saliva
ton of the Reich can be achieved
through the good ofiices Of Russia and
has become an active supporter Of the
new organization which differs little
from the one in Moscow headed by Gen.
Werner Won Seydlitz. The Moscow or
ganization, comprised mostly Of prison.
ers of war and some men who found
shelter in Russia after Hitler's rise, Is
the creation of the Kremlin.
The difference between committees In
this country and in Russia Is that while
the former is composed Of free men who
have been in America ever since Hitler
became Germanys dictator the latter
is composed mainly Of military men who
were captured at Stalingrad and else
where and were released on orders of
Premier Stain.
Besides the large number Of experts,
Oumansky is reported to have access to
ample funds. Many Of the federations
Of labor in South America are in close
contact with him. They draw from
these contacts inspiration for their re-
spective organizations and necessary
funds whenever badly needed.
Evening star., 1944-05-04

first Of all to the natural bounti-
fulness of our land and, after that,
to the magnificent job done by the
Nations primary producers, by the
professors, by the distributors, and
by those men-in Government and
out-who have been responsible for
the overall management of our
food program.
In short, the fact that nearly all
our meats are now point-free is a
great tribute to any one who has had
anything to do with advancing our
wartime food production, from the
most obscure pig-raiser on up. AS
for the rationing process itself, if
it has seemed at times excessively
rigid, it has most certainly played
its part well in keeping the country
sufficiently and equitably fed.
Three or four months hence, it may
have to be applied again to meats,
but its past performance has been
so creditable that no fair-minded
citizen will object If that proves
necessary.
The new order of things may, of
course, create considerable market
ing confusion at first, since it seems
only natural that the sudden change
will lead to buying demand greater
than supplies on hand in the stores.
Moreover, the fact that consumers
will now have to make their red
points last four weeks, instead OF
the usual two, for butter, choice
beef cuts, cheese, ETC., may work out
as hardship of sorts in some cases.
But all such difficulties ought to
yield to solution in reasonable time.
Meanwhile, it is instructive to recall
that not many months ago more
than few gloomy commentators
were predicting that this year the
gaunt face Of famine would be seen
everywhere in our land. America is
like that: it is always confounding
the CaSsandraS,
Evening star., 1944-05-04

From the Toronto TeleEram.
Under Mussolini the Italian nation
made choice on June TO-, 1910, and
that was the date upon which the fate
OF Rome, whatever it maybe, was pre-
determined. The modern counterpart of
Attila the Hun holds the Eternal City
as part of battle front. To him the
Popes appeal to "the clear-sighted
vision and wisdom of responsible men
In both belligerent camps" means less
than nothing. Rome will be evacuated
only when military considerations i'm
pose withdrawal. That may come with
out assault upon the city itself, which
would be a development no less salts
factory to the Allied forces than to those
represented in civilian appeals for the
preservation of Rome. But If otherwise,
the blame will not be with Great Britain
or the United States.
Evening star., 1944-05-04
A Small Boy in q Posture

A small boy In pdsturs
Can find more roads to tollop
That little feet haze padded
To drinking place and hoHotr,
For he o1o,as strange, pild kindred.
The red squirrel and the sscuuoau.
A small boy In a pasture
Is part OF tctnd and peather:
He hunts for big old toudstools
Thick and brot1n as leather,
And ,Dith eager fingers catches
A slender red-bird feather.
A small boy In a pasture
Is 10ind and sun and thistle,
A small boy In a pasture
Is Gods otDn tDillo1D tphistle.
ALMA Robson HIGBEE.
Evening star., 1944-05-04

mate with certainty. It is the guess Of
one Southern Senator, however, that at
least IS per cent Of those who went to
the polls to register their protest against
these New Deal Senators will cast their
votes for Roosevelt. Where else, he
asked, can they 60? In his opinion the
President will be renominated beyond
a doubt. He sees no chance Of third
party or an independent Democratic
presidential ticket. The Democrats Of
the South will vote for the President
and not for Republican.
\ + ~
This estimate, naturally, Is made on
the basis Of the situation today. Roose-
welt strength in the South may grow
stronger after he has been renominated.
There is always the chance, however,
that some one issue will arise which
will upset the best calculations of politi-
cal leaders. Further, the war situation
may play an important part in the de-
cision of the voters when November rolls
around.
AS of today, the incumbent candidates
for senatorial denomination have come
through with flying colors. In addition
to Hill and Pepper, Senator Tydings Of
Maryland has won denomination, and
by wide margin. Tydings has support
ed the President In his foreign policy
and the war effort. He has been q bitter
critic, however, Of some New Deal policies
and laws, and six years ago the Presi-
dent sought to purge" him from the
party. Senator Lucas Of Illinois, an
other Democrat, has been renominated
"a strong supporter Of the President.
On the Republican side, Senator Davis
Of Pennsylvania was renominated with
out opposition, and Senator Gurney OF
South Dakota on Tuesday was renomi-
mated handily over 1t. Gov. A. G. Miller.
Representative Sam Hobbs won re-
nomination in a three-cornered contest
in Alabamas 4th district Democratic
primary. Mr.. Hobbs had been an oppo-
nent of some Of the Administrations
labor policies. A defeat for him would
have been q sweet morsel for CIO lead
ers to roll over their tongues. He is the
author of the antiracketeering bill,
which deals a blow at racketeering union
truck drivers. The measure passed the
House by big vote, but has been held
up for more than half q year in the
Senate Judiciary Committee.
Evening star., 1944-05-04
NLRB Acts Promptly

Inc incorporate protests OF union
spokesmen at Montgomery Ward
should not serve to becloud the fact
that the National Labor Relations
Board. in ordering representation
election within seven days, has act
ed with commendable speed to re-
solve one of the central issues in
this extraordinary wartime contro-
versy.
1t Is the function of the NLRB to
determine the appropriate bargain
ing units and to conduct an election
to ascertain whether the union has
a majority in these units. From the
practical standpoint. and without
regard to legal questions concerning
the validity Of the seizure of the
Chicago plant at the order of the
President. the labor board election
should settle the dispute. If the
union wins in either or both of the
designated units the objection
which Montgomery Ward has inter-.
posed to negotiation Of a new con-
tract will disappear. And if the
union loses that will automatically
terminate its asserted right to rep
resent the employees.
In these circumstances, and par
ticularly in view Of the resentment
stirred up by the use OF troops to
take over the business, it was obyi-
ously desirable to dispose Of the rep
resentation issue as quickly as pos
sible. Hence, the NLRB, invoking
procedures which have been per-
fected for speeding up the handling
OF labor disputes presumed to bear
on the prosecution of the war, ar
ranged for preliminary hearing in
Chicago last Saturday. This hear
ing was completed on Monday and
the transcript was flown to WASH
ington and laid before the members
OF the national board on Tuesday
morning. They completed their
consideration of it that day and or
dered that the election be held as
early as possible or, in any event,
within seven instead Of the usual
thirty days.
This acceleration of peacetime
procedures has brought excited
protests from spokesman for the
union involved, one of them going
to the extent of describing the order
as "the dirtiest deal ever dished
out to labor by the NLRB." This is
a complaint which can be discount
ed, however, for the NLRB does not
dish out dirty deals" to labor.
There is every reason to believe that
the arrangement provided for in the
order is as fair to one party as to
the other, and certainly it is in
the interest Of expediting the set
tlement of dispute which has
been hanging fire too long and
which has caused an internal dis
ruption in this country out of all
proportion to its inherent impor-
tance.
Evening star., 1944-05-04
This and That
By Charles E. TracesceH.

II there is ever q migrating bird which
may be said ito come in on wing and
prayer" 1t Is the wood thrush.
The annual arrival of this fine song
ster Is always Of especial interest to
the residents of the District of Colum-
bia, since it is the official" bird Of the
District.
Usually the wood thrush appears in
and around the city on April %, but
this spring it first appeared April %.
We had a radio program on after
o'clock that evening. Finding it some
what boring, as radio programs some
times are, we turned the set of.
What marvellous thing, that one can
turn radio set of!
It Is not the same as laying down a
paper, when one disagrees with an edi-
torial, or some olumnist-heaven, yes
or something else.
Often 1t is impossible to put the thing
down. One must read on, growing more
irate every moment. Such is the power
Of the written word!
But no one hesitates to turn off the
radio, and when it is done, the sound
is as If it never existed.
1t Is gone, that's ALL
The "turn-off" knob still remains one
Of the best things about a radio re-
ceiver.
Well, we had just turned off the radio
and looked at the clock.
1t said 6:25 pm.
Just then a fiutelike bird song came
through the air.
There was no mistaking it, although
we had not heard it since last summer
1t was the thrush!
The song came from clump Of trees
down on the corner.
How fortunate it was that we had
turned off the radio! If the set had
still been running, we could not have
heard this finest of all bird songs. nor
been able to greet him upon his return.
The wood thrush was Audubon's IA
vorite bird, and he should have known,
because he studied and painted them all.
1t is impossible to watch this bird
very long without falling in love with
| 1t. 1t is so Clean so respectable, so
| right, that no observer remains indif-
ferent to its charms
The song, unique in birdland, is a
1our-part affair, with various cultural
SOUNDS thrown in between the parts, if
| you are close enough to hear them.
Mostly the bird sings in a tree, al
| though we have heard one sing on the
ground, and the cultural exclamations
| are not heard at all
The double effect of each note is part
OF the musical beauty.
Usually this is called Ginning" per-
hapS as good way to put it as any.
The song is high and clear, with two
birds usually answering back to each
other The song has real musical pat
tern, so much so that one may wonder
! why no human musician has never used
| 1t as the theme of a waltz.
No instrument, however. could ever
give the outdoors quality of the notes.
since this is the sole possession of the
feathered singer
| Clothed in neat cinnamon brown on
the back. with white breast with brown
ish-black spots, the wood thrush is an
immaculate bird of the woodlands which
has decided to live close to humanity.
| His common name of wood thrush no
| longer fits him. He is distinctly a sub
urban bird nowadays. He doesn't come
for food, especially, although he likes
the worms and insects he finds there,
and will eat raisins thrown out to him
in the grass He really comes, we be-
lieve, because he likes humanity, heaven
help him, and bless him. too