The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1945-04-12
Is the Big Moment at hand?

Is the Big Moment at hand?
AS we watch the newspapers and
listen to the radio, it would seem that
the sweep Of Allied forces is about to
knock the Nazis off their pins, for a
spinning loop.
Some commentators tell us that
there is plenty of hard fighting
ahead; some think it's almost all over
in Europe.
Well, events will speak for them
selves as the days go by.
Certainly, up to now the Allied
armies have been rushing along at
speed which indicates Decentralization
in enemy ranks.
But, we had best not count victory
finally won until Gen. Eisenhower
says it is won.
He has said that the end is in sight,
but nobody has ceased firing yet.
But, when the shooting ends, that
means really that only ONE phase of
the war is over.
1t is impossible to know now what
will be the policing job ahead in
Europe. Nobody yet knows for sure
how much hate is stored up in the
warped minds of the German people.
Upon that may depend good deal
of the answer to the question: What
do we face after the armies are
beaten and how many troops will be
required for policing?
The whole question is filled with
imponderables.. For example, when
can we say the war is over? When
the main Nazi armies are beaten, or
when guerilla warfare ends?
The other war ended because there
remained command that could give
general surrender order and get
obeyed Is there any such force to-
day? We do not know, but probably
not.
So, we can only stick to our guns,
at home as well as on the fronts.
\
Definitely we cannot afford to go
nuts for quite while yet.
1t is in the nature of Americans to
go nuts when something big happens
to celebrate victories in wild and
luxurious fashion; to take off the
brakes; to forget restraints.
Well, this time the restraints must
continue. For one thing, the Jap war
goes on. 1t goes well, but it still goes,
with probably long road to go. For
another thing, Europe is a tangled
mess, physically and mentally shot.
The hungry hordes of vast devas-
tated areas and of great ruined
economies will make their imperative
demands.
Hunger can be very dangerous.
Don't expect too much too soon,
here at home.
Already the isolationist and aberra-
zionist groups here at home are TAX
ing fresh courage They are starting
to spread their propaganda all over
again.
They tell us and they will keep
on telling us be 'fair" to the
beaten foe. "Go little easy on the
German people, they will say.
So, we will have to keep on polio
ing - and feeding - impoverished
peoples, friend and foe = AND we
shall have to keep on watching the
home front, to prevent distortion of
issues.
How badly we need good judgment
an even keel.
While we try to work with Russia
in international matters, the damfool
at nome will make it
very difficult and even the Kremlin
will try to pull fast ones, like the de-
mand for seating the Lublin Mos
cow government at San Francisco.
Does all of this discussion lead TO
4 logical conclusion? NO, for the
very good reason that events are in
90 much of red hot flux to permit
ANY conclusion, except that we must
continue to keep our minds alert and
,ur final judgments in allegiance. No
var is over until peace is finally es-
ablished,-CMW.