davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-03-16

The two sons of Mr.. and Mrs.
Aaron N. Grimm, '456 Park Place
Marion and Aaron, Jr.-both in the
Navy, had the privilege of being
home together on Through in jan
uary.
Thirty class petty officer Marion
Grimm, Naval Air Corps, is now on
patrol duty as End radioman and
gunner.
Seaman first class Aaron N.
Grimm, Jr, who joined the Navy
in June, 1943, and is studying to be
an electricians mate, is on duty
aboard ship now.
In recent letters home, both boys
told their parents that they are in
the best of health and spirits. Reg
ulations do not permit our publish
ing their addresses, but friends
wishing to write them can get the
addresses by contracting their par
ents.
Seaman End class Gerald L. Ham,
whose wife resides at 81 Winter
street, having completed his boot
training at Sampson, N. Y, is now
home on furlough. Seaman Ham
joined the Navy in January.
Pvt. Earl w. Hepperle, Jr., son of
MIR. and Mrs. Earl w. Hepperle, 761
Spruce street, who has been sta
toned in the South Pacific area
since last August and is now some
where in Australia writes that the
expected furlough had to be can
celled. Earl expected to see a good
bit of the country down under" on
a 30-day leave, but no doubt some
of the recent happenings in that
area have kept him plenty busy, as
he is now working in a motor pool.
Private Hepperle is wisely SOCK
ing away war bond each month
for the day when he can return.
Some pictures recently sent to his
parents show him looking almost as
brown as some of the natives and
clad only in shorts.
The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-03-16

Lieut. John E. Kephart, son OF
Mrs. J. T. Kephart, Route /, mem
Der of the India-China Wing, Ali
Transport Command, was recently
promoted from second to first lieu
tenant. Lieutenant Kephart has
been in the China Burma-I India the.
ter for over six months
The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-03-16

war. We've got our worries and
troubles. It's a mighty good
thing we can relax with a little
wholesome enjoyment.
And believe it's what the
men over there would have us
do keep up the little friendly
customs they remember - like
the evening gettogethers, hay
ing a glass Of beer with friends,
and all the little pleasures they
look forward to enjoying.
@6e M~'1e
The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-03-16

Seaman Robert L. Forrest, Cave
town, having completed his prelimi-
nary LIST training at the Navy Am
phibious Training Base, Camp
Bradford, Norfolk, Va, has been as
signed to the crew of an LIST for
active duty. The LIST, especially
constructed for the transporting of
troops and heavy equipment, is as
large as destroyer and has bow
that can be opened when it comes
into the beach, thus enabling men
and equipment to land ready for
action.
The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-03-16

John c. Corley, 81, of Decatur,
Georgia, brother of William Hugh
lette Gorley, 572 Highland Way,
Hagerstown, recently received his
second promotion when he was adj
vanced from private first class to
corporal at Fort Mason, Cal, where
he is attached to the Machine Rec
ords Unit.
Corporal Gorley entered the Ar
my March 35, 1943.
The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-03-16

Air Cadet Robert G. Smith, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Herman H. Smith,
43 East Lincoln avenue, having
completed his training at Williams
College, Williamstown, Mass, has
been transferred to the Navy Bar
racks, V.P.I. ,Blacksburg, Va, for
the next step in his training.
Evening star., 1944-04-22
Censorship in India

The virtual Sit-down strike of
group Of correspondents represent
ing large section of the British
press on the Indo-Burmese war
front may bring to head censor
ship controversy which includes not
merely the zone of hostilities against
the japanese but also coverage of
information regarding India itself.
This emphatic protest of the war
correspondents against what they
regard as excessive and oppressive
censorship by the British authori-
ties at New Delhi was preceded by
strong editorial criticism in the In
dian press, including British-owned
papers normally friendly to the
vice-regal administration.
Although the specific complaints
OF the protesting correspondents
have not been made public, owing to
censorship regulations, their atti-
tude is indorsed by their home
offices. This support is best shown
by leading article in the London
Reynolds News from the pen of Lord
Winster, who warns the British pub
lie against forgetting "the foolish
and optimistic statements which
preceded the fall of Singapore and
the inadequate generalship which
lost us Burma. So far, the
Burma campaigns have been very
disappointing and have seemed a
hotchpotch of improvisations. The
situation undoubtedly is disquieting."
The London Daily Observer, writing
editorially in similar vein, complains
that here we know virtually moth
Ing OF what is goinA on inside India,
Evening star., 1944-04-22
Action in the Indies

Though limited in scope and of a
hit-and-run nature, the Allied sea-
air attack on Sabang and the north
western tip of Sumatra, is highly
significant for what it foreshadoWs.
Carried out by a powerful naval
force under direction of Admiral Sir
James Somerville, commander in
chief Of the British Eastern Fleet,
it not only marks the first action of
its kind in the Dutch East Indies
since the fall of those islands two
years ago but also suggests that a
new theater of war is in the making
1t is not for nothing, obviously, that
Lord Louis Mountbatten has just
shifted the seat of his Southeast
Asia command from New Delhi to
Ceylon.
Other Allied ships apparently
took part in it, but the Sabang- Su-
matra foray clearly implies that the
British Eastern Fleet has been built
up to a point where it feels strong
enough to challenge the japanese
anywhere in the Bay of Bengal and
the Indian Ocean. Rangoon in
Southern Burma, the Andaman Is
lands, the Western Malayan coast,
Java and the East Indies in general
thus are Brought within the range
of attack and a great new area of
combat appears to be on the verge
Of opening up. Sabang is only TOO
miles northwest of Singapore, SO
Evening star., 1944-04-22
Big Pacific Test Near
By Maj. Georee Fieldiup Eliot

The japanese have opened their ex-
pected offensive in North Central China,
with the objective of clearing the
Peiping- -Hankow Railway, and also (ap-
parently) the east-west Lunghai Rail-
way, which is transverse connecting line
between the Peiping- -Hankow and the
Peiping- Marking lines.
The immediate objective of the JAP
anese operations seems to be Cheng-
chow where the Lunghai railway crosses
the Peiping- -HankoW Railway. The JAP
anese have long held positions fairly
close to ChengchoW, both to the east
and to the north. Now Japanese army
is attacking from each direction-the
18th and 18th Armies, reinforced by
fresh divisions according to recent
Chinese reports drawn from the
Kwangtung army in Manchukuo.
This looks very much like deter
mined Japanese effort to be carried
through at all costs. Strong air support
is being given the Japanese ground
forces, which probably could be drawn
from the japanese home air forces
without serious danger since it could be
sent back should any sudden emer-
gency arise. 1t Is further reported that
the japanese are preparing to attack
northWard from the Hankow area, along
that part of the Peiping- -Hankow line
which is still in Chinese possession
south of Chengchow
*
The Chinese will, of course, offer the
best resistance they can muster, and
the result should be a pretty good test
of what they can do in defensive fight
ing without proper air support, which
1t will be almost impossible to give them
There is fairly adequate system of air
bases south of the Yangtze River, but
north of the river, where the present
lighting is in progress, the air base
system is much less well developed. It
will, therefore, be difficult If not i'm
possible for Gen. Chennault to shift
squadrons northWard to give the de-
tenders of Chengchow that aerial ledge"
which has SO consistently turned the
scale against the Japanese in their
attempts on Chinese communications
centerS In South China.
If the Japanese do succeed in their
Evening star., 1944-04-22

porting on q survey made by sup
porters OF Gov. Dewey since the Willkie
withdrawal, says that delegates already
elected and to be elected, agreed on
and pledged to Dewey, number 535.
The Republican convention will have
a total OF 1,058 delegates. A majority.
or 529, will be sufficient to nominate.
The Dewey hackers can be counted
on to do all in their power to main
tain the strength Of the New York
Governor with the delegates. Indeed,
1t is now reported that Mrs. Ruth Hanna
Mccormick Simms, who was CONAN
ager OF the Dewey preconvention CAM
palgn In 1910, is going to Chicago around
June to open Dewey headquarters
or what amounts to that. Mrs. Simms,
daughter of the late Mark Hanna, is
thoroughly versed In politics. At one
time she was member Of the House
from Illinois.
Obviously, If Mr.. Dewey is to be the
presidential nominee, those candidates
with considerable delegate strength NAV
angle for second place on the ticket.
This would have q further stimulating
effect on the Dewey bandwagon. For
example, Gov. Warren will have a dele
6ooAoAA ~ w 4IOLl OdlllOTIlld 10 dQQ TO
the Dewey forces at any time they are
needed. Gov. Bricker of Ohio will have
a delegation-also so strong-to plunk
for Dewey. The Ohio Governor may
have other followers who would 60 along
IN an effort to win him a vice presi-
dental nomination. Comdr Stassen will
have the Minnesota delegation, some OF
the Wisconsin and Nebraska delegates
and perhaps others to contribute.
On the assumption that Mr.. Dewey Is
to be the presidential nominee, the Re-
publicans quite naturally will turn to
the Midwest or the West for their vice
presidential candidate. Ohio is always
an important State in national elec-
ton. Mr.. Bricker has a great record
as vote getter in his native State. On
the other hand, Gov. Warren succeeded
IN turning huge Democratic majority
in California into Republican majority
several hundred thousand strong. The
Republicans do not forget the vital part
that both Ohio and California played in
the 1916 election Of President woodrow
Wilson. So the choice may not be the
easiest, when it comes to picking the
second-place nominee on the Republican
ticket.
Evening star., 1944-04-22

present attempt to get the Peiping-
HankoW line into their possession,
almost certainly their next move will
be to use the railway to build up
strong striking force at Hankow and
Wuchang. When this is done, an of
1enslve against Changsha may be ex-
pected, coupled with attempts to clear
another lateral railway, the Hangchow-
Nanchang-C -Changsha line.
X X
These operations would, in turn, be
preliminary to final effort to capture
the ChangSha-Canton Railway, and
thus at last to open up rail communica-
ton all the way from the seaports on
the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
to South China and eventually to all
Southeastern Asia.
AS pointed out in recent article, the
heavy losses which japanese shipping
has sustained make it essential for the
Japanese to improve their means of land
transport. In China, the only good
means of internal transport is by river
or by railway and the rivers tend to
run east and west To move troops and
goods from north to south, the jap
anese must hold the railways. If they
can do that, then they might continue
TO MAINTAIN armies in China and South
east Asia generally, even though their
sea communications were interrupted
south of the Japanese main islands-as
is obviously Admiral Nimitz's intention.
X X
So we approach a test of considerable
significance. The Japanese naval power
and long-range air power has proven
unable to protect Japanese shipping.
1t Is now doubtful in the extreme that
the Japanese can even prevent the total
exclusion of their shipping from the
South China Sea. But it remains to
be seen whether the japanese Army can
open and keep open lines of land COM
munication which will take the place
of the endangered sea routes. The jap
anese Army has not been seriously hurt
in this war. 1t has fought brief cam
paigns in Bataan and Malaga, 1t has
made few half-hearted pushes in
China, 1t has lost some island garrisons
mere handfuk of men.
(cspsrisht. 1944)
Evening star., 1944-04-22
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

The selection of Gov. Warren Of Call
fornia as temporary chairman and key
note speaker Of the Republican National
Convention and Of Representative Mar
tin OF Massachusetts,, minority leader Of
the House, as permanent chairman gives
recognition to the Pacific and Atlantic
Coasts. In addition, it gives prominence
both to the large group Of Republican
Governors and to the party'S repre-
sentation in Congress.
Gov. Warren will head the California
delegation. Indeed, he has been called
the favorite-son candidate Of his State
for the presidential nomination. Even
more frequently his name has been
mentioned as probable vice presi-
Dental nominee with Gov. Dewey of
New York in first place. But Gov. War
rem has insisted he is not a candidate
for either office. So the Committee on
Arrangements felt free to choose him
to deliver the keynote speech. At any
rate, ne Will have an opportunity to
make or mar his chances with the
natlonal convention for place on the
ticket.
The withdrawal of Wendell L. Willkie
from the presidential race and the up-
surge OF Dewey strength has been fol-
lowed by maneuvering of the friends of
other candidates-not to mention op-
ponents Of Dewey-toward stop
Dewey" coalition. Those who favor 1t.
Comdr. Stassen, Gen. Macarthur and
Gov. Bricker Of Ohio do not want the
convention to rush to the New York
Governor on the first ballot-as now
seems well within the probabilities.
Talk of Comdr. Stassen as q rally
ing post for the stop-Dewey groups has
begun. In other quarters an effort is
being made to advance Associate Jus
tlce Roberts Of the Supreme Court
as the man to hold the big Penn
sylvania delegation in line. The Bricker
supporters will have the Ohio dele
cation, plus delegates from number
OF other States. How far a coalition
OF these forces can get will depend
on how strong the demand for Dewey
remains. Many Republican leaders
frankly say today they see nothing
to stop the Dewey nomination-unless
Mr.. Dewey himself kicks it away.
James A. Hagerty, veteran political
writer for the New York Times. re-
Evening star., 1944-04-22

italian police to maintain order, Is sta
toned in Rome, the Nazis claim.
~
The railway network Of Rome, includ-
ing all stations, has exclusively served
the needs of the civilian population and
has not been used by any branch Of
the German army, the Nazis declare.
Reinforcements and supplies for the
forces in the south, as well as soldiers
on furlough are being routed around
Rome, the Germans claim.
No German soldier, according to Ber-
lin, is allowed to enter the Eternal City
except those who have to deal with the
italian civil authorities on matters of
safety and welfare.
Ali these measures which the NaZis
say make Rome bona fide open city
have been widely publicized for several
weeks and have been brought to the
attention of the Vatican through diplo.
matte channels. How much of this is
propaganda or lies is difficult to ascer-
tain at this time.
The American high command, Judging
from President Roosevelt's reply to the
Prime Minister of Fire, has a different
opinion of Rome. The repeated bonn
bardment of railway yards and other
installations proves that sthe German
point of view regarding the demilitariza-
ton of Rome is by no means shared
by the Allied military authorities on the
spot. But while we naturally trust the
point of view of our own men this cannot
be said of other peoples throughout the
world.
+ 4
To establish clear record for this
country, whose aviation has been more
largely engaged in the bombardment of
the Rome area than the British, it
appears advisable to many prominent
Americans that some sort of an interna-
tional commission be established to de-
eide the status of the Eternal City. It
will be difficult, if not impossible, for
the Nazi general staff to pull the wool
over the eyes of professional American
and British military men. Furthermore,
the Vatican is said to have suggested the
establishment of q permanent military
commission, to be housed, If necessary.
IN the neutral territory OF the Vatican
itself, to see that Rome is r1eutralized.
as the Nazis claim, and remains that
way.
Those who have petitioned President
roosevelt to establish beyond the
shadow OF doubt the status of Rome
and to spare that historical city, if milf
tary considerations permit it, are still
hopeful that his return to washington
Will be followed by the setting up of
some such arrangement.
Evening star., 1944-04-22

thanks to the effective clamp exer-
cised by the New Delhi censors.
Soothing messages which bear all
the marks of censorious emascula-
tion are causing more disquiet than
news from the front"
The logical Inference from this
and other recent developments is
that the political as we'll as the mill
tary situation in India is far from
satisfactory. From the very start
of the japanese drive across the
Burmese border last month it has
seemed inexplicable, on purely mill
tary grounds, that the British high
command could not concentrate
forces strong enough to contain and
repel an invasion operating on such
difficult lines of communication
that 1t could not be in very great
numerical strength. Britain is un-
derStood to have at least 100000
native troops under arms in India,
plus an undisclosed number Of
British soldiers. This raises a strong
presumption that conditions in
India prevented the effective use of
these forces against the Japanese
invaders on the requisite scale.
Another fact not yet explained is
the sudden transfer of Lord Mount
batten's headquarters from New
Delhi to Ceylon. At another time
of year this might indicate the i'm
minence of large-scale action across
the Indian Ocean aimed at a re-
covery of Malaga and Singapore.
But the approach of the stormy
monsoon season, only a month away,
renders it unlikely that such opera
tionS would be feasible before au-
tumn. It should be remembered
that Ceylon is not politically part
of India. This may connote politi-
cal reasons of some significance.
All in all. it looks as though. there
might be quite a story behind the
censored news from India. Per-
haps the correspondents strike will
"break" it.
Evening star., 1944-04-22

that it is not inconceivable that that
key base may itself have a taste of
our power at a time not very distant
from now. The battling in North
ern Burma and around Imphal and
Kohima in Eastern India does not
seem to inhibit these fresh offensive
possibilities.
Considered in connection with
what our American naval forces
have been doing in the Central Pa
cific under Admiral Nimitz, this
successful debut of the British East
ern Fleet in the Indies-though
relatively minor in itself-must
force the Japanese high command
to turn its head fretfully in every
direction. For with Nimitz's ships
and planes striking at points less
than 600 miles from the Philippines
and with Somerville's armada LASH
ing out TOO miles from Singapore,
far to the southwest of Nimitz, our
Allied operations are beginning to
assume the shape Of a gigantic nut
cracker movement against all of the
enemy's island conquests-a move
ment made additionally powerful by
the steady advance and ever-in-
creasing activity of the troops and
air arm under General MacArthur's
command in the New Guinea area.
r Sooner or later, the main body
OF the japanese Navy-wherever it
may be concentrated at present
must come out for a showdown fight.
The size of the British Eastern Fleet
naturally is being left unannounced.
The size of Admiral Nimitzs forces,
though not specifically stated, is
known to be mighty enough to han
die everything that Hirohito's ad-
mirals can send against it. The
problem of the enemy fleet is to
decide where, when and how to cope
with this Allied sea and air power
without dividing itself and being cut
to pieces in the classic manner de-
scribed by Mahan. To the Tokyo
war lords this must seem the very
nightmare of problem, but the
day must come when they will have
to try to solve it, and we can be
reasonably confident that they will
fail when they try.
Evening star., 1944-04-22
Jobs for Veterans

Final enactment of the Starnes
bill which has passed the House and
awaits approval of the Senate would
strengthen materially the employ
ment status of veterans in Federal
service. The legislation also is ap-
plicable to the District government.
A major gain is the provision to
rank service men and women ahead
OF non-veterans with the same
qualifying marks, on all job regis
ters. For the first time. a large
block of positions, including those
OF building guards, elevator opera
tors, messengers and in the custodial
service, are allocated exclusively to
veterans, and the President is en-
powered to extend this list as he
may see fit, for the duration of the
war and five years thereafter.
The five, and ten points hereto
fore added to the examination rat
fngs OF veterans by executive order
would become a statutory right
under the bill, and in the case of
the ten-point addition, which has
been for disabled. wives of disabled,
and widows. the coverage is ex-
tended to husbands of disabled
servicewomen and widowers with
dependent children. Disability pref
erences continue to entitle the bene-
ficiaries to top all registers except
those for specialized categories
which carry salaries in excess of
$4,000 annually.
Veterans also would get an addi-
tional safeguard against being
passed over for non-veterans with
out good cause, by appointing Off
GERS, the bill proposing that the
agency involved give it's reason in
writing to veteran thus side
tracked. They also would continue
to be exempt from the apportion-
ment law which allocates positions
here by State quotas.
The legislation has the backing
OF President Roosevelt, the Civil
Service Commission and the large
veteran organizations, but has been
criticized by the National Civil Serv-
Ice Reform League as unduly liberal.
Only one vote was cast against
the bill in the House, Representative
Smith of VIRGINIA takirou tho Stopd
that it had not been we'll thought
out, and might do grave injustice
to older employees because of the
preference for retention given to
veterans in reduction of forces.
This point is we'll taken, particu-
larly in view of the likelihood of a
sharp retrenchment in Government
personnel at the end of the war, and
it is a phase deserving the earnest
consideration of the Senate.