davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-12-22

they have been forming powerful re-
serves IN the rear OF the Siegfried Line
from the manpower pool which still
exists IN Germany Moreover, 1t seems
that the Germans have detached some of
their best divisions from the eastern
front, where there has been a lull for
several months, and have sent them to
the west against the Americans.
The offensive which Won Rundstedt
has been planning for a long time had
to be successful Besides its purely mill
tary aspects, 1t was the greatest shot in
the arm for the German people since
1940 1t has restored confidence among
the German people that their armies are
not yet beaten and that they are capable
OF inf1icting defeat on the best organ
lied and strongest Allied army-the
American-which had not suffered .
single major reverse so far in the two
years 1t has been fighting in Europe and
in the Pacific.
How strong Won Rundstedts reserves
are is only guesswork The German
commander is believed unlikely to have
undertaken an operation full Of risks
without adequate forces behind him,
even II ne olu not expect TO DO more than
wreck Gen. Eisenhower's plan to clean
up the western bank Of the Rhine before
the end Of the year.
The present battle in Belgium and
Luxembourg is test case for the Allied
strategic unity. For some time high
ranking American military men have
been looking hopefully to the Russian
steamroller to start operations against
the Germans on the eastern front toward
the Reich. An early Red Army drive
toward the boundaries of the Reich and
the important Breslau-Posen area un-
questlonably would slow down Won
Rundstedt's offensive But so long as
this drive does not materialize the Ger
man commander can be halted only by
the efforts of the American troops, who
are fighting the heaviest battle in the
history of this country.
Evening star., 1944-12-22
This Changing World
By Constantine Brown

The American 1st Army, against which
the Germans have thrown the bulk Of
their force in their counterof1e 1ensive on
the western front, Is in tight spot,
while the other Allied armies are unable
to assist Gen. Hodges because they are
engaged in offensive actions against
strong German defenses elsewhere.
The German penetration has created
two bulges, one In the direction Of Liege,
the other in Luxembourg Strategically,
this would appear to be disadvantage
because the German flanks are exposed
to attack from either Gen. Simpsons 9th
Army or from the Sd Army of Gen.
Patton. Either of these two armies could
make Marshal Won Runstedt's position
delicate If it attacked from the north
or the south
But at the time of this writing Gen.
Simpson and Gen. Patton are faced with
strong German defensive forces. II they
were to regroup their armies for the
purpose OF launching flank attack on
the two bulges and thus relieve the
pressure on Gen. Hodges hard-pressed
divisions they might find themselves in
difficult situation by allowing the
enemy, who Is now defending his posi-
'ioho dsdliSt tneIn, 10 pass to the Offen-
sive.
The key to the entire situation is how
many Allied reserves are available in
France. The four American, two British
ana one French armies have all been
heavily engaged in costly offensive oper-
atlons since November 8. They have
suffered important casualties. How many
reserves besides the customary replace
ments are still on hand in the rear is a
matter which cannot be answered be-
cause it is one of the main military
secrets of the campaign.
The Germans also have had heavy
losses. Besides the reported 300, 900 they
sacrificed in France they are said to
have lost 100000 additional men in the
last six weeks. But since November 8
Evening star., 1944-12-22
Peucetime Reserve
From the Montreal Star.

From the Montreal Star.
Because Of the sacrifices of thousands
OF Canadians before the war who, in
spite of indifference and, at times, even
contumely, continued to train, the Do
mlnlon was able to furnish Immediately
the war broke out full division of we'll
trained men, followed very shortly by q
second division. The world will not be
wholly free of fears and troubles when
the Axis nations are finally defeated, and
Canada will have to maintain reasonably
strong forces for her defense for many
years to come. The maintenance of the
Reserve Army as framework for the
postwar militia, or whatever name the
defense forces are to be given, will insure
that those who have learned their re-
sponsibthttes In an unstable world win
have the opportunity to continue their
service when they return to the Domin-
ion s4t F.
Evening star., 1944-12-22
Fortunate America

It cannot be said that the Amer
lean home front has had much
trouble finding things to buy this
year. Items like automobiles, ra-
dios, prime ribs of beef and ciga-
rettes have been more or less scarce,
of course, but on the whole we have
done pretty well for ourselves. In
deed, we have done amazingly well
so well, in fact, that the figures
read almost as if there were no such
thing as war on.
Thus, according to an estimate by
the Department of Commerce, when
1914 ends next week we shall have
spent a total of 81 billion dollars on
consumer goods and services - an
all-time record, exceeding last years
by per cent and being over half
again as great as the 81 billions
poured out in 1889. Some of the
gain can be explained as a reflection
of rising prices. but the fact is that
there was an actual increase in the
quantity of tangible things pur-
chased, with our home front spend
ing two billion dollars more on food,
for instance, than in 1943, even
though prices averaged slightly less.
The record is in many ways as
toniShing. First of all, it seems half
miraculous when we consider that
there has been this immense guam
tity of consumer goods available
at time when our arms output
has been SO tremendous. And beyond
that, whether wholesome or not, the
spending seems nothing less than
phenomenal in view of the heavy
tax drain on personal incomes, the
record deposits in savings banks and
the billions invested in bonds.
Quite obviously we have the
worlds greatest productive plant
and an extraordinary lot OF money
In our pockets, and our home front
as far as food and other comforts
go-can hardly be said to know the
meaning Of wars privations. Some
times it is startling to see how for
tunate and blessed We ere q COM
Evening star., 1944-12-22
Letters to The Star
A Soldier Tells Why He Sorrows
for the Folks at Home

To the Editor Of The Star:
AS every other CT overseas, I, too. re-
ceive mail from those on the home front
who are so dissatisfied with conditions as
they are. Their complaints are so many
and yet so uncalled for. Times seem to
them very difncult. trying, and struggle
to get along. So I'd like to tell them Of
few more things they are missing.
Over here today 1t is rainy, cloudy,
muddy, and as people at home would
call it Blue Monday" I call it just plain
Blue Saturday" When I have q free
moment my thoughts drift back and
dwell on the things I remember so we'll
of home. In all reality, it must be
awful not to be able to buy a new radio,
refrigerator, and not own new model
automobile but, instead, use the 1912
model. I often wonder what it would be
like and how it would feel to have ridden
from Buna Mission to the Philippines in
a new model automobile instead of
hacking the trail on foot. I think of
the clean sheets my mother would put
on my bed, dry roof over my head and
a clean floor to walk on rather than this
3-foot-deep foxhole with one and
half foot of water in it.
People suffer because they have clean
tableclothes, china dishes, chairs to sit
on while they eat, and hot and cold
running water. I stand in chow line for
what seems hours and, when my ration
Is given me, l stand in the rain and
mud and eat my red beans and drink
my black coffee and believe they ac-
tually taste good. There are no restau-
and sit down and order pounds of
meat, get up and have my dishes
washed. After my ration is eaten and
the flies have taken their share as well,
my tin plate is washed in a can where
several hundred were washed before.
'Tis shame for those who lie awake
at night because they're worried that
the war will end before their second
millions are made and it's shame, too,
that the labor boards compel them to
work when they would like to have the
appy-go-lucky easy life that their large
salaries have given them. Recreation
facilities are SO few at home, for there
are only the theaters and night clubs
for pleasure. After their first quart of
$3.50 liquor is used up. another is opened
while pray that my water canteen will
hold out till find water again. My throat
has been parched many times and not
from the liquor but from the burning
hot sun of the South Pacific. What I
wouldn't give to ride an overcrowded bus
or streetcar over paved street or high
way instead of walking in feet Of mud
through rain and water. I'd feel was
in heaven could lay my head on a soft
pillow at night and not worry till morn
ing rather than sleep with one eye open
waiting for the bombs to fall and the
guns clatter. remember when I'd pick
up The Star and read it at home every
day, keeping up with the news. Now a
paper three or four months old seems
very new to me.
Yes, as I say, It's a shame for those
at home who are living under such con-
ditions. The things I've mentioned
make their life so dull. because they are
doing without so much.
JOHN A. RAYMOND.
Philippine Islands.
Evening star., 1944-12-22
Sees Crises Unexpected

Sees Crises Unexpected
To the Editor Of The Star:
If any other country on earth were
placed in the situation Of England to-
day, with the Mediterranean as its
jugular vein, and its leaders between
the devil and the deep sea over Com
m,lnism, who can say that every act and
attitude of that country would be what
iteralists demand?
No compact, be it an Atlantic Charter
or League of Nations, possibly can
foresee such turns in history as what
happened recently In Greece or the
issue raised over Poland.
In the name of charity and reason,
let our American people not be so
quick to forget the marvellous work done
by Winston Churchill, and his absolute
sincerity and candor in all his dealings
with our Nation and our President!
JOHN O. KNOTT.
Evening star., 1944-12-22
Western Front Pattern
By Maj. George Fielding Eliof

Trying to analyze q great f1uctuatine
battle without an hour by -hour report
OF the facts is strictly a bricks-without-
straw proposition. There are, however,
few facts emerging from the confused
picture of the western-front operations
which fit into the general pattern of the
preceding events, and which, taken to-
gether, may justify q review of the
whole background of the German
counteroffensive
Taking the point Of view Of Field
Marshal Won Rundstedt, the German
commander in chief, it has probably
been obvious to him for some weeks
that he could not indefinitely sustain
the strain of the great battle of attri-
ton along the Roer River, plus the
steady advance Of the United States Sd
and 7th Armies northward from Lor-.
raine and Alsace. The 9th Army was
ready to try crossing of the Roer,
the 1st was ready for a concentrated
assault on Duren, key to the Cologne
Plain, the Sd had established bridge
heads over the Saar, the 7th was bat
tering its way into the outworks of the
West Wall with the open valley of the
Rhine just ahead of it.
Won Rundstedt's defensive divisions
were definitely pinned down. He had
managed to scrape together q reserve,
consisting of some six or eight armored
divisions and perhaps an equal number
of panzer -grenadier and high-quality
infantry divisions The question for
decision was, what should he do with
this reserve? 1t was his last; he could
use it but once. Behind 1t there were
no more high-quality troops.
4
There were three courses open to
Won Rundstedt, and only three:
ID He, could continue the battle Of
attrition, standing fast in his defensive
positions. If he did this, inevitably his
strategic reserve would be drawn into
action in what the British call penny
packets" to stop holes here and there,
until 1t was so reduced that 1t could
not deal with break-through when a
break-through came-as was inevitable
in the end.
(2) He could withdraw behind the
Erft, or perhaps behind the Rhine,
using his reserve to cover the withdrawal
of his defensive units. But If he chose
this course, he made the American 18th
Army group a present of battle of
movement on the Cologne Plain.
90 He could use his reserve for a
counterattack at q TIM and place Of his
own choosing, hoping ~ considerable
degree Of surprise and building high the
Evening star., 1944-12-22
Test in the West

The dark news from Belgium and
Luxembourg seems the darker be-
cause it has come suddenly after
months of unbroken Allied successes.
It has an element of the unbelieve-
able in it, but it is not any the less
true for that. Here at home we may
not be able to comprehend how the
Nazis have had the strength to
unleash this menacing offensive, nor
can we divine how it is likely to
affect the course and duration of the
war, but two things we can be sure
Of: First, that it puts an end to our
easy optimism, and second, that
from this point on until the enemy
is definitely and conclusively beaten
into the dust, we shall have to exert
an al-out effort not only on the
battle line but on the assembly line
as well.
The American troops caught up in
this great test-and to a lesser
extent the British troops-do not
need to be told anything on this
score. The lesson is all around
them, in the smoke and flame and
in the bitter cold of winter. They
and their commanders are only too
well aware of the critical potential
tiles of Won RundStedt'S drive, and
they are reacting accordingly, ex-
changing bullet for bullet and shell
for shell with a valor that needs no
emphasis. To them, even more than
to us on this comfortable home
front, the fact that our arms may
suffer serious reverse must come
as heavy disappointment, particu-
larly since it could prolong the
struggle for months. But they are
standing up to the threat with such
stout hearts, recognizing it as part
of the fortunes of war, that it is not
inconceivable that they will yet turn
this event into shining victory.
We civilians can learn something
from them. We can learn that
though an end has been put to easy
optimism, there is no reason for the
beginning of pessimism; there is
reason only for resoluteness, for
fortitude and for an extra unf1agging
effort on the part of us all. That
is the way victories are won. That
is the way the Nazis-who have been
like trapped animals for so long and
who may now be striking their last
blow in desperately savage and
blind effort to extricate themselves
will be finally put down. The time
calls for the best that is in us
troops and civilians alike, and here
at home, in this somber Christmas
season, besides facing up to that
reality and doing our full part, we
might well pray little for the brave
men who are bearing the brunt of
the struggle in the west.
Evening star., 1944-12-22

grades OF German troops have been
fanaticized by the supreme peril to
their country and the fate which
defeat would involve. History proves
that such spirit can powerfully
supplement training and armament
in enhancing the combat ability Of
soldiers. OF this. the current Ger
man counteroffensive may yield an
impressive demonstration.
Evening star., 1944-12-22

morale Of his troops by the very act of
going forward instead of back. II he
succeeded in breaking across the lines
OF supply of the 1st U. S. Army between
Liege and Aachen he might force an
American withdrawal behind the Meuse.
But great deal depended on his
breaking through the high ground north
west OF Malmedy and Stavelot in the
early stages of his attack before we were
able to recover from the initial shock.
In this. 50 far. he appears to have failed,
\
The situation now looks as if:
ID The Germans have been stopped
along the northern flank of their pene-
tration. Stavelot and Malmedy appear
to have been recovered, there is some
doubt as to Monschau. At any rate,
there is no German penetration of the
main American defensive position cover
ing the vital Liege- e-Verviers-Aachena area.
AS might be expected, the Germans are
trying to push round the flank of the
american defense and have reached
Hab1emont, 8 miles west OF Stavelot
but this is the common feature of ali
penetrations which are checked on a
flank, the attempt to extend beyond the
area OF countermeyement is alwavs
weaker than the original blow, both be-
cause 1t must go farther and because
the advantage of surprise is lost. This
remains, however, the area of greatest
immediate danger.
90 Farther south the Germans are
advancing into Luxembourg and the
Belgian Ardennes at much faster rate,
but this advance is Of much less impor-
tance because 1t Is not directed toward
any particularly vital Allied center.
CD Still farther south 1t. Gen. Patton's
3rd Army seems to be wheeling north to
attack the southern flank Of the German
penetration. Perhaps this can be better
expressed by suggesting the probability
that Patton is taking defensive position
along the Saar and peeling of his re-
serves to swing north behind his present
front. The effect of this American move
Is not yet apparent, but will be so
presently.
There IS good reason to believe that
the Allied supreme command was not,
rs has generally been assumed, surprised
oy the German counterattack against the
lightly held sector between Monschau
and Trier. The surprise seems to have
lain rather in the strength Of the blow
In Won R,lndstedt's decision to put every-
thing he hGi into it. to win greatly or 10
lose finally Ind decisfvely.
tcopyrisht. 1e4l.1
Evening star., 1944-12-22

Just before the creation of our
new Army and Navy Super-ranks
Senator Chandler said he was "get-
ting awfully tired of having other
nations create ratings superior to
those of American officers" He must
have been tired for some centuries,
long before there were any American
officers. France and Spain had
marshals in the seventeenth and
Britain in the eighteenth century.
Evening star., 1944-12-22
On the Record
BY Dorothy Thomson

Whatever we are going to do, or
permit to be done, in the realm of naked
power politics, let us at least tell the
truth. Let us have done with covering
up shenanigans with noble words.
The question of the Curzon Line has
been decided in favor of the Soviet
Union. For that, with certain modifica-
tions, case can be made according to
ethnographic and historic principles.
The transfer of this territory, however,
should not be permitted without inter-
national agreements to protect the Poles
now living there.
But the issue no longer concerns the
Polish eastern frontiers. It concerns
the life and death of Poland as an equal
sovereign state.
Sonia Tomara reported in the New
York Herald Tribune, on Wednesday,
part. at least, Of the conversation be-
tween De Gaulle and Stain. I quote :
Russia is determined not to be the
victim OF another aggression-the third
In this century-and members of the
French government agreed on this point,
Stain said he just could not afford
70 have Poland friendly to Germany
or hostile to Russia. He could not afford
10 have Poland refuse passage through
her territory to Russian troops as hap
pened IN 1889. Therefore, the question
OF the future government of Poland is
OF utmost importance to the Soviet
Union
Stain agreed that the Rhineland
should be firmly held by the French,
while strong and independent Poland
should have her boundary with Ger
many on the Oder and with the Soviet
Union along the Curzon Line"
1t is the repetition of the adjectives
strong and independent" to which I
vigorously object. I object to the whole
proposition, but in particular I object
to lying about it,
A Poland whose future governments
must be friendly to Russia entirely
according to Russia's definition of what
fr1endlineSs is a Poland which must
remain hostile to Germany, whatever
type OF Germany emerges, and for all
eternity; and a Poland which must
permit passage to Russian troops when
ever Russia desires it, is not strong, but
helpless, and not independent, but
servile.
The right of passage, in 1899, to which
Stain referred, concerned a specific
case. Before the Russo-German pact,
Britain and France negotiated with
Stain regarding an alliance to halt
further German aggression Stain pro-
posed that, in case OF attack, the Red
Army should march through Poland.
Poland refused. Without arguing the
merits of that refusal, Stain now
Evening star., 1944-12-22
Supports Senator Kilgore

To the Editor of TheStar:
Senator Harley Kilgore has pointed
out a way by which the American
people quickly can move to stop the
disgraceful activities of our ally, Brit
ain, in Greece. He has asked the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee to i'm
plement our avowed policy of ''hands
off" in liberated countries by earmark-
ing all future lease-lend material for
use against the enemy only. (Not
against the miscalled Communist"
Greek patriots, who have been fighting
Nazis longer than have we.)
If the Atlantic Charter means any
thing at all, it behooves the American
people to set right this betrayal of
democratic standards-and quickly!
Senator Kilgore has shown us SIM
pie means Of SO doing. Let us give him
all the backing he needs!
FRANCES G. DAY.
Evening star., 1944-12-22

Householders ordering future elab-
crate libraries can plan for shelf
space for Macaulay's and Carlisle's
works, for Gibbons Decline and Fall
of the Roman Empire" and for the
bound inaugural addresses of Frank
lin D. Roosevelt.
Evening star., 1944-12-22

That Christmas spirit does work
wonders; only the other day a taxi
driver smiled and waved at a
Washington pedestrian who wisely
stopped in his tracks to let the We
hicle make a turn.
Evening star., 1944-12-22

pared with other peoples; most OF
them have really suffered since
1899, but we have not-a thought
worth keeping in mind in our deal
ingS with them.
Evening star., 1944-12-22
Todoy's Reality

From the st. Louis Post Dispatch.
The Wilhelmstrasse oflcially an
nounces that the New Order Is mo
longer practicable" The ykNe Of the
future has become = ripple Of the past.
Evening star., 1944-02-06

every fiber of his body. For him to
be insubordinate -.
Jan, you refuse to give me that
note?"
Jan hadn't been so miserable in
a long time. Yes" he almost whis-
pered. Il cannot"
Every WE'LL" Miss Crane said
coldly. you will remain after
school,"
He nodded dumbly, and just then
the bell rang. Glass dismissed"
Miss Crane said, and they all sour
ried out. Jack Russell gave Jan a
funny look as he got up.
Miss Crane sat with her hands
folded in front of her. Come here,
JAM" she said.
JAMS heart was beating wildly.
He felt like crying. He would almost
prefer to die rather than have this
happen to him. Miss Crane was such
a pretty lady. And so nice. And it
was so wonderful here in America.
do you want to give me the
note now, Jan? You must have
thought l would read it aloud in
front of the class. l wouldn't have
done that. Jan. It's simply that we
must not have disobedience. We
have rules of behavior in class. you
know, and it is only fair that we all
observe them"
She held out her hand, The
note, JAM"
There we're tears in his eyes. "Oh.
please, Miss Crane. Do not force
me. You may do anything to me.
You may beat me, but l must not"
She leaned forward. He was trem-
bling. There was something so pa
thetic about him that she felt a
small catch in her throat.
VERY we'll. JAM" she said slowly.
you do not have to give me the
note i if it is 50 important to you.
However. you must write on the
blackboard one hundred times I'm
sorry l was disobedient. "
Il will write it five hundred. a
thousand" he said desperately.
"One hundred will be enough,
she said, looking at him curiously.
II will be back in a half hour" -.
For almost the entire thirty min
utes of a teachers meeting Miss
Cranes mind was on Jan Vanek. She