davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-03-14
Constantine Br01Vn

According to some reports, Premier
de Valera was suspicious that the Amer
lean demand for expulsion of the Axis
diplomats was only a preliminary to
q request for air and naval bases.
1t Is recalled that earlier in the war
friendly attempts were made to induce
Dublin to permit the Allies to use some
bases. These requests were made at
the height of the Nazi U-boat campaign
and availability of Irish bases was then
regarded as important TO the Allies as
the expulsion of the Nazi diplomats Is
today.
Then, as now. neither the American
nor British governments had any
thought of infringing on Fires SOW
ereignty, but approached Dublin with
propositions dictated exclusively by mill
itary considerations. The Dublin gov
ernment turned us down fat.
1t is not clear whether Premier de
Valera actually believed that If he
yielded on the question of the Axis
diplomats he would pave the way for
another request from London and
Washington for military bases Some of
Britain's spokesmen have indicated In
the last few weeks that the U-boat
menace must not be considered as def
nitely overcome, and there is posi-
bility that the German submarines will
start another campaign soon after the
Allies begin operations across the Chan
nel The threat to communications
between the United States and our
bases in the United Kingdom is not, Of
course, ignored by the Allied high
command.
1t is possible Premier de Valera be-
lieved that by ousting the Axis diplo-
mats his country no longer could be
considered strictly neutral and that he
could not plead neutrality in rebuttal
to renewed Allied appeals for bases.
Evening star., 1944-03-14
Small Blow for Freedom

The Commissioners revocation of
special parking spaces for some
citizens and some officials is being
hailed as a blow for freedom, a sort
Of declaration Of independence for
John @. Public who must park his
car when and where he can.
But 1t does not 60 as far as that.
In fact, the Commissioners order
is as interesting for what it does not
accomplish as for what it does.
What it does is to eliminate a total
of perhaps fifty spaces reserved
for few officers of the Navy De-
partment who use their cars on
official errands and for citizens who
call at Red Cross center to donate
their blood. It also ends the mo
Parking" ban on curb space in front
of some of the police precincts-re-
served for sad citizens on serious
business-and eliminates reserved
space near the District Building for
a few municipal and Government
officials.
1t does not affect the privilege Of
members of Congress, derived from
an act of Congress, to park wherever
they please, so long as they stay
away from fire hydrants or between
the curb and loading platforms. 1t
does not affect some 1000 holders
of official permits" who may park
in spaces reserved for them while
making official calls at Government
departments. It does not eliminate
the reserved parking spaces for
members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
The Commissioners are correct in
saying there is no basis in law for
reserving certain parking spaces on
the public streets which have been
reserved in the past. But there is
adequate legal basis for the parking
privileges enjoyed by members of
Congress and other Government
ofiicials and the Commissioners
could not touch them with ten-foot
pole. Equality and fraternity, in
this respect, are still somewhere
around the corner.
Evening star., 1944-03-14

part of the more conservative and anti
fourth term Democrats to make last
ditch fight over the vice presidential
nomination. They will make their
showing against fourth-term nonina-
ton for the President. But most of
them privately or even publicly admit
they see no chance of hating a re-
nomination of. Mr.. Roosevelt, If he is
willing to run.
X X
Their principal strategy Is reported to-
day, however, to concern itself with the
second place on the ticket to be nomi-
mated in Chicago. If they can succeed
in forcing the nomination of vice.
presidential candidate to their liking,
then they believe they will have chalked
up real victory-a victory over the
President. 1t is a foregone conclusion
they will not accept a denomination of
Evening star., 1944-03-14
Remembering q Friend

Senator Overton'S announcement
that he will retire from the Senate
after this term is disappointment
to the Washington community,
which he served in a singularly
effective and unselfsh manner. He
took a personal interest in Wash
ington that went beyond the formal
responsibilities of his office. The
Overton Plan, providing systematic
measurement of the National Gov
ernment's financial obligation in
Capital City financing, did not be-
come law. But the Senator's fight for
an equitable division of expenses left
its mark in the improved relation
ship-following a period of injurious
Observation-Disclosures the House
and Senate committees on District
appropriations, with distinct benefit
to Washington. 1t is probable that
Congress eventually will turn to
some form of the Overton Plan,
which establishes a ratio between
the annual Federal appropriation
and the excessive amount of Fed
erally-owned, tax-exempt property
IN the District. Washington citizens
will not quickly forget Senator
Overton's courteous attentiveness to
their interests, his sincere sympathy
over the lack of all semblance of
representation in their Government
and his readiness to act in their
behalf in Congress.
Evening star., 1944-03-14
This Changing World

titles of products into the United King
dom. According to British figures ap-
proximately per cent of the food and
other raw materials of Great Britain
is imported from Fire. The United
adding to the existing stores in the
to make up the deficiency of an import
embargo. This could be done without
serious effect on our war effort.
But should such an embargo be es-
tablished, Fire would be placed in
better position to resist the Allies de-
mands since the unsupported food would
be available for her own people.
Britain and the United States could
make life in Fire uncomfortable by sus-
pending all shipments of oil and coal.
But here again international law might
play a trick on the Allies. There are
important oil and coal reserves in Swe-
den to which the Irish could have ac-
cess. Irish and Swedish shipping is
neutral and in theory, at least, there
could be an interchange of goods be-
tween the two states.
OF course, the British government
would have to issue "navicerts," per-
mitting neutral cargo vessels to ply
between Irish and Swedish ports.
Whether London would be willing to
refuse these navicerts to both Sweden
and Fire is not known. But present
indications point to reluctance to push
the situation to a definite break with
Fire.
+
Some American diplomats believe in
the saying that it is easier to catch
flies with molasses than vinegar. They
regret that the situation has come to
head publicly and believe that it might
have been Strengthened out by offering
the Irish government tangible Ilduce-
ments instead of threats.
Evening star., 1944-03-14

limits set by weather and ME numbers
of aircraft available. All German war
production comes within the scope of
night bombing missions; targets are
selected with a view to doing organ
lied damage to the greatest possible ex-
tent, SO as to produce not only i'm
ruptive effects on the whole German
industrial structure.
The particular target Of the day
bombers is the German fighter force,
the chief German defensive weapon.
1t is being attacked at every stage of its
progress, from engine and airframe
plants right along the line to aircraft
in fight. There are three stages to this
part of the air force offensive mission:
Cd Shallow penetration of enemy
territory, hitting, for the most part, air
fields, air depots and outlying plants
(as in France) and shooting down air.
craft in fight. No effect on actual
enemy front-line strength, since replace
ments can be had from home plants.
CD Deeper penetration with larger
forces, able to stand heavier losses.
Targets are increasingly industrial in
nature; destruction of aircraft in flight
increase. Little effect on enemy 'front.'
line strength, since production is well
ahead Of requirements.
90 Finally, heavy. concentrated day.
light raids against key points of enemy
aircraft production system, to produce
fully destructive effects. BY this time,
the results begin to be felt in the front
line, and the enemy's defenses begin
to fall away. Even when an enemy
concentration secures a temporary local
superiority, this effort cannot be re-
peated the next day.
~
1t is only when stage (3) Is reached
that we begin so to reduce the enemy's
fighter power as to gain that air mastery
over the prospective battlefield which
Is an essential element in land opera
tions. Remember that air mastery
means fighter superiority. The Ger
mans need minimum operating force
OF 1000 fighters to defend Western
Europe. They managed to approximate
this figure during the winter. Now it
is being reduced. Don't just deduct
German losses from 1000; what counts
is not the number of German aircraft
destroyed in any particular fight. but
the ability-or the lack of it-of the
Luftwaffe to keep 1000 fighters ready
Evening star., 1944-03-14

have been, he preferred not to come
to Unter den Linden, where black
ened and smoking ruins Knocked the
hopes and false promises of earlier
years. In March of 1914, with moth
ing but defeat in the offing, a mill
tary man-hard-b Grand Ad-
miral Karl Doenitz-was chosen to
do the honors on Heroes Day. "A
pitiless struggle is being waged," he
said, "for the existence or annihila-
ton of our nation" He was not
prepared. however, to stop on that
grimly truthful note. Herr Hitler,
he added. will steer the Reich
safely through this struggle for
survival"
One may be pardoned for Won
dering why the man of endless
promises left the making of this
pledge to another. But it is pos
sible-just possible-that not even
Der Fuehrer would have cared to
listen to another of his own empty
promises. Even he must have his
breaking point
Evening star., 1944-03-14

anxious as we are to see the Axis
diplomats-the modern name for spies
in neutral countries-removed from their
scene of activity is not willing to put
more than a moral pressure on Dublin.
London might be willing to go along
with Washington in applying an en-
barge on all imports from Fire if
America stopped all exports and
clamped down on the transfer of funds
from the United States.
1t is not likely, however, that such
steps would bulge the De Valera gov
ernment's attitude. Money transferred
by immigrants from the United States
to Ireland has dwindled in the last
two years to a rate of a little less than
$2,000,000 year. Although Fire Is not
rich country, money embargo would
not be apt to affect the Irish govern
ment's policies.
On the other hand, it is true that the
British are importing substantial oylan-
Evening star., 1944-03-14
Towurd d CIimux
So swift and powerful has bee

So swift and powerful has been its
advance In the Ukraine that the
Red Army-in political sense at
least-now threatens to bring about
supreme crisis for Hitler in the
Balkans at what may prove to be a
surprisingly early date. As Of
yesterday, at any rate, the Russians
were within IS miles of the Bessara-
bian frontier, so that their entry
into Rumania by the end OF this
week seems even more probable
than possible.
In the circumstances, a good deal
of significance can be attached to
the report that the Rumanian gov
eminent has already begun to sound
out Moscow for peace terms Equally
plausible is the report that Hungary
and Bulgaria have done the same
thing, the latter making its ap-
proach to London and Washington,
since 1t is not at war with the
Soviets. The Red Army's hammer
blows are not merely driving the
Nazi from the last miles of occupied
Russian soil; they are grimly
educating Hitler's satellites as well,
demonstrating beyond reasonable
doubt that the New Order" in the
Balkans is nearing its finish and
that its junior adherents had better
part company with it while there
is still chance to do so on a negoti-
able basis.
1t is true, of course, ~ that If
Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary do
this, they are likely to have the
same experience as Italy, for Hitler
will not withdraw from any position
until he is forced to. Yet, just as
in the case Of the Italians, they
may And that surrender is the best
choice to be made from among the
hard alternatives confronting them
and that it will rebound much more
to their advantage, in the long run,
than decision to continue their
present status as belligerents fight
ing hopelessly on the Nazi side.
Although such choice would
probably not result in a dramati-
cally sudden collapse OF Hitler's
military situation in the Balkans,
1t would have far-reaching political
and psychological effects and would
unquestionably place a tremendous
new strain on his armed forces,
greatly impairing their ability to
carry on an effective defensive fight.
For the Rumanians, Bulgarians and
Hungarians, II they surrendered,
would become an immense liability
and threat to the NaziS, and Hitler,
his supply lines menaced almost
everywhere, would face a policing
problem of such magnitude as to be
virtually inSoluble.
Further, the significance of this
Balkan prospect is enhanced by the
fact that in that part of the world,
the Nazis already have their hands
full trying to hold back Tito's
Yugoslav Partisans. And soon, now
that the Czech government in Lon
don has openly called for 1t, they
may hnd themselves burdened with
similar organized guerrilla opera
Evening star., 1944-03-14
The First Crop

He looked upon that rocky place
And SdlG field Of ripening grain.
Though laurel thicket scrub and brush
Were rooted deep by sun and rain.
With callouSed hands and aching back
He Uorked and brought his dream
about
In spite OF stubborn rock and root
And frost that heaUed nelU boulders
out
He Sal0 black turro1Ds in the sum-
To clear hill land you need Iona
Uie1O
The stone boat grodns Nth its useless
load
The first crop is stones in anything
neU.
INEZ GEORGE GRIDLEY.
Evening star., 1944-03-14

lace, than W no m
there Is no more
ardent supporter of
the New Deal, was
named as his run
ming mate. Will the
President be equally
insistent, when the
De m ocr is meet
again ext July,
upon the same or a
81 m ii ar tick e t ?
Thereby hangs po-
tential dynamite.
Signs are no W
pointing to a des-
perate effort on the
Evening star., 1944-03-14

tions in Czechoslovakia, deep in
Central Europe. All things con-
sidered. with the advance of the
Red Army. the mighty British
American air offensive, the wasting
struggle in Italy and the coming
Allied invasion moves, events seem
to be rushing toward a mighty and
disastrous climax for the man who
once dreamed of dominating the
world.
Evening star., 1944-03-14
Strotegist Stain

The announcement from Italy
that Premier Stain is prepared to
recognize the Badoglio government
and exchange representatives EN-
joying the usual diplomatic status"
amounts almost to the imposition
of cruel and unusual punishment
on those of our domestic left-wingers
who have been outdoing themselves
in denunciation of our own Gov
ernment and the British for their
willingness, as a military measure,
to do business with a man the
critics regard as front for FasciSm
and the Italian crown. But the dis
comfiture of the American leftists
is of little Importance. What should
really concern us is the effect on
our own postwar position of this
latest move by Premier Stain, who
seems to be as much of a political
as military strategist.
AS the European picture shapes
up today, it seems evident that the
Soviets will dictate the peace in
Eastern Europe. In the main the
settlement there will be unilateral
one, with Marshal Stain calling the
tune, and Prime Minister Churchill
has publicly indicated that he rec
ognizes practical necessity for this.
There has been rather general as
sumption, however, that in Western
Europe, at least, the postwar struc-
ture would be designed on multi
lateral basis, but as matters stand
there is no assurance that this will
be the case.
The Russians last year recognized
General de Gaulle and his commit
tee as the representatives of the
state interests of the French re-
public" That is farther than either
the United States or Britain was
willing to go, their political accept
ance of De Gaulle being confined to
a limited recognition of his COM
mittee as an administrative agency
in French overseas territory. But
if this committee finally emerges as
the governing body of France, Gen.
eral de Gaulle is not apt to forget
that 1t was Marshal Stain who came
to his rescue at critical time:
This is strikingly similar to the
situation now prevailing in Italy.
The Anglo-American governments
have accepted Italy as a "co-bellig-
erent" and as a matter of military
expediency have been doing busi-
ness with the Badoglio regime. It
has been made rather plain, how
ever, that this is a temporary ar
rangement; that as soon as the
Germans have been driven out the
Italian people would be permitted
to choose government of their
own, presumably democratic in form.
And now Premier Stain, apparently
without consulting Britain or the
United States, steps up with an offer
Of full and possibly permanent
recognition of the Badoglio govern
ment. What this may imply for
the future is any ones guess, but it
is only reasonable to suppose that
If King Victor Emmanuel and Gen.
eral Badoglio remain in the saddle
in Italy they will feel themselves
heavily indebted to Marshal Stain.
1t may be that this European pic
ture is unfolding in harmony with
the plans and purposes of our Gov
ernment. But if that is so, the fact
is not evident from any of the pub
lie statements of our own officials.
It seems fully as probable that
Premier Stain is outmaneuvering
his Anglo-American allies in the
political field, just as he is out
maneuvering the Germans on the
Russian battle. fronts.
Evening star., 1944-03-14
Randolph, Iowa.
Favors Presidents Position

TO the Editor of The Star:
l would like for some statesman.
psychologist or mere student of men tn
explain to me the reason for the
olV1slve force that seems at work at
the heart OF the Democratic party. It
is not simply the individualistic tenden-
cles OF democracy. The Republican
party does not have that quality to
such great extent as our Democrats.
Tommy Atkins grumbles and grumbles,
but he Is not so ready to 20 OIL at a
tangent as the American John Doe.
Some years ago writer quoted q
prominent Republican as saying, 1--WE
nave to take care of our rascals." It is
different with the Democrats. I cannot
say that they feel any obligation to
take care Of their rascals, but they GER
tainly do not hesitate to go after their
best men hammer and tongs. Grover
Cleveland, one of the greatest of our
Presidents, was so abused by his own
party that he was astonished in later
years to find that Democrats had begun
to realize his true greatness.
1t may be that history will hold Mr..
Roosevelts recent vote as a mark of
his courage in this election year and as
a symbol Of his greatness in trying to
stop imitation, and also In making an
effort to tighten the burden which our
grandchildren will be forced to carry,
Back to the centrifugal force that
exists in our Democratic party: It has
shown itself times without number, but
one of its worst manifestations was in
the election just preceding the Civil
War If the Democrats North and
South had united under Stephen A.
Douglas, there might never have been a.
War Between the States. Lincoln was
so distinctly a minority candidate his
election would have been impossible If
the Democrats had stood together.
Instead of that, they divided into fac
tions and handed the presidency over
to Lincoln, not on a silver platter, but
in basin filled with the blood of his
countrymen. Douglas was opposed to
slavery, so were many of the Southern
ers. Wisdom and craftsmanship should
have averted the war. II we could have
had William Wilberforce instead of
the fanaticism of John Brown and his
kind, slavery might have been abolished
without shedding of blood.
OF course, we know what happened
in our country. Hot-headedness in the
South and hard-headedness in the
North and West found no middle ground
as might have happened If Douglas had
been elected, and the war came on.
Just here would like to call the atten-
tion of sticklers for congressional
dignity to the fact that Lincoln did
very much as he pleased during the war.
1 am not bringing these things up
for the sake of quarrel, but to remind
my felloW-DemocratS that in times of
stress strong men in the presidency
have not waited for the long delibera-
ton of Congress. jefferson, when he
made the Louisiana Purchase, did not
consider Congress or John Marshall.
Theodore Roosevelt took the Canal Zone
and said he left Congress to discuss it
later
Is 1t not possible for Congress to
remember that time cannot always
wait on the decision of 500 men?
MRS. META FOLGER TOWNSEND.
Evening star., 1944-03-14

fail to give the vote to the soldier it is
not. in the end, the soldier who will
suffer States rights will suffer
Some of our conservative politicians
are much too gleeful over their discovery
that States rights may be used to pre-
vent widespread balloting by soldiers in
the next presidential election. They are
shuoting: Look what we found!" 1t is
obvious, from their admiration for their
discovery, that they regard States right
as at least as high as the Rocky Moun-
tains and quite as solid.
Evening star., 1944-03-14

When they turn out
to have the contrary
effect, they will be
doomed.
A great huge hole
W a 5 p u n C h e d
t h r o u 8 h s t q tes'
rights with the fail
ure to stop fore
closures and to
t e e d the unem-
ployed. States rights
promptly went into
an eclipse, from
which they have not
yet recovered. And
now. If States rights
Evening star., 1944-03-14

factor in W a r f a + e
The a ir pow e I
mission, rom the
viewpoint of the side
which holds the ini-
tiative and is there
fore on the offensive,
may be analyzed as
follows:
/. Defensive.
a. Protection o.
home bases.
b. Protection o I
lines Of supply and
communications.
2. Offensive:
q. Strategical:
Evening star., 1944-03-14

w a S h | n G t o n Is
watching the devel-
opnents closely and
wonders what move
it can make to bring
the government of
the Free Irish repub-
lie into line. Mill
tary pressure. which
some of the more
impulsive diplomats
have been advocat-
ing, has been ruled
out for the time
being.
The British gov
ernment, which Is as
Evening star., 1944-03-14
I'd Rather Be Right

am not opposed to States rights.
But the only justification for States
rights is that they add to the sum total
Of American freedom and happiness.
Evening star., 1944-03-14
In the Know

From the Sudbury Daily Star.
Although forbidden to give away mill
tary secrets, I'll tell you this much
strictly of the record. you understand:
The invasion, II there Is going to BE- any,
Is closer today than 1t was yesterday.
Evening star., 1944-03-14

The widespread British coal strike
may change an old adage. 1t may
not be so foolish now to bring Goals
to Newcastle.