davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
Memorial Day

Tomorrow descendants of Confederate sol
diers will hold memorial services in their
honor-the only tribute that may now be paid
these hero dead
1t was SO long ago that they fought and
died. the present generation cannot clearly
picture their valance or their heartbreak. But
we know that the spirit that sent them into
battle survives in the boys who fighting
IS fearlessly on the battlefields of this global
war for cause as sacred to them as the lost
cause of the Confederacy was to their pro
genitors.
Because the combat at Fort Fisher was
among the great engagements of the War
between the States, Wilmington has a special
reason for observing Confederate Memorial
Day. Those among the masses in America
who declare there should be but one memorial
day for all soldier dead, inasmuch as the Unit
ed States is united and secure in it's union
cannot realize what Confederate Memorial
Day means to the South. To force its aban-
donment, which of course they cannot do
would be to deprive millions of loyal Ameri-
cans of honoring their dead in the way that
best builds morale among them and, para
doxical though it seem, strengthens their ad-
herence to the union their Confederate dead
fought to dissolve.
Time has softened the grief of their depar-
ture. But time can never erase their heroisn
or their sacrifice. 1t is fitting that those who
trace their descent from them should gather
on day of their own choosing to bow in
reverance beside their graves.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
Smooth Way For Victory

In a letter to Prime Minister Churchill,
President Roosevelt has expressed hope that
Mr.. Churchilrs cline of action in dealing
with recent Greek problems may succeed
in bringing the Greeks back into the Allied
m and to participation against the bar
barians." That is hope in which all Amer
cans will surely join.
Mr. Churchilrs line of action is basically
simple one. He has pledged the British gov
ernments support to the Greek king and his
new government, and has given notice to the
Greeks that domestic quarrels of political
nature must be put aside until the enemy is
defeated. In fact, it is such a simple line of
action that it seems great pity that is was
not pursued earlier
War has way of breeding internal revolt
when a country is losing. 1t happened in
France and Yugoslavia and Poland after the
Nazis came. 1t happened quickly in Italy and
Sicily was taken. 1t happened in Germany
and Austria Hungary and Turkey in the clos
ing months of the last war. History is full of
similar examples.
But internal revolt is no condition from
which to launch counter attack. It has
weakened the valiant resistance of Greece
Yugoslavia and France, and made a pitable
situation even less bearable.
1t will impede Allied success in the invasion
of Europe unless it is quickly checked
Yet Britain and the United States are in a
position to insist upon moratorium on fami-
ly strife until the Nazis are driven out. Theirs
are the armies and supplies of liberation.
Mr.. Churchill has shown the pattern of this
insistence by his very reasonable declaration
that until a country is free Great Britain rec
ognizes the government which existed in that
country when the war began, the regime
which began the fight for liberation.
If this had been done in the friendly coun-
tries mentioned above, great deal of trouble
and added burden for the Allied command
might have been spared.
But perhaps it is not too late, except in the
case of Poland, to speed the day of victory
by demanding unity as first and mutually
advantageous requisite.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
Crews New Job

1t was a happy inspiration that led to the
appointment of Joseph c. Grew as director
of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs in the
State Department. The director of Far East
ern Affair is the ranking expert official for
that area of the world in the department
Until the recent reorganization of the depart
ment this ranking official was known as the
political adviser to the Secretary on Far
Eastern Affairs, but was not burdened with
the administrative matters of the Far East
ern division Of the department. Under the
new plan, he combines the functions of politi-
cal adviser and administrative chieftain Of
the department, except in the Far Eastern
field
Because OF his long service in the Orient
when he was United States Ambassador to
Japan, and his keen eye and mind, Mr.. Grew
is much better fitted to deal with problems
in the Far East than most men in the dplo
matte corps.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
QUOTATIONS

Fines will not curb black market operation
Experience in the United States and in other
countries has demonstrated that if black mar
kets are to be wiped out Jail sentences mus
be meted out.
u. S. attorney James B. NJ McNally of New
York.
The Allies must be ready with their rele1
plans if millions are to be saved from star.
walton, restitution, and pestilence.
Archbishop of York.
No nation or combination of nations in his
tory has assembled an invasion armada equa
to ours. We have already produced 10000
vessels and will have 000O
-WPB chairman Donald M. Nelson
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
The Road Back

One of the biggest threats to private enter
prise after the war is the tremendous amount
of money the Federal government now has
invested in all kinds of business, as war
measure-some $4,000, 100000.
When the war emergency is over the post
war employment emergency will be used as
an argument to keep the government in bust
ness. Hence, planning by private enterprise,
such as is being done by the American Road
Builders Association, to provide peacetime
Jobs, is of the utmost Importance.
Highway construction is important at any
time, but after the war it will be doubly so
Like all transportation facilities, roads are
being pounded to pieces by war traffic, many
of them are not being repaired, and badly
needed new construction has been postponed.
Highway expenditures in 1880 amounted to
nearly a billion and half dollars In 1913,
they dropped to but $500, 100000, and in 1914 to
about $15o,00o,oo.
AS upwards of 100000 jobs depend on good
highways in normal times, it is easy to see
how important road construction and mantle
nance will be in any postwar planning to put
American business back on a sound, self sup
porting basis.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
BY JOHN SELBY
Mr.. Roosevelt" by Comptt

MI. Roosevelt, by Compton
Mackenzie (Dutton; $3.75.)
In a campaing year it is a stroke
OF luck to have an outside view OF
a probable presidential candidate
from a man whose peculiar gift
has always been the easy express
sion OF divergent opinions, to wit.
Compton Mckenzie. Mr.. Macken-
zie is British-born, but a cosmo.
politan by tendency. His connec-
lions with this country have al
ways been direct, and his particu-
lar service has always been that
he can view non-British phenomena
with the spirit Of the British gentle
man. and without that conaposite
worthy's prejudices.
His ''Mr. Roosevelt will. I am
sure, annoy some Of the Presi-
dents haterc. Any sympathetic
biography would. and certainly
this is a sympathetic biography.
But even these, if they are above
to set aside their opinions for a
time, must at least be interested
in a valuation of the President in
terms of the world, which is pre-
cisely what Mr.. Mackenzie has
attempted. I think he has tried to
produce an antidote for political
prejudice on both sides OF the po-
itical fence, and surely he has
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
Subsidies

Writing in the Saturday Evening Post, Ed
Will, the operator Of small farm near Odes-
sa, New York. shows how the grip of bureau
cracy is tightening on the farmer.
subsidy which independent farmers do
not want, is forced on them to offset the cost
Of feed which the price of milk is not al
lowed to cover. 1t has grown from pin money
to one-fifth of the daryman's income thus
making him dependent on political handouts.
The inevitable conclusion to be drawn from
Mr.. Wills article is that the farm subsidy
is political expedient to hold the price of
food below its production cost. at the expense
of the taxpayer. at time when the consumer
is best able to pay the true cost Of food
As the subsidy program increases its hold
on the farmer, he becomes less and less a
free man, and government grows in its posi-
ton Of overload toward him. This is indeed
a new order" for the United States.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
Be Careful

Despite these unpleasant relapses into near
winter, spring and summer are actually
around the corner. Nobody can foreten when
the corner will be turned, but occasional warm
days are a sure sign that. the time is not
distant.
And when the warming sun heats the water
Of ocean and river creek mankind in
general will be taking dips in it, for swim
ming or merely laundering are among Amer
ica's most cherished diversions. Bathing
beaches, swimming holes and seaside resorts,
in which Wilmington is exceptionally blessed,
will attract thousands of people. Unless each
person knows what he is about, many will
be headed for trouble.
Because most aquatic accidents are pre-
ventable, the Red Cross water safety service
offers timely suggestions in an effort to curb
the number OF persons-7 000-who, statistics
say, will drown this year.
Know your swimming place. Investigate it
if you are not sure. Swim at beaches and
pools that are manned by lifeguards Don't
20 swimming alone. Wait at least an hour
after eating before going into the water. Don't
plunge into cold water Wade in. slowly &C.
climating the body to the waters tempera-
ture
! Don't overdo it. Condition yourself gradual
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
Daily Prayer
For Public Officials

''For that the leaders took the
lead in Israel,
For that the people offered them
selves willingly.
Bless ye Jehovah" Judges So.
We praise Thee, o Eternal
Ruler of the universe, thai so
many men and women, with pub
lie mind, have consecrated them
selves to our Nation and our
Cause. We remember with graft
tude all the public officials, and
all officers in the armed services.
who are giving their uttermost
powers to the prosecution of this
war May we not hinder them by
ignorant criticism and half-hearted
support. Let not our loyalty grow
swim in this testing time: but
deepen and increase the rurge of a
common patriotism in this hour
of greatest need. Should any OF
our leaders prove faithless, or per-
NIT selfish ambition to transcend
public interest, do Thou constran
them, by the very difficulties we
face, to return to their better
selves. With one mind and with
one heart, whatever the personal
cost, may we all devote ourselves,
in faith and in fidelity, to the WIN
ming of the war. Amen-WT.E.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
$18,666,717 Has Been
Collected For Chinese
Relief Since Launched

Rev. C. D. Barclift, local char
man of United China Relief, an
nounced yesterday that funds SEM
to China through United China Fe-
lief, Inc, since its organization IN
1941 have reached total OF Sl0'-
666,717
This is exclusive of adminlstra'
tive expenses incurred in this coun-
try, which have been reduced 10
less than three and one-halt per
cent, Mr.. Barclift said.
In 1871, United China Relief SEM
S1,623.511: in 1912, S5,096,36O IN
1943, when U.C.R. became an
agency of the National War Fund
$8,612,155; and during the first i've
months of 1914, So, 1884, SOL.
These funds are spent IN emma
by participating agencies for va.
riety of projects including medlcal
aid, orphan care, child welfare nos
pitals. education, refugee relief n
dustrial cooperatives, transport
ton of drugs and medical supplies
and training of medical workers,
ALLEGATIONS from the National
War Fund will provide nine NIL
lion dollars for United China ne
lief's 1914 program
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
The Literary Guidepost

the right to make favorable ap
praisal of the President, inasmuch
as somebody must have said by
now that we are fighting for a
world in which free men may
think as they believe right.
AS always in biographies Of
contemporary figures. the first
part of the book, which deals with
the early career of President
Roosevelt, is most interesting if not
most valuable. Everybody outside
the bcoby-hatch knows something
about Roosevelt's career from
1888 to to d y; not everybody
knows how this hitches on to his
boyhood and youth and young
manhood. Mr.. Mackenzie attempts
to show that the President did not
turn on his class" when he
cracked down on said class in
1888, but much earlier. In Har-
ward young Franklin belonged to
seven or eight of the very best
clubs, but he organized the out
slders on the theory that class Of
flcers should go to the man the
majority wanted, not to the club
with the best politician. Mr.. Mac
kenzle has done well with Mrs.
James Roosevelt, with the First
Lady, with the Roosevelt-Church-
III relationship in particular. And
his book is easy TO read.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
Interpreting
The War
BY KIRKE L. SIMPSON

~ ~AAAsAAG LIZ SlMPS0N
First official Allied estimate.
damage done Nazi commune
tons and oil installations IN
mania and the Balkan tbea Ho.
strongly support the expectat;oa
that a Russian drive througb +Il
Galati Gap into the Danube V.1Ia
will coincide whit not preceds
- the impending Anglo-Americase
west. There seems no orsst; on
that the Germans capacity to hoId
the critical 4o-mile front betwo U.a
the slret River and the Carpatbian
foothills has b n badly under
mined.
With the June u anniversary =,
the first American bombing ~ tbs
Ploestic oil field in Romania close
at hand, 1t. Gen. Ira C. Eatke.
Allied air commander in the Med
iterranean, disclosed that three,
fourths of the supply of Romanian
oil formerly available to the Ger.
man war machine had been cut
off by his Italy-based bombers
More than one-third of the +ot.,
Nazi oil came from Romano
Barrel for barrel, thtat Romanian
oil was far more important to the
upkeep and efficiency of the whole
German war machine than anv
other natural or synthetic product
at Hltler's command. It provided
highest aviation fuel for Ger.
man planes and was the prime
source of high-grade lubricants for
both Nazi mechanical forces and
for war plants. Every drop of the
estimated million tons of Roman.
an oil a year on which the Nazis
could once count was dolby pre-.
cious on that account. With the
Ploesti and adjacent major rein.
cries knocked out OF commission
for months to come, a critical
crimp has been put in the German
war effort as whole although if
may not show itself perceptibly
for weeks to come.
BY every sign the Russians will
have forced the Galati Gap to In.
wade the Danubian plains before
that. The Eaker statement ind.
Gates Allied expectation of that,
pointing out that in addition to
Gripping oil plants in Romania,
Allied attack has snarled all rail
river and road communications in
Hungary, Romaria and even in
Bulgaria.
Berlin commentators see the H.
nal Russian assault to recapture
Sevastopol in the Crimea as de.
signed to free Red armies engaged
in that siege for operations in Ro.
mania. There is every indication
that the Allied air attacks on such
vital Nazi communications hubs as
Budapest, Bucharest and Ploesti.
which is a key rail center as we'll
as an oil pipeline and refinery
plant core, were jointly plotted by
Russian-Allied staffs.
In the light of the revealed sue
cess of the Allied bombing opera
tons in the Balkans it is fair
guess that the German high com
mand is already preparing for a
new retreat in that sector
The battle of Galati Gap, or of
the bucharest plain as Eaker
termed it, is apt to be one of de-
cisive actions of the years cam
paign in Europe. It may already
be in progress in skirmishes Ber-
lin reported in the Iasi and Tiras-
pol areas-actions as yet ignored
in Moscow war bulletins.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
With Ernie Pyle

fall out of control and plunge into
the ocean three miles below us.
Suddenly the motors stopped play
ing my tune, and it seemed to me
they were all out of rhythm and
vibrating badly.
For an hour I was as tense as
piano wire, expecting the worst
any moment. But nothing happen
ed, and at last the sandman got
the best of me and I slept till day.
light.
Colonel Donaldson woke me up
to look at the sunrise. It was a
majestic thing. We were above an
ocean of mountainous clouds and
the sun came up violently red over
the snow-white horizon. Everybody
was awake looking, but grogginess
got the better of me and after one
look I went back to sleep.
Finally after many hours we
landed, and we climbed out stiffly
The first cigaret almost knocked
us over. The air was snappy, but
the sun was shining and it felt
wonderful to be safely in England,
for I had sort of dreaded the trip.
Raj and USAAF people saw us
through the formalities. We ate
breakfast in an Raj dining room
In an hour we were in another
plane on the way to London. By
noon we had landed at an airdrome
near London where I had been
many times before, and big bus
was waiting to take us into the
city.
The British colonies were very
happy. They had been away from
England for years, and by supper
time they would see their wives.
We gave each other our addresses.
I had left London for Africa one
dark and mysterious night a year
and half ago. Many times since
then l had never expected to see
England again. But here it was,
fresh and green and pretty.
And although I was still far from
home and family it was wonder
full thing to be returning, for
have loved London ever since first
seeing it in the blitz and it has
become sort of my overseas home.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
BY ERNIE PYLE

LONDON,-(by wireless)-On the
way across Africa I struck up an
acquaintance with two British Of
ficers-Lieut. Col. Colin Linton and
Lieut.. Col Jack Donaldson.
Linton is a Ccot, SaadhurSt
graduate and regular Army Of
ficer. He is not quite 30.
Donaldson did social work before
the war. He is in his late 30s. His
wife has turned farmer since the
war and has written a book about
it.
The viewpoints of the two colonies
are very dissimilar-a social work
er contrasted to professional col
dier-but they are both the kind of
people you like. During those long
days of waiting in Casablance we
would loaf around for hours while
those two argured good-naturedly
and I lay on the bed and GRIM I'd.
We had hoped we might continue
to England together, and we did.
|
with old fashioned seats.
got big box lunch the night
before for us to take along, but
this time lunch was provided. We
had a conglomeration of passen-
gers, all military, running through
four nationalities. Most of them
were English, but we also had
French, American and German.
Yes, I said German. There were
three prisoners, from a captured
U-boat crew, with British captain
in charge. They sat just ahead OF
us.
We all wondered what knowledge
the Germans could possess that
would justify flying them with high
priority all the way to England,
but we didn't ask questions.
The three were very young,
strong of body and good-looking
too, and yet with sort of brutal
faces. They talked very little
among themselves. In fact they
slept most of the trip. The British
captain spoke German, but he talk
ed with them only in giving in
structionc
Our cabin windows were BACKED
out during the night. The whole
interior of the cabin was sheathed
with heavy, padded cloth. But when
dawn came the pads were taken
down SO we could see the sunrise.
The cabin was heated and we
were not uncomfortable, except
that we were not allowed to smoke.
But soon after the takeoff most of
the passengers were asleep in their
chairs.
Most everybody has some little
quirk about travelling, and mine
takes the form Of airplane motors
playing tunes. It's just as clear as
though there were an orchestra in
the cabin. And to me they always
play, "You Are My Sunshine, My
Only Sunshine"
And so out there over the ocean
the motors of our big plane droned
on and on with ''You Are My Sum
shine" and l couldn't 60 to sleep.
I think was the only one awake
when, long past midnight, could
sense that we were getting terribly
high, for it was getting chilly and
hard to breathe.
Then one of the crew came back
to the cabin with a flashlight. He
seemed worried, seeing me awake.
He flashed his light and said with
alarm in his voice, do you feel
all right?"
said I did. Then he said, 'You
sure you feel all right?' I said,
Sure, feel all right" Then he
said, IF you are feeling faint, let
me know. I said, "All right" and
asked how high we were.
Fifteen thousand" he said, and
then he added in tone as though
taking me into a horrible conf
dence:
"And we are icing bad"
Being the worrier type, l i'm
mediately expected the plane to
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
Bow Scout Executive
Attending Conference

CORTLAND w. Baker, Boy Scout
executive for the Cape Fear area
is attending the Region Six Lead
ers' Camp. Camp Barstow, Gas
ton, S. C. The meeting which be-
gan yesterday will continue
through May 10.
To exchange ideas and expert.
ences in making scout camping
available to more scouts is the
aim of the meeting. There will be
an actual and practical demon.
stration of the operations of sum-
mer cann.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09

~, especially at the beginning Of the season
Know your swimming ability Don't remain
in the water too long This results in uncon-
trollable shivering, cold and clammy skin, a
face.
Do your swimming at one stretch and then
take your sunbath. in a dry suit if possible
a little at time until the body is conditioned
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
ASSIGNED

CAMP LEJEUNE, May g. 1t.
Col. Oscar K. LaRoque, Jr., has
been assigned to duty here, under
orderes deta ching him from serv.
ice overseas. He is a North Caro-
linian,
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09

Today's reorganization meeting
of the city council resulted in only
one change in the heads Of the
various departments. The appoint
ments were made by Mayor Moore
following a conference with mem
bers of the board. and were rati-
fled by the council in open ses-
sions. Joe Curtis, newly elected
representative from the fifth ward.
was given the police department..
James E. L. Wade, the other new
member of the council. represent
ing the third ward, was placed in
charge of the fire department.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
Our Chief Aim

To aid IN every way tie prosecution Of
the war to complete Victory
TOP OF THE MORNING
No man has the key to human life except
as he takes it from the hand Of God.
written on the fIy-leaf Of a book by good
man, now dead)
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09

Members of Cape Fear camp,
254, United Confederate Veterans.
are ordered to assemble in uni
form at the lodge in Oakdale Gem
etery at $3.50 o'clock the following
day to participate in Memorial Day
exercises.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09

Diplomas were awarded in all
county schools today which marked
the closing of an eventful but sue
cessful year.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-09
rs Years Ago
Today
(FrOm the files
of the Star-News)
May 8, 1919

May 9, 1919
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, as
sistant secretary of the Navy. re-
viewed the several hundred yeo-
manettes in Washington when the
girls first DOTTED their blue and
donned their new white summer
uniforms. That night the Their
mometer hit IS degrees and the
next morning the winter uniforms
came back.