davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-01-01
New Year, 1945

The first day of the year differs
from other days only as it may be
given added meaning by great num-
bers of people. That is another way
of saying that January l, 1945, will
have special significance in the
calendar of modern times only if
1t be employed as an occasion of
particular Importance. The oppor-
tunity which it affords for reaffirma-
ton of the essential faith and hope
of America is plain to every thought
full person. 1t needs no explanation.
All that is required is that it be
set forth clearly and with appro-
pirate emphasis.
Experience has taught millions to
understand that if victory is to be
won for Righteousness in the pre-
vailing strife, the people of the
= United States in loyal cooperation
with the peoples of Allied countries
must win it. The heaviest burden
currently imposed upon any free
society is that now being borne by
Americans of every class and con-
dition. During 1945 the weight, the
strain and the tension may increase.
Indeed, it would be folly to antici-
pate any relief worthy of the name.
The strength of all concerned in the
struggle will be enhanced, If every
body will unite in a single minded
dedication to the solemn business in
hand. Wishful thinking in such an
emergency is weakness which the
United States cannot afford.
But preoccupation with achieving
a complete triumph over the Axis is
not in itself enough. The war must
be won to purpose commensurate
with its cost. Mere unconditional
surrender of Germany and Japan
will leave vast labor to be accom-
plished. The peace for which Amer
leans are contending must be
peace which is just, a peace which
for that reason will endure. a peace
which will be a blessing to the whole
family of nations Different indi-
viduals express this aspiration in
different language, but their cor
porate objective is the same-the
earth emancipated from the curse
of war.
And that connotes freedom from
poverty, freedom from internecine
conflict, freedom from greed and
fear and hate. What the embattled
forces of liberation are fighting for
is an epoch in human history which
shall not. be stained with wasted
blood or tears or sweat. The chal-
lenge to humanity is compelling in
its impact. Only those bankrupt of
spiritual character would desire to
fail to face it with courage and self
dedication equal to its demand. Let
New Year, 1945, mean personal &C
ceptance of responsibility for the
new era of civilizations: and multi
tudeS in generations to come will
celebrate it's anniversary with graft
tude and reverence.
Evening star., 1945-01-01
On the Record
BY Dorothy Thompson

In the preceding article, pointed out
that Germany, being an identity and an
entity, cannot surrender, because there
is no identity nor entity to which she
can deliver herself. What exists Is
coalition of United Nations. 1t is
loose coalition. for even after five years
of war they have been unable to create
a common program, common political
body, or even a common political staff.
comparable to the joint military staff of
Britain and America.
This coalition has been kept together
by one man: Hitler, and by one nation:
Germany. If this man and this nation
disappear. or cease to be menacing, a
catastrophe threatens the coalition. The
only sure way we can maintain the
coalition is TO continue a cold war
against Germany, creating by our poll
cies the perpetual fear of a German
rebellion and hence the perpetual need
of a coalition to keep her down. To
coalition. which does not exist politically,
which has no program commonly appl-
cable to the whole of Germany, and
after Germany's collapse, Is something
as we have previously pointed out, in
practice.
Our claim Is that the Germans must
have confidence in our morality, and &C
cept that We are not Nazis and will be
just. But every German must ask;
WHO, is this We? Is allied justice
Russian justice or Anglo Saxon justice?"
No one will pretend, and with malice
toward none, that they are identical.
Our answer to this has been that we
will create some combination, some
compromise. some understanding,
But the question arises. why, after
nearly four years of coalition war.
have we not done so? Actually We
have calculated on a shorter rather
than longer war. In Gen. Eisen-
hower's estimation the war should al
ready have been over. Obviously we
have tried our best and failed. We
have been forced to decide to let Russia
rule in one part of Germany and Europe
Britain in another America in another,
Evening star., 1945-01-01

and now at last, France in another
Now, If one is able to accept such a
solution in reason, 1t is possible to en-
visage 1t in Romania. Finland Bulgaria
and-in the west, in Italy But Ger
many is where We meet. Italy surren-
dered, in effect, to the Anglo American
powers Romania. Bulgaria and Finland
surrendered in effect. to the Soviet
Union. And for all of them there was a
ray of hope-they were asked to join us
as cobelligerents Insofar as they were
deprived of sovereignty. they were guar
anteed their national existences.
But the Germans cannot surrender to
one power; they cannot become cobel-
ligerents; they cannot place themselves
under one rule, and they have already
seen our inability to draft a common
program.
For many years it has been said that
We could not publish peace terms for
Germany, because they would frighten
the Germans by their drastic nature.
But what Is frightening Germans now
are not drastic peace terms to be carried
out by Germany" but an abyss of
chaos. There is nothing in human
imagination that might not happen to
Germans-not together, but in all their
parts.
Unconditional surrender" originally
outlawed negotiations as to terms. 1t
meant dictated peace, excluding bar
gaining. Now 1t means, Don't ask
what we are going to do with you. be-
cause we don't know 1t is an invita-
ton to leap into the dark, without even
the knowledge of what or who will catch
them at the bottom of the pit. The Ger
mans know that their continuation of
the war is madness, but they must sus-
pect that their madhess is not unique
in the world as it is
A woman, about to sell herself into
slavery rather than continue in star
vation, having four would-be masters
can hardly cut herself into quarters to
serve them all, but may hold off in the
hope that they will fight each other over
her body. Such is Germany"
(To Be Continued)
CReleased hy the Bell Syndicate, Inc.)
Evening star., 1945-01-01

The Russians are using their often
siye power against the Reich as a club
to achieve their political objectives.
This has become particularly obvious
since the Red Armies-poised for sew
eral months on the Vistula-have not
yet budged. Most military observers in
this country believed, from indications
received from Moscow, that Premier
Stain would launch his men against
the German lines between Christmas
and New Year.
Instead, the Soviet Premier has been
harping on the settlement OF the Polish
question and has pointed out diplo-
natically that unless this was achieved,
the Russian forces might have difficulty
in starting their offensive The Poles
in the western portion Of the country
where the major operations will have
to take place might be discouraged,
the Russian Premier indicated, by the
lack of a settlement of their political
problems and unless accord was reached
before the offensive started the Red
Armies might run into unexpected
political trouble.
-
The British government is as anxious
as the American Government to see the
Russians begin moving on the eastern
front. But there is some reluctance on
the part of London to accept the Rus
sian view in it's entirety since Britain
went to war in 1889 for the independ-
ence and sovereignty of Poland. Lon
don feels that unless complete support
is obtained from Washington the Brit
ish government could not desert Poland
altogether, as much at it might desire
to do SO.
The point of view of the American
Government is still obscure. Officially
we are still on record as favoring main
tenance of the principles of the Atlantic
Charter, regardless of whether or not
it has been signed. But from the prac-
tical view, there is a tendency to grant
Russia's requests.
Some of President Roosevelt's close
advisers are said to feel that we might
be In for long and very costly war
in Europe If Russia continues her pres
ent "sitdown strike" And If the only
way to end such strike" is the sacri-
flee of Poland, some solution must be
found whereby the Allies could save
their face and at the same time give
complete satisfaction TO l2ussias aims
in the east.
So far as Washington s concerned.
the military aspects of the war have
taken an overwhelming precedence over
all political problems and discussions.
Evening star., 1945-01-01
War Crimes and Reprisals
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot

II have observed" wrote Field Mar
shall Sir Douglas Haig during the last
war, that whenever the Germans have
in mind an especially shocking violation
of the laws of war, they always prepare
the way by accusing us of the particu-
lar crime which they have in contem-
plation.'
This is a German habit which seems
to hold good in this war as well as the
last Therefore we might well have
taken warning when, few weeks ago,
the Germans began to give out COM
plants about Allied attacks on German
hospitals and hospital ships, and went
so far as to say that Germany might in
the future take the attitude that she
was no longer bound by the provisions
of the Geneva Convention.
1t would now appear that the Ger
mans have given up any idea of adher
ing to any of the rules of civilized
warfare.
During the current operations in the
Ardennes, the German troops have de-
liberately murdered American prisoners
Of war in considerable numbers and
on more than one occasion These
murders appear to have been carried
out under orders from higher author
ity, as a matter of cold-blooded and
calculated policy. Moreover, Belgian
civilians have been ruthlessly slaugh-
tered in captured villages, also "by or
der" and quite without any pretense
that it was being done because of any
acts of resistance or sabotage. The
orders were issued in advance. In
Hungary Russian officers bearing a
flag of truce to summon the German
garrison of Budapest to surrender,
were murdered.
The evidence Is clear that Germany
has indeed abandoned the rules Of
civilized warfare Since the Germans
do nothing without reason 1t remains
only to ask why; the facts seem to be
established.
Probably the German leaders had q
double motive in giving such orders.
Primarily. no doubt, they wished to
make sure that the German Army and
the German people would be COM
mitted to last-ditch resistance.
The great hope of the German leaders
is that the passage of time and the con-
tinuance of German resistance will in
the end win for them better terms than
they could get If resistance collapsed
now. Personally, they hope to save
their own lives, which are forfeit TO
the justice Of humanity they have out
RACED.
Evening star., 1945-01-01
This Changing World
By Constantine Brossn

That Poland may still have to be
sacrificed by her Allies in order to per-
suade Russia to start an immediate
major offensive against Germany Is
obvious from diplomatic dispatches
reaching Washington.
The Russians are poised to drive across
the Vistula River. Reinforcements and
lease-lend materials have reached their
armies in quantities to fill all the gaps
before the Soviet high command decided
1t could proceed.
Yet the fact that the Polish situation
has not yet been settled to the satisfac-
ton OF the Kremlin is holding up the
Red steamroller..
1t Is true that Prime Minister Church.
III in his most recent speech advocated
an immediate solution OF the Polish
territorial problem The Prime Minister
fully indorsed the Russian claims to
Eastern Poland along the Ribbentrop-
Molotov line and also the transfer of the
population from that area to portions of
Germany which would be given to the
Poles to compensate for territorial
sacrifices.
In his statement following Mr. Church.
Ills speech, Secretary of State Stettinius
indicated that the American Govern
ment, while not pressing the Poles for
an immediate solution, would be relieved
to see the whole matter settled before
the end of the war
Now 1t appears the British government
is not willing to indorse all the Russian
claims. There are some members of the
British cabinet who take the attitude
that territorial matters are elastic and
ought to be settled in the interest OF
Allied unity, and that the British gov
ernment can not indorse Moscow's desire
to establish a puppet government like
Marshal Tito's in Yugoslavia, in Poland
west Of the Ribbentrop-M -Molotov line. In
other words the British government
feels that what is left of Poland must
enjoy full sovereignty and that the
Polish people themselves must decide by
free elections the men who will hold the
reins of government.
The Russians have been informed of
this British government view in the last
two weeks, and this does not appear to
be satisfactory.
For the time being the American CIV
eminent has not taken any active part
in the diplomatic dispute taking place
behind the scenes between London and
Moscow. But thre are indica tions that
President Roosevelt may have to be
drawn In. even before the planned meet
ing with Premier, Stain and Prime
Minister Churchill.
Evening star., 1945-01-01
ICC Appointment

The tendency in certain quarters
to make an issue of sectional dis
elimination" in railroad rates is
broadening, to judge by reports that
some Southern congressman want to
replace Commissioner Charles D.
Mahaffie on the Interstate Com
merce Commission with an appointee
who understand" their transporta-
ton problems.
Southern political leaders long
have complained that the class rates
fixed on freight by the ICC handicap
their section to the consequent bene-
fit of East and North, and in the
past year or so this cry has been
taken up by Vice President Wallace
and the Justice Department, with
charges that the industrial develop
ment of South and West is being
stif1ed by railroad conspiracy"
The department has instituted anti
trust proceedings against Western
carriers, and is supporting the State
of Georgia in a Supreme Court suit
to force -equalizatio on lines
east of the Mississippi. The sugges-
ton that a known advocate of rate
parity is needed on the commission
fits in the same picture.
There has been nothing official to
indicate that Mr.. Mahaffie, a valued
member of the commission for many
years, would not be reappointed, but
adverse reports have drawn atten-
ton in the Associa ton of Interstate
Commerce Commission Practitioners,
whose members argue cases before
the commission, and spokesmen
have roundly scored the political
implications involved.
If the South lacked adequate rep
resentation on the commission, or if
there was reason for belief that the
agency-which is Just completing a
class rate study - unfairly favored
one region over another, agitation
for a change would be understand
able As 1t happens, the exact oppo-
site is true
1t would be unfortunate if the high
reputation the commission Justly
enjoys were marred by an appoint
ment that could be defended only on
partisan grounds.
Evening star., 1945-01-01

They count on war-weariness and
Allied disunity to save them if only
they can hold out long enough. But
they know we'll that many of their
people are sick Of the terrible struggle,
sick of being bombed and starved and
overworked and of the iron rule of the
Gestapo They know that they are
holding the German war effort up to
its present level only by force They
know that their propaganda is no
longer believed by many Germans.
So they are adding an additional
prop to German morale-they are kill
ing prisoners, they are shooting down
the bearers of flags of truce, and thus
they are putting all Germany beyond
the pale civilizat ation in such fashion
that every German will tremble at the
thought Of the vengeance which a
victorious foe would take.
This goes beyond propaganda The
facts of these killings will be told and
retold by those who have taken part
in them, or seen them. The word will
spread across Germany like wildfire.
And the strained imaginations of the
Germans will do the rest.
~
But beyond this the Germans prob
ably had another motive in mind. They
hope to sting the Allies into reprisals.
Under our hands, today there lie far
more German prisoners of war than the
Germans have of American prisnoers
of war. This Is also true of the Brit
ish. But the Germans have millions
Of French and Russian prisoners.
Now it would be perfectly natural
thing, as soon as the details of the Ger
man crimes are clearly established, for
the Allies to say to the German: VERY
well, we shall shoot q German prisoner
of war for every American or Britain
or Russian prisoner whom you have
murdered in violation Of the rules Of
civilized warfare" That would be
legal reprisal, measure we should be
entirely justified in taking as far as
legality Is concerned.
But it would almost surely be coun-
tered by Historically murderous German
counter-action-th sort of thing which
.Goering once threatened when he said
he would kin 10 British airmen prisoners
for every German parachutist who
might be killed by British Home Guards.
Whatever we do in the way OF reprisals,
the Germans will go us one better-or
10 times better. And then we shall have
to reply in kind-and so on In . horrible
infinity Of bloodshed
tCooyrisht. 1ezA.)
Evening star., 1945-01-01
As the New Year Downs

Ancient ttDo- faced Janus
Stands sotD at the door
OF the NetD Year-brape for al
That may lie IN store,
Tolerant and very iotse
With much gdrnered lore.
Janus, NTH the young face
Turned totodrd tomorrow,
Valiant ton the future days,
Cdncelling old sorro,o,
Something OF your tortitude
We trould pray to borrotp.
Janus, NTH the old face
Turned tofoard yesterday,
Heedful OF the lessons learned
And memories that stay.
Something OF your ,pisdon
Lend to rs, TOE pray.
B. Y. WILLIAMS.
Evening star., 1945-01-01

wardly and individually as when one
sees the casualty lists and pauses for
a moment to think of the bereaved.
National in scope, existing between
rich and poor alike. and cutting.
across all lines of race, color or creed,
it is relationship that reflects one
of the finer aspects Of the human
spirit. No one can tell how much
of it will remain after peace comes
and the emotional stresses of the
war are at an end. but even If it
lives on only as a warming memory,
our whole American neighborhood
will be the better for 1t.
Evening star., 1945-01-01
The Church and Peace

10 the Editor of The Star:
| cannot agree with the writer Of a
letter which appeared in The Star re-
Gently to the effect that the establish
ment OF plan for world peace was
purely a civil matter and that the
churches had no business at the peace
table.
Christ came to this world to bring
peace and teach men how to live. Ger
tainly, He is interested in the welfare
of His creatures.
A world court or league for peace de-
void of God is doomed to fail.
GEORGE P. RATE.
Evening star., 1945-01-01
And Argument

From the st. Louis Post Dispatch
1T is difference of opinion that makes
horse races" said Pudd 'nhead Wilson'S
Calendar. And-Twain might have
added-democracy ct work.
Evening star., 1945-01-01

the conquest of this enemy does not
promise to be simple; as Hitler's
speech makes clear, we are here
dealing not so much with normal
national leadership as with men
tai disease.
Evening star., 1945-01-01

Further Political Reflections
To the Editor Of The Star:
Some interesting statistics can be de-
Quoted from the final tally of the Mo-
vember 7 election, the total figures re-
Gently made public by the Associated
Press.
For instance, breakdown shows that
II States (Arkansas, California, Connec-
ticut, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada. South
Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and
Washington cast more votes in 1914
than they balloted in 1910.
In seven States California, Connec-
ticut, Georgia, Michigan. New York, Vir-
ginia and Washington President Roose-
velt captured more votes than he did in
1910.
While in % States Colorado, Della
ware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachu-
setts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska. New Hampshire, New Mexico,
New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Okla
homa, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island
South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Wash
ington and Wyoning) Gov. Dewey col
lected less votes in 1914 than Wendell
Willkie did in 1910.
Mr.. Dewey's total vote amounted to
22,018,l77, but Mr.. Willkie polled 49,
304, IT'S. In other words, Mr.. Wilkes
Vote-getting powers surpassed Mr.. Dew
ey's by 286,598.
Even more Illuminating: F. D. r. re-
ceived 100000 less votes than he did
in 1910. JOSEPH LEIB
Evening star., 1945-02-24

Service personnel may obtain
United Nations Center, NatiorSl
other information by calling the
5000, or any of the following USO's:
Republic 1927, National 0614, Ma
tional 3431 or Executive 0428. Col
ored service personnel may call
USO, Decatur 1854, or War Hospi-
tality, Decatur 7768.
Evening star., 1945-02-24
Deaths Reported

Morris Goldenberg. so. 1925 Spring I'd. NV
Alfred Alfred Lynch. Y. Soldiers Home.
William Mutchler, rs. 37O5 14th ST. NV.
Fred c.. Stuhr, 66. 1909 10th st, NV.
Henrietta Weaver, 60, 400 K st. Sc.
William Corbin, As, Romney, w Va.
Daniel W. Haley, A, 450 K st. NV.
John T. Economics, 6, l l NJ st. NV.
Judith Hamer. infant. 122 st. s.w.
Infant WEIGH, Temple Hills. Md.
Infant Stern; 40l0 Bird st. NV.
aenfiesfa HafleF GlafE g. 597 90 St st. s
Lucy Pitcher. so. 1916 Sth ST. NV
BENJAMIN r. johnson. 55, 715 Irving st
NV.
Roland L Baylor. Al. 1910 End st. s,w.
Mamie H. Barnaby, AZ. 740 Columbia I'd
NV.
Henry Sweeny, Al, 113 Hickman st Sc.
Jesse v. Butler. 81 1012 R st. NV.