davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-03-21
Samuel Grafton,

Tor our cause; but we win not make the
final break with her. We scold Finland
we peg Finland, we urge Finland, we
adVlse Finland to quit We use every
pressure device except the one which
Is In our hands. If we want Finland
out OF the war, clean American break
with her would do more than ANYTHING
else to shock the Linkomies government
out of its indecision.
But the keepers of Halfway House
never do what they can they always
try to settle by doing half of what theV
must. ~
On all these issues (and on Spain and
Turkey and old Poland, too we seem
TO take pleasure in promoting a condf-
tlon OF vagueness; we delight to pitch
our camp just short of decision. and
settle down. We like to dwell among
the pauses in the story of man. Where
history stops for breath, there we would
live forever, if it would let us.
Or, to put it in different fashion III
is our foreign policy to reach a stage
at which the cat can jump either wav
and then to hold its tail This is hardIgn
posture which can be maintained
permanently, but we try. Meanwhile
we are developing a tendency to reeassi
other nations which are more decisive,
sucn as Russia, as being conspiratofS
against u.s. Tears and self-pity afyen1
always the last refuge of the insecure
Evening star., 1944-03-21

This what-is-it, this stew of uncer-
tainties, garnished with question marks,
was exactly what we wanted, perhaps
because we did not know what we
wanted
If you look for Gen. de Gaulle, cur
rently, you will find him also residing
in Halfway House. We have him whore
we want him, too, in mist, in fog,
in cloud. We have issued a remark
able document proclaiming that we
recognize that he speaks for the COL
onies for which he speaks. But for
more than year we have delayed CIV
ing him full recognition as the head of
provisional government. We have pre-
served that same startled-fawn rela-
tionship with De Gaulle that we have
maintained with BadOglio, so that we
can stay near him, if that seems good,
or else run away like the wind, should
that seem better choice
There was time when it would have
been enterprising of us to recognize De
Gaulle; then came a time when it
would have been merely practical to
recognize him; but by now we have
waited until it is comical not to- Still
we wait, trying our best to keep dubiety
alive; the worried bonifaees of Halfway
House
We keep an apartment for ourselves
in that cloudy hostelry We know that
Finland ought to be knocked out of
this war; we know that would be good
Evening star., 1944-03-21
Genesis of Dictutorships

from tne montreal LIE Jour.
Of recent times numerous groups Of
citizens have taken advantage of theiR
organized force to violate the law know<
ingly. The violators have enjoyed inf
munity. That is very serious. In q
democracy the law is the citizens only
protection. When the citizen does nof
feel himself safe in his person or his
possessions he shouts for the help Of
the strong man: That is dictatorship
From that moment on members Oh
unions who have abused their numerical
strength to battle the law will be driven
by the whip, even If the dictatorship 10
called "proletarian." Look at what Ia
happening today in Russia. Ask thu
workers in industries of the Urals who
work seven full days a week and IL
hours day what would happen if thew
talked of striking. Do you know whatiS
the supreme danger to our democraciesz <
1t is the lack of authority. We are figflt~
Ing today against authoritarian regimes
We will have none of them. But wa
want, before everything else that our
elected governments courageously should
make use of the authority which tha
people have confided in them. Others
wise democracy will not survive the ters
rible crisis of the world OF today. .
Evening star., 1944-03-21

flanks-the more exposed, according to
the terrain features-and the enemy
would be likely to meet this danger by
putting in his reserve company TO
lengthen his line and meet this threat
of development. Then we would coun-
ter that move by throwing in our own
reserve company to further lengther
our line and complete the development.
Now Supposing that some distance
away, beyond the exposed flank which
we are trying to enVelop, we know that
another enemy force is approaching,
which may counterattack if it arrives
in time Let us suppose that we have
a fifth company available over in that
direction. We would move this 1lt'h
company to a position where 1t could
cover us from this possible threat; per-
haps to seize a bridge, or hill COM
manding a road junction, or TO Soms
other position where it could stop Oh
at least delay the enemy's possible at
tempt to counterattack.
All this is very simple and very
elemental
= X x
Now look at the western end of the
Russian front. The Russians are trying
to enVelop the left flank of Won Mann
STEMS southern group of German
armies The advance on TarnOpol and
Proskurov represented the enveloping
force, the extra length of line; The
frontal advance against the line of the
Bug represented the rest of the origi-
Evening star., 1944-03-21
Constantine,BroaUn

The Germans assume that the thaw
which in the past has prevented i'm
portant operations between the end OF
March and the middle of June will help
them hold the Russian front with a
much smaller force. They also reckon
that with a strong line on the Po River
in italy they can delay the Allied ad-
vance on Rome and thus prevent the
transfer of invasion barges and other
shipping from the Tyrrhenean Sea to
the western invasion coast.
Gen. Wilson, the British commander
in chief in the Mediterranean, ap-
parently Is satisfied that there will be
henceforth no further offensive attempt
by the Germans.
At present it is believed that more
than one-fifth of the total number Of
German divisions are in Western
Europe, the balance being distributed
among the home. Italian, Balkan and
Russian fronts. The bulk of the Nad
troops are still in Russia. The shorten
ing of lines on the eastern front has
cost the Germans much of their mill
tary prestige and at least so divisions.
But they still have about $50 divisions,
including new recruits.
This still formidable force must be
employed to the best advantage in the
next few months with view to bring
ing about stalemate. And this result
can be obtained by successful defense
of the western front or by taking ad-
vantage of the political misunderstand-
ings among the Allies.
The Wehrmacht is assigned to take
care of the former situation, while the
German diplomats, who are now more
active than ever since September. 1899,
endeavor to take advantage of the
latter
Evening star., 1944-03-21

cies oppose the bill, generally on the
ground that it is to the Govern
ment's interest that liability re-
mains where it is-with the banks.
In Washington, however, it would
seem that the Governments own
practice of paying by check would
carry with it a collateral obligation
to assure the honesty of its own
agents who prepare vouchers or is
sue checks. Insistence by banks on
Identifying each payee presenting
Government checks would impose an
obvious hardship on Government
employees, yet without such insist
ence the banks, rather than the Gov
ernment, are apt to be victimized by
crooked, yet accredited, Government
agents.
Evening star., 1944-03-21
Gould Lincoln

Mr.. Willkie nominated to Gov Dewey,
believing that Mr. Willkie would be an
easier man for the President to de-
feat. So far as the Progressives are
concerned, however, the vote in the
Republican primary may be divided,
with the old isolationist group taking
a swing at Mr.. Willkie
In some measure, the opposition to
Mr.. Willkie is divided-between Gov.
Dewey, Gen. Macarthur and Comdr.
Stassen. This is, of course, to the ad-
vantage of Mr.. Willkie. 1t still looks, :
however, as though he will need every
advantage he can get. There is olenty
of anti-Willkie sentiment in this State.
Indeed, three delegate candidates are
running as "anti-Willkie" men, ap-'
parently willing to support any other,
candidate for the presidential nomi-
nation of the Republican party. Mr..
Willkie has full slate CT delegate
candidates. pledged to him, "a in all.
twenty-five delegate candidates are,
pledged to Gen. Macarthur, 20 to
Comdr: Stassen and Is to Dewey, with
1our others leaning to Gov. Dewey.
Mr.. W1llkie, rugged, dynamic and
picturesque, Is rushing about the State
on his l2-day campaign, sparing himself
not at all. He was handicapped with
bad voice when he delivered his first
address at Richland Center If he has
lost some of the cockiness he displayed
few months ago, when he told Re-
publican members of Congress in Wash
lngton he was sure bet for the nomi-
nation, he has lost none of his deter
mlnation to win if he can. But if he
fails to make good showing here, after
his none-too-good showing IN the Eew
Hampshire primaries, the Willkie goose
may well be cooked for 1914
Evening star., 1944-03-21
Royol Weddinq

Yesterdays marriage of young
King Peter of Yugoslavia and Prin-
cess Alexandra of Greece is an event
OF more than incidental or romantic
interest. For one thing, it binds to-
gether two royal houses Of the Bal
kans, both of which are menaced by
currents Of revolutionary political
and social change. Furthermore.
this dynastic union dramatizes the
larger question OF royalty in post
war Europe.
1t was eminently fitting that the
ceremony should have taken place
in London. with King George of
Great Britain and King George of
Greece as witnesses, the British
monarch being the bridegroom's
godfather In attendance as guests
were the reigning monarchs of most
European royal houses, together
with distinguished diplomatic per-
sonalities. Britain unquestionably
is the stanchest upholder of the
monarchical principle-a sentiment
that is difficult for us Americans to
comprehend, with our background
OF more than 100 years of republi-
canlsm based on violent reputation
OF kingship. In our traditional think
ing, royalty is deemed an anachro-
nistic survival destined ultimately to
pass away from human experience.
Nevertheless. we should recognize
that the monarchical principle still
commands both emotional allie
glance and intellectual approval in
many parts of the Old World. The
reigning dynasties of Scandinavia,
Holland and Belgium are solidly
based on the loyalty of their re-
spective subjects, while monarchism
still has roots in Spain, Germany,
Austria and even France, despite
varying lengths of republican or die
tatorial rule. In Italy, the House of
Savoy at least nominally survives
its compromising association with
Fascism. The Balkans are in dy-
manic fiux, but monarchism still
plays prominent role.
The monarchical principle often is
advocated as stabilizing factor in
Europe's postwar reconstruction. A
well-known Swedish journalist re-
Gently advocated it as the best
formula for Germany after the
downfall Of Hitler's Third Reich and
Evening star., 1944-03-21

is not coming into Wisconsin and the
other two cannot come
X Il
Ordinarily this would look like an
easy setup for Mr.. Willkie. Wisconsin,
however, is not too good field for his
foreign policies. 1t is the home of
the late Senator La Toilette, a bitter
ender in the fight against the League
of Nations in 1919-20, and of the present
Senator La Toilette, who belonged to
the so-called isolationist group before
this country entered the war.
In 1910, Gov. Dewey won the delega-
ton to the Republican convention over
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan. If
Gov. Dewey were an active candidate
today, he could probably win the delega-
ton again. His refusal to be a candi-
date has thrown his followers into some
confusion. One of them, Vernon Thom-
son, speaker of the Assembly, has gone
over to Mr.. Willkie and is delegate
candidate on the Willkie slate.
WiSconsin's free and easy primary
system still further beclouds the out
come on April 4, the primary date. Un-
der the law, members of the Progress
sive and Democratic parties may vote
in the Republican primary if they wish.
Since only delegate candidates pledged
to President Roosevelt are entered in
the Democratic primary, it is believed
that many of the Progressives and
Democrats will 60 into the Republican
primary.
X
They may plunk for Mr.. Willkie, on
the theory that he comes nearest to
Mr.. Roosevelt,s policies of any of the
Republican candidates-or, as some say
because they would prefer 70 have
Evening star., 1944-03-21
This Changing World

praisal of the military situation on the
eastern front is difficult and must be
based on deduction.
1t is obvious that in the north, in
the direction of the Baltic states and
Finland, the Germans are putting up
serious resistance. Confronted with this
opposition, the Russians are marking
time there but have concentrated their
effort in the southern battle zone.
Whether the German high command
for political as well as military reasons
has decided to oppose strong Russian
penetration in the area of the Baltic
states and Poland to the 1899 Russo
German boundary is a matter of specu-
lation. 1t is quite possible that the
German general staff may have de-
cided to put up a defense in the south,
east of the Carpathian lines-even at
the risk of losing the vital Rumanian
oil f1elds-and concentrate all its ef-
forts to the north and the center OF
the Eastern front.
The Germans are convinced that only
very dramatic political divergence of
opinion among the Allies can interfere
with Americana British plans to invade
Western Europe. But since political
considerations always are imponderable
and no military strategist can take them
into consideration. the Nazis are pre-
pairing desperate resistance on the
area extending from the Lowlands to
the Bay of Biscay.
In recent weeks Germany's western
defenses under the command of Marshal
Won Rundstedt have been further
strengthened by the arrival of addi-
tional divisions from the Russian and
Italian fronts.
1t appears that the Nazi high COM
mand has now decided to adopt purely
holding strategy in Russia and Italy
Evening star., 1944-03-21
Equitable Responsibility

A bank which cashes a forged
check is plainly liable for its mis-
take. But is it fair to hold equally
liable the bank which cashes checks
issued by duly authorized Gov
ernment disbursing officer to flcti-
tious employees on a padded payroll?
Is the bank. or the Government,
responsible for the successful per-
petration of the fraud?
Under the law, as interpreted by
the courts, the banks are liable.
Washington bankers are seeking to
have the law amended, to relieve
them of an ever-present liability
The suggestion for this course was
made by Chief Justice Groner in
the United States Court of Appeals
for the District in deciding against
the banks in the notorious Stitely
case.
I'm the light Of present-day con-
ditions in the District of Columbia" i"
he wrote. with its thousands of
Government employees, brought here
from every section of the country,
generally unknown outside the i'm
mediate environment of their en-
ployment, and most of whose pay
checks circulate virtually on the
basis Of currency, there is much to
be said for the passage (of such
an amendment) but if the change
be made. it must be made by Con-
gresS and not by the courts
A bill amending the District Code
is now before the House District
Committee. Conditions peculiar to
Washington entitle it to careful
study. More than six million
Government payroll checks are
cleared annually through Washing
ton banks, issuing through great
number of Government agents
A large number of checks are cashec
by customers of the banks and de-
posted by them with the banks
which guarantee Endorsements
without ever passing on the identi-
flcation of the payees. AS shown ir
previous cases, crooked disburSing
officer can defraud the Government
year after year without detection
But when he is detected, under ex-
listing law, the banks hold the bag.
Spokesman for Government agen
Evening star., 1944-03-21
French PURGE Beoins

| Inc announcement that Pierre
Pucheu, former minister of interior
In the Vichy government, has been
executed by order of military court
under the jurisdiction of the French
Committee of National Liberation is
not calculated to enhance the pres
tlge OF General de Gaulle in the
eyes OF the American people.
Pucheu went to his death bravely,
protesting his innocence. But the
question OF this mans guilt or inno-
cence is of less immediate concern
than the quality of justice meted
out to him by the French military
court. 1t will be long time before
the world knows whether Pucheu
was traitor to France. for con-
elusive evidence pro or con simply
is not available at this time. The
paucity of evidence, however. did
not deter the French from adjudg-
ing him guilty, imposing the death
sentence and carrying it into exc
cution.
When Pucheu was taken into Gus
tody last August it was charged that
ne had given the Germans a list of
50 hostages who were shot in reprisal
for the killing OF a German officer,
This accusation was repeated at the
trial, which began March 6. but the
prosecution witnesses, when proof
was demanded, admitted their testi-
mony was a product of inference
and conjecture. General Henri Gil
raud then appeared as a defense
witness, urging that the trial be
postponed because proofs are lack
ing In North Africa" He asserted.
however, that Pucheu had sought to
persuade Marshal Petain to abandon
his policy of collaboration with the
Axis.
In the face of this testimony, the
prosecutor. General Pierre weiss.
himself former Vichy collaboration
abandoned the accusations made
earlier by his own witnesses and re-
sorted to an impassioned appeal for
conviction on patriotic grounds, ad-
monlshing the court to remember
the freshly dug graves in France"
Admittedly, the American news re-
ports from the trial were meager
but II any significant evidence ever
was adduced against Pucheu it did
not ind its way into print in this
country. At the time of conviction
and sentence-March 12-the Asso-
ciated Press reported that left wing
De Gaullists and Communists "ex-
pressed delight" but that more mod
crate De Gaullists betrayed some
mlsgivings." This report then added
that opinion in legal circles ran
from dlsmay to indignation.
Nevertheless, after General de
Gaulle had refused to intervene
Pucheu was taken out secretly and
shot. In truth. he may have been
a traitor, but the fact remains that
ne was convicted by a court of
doubtful legal standing on the basis
OF evidence" which would be an
anront to any American court. It
Will not be easy to reconcile this
incident with any sympathy for the
self-asserted right of General de
Gaulle to speak authoritatively for
France and the French people.
Evening star., 1944-03-21

nal attacking line, the so-called hold
ing attack which can itself become
major effort If, as in this case, it hap
pens to break through.
Won MannStein'S counterattack in the
arnopol-Proskurov area was the put
ting IN, SO to speak, of his reserve COM
pany. 1t checked the original attack,
but the line itself was not strong enough
to prevent a break k-through-that is,
the Russian drive to the Dniester where
the German 9th Army gave way.
But when the Russians first moved
toward Tarnopol- they had
taken precautions against a German
counterattack from another direction.
If any really strong German forces at
tempted to interfere, these were most
likely to come from Central Poland.
a much more powerful countereffort
might be expected from this direction
than from anything Won Mannstein
himself might be able to scrape to-
gether So the Russians took precau-
tions; they established their covering
positions by taking the rail functions of
Rovno and Lutsk
Now We come to the next phase Of
the operation remember the little tao
tical problem: your development is
countered by the enemy reserve COM
pany, so you put in your own reserve
company to extend your line still far
ther). The Russians are putting in
more troops and extending their line
still farther, to outflank the German
resistance at TarnOpol-Proskurov
Their new offensive is apparently di-
rected upon LWoW. This is a position
of crucial Importance; just as Tarnopol
and Proskurov control the main rail-
way line for the supply of the Bug
River position, so Lwow controls the
main railway line for the supply of the
Dniester River position, the line Lwow-
Cernauti- -Jassy-Gelatz. In fact, should
LWow be taken, the Germans would
have only very poor railway connections
with all Eastern Rumania. 1t is with
this trunk line that the branch lines
crossing the DnieSter all connect; two
of these are still in German hands,
though the third has been cut by the
Russian capture of Mogilov- Podolski.
But it is toward LWow that the Rus
slams are making their new main ef-
fort, the new extension of their line.
Evening star., 1944-03-21
Hungary and q Crisis

Inc news from Hungary Is not
only quite in keeping with the
character of the Nazis but flows
naturally, almost inevitably, from
the smashing successes of the Rus
slams on the eastern front. That
Hitler is no longer able to hold this
front, is as plain as the power of
the Red Army. The consequences
are more than military; they are
profoundly significant in the polit-
ical, sense as we'll
What the NaziS are faced with is
the problem of building a new front
behind the vanishing front in Russia.
But II they are to do this, they must
have the support of their reluctant
satellites, or they must take desper-
ate measures to hold those satellites
In line. What is happening in Hun
gary is the most striking symptom so
far of the supreme military and po-
litical crisis developing for Hitler as
result of the over all deterioration of
his position in the war, particularly
as result of the Red Army's enor-
nous gainS-gainS which have al
ready placed the Russians deep in
old Poland and across the Dniester
in Rumania, not far from the Hun
garian border.
The reports say that the Nazis
have taken over Hungary because
the Horthy government was prepar-
ing to sue for peace. The explana-
tion is a plausible one. Finland
had tentatively sought peace, and
there is every reason to believe that
Rumania and Bulgaria have as well.
But it was not necessary for Hitler
to move into these three countries,
since his troops are already there
and presumably have the situation
as we'll in hand as can be expected.
Until this weeks developments, how
ever, Hungary-perhaps the most
reluctant of all the reluctant satel-
lites of the NaZis-waS merely
transit point for the Germans and
not German armed camp, not a
complete prisoner of Berlin.
1t is typical of the Nazis that they
refuse to acknowledge any of their
satellites as free agents. Sovereign
Finland, sovereign Bulgaria, sover-
eign Rumania, sovereign Hungary
are no more sovereign than Bavaria.
Like sovereign Italy, if they wish to
get out of the war, they can only
wish; or if they have the courage
to break with Hitler, then they must
be ready to feel the violence of Hit
ler's lash upon their backs. This is
the nature of the German ally who
is not so much an ally as jailer and
tormentor. Hungary, in the circum-
stances, must wait to be liberated
by the very force it once warred
against. Meanwhile, it's present
situation spectacularly illuminates
not only the difficulties of the
satellites but also the desperate
straits of the NaZis.
Evening star., 1944-03-21
Snowstorm in Late Winter

No1O is the 10oU-pack loosed again BY
1Uinter;
Their hoUl is borne upon the NORTH
ern blast
The pale and timid sunlight, like a
Against the cold, 1UaS much too trail
to last.
White Uool noW couerS euery hill and
Udlley;
White fury drifts, then hurries to
attack :.
Oh, nelU-born lambs that should lie
do1Un in cloUer,
MeekneSS 1OW gain no pity from the
pack.
And eUen man, iOhoSe thoughts rere on
the Springtime,
No10 StirS the Slumbering fire. The
flames leap high;
But Just outside the door bed OF
tulips
Is braUely green beneath a 1Dintry sky.
ROSE MYRA PHILLIPS.