davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-02-15
Engldnd's Four Chances
From the Quebec L. solsil.


According to an American journalist,
and for that matter the frequently sx-
pressed opinion In England itself, Lon
don would have been almost completely
destroyed by flying bombs and other
German inventions but for the invasion
OF the Continent last June. Three
times previously since 1889, rs history
probably will record, England was saved
by Hitler's mistakes. After Dunkeruue. if
Germany had, at all costs, landed Sc, 900
to 100000 men in England, despite all
the courage Of Britainfs disarmed citi-
Gems, the island would have been de-
feated. After the bombardments of
1910 and 1941, the general lack Of pro-
lection and the destruction of public
services were such that Germany had
another chance to reduce its enemy to a
state OF slavery. And Germany ruined
another opportunity when she attacked
the Soviet Union, which forced her to
night on two fronts. For England to
have escaped three or four risks Of GER
tain defeat she must have been cxcep-
tionaly favored by chance or, better, BY
Providence. Between the two wars
. Boche writer, whom We later discoy-
cred TO be In the pay Of Otto Abetz.
titled . book: Is God French?" IN the
years to come some Friedrich siebur0
surely viii ask the same question WITH
regard to the English.
Evening star., 1945-02-15
Who Can Oppose 1t?

Chairman Celler was taking a
refreshingly realistic view of the
situation yesterday when, inviting
opposition which was not expressed,
he brought the hearings before his
subcommittee to a close and said
that a favorable report on the
Sumners-Capper resolution would be
recommended to the full Judiciary
Committee.
For while there were enough
witnesses ready and waiting to fill
the record again with arguments
in favor of giving District residents
voice in their government and
while the record will be left open for
submission of additional written
statements, the real need now is
to bring this matter to a vote in
Congress and put the question be-
fore the people of the United States.
All the arguments are in. There is
little point in restating them.
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee made an excep-
tionally fine statement to the sub
committee along that line. He pre-
dicted that if the Summers Capper
resolution is brought before the
House it will be approved, with little
opposition. Individual members of
the House, in private conversation,
say the same thing. For on what
grounds can the resolution be op-
posed by anybody who believes in
the American system of govern
ment?
Chairman Summers went into that.
The pending resolution, he empha-
sized, merely enables Congress to
take the steps necessary to give
District sesidents voice in their
Government. But it does not COM
pei Congress to do anything. 1t
does not bind Congress to any
irrevocable decision. 1t does not
conflict with exclusive Federal juris-
diction over the seat of Government.
1t merely provides the means by
which Americans living in the
Capital of the United States can be
given "a just share of the inalienable
rights Of representation that belong
to all Americans"
Mr.. Celler's reason for expediting
the work of his own subcommittee
was that time, this year, is of the
essence. There must be speed If the
proposed constitutional amendment
is to be submitted to the majority OF
State Legislatures which meet this
year. Given fair opportunity for
consideration in both houses Of Con-
gress, such hope might well mate
rialize. Inaction, rather than I'M
favorable action, is the handicap.
Evening star., 1945-02-15

to be given opportunity to choose their
own governments, run on all fours with
the urgent plea made by the Michigan
Senator-at a time when it looked as
though these principles were being
tossed overheard.
Even the decision reached at Yalta
in regard to the Polish borders of the
future give the impression that q far
greater measure Of justice is to be done
than at first appeared on the surface.
While the eastern border Of Poland Is
to follow the so-called Curzon Line
generally, the language indicates that
one or more important Polish cities are
to be retained In Poland-which orig
inally might have been absorbed into
Russia.
The statement made no mention of
what Is to happen in regard to the
Baltic states Of Estonia, Latvia and Lith-
uania. specifically. It is presumed here,
however, that Russia will not again agree
to entire independence for these So
called provinces. These details may
come out as the Big Three statement
is amplifed.
The Big Three have been able to
reach an agreement on voting procedure
for the operation Of the United Nations
council, or whatever the organization IL
called, which develops out Of the Dunn
Barton Oaks parley. The details Of this
agreement are being withheld until
after France and China have been
consulted. This was principal
stumbling block at Dumbarton Oaks
and its settlement was left until the
so-called overall" meeting of the
United Nations should be held Russia
held out, at that time, for veto power
by any one Of the major powers, even
If that power happened to be de-
fendant in the dispute involved. It Is
believed that some compromise has been
reached on this voting veto-perhaps
eliminating the veto power in each vote
except where 1t calls for the use of
armed force. -
President Roosevelt, it Is clear from
the reports, was able effectively to pre-
sent the views Of the United States. He
was strengthened in his position by the
strong support given by Republicans rs
well as Democrats for international
collaboration by this country-but with
the understanding that there must be
q Just treatment Of liberated countries
a. well as frm hand in dealing with
the Naxis. He Is bringing back with
him results which give great hope for
the future.
Evening star., 1945-02-15
A Plea for Senior Soldiers


To the Editor Of The star:
With the. end of German resistance In
sight and the rehabilitation Of part
of our armed forces around the corner.
I believe some thought should be given
to the plight Of the older men in the
service. To date. this subject has not
been touched upon by Army authorities.
There are thousands of men above the
age OF IS who left wives and businesses
at home to join the services, yet who
are of no use to these services as combat
material.
These men will have the sreatest
dit1culty in adjusting themselves to .
postwar world. The majority are in
eligible for retraining or for the educa-
tional program offered to veterans by
the Army. A few years ago men Of 20
were too old for industry.
II these men we're suitable Tor COM
bat, there would be some Justification
for their retention In the armed service.
However, at present it is an unjust and
uneconomical procedure to follow in
view Of the adjustments which will
have to be made after the war.
It Is for these reasons that would
urge some consideration be given to the
question Of each soldiers age when de-
mobilization finally becomes d reality.
A SOLDIERS WIFE.
Evening star., 1945-02-15
The Fall of Budapest

Lie ldi VI ouudPcSU dlGcI lllly-
day siege initiates a new stage in
the Russian offensive up the Danube
Valley. Budapest was not merely
the capital and metropolis of Hun
gary, but also a major center Of
railroads and highways. Until that
vital bottleneck had been smashed,
Russian communications for fur
ther westward advances could not
be established. That is the reason
why the German high command
left behind in Budapest a garrison
Of nearly 100000 men charged with
holding to the last extremity, and
why costly but futile efforts were
made to raise the siege. It likewise
accounts for Russian concentration
on its capture, the rest of the Danube
front marking time until the cap
ture was complete.
The taking of Budapest was an
arduous and costly job for the Red
Army, emphasizing once again the
surprising truth revealed many
times in this war that even an un-
fortified city in the classic sense of
the term can, If constructed of
durable materials. be formidable
military obstacle. It's very ruins,
caused by artillery and air bonn
bardments, become more effective
barricades from which resolute de-.
tenders must be blasted out piece.
meal by infantry and light equip
ment at close quarters. This has an
important bearing on prospects for
the taking of Berlin, Vienna and the
network of industrial towns and
cities in the Rhineland and Ruhr
which stand in the path Of the Al
lied armies in the west.
A renewal of the Russian offensive
westward from Budapest can be an
ticipated as soon as the destruction
is cleared away and the former Hun
garian capital can be converted into
an efficient military base. However,
this does not imply an easy march
on Vienna, which lies about 100
miles to the westward. Two natural
barriers must be overcome by the
advancing Russians. Just west OF
Budapest the Danube flows between
& belt of high, wooded hills known
as the Bakony Forest. After that
the landscape opens out into wide
plain which again constricts into
another hilly belt on both banks Of
the Danube. Presumably both these
natural defense lines are well forth
fed and will be stubbornly defended
by the Germans and their Hunga-
rian satellites. As for Vienna itself,
1t is larger than Budapest and can
thus oyer similar opposition. Only
after Vienna falls viii the way be
Evening star., 1945-02-15
The World Hos Chunqed

The acorld has changed: each boundary
gnd border
Il nsoOed to 1T the nsonenrs nsasterp;
The surface OF the earth lies N dis
The ktn0dons and the island ana the
PsrhSps !. too, hare changed through
I'll OF this,
Being 80 long part OF mad events
That ns0Ued in siire and suitt paralysis,
Nair,ing and Gripping men and con-
tiMents.
Back home again suing on cratches
through
The smo6th broton fields. the hills
from iDhence came,
And knotD the smell OF spring, end
find the pieD
OF cottonpoods and ,pilloe1s & the
same.
Here Is the placs that hate 4nd hms
forgot.
The porld has chaHgsd, but hosns,
thsxk God, has net!
COSETT8 MIDDLETON.
Evening star., 1945-02-15
To Hurmonize Policies

The decision of the Crimea Con-
ference to set up permanent ma
chinery for regular meetings to be
held by their foreign secretaries
promises to be most constructive in
concerting the policies of the Big
Three on problems of mutual inter-
est, thus minimizing the danger of
unilateral action.
As now agreed, the American Sec
retary OF State, the British Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs and the
Russian Commissar for Foreign Al
fairs will confer with each other "as
often as may be necessary, probably
about every three or four months"
with the meetings to be held in ro-
tation in the three capitals. 1t would
Of course be over-hopeful to expect
perfection from this new arrange
ment, but certainly such system
attic procedure should 60 far to-
ward eliminating much of the con-
fusion and misunderstanding oc-
casioned in the past by the Big
Three's tendency to act independ-
emily of each other in matters call
ing for joint consideration.
The European Advisory Commis-
sion, which was established after the
Moscow Conference, has been help
full in many ways notably in prepar-
ing plans for the occupation of Ger
many. But as incidents in Italy,
Greece and Poland have demon
strated, 1t has been inadequately
equipped to do the job that needs to
be done il the Big Three are to have
q reasonably unified approach to the
multiplicity of political and eco
nomic problems growing out of the
liberation of Europe. This deficiency
unquestionably loomed very large
in the discussions at Yalta, and it
is a measure of the Importance at
tached to it that the conferees de-
cided to turn over the task Of better
coordination directly to the highest
foreign-policy officials OF the three
countries.
With so much Of Europe already
liberated and with Germany's defeat
only matter of time, the situation
demands that Russia, Britain and
the United States act together. not
separately or at cross-purposes. in
meeting what the Crimea conferees
have described as "the temporary
period of instability" left in the wake
Of the war. Accordingly, it is highly
encouraging that they have pledged
themselves to concert their policies
and that their foreign secretaries
will hold a continuing series of con-
sultations in an effort to see that
Evening star., 1945-02-15

The offensive OF the lst Canadian
Army between the Mas and the Rhine
southwest Of Nijmegen has had its ex-
pected result: Field Marshal Won Rund-
stedt has been compelled to send some
Of his best reserve divisions to khis
northern sector In an endeavor to check
Gen. Crerar's progress.
The Reichwald has already been
cleared Of the enemy, Cleve is In Ca
madam hands, Gennep. on the Mas,
has been taken by Scottish troops and
the important Rhine crossing point Of
Emmerich is coming under the tire Of
Crerar,s artillery.
Thus the LIST Canadian Army has
gained important successes, and II those
successes continue they viii amount to
q turning Of the northern flank Of the
Siegfried defenses, plus the securing Of
an alternate position tat Emmerich or
perhaps at WeseD at which an at
tempt could be made TO force crossing
Of the Rhine into the North German
plain.
So threatened, Observation-Disclosures
q reluctance easily imagined - has
thrown in six additional divisions to
help the remnants Of the S4th Infantry
Division (which has been virtually de-
stroyed In trying to hold the Reichs-
wald). He has shifted the 160th In-
fantry Division northWard from an ad-
Joining sector.
He has shifted the I'd Paratroop Divi-
sion eastward from tbs Arnhem sector.
which has weakened that crucial point
for which Won Rundstedt may later have
to pay And he has brought Ii four
divisions of his strategic reserve: The
9Th Paratroop Division. which has been
on the Lower Mas dt was probably
part Of the group that was assembled
there In the hope Of going back to the
mouth Of the Scheldt ct the time Of the
Ardennes otfensive1: the 7th Paratroop
Division from Alsace, and the 18th
Panzer Grenadier and 116th Panzer Di-
visions, which are part Of the forces
rescued from the Ardennes battle.
But these German reinforcements are
obviously faced with much stronger
force under Gen Crerarx command.
While only seven divisions Al told have
10 far been identified IN news roports =
belonging to the 1st Canadian Army 6
Canadian. British, Polish and
mixed Dutch Belgian -CEech) 1t = clear
from glance ct the map an estimate
f the frontages and Of the essential
reseryes and ~ ysogroos alreaAy ac-
Evening star., 1945-02-15
This Changing World
By CoHsfSHfiMe Brows

Reports received here indicate higla
hopes are held that something bene-
ncial to the Allied cause win result 1rom
the economic conference now being held
In Bern. Switzerland. Although the
chief purpOse Of the meeting u 10 dis-
cuss With the Swiss the resumption Of
commerce with the Allies. many ether
topics are to come up and It Is these
that may draw the most attention.
Some time ago the Swiss government
felt pretty bitter toward the Allies, espe-
cially Russia, which had refused to rive
1t diplomatic recognition and which re-
peatedly had attacked 1t rs being pro-
Fascist. And while Switzerland,s feeling
toward the Soviet has changed little,
there Is definite improvement In the
feeling toward the other Allied countries.
The present Bern conference, though it
has just started, Is believed to have
already formed the basis for better
understanding between Switzerland and
the Allies.
Several weeks ago when the United
States Government denounced Switzer-
lands actions regarding trade relations
with Germany the Swiss became very
indignant. But there appeared nothing
else they could do about 1t. A nation of
4;000, 900 persons cannot expect to do
much against q nation Of more than
10000, 900, they concluded.
n
Later, Secretary Of State 6tettinius
announced that new negotiations re-
sarding Americas enonomic relations
With Switzerland would be undertaken.
Our efforts to shorten the war render
1t imperative that these negotiations
be undertaken without delay" Mr.. Stet-
tinius said. The assignment Of Lauchlin
Currie to head the American delegation
to Bern followed.
Last fall, long before the start Of the
big Russian offensive against the Ger
mans, there was = certain degree of
nervousness among oficials Of the Swiss
government because Of fears stemming
from the Russian threat in the direction
OF Austria and because Of the Soviet's
increasing criticism of the Swiss. But
now that the Big Three have met at
Yalta and the Swiss apparently have
been left out Of any plans revolving
Evening star., 1945-02-15
Mr.. Byrnes Gets Bock

The return of War Mobilization
Director James F. Byrnss from the
Yalta Conference strengthens the
hope that the Senate will adopt
manpower legislation adequate to
meet the needs of the Nations war
production program.
A most unfavorable situation was
awaiting Mr.. Byrnes when he got
back to Washington. The House
version of the May-Bailey bill had
encountered exceedingly rough go
ing In the Senate Military Affairs
Committee. At the outset, sentiment
in the committee favored amend
ments which would substitute the
War Manpower Commission for Sc
lective service as the agency through
which drafted" workers would be
placed in war jobs. These amend
ments would have left with selective
service the function of choosing the
workers to be drafted, however, and
the changes had the approval of
several administration spokesmen.
There were intimations that Mr..
Byrnes also favored them, although
it now appears that this was not
the case. Be that as it may, the bill
was not materially weakened, and
may even have been improved in
some respects, by those proposed
revisions. The real question was
whether the House, which had ex-
pressed itself rather emphatically in
the first instance. would agree to
any change bringing the War Man
power Commission into the picture.
The Senate committee has gone
on from there. however In recent
days there have been indications
that the members were planning to
scuttle the May bill in either orig
inal or amended form, and 60. back
to the Voorhis plan which was re-
jected in the House. This is the So
called voluntary system which con-
templates strengthening the VINO
by giving it statutory authority to
apply employment ceilings. This
method, If used with flrmness, would
force people out of their present
jobs and into the labor market. But
it would be an undiscriminating
process which might or might not
make available the skilled workers
needed, and which probably would
put the less desirable workers into
war jobs since the natural tendency
of employers affected by the ceilings
would be to keep their good work.
ers and let the others 60. Finally
it would provide no method of deal
ing with the serious problem of
turnover, and would offer no means
of coping with the critical war en-
ployment problems which are ex-
pected to arise when the European
conflict ends.
With Mr.. Byrnes back at the helm,
it may be possible to get the SEN
ate committee back to serious CON
sideration of constructive and ef-
fective legislation. At any rate, Mr..
Byrnes has declared his position in
fortnight language and he deserves
the fullest support Of the President,
for the experience Of the past few
weeks has shown how difficult it is
to resist the temptation to write
manpower legislation which would
offend no one at the price of doing
little or no good.
Evening star., 1945-02-15
Canadian Successes
By MAJ. GeorSe Fielding Eliot

complished, that Crcrar diSpoSes Of .
considerably stronger force than this.
Since the number Of Canadian divi-
sions has probably not been increased.
it IL reasonable to assume that addi-
tional British divisions have been added
to the 1st Canadian Army. Crerar's
numerical superiority IS probably not
less than to /, coupled with . cor
responding superiority in guns and ar
NOR and . tremnedous air support.
The fact Is, on this front as on other
sectors in the west, the Allies can pro-
duce q local superiority Of decisive pro-
portions in almost any sector they
choose-but they are fighting the ter
rain as well as the German Army. Thus
the Canadian corps on the left flank of
the present advance Is actually con-
ducting what are described rs water
borne" operations.
The conditions Of mud, flood and inter-
secting canals are such that in some
sectors progress Is q matter Of capturing
and holding = succession OF little "is-
lands" Of high ground, completely sur
rounded by water.
Heavy transport, guns and tanks can
move only on the roads, which permits
the Germans to concentrate their de-
fez1sive IRE. Under these conditions,
the surprising thing IS that the Canadi-
ans and British have been able to make
- much progress as they have, and this
very progress suggests how superior
their numbers must be.
The moment Is perhaps appropriate
for pointing out that Gen. Crcrar and
his stan of the 1st Canadian Army have
carried out with great skill and work.
manlike precision every task 20 lar en-
trusted to them
The LIST Canadian Army may justly
complain that II has been given by the
tough luck Of war more than its share.
of the dirty work. " but it has performed
al IT. tasks well, just as It Il performing
this one. It Is good to realize that 4
further advance OF only about three
miles win, on most Of the front, bring
the troops to higher and drier ground
and give an opportunity to cut loose the
arrnored divisions.
However pleasant q reflection this may
be for Gen. Crerar, 1t can hardly be very
comforting to Field Marshal yon Rund-
stedt. It requires no further analysis to
make clear the central fact cf this whole
situation the loss of 900 men In the
Ardennes battle was ! less which the
German armies n the vest could ~
AFFORD.
sessvrishA isls1
Evening star., 1945-02-15

around Soviet control. the Swiss oflcials
are resting much easier.
II u even reported that hope has
arisen that resumption Of Swiss-6 Soviet
diplomatic relations may come about ~
. result Of the Bern conference. The
Swiss press has indicated such . hope,
and this Is only enc Of the matters that
may lie behind the outward intent OF
the conference that is, resumption Of
Swiss commerce with the Allies.
Three countries are represented at
Bern In the present talks-the United
States, Britain and France -and the
6wiss are said to be highly sratified
that they have sent important repre-
sentattyes to carry On the negotiations
instead Of resorting to the usual diplo-
matte channels. Mr.. Currie, whom
President Roosevelt some time ago sent
to China to help ease the feelings Of
Generalisstmo Chang Kai-shek, has
already made at least one public state
ment which pleased the Swiss people.
Mr.. Currie said ct 1 press conference
earlier in the week that the Allied Ma
tions had no intention Of violating
Swiss neutrality much less drawing
Switzerland into the war-and added
that the Allies always would respect
that neutrality.
He expressed the hope that Switzer-
land would help In search for enemy
looted property concealed outside Ger
many" and in this connection touched
on subject which has been very dear
to the Swiss people for many years.
The secrecy OF banking transactions
is well guarded by Swiss banking laws,
and the Swiss have long insisted that
these laws be respected by other nations.
Any hint Of action to the contrary would
at once bring down a flood Of denun-
ciation from Bern officials, while on the
other hand the Swiss welcome state
ment OF any nation that violation would
never be considered under any cir
cumstance.
Whatever the result, it appears likely
that Allied diplomacy will have won q
victory when the Bern sessions are over
While the assistance of any nation Is
desirable, 1t must be borne in mind that
Switzerland needs Allied good will more
than the Allies need Switzerlands.