davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-04-06
Liberuting Holland

The break-through of Canadian
and British troops on the extreme
northern end of the Allied invasion
of the Reich portends quick en-
circlement of the German occupa-
ton forces in the Netherlands.
When attained. this objective will
have several important conse-
quences.
German occupation of the Meth
erlands has been major thorn In
the Allied side. It's islands and
estuaries have afforded numerous
bases for U-boat attacks on Allied
shipping in the North Sea. Its ter
ritory has provided airfields and
sites for the launching of rocket
bombs on London. Lastly, mere
possession of the country has af-
forded a strategic screen for the
narrow North Sea frontage Of the
Reich itself. making impossible sue
cessful Allied attacks on the Ger
man ports Of Bremen and Hamburg
which could largely solve transpor-
tation problems for the Allied con-
quest of Northern Germany.
With the British and Canadians
almost within long-range artillery
reach of the Zuyder Zee, the ex-
tensive estuary which reaches deep
into the Netherlands. the dissection
of this small country is well-nigh
accomplished. The Germans have
apparently seen the handwriting on
the wall, for their mobile units have
been streaming eastward out OF the
Netherlands for several days. Fa-
vored by cloud cover, the maneuver
may have largely succeeded. The
chances are that German garrisons
have been left at the port of Rotter-
dam and other key Dutch points to
interdict them for Allied use, at
least for a time. Nevertheless. the
liberation of the Netherlands will
be an important strategic gain for
the Allies and will hasten the COL
lapse of German resistance in North
western Germany. Bremen and
Hamburg should thus soon be in
Allied hands, and even in their shat
tered state should be notably useful.
Besides its purely strategic aspect.
liberation of the Netherlands will
terminate one of the most tragic
aspects of the war-the martyrdom
of the Dutch people. The failure Of
the Allied attempt to breach the
Rhine barrier at Arnhem last au-
tumn left most of the Netherlands
under German control. and there
by plunged the bulk of the Dutch
population, concentrated north Of
Evening star., 1945-04-06

come Immediately a theater of active
operations.
These are highly significant assump-
tions, but I do not see how We can ex-
plain the Russian action save in some
such terms.
Against this background it is of ex-
traordinary interest to note that Koiso
had been replaced as Premier in this
blacklist of hours for Japan by an
elderly naval officer long known as of
moderate and even antimilitarist views,
Admiral Kantaro Suzuki. 1t will be
recalled that in February, 1886, when a
group Of young officers of the Japa-
nese Army decided to assassinate some
of the moderate leaders, Suzuki was
one Of the victims; he was wounded, bu:
escaped with his life. He may now be
the window dressing" for a Japanese
peace offensive; this may well be the
shift in the japanese cabinet long pre-
dicted in this column and elsewhere
which would necessarily precede an at
tempt to seek negotiated peace.
Much, of course, will depend on the
membership of Suzuki's cabinet, par
ticularly his War Minister, and to a
less extent his Minister of Foreign Al
fairs. If the War Minister turns out
to be a reactionary supermilitarist,
then the Japanese are still trying to
play it both ways-or, to take slightly
different viewpoint, the faction which
wants peace now has only partially pre-
vailed over the faction which wants to
60 on fighting. But even if the new
cabinet is wholly of moderate" char
acter, that will not rule out an attack
on the Russian Far Eastern provinces,
as the Kwantung army clique, con-
trolling the japanese forces in Man
churia and Korea, is quite capable of
launching such an attack on its own
responsibility.
The point for Americans to keep
firmly in mind is that we must not be
deceived by the appointment of Su-
zuki or any other alleged moderate"
or liberal" cabinet ministers. The
Japanese war lords may seem to be
out of favor, but they will continue to
be a danger to our security and to the
peace of mankind until they are COM
pletely discredited by the unconditional
surrender of the empire which they
sought to make the overload Of Asia
and of the world.
All Americans will welcome Russian
collaboration in the task of bringing
that surrender to pass
Copyright, 1945)
Evening star., 1945-04-06
This and That
Bu Charles E. Trdce1DeU.
BANGOR, Me

Dear Sir:
I'VE have solved the squirrel trouble
while keeping our very tame animals
friendship
I'VE bought several china seed con-
tainerS such as are used in bird cages.
made simple inches in blocks of wood
to hold each one, with two long nails
in the wood in front of each china con-
tainer to hold it in place, mailing these
to the garage walls in different places.
These we fill with mixture of Wild
bird seed, raisins and peanut butter,
than which there is no more delicious
meal. These containers are all, of
course, painted gayly and have an added
small shelf and perch.
"The chickadees have their own, with
sunfower seed and seldom make mis-
take in the choice of diner.
Zone Of these 1-pound tobacco wooden
barrels makes a charming birdhouse
Cut hole in one end, peg in perch,
screw two eyes to balance and hang in
the garden. These, painted gayly, are
always full.
II may add the squirrels now eat from
our hand and will wait patiently until
we come, never attempting to climb to
I'VE enjoy your column so much, sub
scribing to The Star.
Yours truly, L. F. j."
Outwitting the squirrels is a favorite
sport Of those who feed the birds.
A local resident has the following
scheme:
He hangs wire loosely between two
trees, at height of about to 10 feet.
jv,f ic To hot
when the feeding station is attached to
the middle by wire 18 inches long it
will cause the long wire to be pulled
down in a v shape.
From the center wire discarded tuna
fish tin is hung by three short wires.
The dip in the long wire is what dis
concerts the squirrel raider
He does not like the feel" of things,
as he tentatively takes step out on it.
At least, this is what this homeowner
says.
A rope or cord would not affect the
animal this way. He would either chew
the rope in two, letting the feeder down,
or he would walk along it, if it were
taut.
Out our way, the squirrels probably
would solve this one. We have the most
intelligent squirrels in the world, we
honestly believe.
We have seen them sit off and sur
vey problem offered them just as If
they were "quizz kids!
TRY, try again" is their motto. Sew
eral attack a problem at time, and
soon it is solved.
Our squirrels are not as nice as those
Of our correspondent.
Ours were unable to solve a feeding
station hung to the side of the garage,
but instead of taking it calmly, they. got
on the roof and began to gnaw the edge,
and even the clapboards.
Probably they were simply trying to
gnaw way down. Gnawing, in squir-
rel land, is a road to almost anything
they desire.
This time, however, 1t almost seemed
as if the animals we're moved by sheer
malice. It was as if they were saying,
Swing that food where We can get it,
or we will chaw your garage to pieces!"
Our correspondents idea Of use of a
smoking tobacco container, made in the
form of barrel, is an interesting one
But all birdhouses preferably are left
unpainted, or painted a plain gray,
green or brown. Ordinarily birds do not
like gay colors, either in feeding stations
or houses.
Evening star., 1945-04-06
Far East Developments
Bv Mai. Georqe Fieldinp EH0


F.. Two major developments, both affect
ing Japan, featured the news Of April S.
One is the denunciation by the Soviet
Union of the Russo-Japanese neutrality
pact. This pact expires April Is, 1916,
and would be automatically renewed
unless denounced by either party one
year prior to its expiration. Hence the
pact still has little over year to run,
but the Russian action prevents its
automatic renewal at its expiration and
gives notice Of change in Russian
policy from that hitherto pursued Of
getting along with the Japanese in
the Far East
The other notable event is the mass
resignation of the Japanese cabinet
headed by Premier Koiso. Whether the
Russian action was the final straw which
broke this camel's back is not yet clear.
1t is altogether possible that Premier
Koiso's government felt, on the grounds
of the desperate military situation, with
the Japanese fleet and air force no
longer able to defend the approaches to
the homeland, with American air power
firmly established at Two and in course
of establishment on Okinawa.
The Russian denunciation of the neu-
trality pact carries with it certain very
strong suggestions. First of all, of
course, it is a pretty clear indication
that the Soviet government means to
take an active part in shaping the
future destinies of East Asia and wants
its hands free to take such steps as it
may consider to be in Russian interests.
X
The denunciation should not be taken
to imply immediate military interven-
ton by Russia against Japan in Man.
churia and Korea and in the Sea of
Japan, nor even-neceSsarily- i'm
mediate opening Of Russian air and sea
bases for American use. The neutrality
pact still has year to run, even though
denounced and the Russians are still
occupied with the German war.
But the Russians certainly did not
act without taking fully into considera-
ton the very strong possibility that a
desperate Japan might attack their
Far Eastern territories .forthwith-on
the theory that however dangerous such
course might be, 1t would at least
offer some slight chance Of success, or
a better chance at all events than
waiting until the Russians have wound
up the German war and are ready to
act with their full strength in the Far
East, subject only to the difficulties Of
their communications.
Hence we are entitled to assume that
the Russian high command, whose ad-
vice was assuredly sought on this very
important decision, have advised their
political superiors somewhat along
these lines:
/. That the Russian forces in the
Far East are initially capable Of taking
care of any attack which the japanese
are able to launch against them; and
2. That the German war Is now sum-
GENTLY near stage at which Russian
commitments can be substantially re-
duced, so that the Far Eastern forces
could be supplied and reinforced In q
reasonable time should that region be-
Evening star., 1945-04-06

after the divisions had been ordered
shifted German military commentators
spoke confidently about German courl-
terattack against the Russians. 1t never
materialized, however, because the REIN
forcements from the west arrived too
late.
Meanwhile, the Allies in the Oest
began their major drive. The German
forces were much too weak to make a
determined stand on the whole front.
The "impregnable" Siegfried Line crum-
bled under the attack of superior Allied
forces. The number of enemy regular
divisions had been greatly diminished
and the Volkssturm was far too poorly
trained and equipped to make good
showing.
The next ma jor mistake was the fall
ure of the German forces which guarded
the Remagen bridge to destroy it. There
have been many contradictory explana-
tions but none given SO far have been
plausible. Hence, the suspicion among
some military observers that there Is
much more to the story of the bridge
than now Is known.
Ever since Allied forces succeeded in
crossing the Rhine there has been only
local and desultory opposition. In some
sectors the fighting has been bitter and
costly to the Allies. But on the whole
the quick advance of our armies has
been far less expensive than originally
had been expected by our military plan
ners
After the break-through Won Rund-
stedt was removed from command for
the second time in less than year. But
it is doubtful whether Field Marshal
Kesselring, also a professional soldier
of the old German Army, will perform
differently than Won Rundstedt. His
strategy has not been much of an i'm
provement over his predecessors He
also is said TO believe the remaining
German effort must be to defend the
eastern front and particularly the Han
seattle ports threatened by the Red
armies
There is nothing definite which would
permit anybody to say that the German
generals have broken away from the
Nazis and wish to surrender to the
western Allies But there are some in
dications which justify the suspicion
that these professional soldiers still hold
the false hope they can obtain better
treatment for Germany if they facili-
tate the task Of the Allies.
Evening star., 1945-04-06
Interval

This day seems patterned on an Irish
loom,
NoD 1Dinds that lately S,oept their
grevous tone
Across the shrouded crocus, light
bloom
And call each rugged rock blarney
stone.
The robust robins marble In the trees,
Seeking the sun through tempera.
mental gates,
And though the moods resound ,Dith
melodies,
They sometimes stop to argue pith
their mates.
The de1p that gems each struggling
blade OF grass
With fire and promise, soon Is lifted
high
And, mingled ,Dith the neighboring
clouds that pass,
Speaks lightning challenge from
shamrock sky.
The storms tempestous fury, being brief
But lanterns beauty under every leaf.
RUBY ALTIzER ROBERTS.
Evening star., 1945-04-06
Letters to The Star
Considers History Reversed
In Security Conference

In Security Conference
To the Editor of The Star:
What Is the background Of the World
Security Conference to be held in San
Francisco on April 25th? My answer is:
The background of the security con-
ference is the repudiation on the part
of the United States of the treaty of
Versailles and the League Of Nations
by this country in 1919 and 1920-when
the Senate refused to ratify the treaty
Of Versailles by vote of So to 38 and
when Warren G.. Harding was elected
President on an anti-League of Nations
platform. BY reason of the double defeat
of the treaty of Versailles and the
League of Nations, the United States
chose as its foreign policy splendid
isolation" In carrying out that policy
this Nation separated itself completely
from responsibility for world conditions.
The United States also by becoming
host to the World Security Conference
repudiates the Neutrality Act of 1885.
which act, amended, is still the law
of the United States. In other words,
the United States by playing host to
the international security gathering
in the city Of the Golden Gate re-
pudiates all the foreign relations history
that this Nation has written between
World War I and World War II.
BY acting host at San Francisco the
United States, after a lapse of nearly
26 years, UNDERWRITERS all that Woodrow
Wilson stood for and all that he did to
establish permanent peace" in the
world. WILLIAM H. HARGROVE.
California, Mo.
Evening star., 1945-04-06
Wants Germany Divided

10 the Edltor OF Ihe star:
Germany, by twice drenching the
earth with blood, has forfeited her
right to be nation.
The Germans know only Hitler ideolo-
gies-an imagined superiority and lust
for world domination. A new German
government would be Nazi, and no
power on earth could prevent her again
secretly preparing for a third war to
become ruler of the world.
A just and lasting peace requires
that the Germans not be permitted to
have government, but that country
be divided into sections and each por-
ton be given to one of the countries
she has invaded and devastated, the
Germans in each section to live under
the rule of the government OF that
country to which they were assigned,
and help replace what their people have
destroyed.
This would prevent a third world
war she otherwise could start in another
20 years.
Forgiveness should depend on re-
pentance. Germany will never repent.
w. E. j.
Evening star., 1945-04-06
Real NotionuIism
From the Winnipeg Free Press:

Because rampaging, irresponsible ma
tionalism has been such a power Of
evil in the world the word itself has
fallen into disrepute. But there is
another nationalism, an enlightened
and responsible nationalism, which is a
potent force for good. This must be
the form which Canadian nationalisrn
must take and will take. It must be
reflected in a willingness and eager
ness on Canada's part to assume her
rightful place and full responsibility
with the other enlightened nations Of
the world to preserve the fruits Of
peace so dearly purchased in this war.
Canada, in this respect, must willingly
shoulder all the obligations which 60
with nationhood. She can achieve her
destiny In no other way.
Evening star., 1945-04-06
Our New Ally in Asia


year neutrality pact with Japan
constitutes one of the wars most
momentous developments, promising
in its potentialities at least-to
have profound effect on the dura-
ton of the Far Eastern struggle and
to make the cost of that struggle, in
terms of American blood and the
blood of other Allies, considerably
less than it might otherwise be.
The denunciation, of course, will
not necessarily be followed up by
prompt military action. Under terms
of the treaty-signed in April of
1941 as a mutually convenient truce
between historic enemies-the obli-
cations assumed by both contracting
parties are supposed to be honored
for another year, despite the notice
just served by Russia. In our over
all Allied strategy, moreover, several
factors, including weather and ter
rain. may make it undesirable for
the Soviet Union to 60 to war against
Japan at this time.
Conceivably. however, since the
denunciation leaves no room for
doubt that the Stain government
considers Japan an enemy both in
the sense of having helped Germany
against the U. S. S. R. and of being
at war with the U. S. s. RS major
Allies. hostilities between the two
countries may we'll develop in the
near future. In desperation, indeed,
seeing giant pincers shaping
against their home islands. the
japanese may precipitate events by
launching sudden attack in an ef-
fort to cripple the Russians in East
ern Siberia. Or new incidents" may
occur along the Manchurian border
to make war inevitable long before
the neutrality pact has chance to
live out its remaining year Of life.
And wholly apart from such pos
sibilitieS as these, there is this point
to be weighed That the Soviet
Union, as one of the United Nations,
is committed to the principle of joint
action against aggressors. that 1t
regards Japan as an aggressor, and
that it may therefore feel that its
pledges in the treaty of 1941 have
already been superseded and null
lifted by higher obligations.
But we shall have to wait for
events themselves to give the answer
to speculation on this point. All we
can be sure of at the moment is that
the denunciation, whether imple-
mented by early military action or
not. will almost certainly make the
harried Japanese divert much of
their armed strength northward to-
ward Siberia, easing to that extent
the task of our American, British
and Chinese forces. Further. the
prospect implicit in the denuncia-
tion-the prospect of active Russian
participation in the Far Eastern war
clearly promises that that war
may be appreciably shortened.
From the standpoint of the Rus
slams themselves. the denunciation
ends the anomalous situation-dic-
tated largely by their titanic struggle
with the Germans-in which they
were allied with us in the European
theater but remained aloofly neutral
in the Pacific and Asia. 1t means,
too, assuming they are going to war
against Japan sooner, or later, that
they will have an important voice in
the Far Eastern peace settlement.
Looked at in any light, Russia's ac-
ton thus has the most far-reaching
significance. To the Japanese, criti-
cally burdened and harassed already,
it must come as a final blow to the
last Of their vanishing hopes.
Evening star., 1945-04-06

the Rhine, into a veritable hell of
starvation, cold and restitution.
Quick relief is essential if a catas-
trophe greater even than that of
Greece is to be averted. Each days
delay is of vital Importance. The
freeing of Holland from Nazi domi-
nation is thus top priority from
humanitarian as well as military
motives. It cannot come too soon.
Evening star., 1945-04-06

theses around short and withal
pleasant period in the farm calen-
dar. The ache of winter is gone;
the rush of spring plowing and
planting has not arrived. 1t is an
interlude of marking time. pre-
amble to another seasons work.
Evening star., 1945-04-06
Yomushitu's Silence
From the Montreal Star:

American headquarters in Manila an
nounces that 308,180 Japanese troops
have been counted in death or prison
cages since the first invasion operations
in the Philippines. Little wonder that
Gen. Yamashita has been 50 quiet since
his November proclamation that he
soon would win a glorious victory for
the Emperor and demand Gen. Mac
Arthur's unconditional surrender"
Evening star., 1945-04-06
Praise for Chaplain's Address

fralSe Tor Chapla1n'S Address
To the Editor OF The Star
I have read with profound interest
the magnificent memorial address pub
lished in your paper on April which
was delivered by Chaplain Gittelsohn at
the Division Cemetery in praise of the
valor of our Marines who sacrificed
their lives at Two Jima in order that
future wars might be averted
Such an address, only second to that
delivered by our illustrioS Lincoln,
ought to be printed in the Congress
sional Record for preservation and his
torical reference. Likewise it should be
carefully pondered by our President,
the delegates to the San Francisco Con-
ference and every member Of the United
States Senate for guidance in the for
mutation Of any treaty binding this
country to prevent future wars.
Congratulations to Corpl. Charles H.
Westfall who had foresight to place
the address in such appreciative hands.
JOHN E. HOOVER.
Evening star., 1945-04-06

Will some one kindly provide comic
strip artists and radio script writers
with some new gag to take the place
of the one about the husband who
spills cigarette ashes all over the
house?
Evening star., 1945-04-06

Students Of the German language
complain that it is full Of words
made up of smaller words jumbled
together in an unrecognizable en-
semble. The same thing is now
true of German cities.
Evening star., 1945-04-06
Also SIina?

From the st. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Free tip for sportsmen: It Is nov
legal to shoot eels with a bow and ar
row in New York State.
Evening star., 1945-04-06
Man One Wicked Animal

To the Editor of The Star:
1t has been well said that mans in
humanity to man is exceeded only by his
callous cruelties to the so-called lower
animals.
The current annual rabies hysteria
is case in point.
When will selfish humanity learn that
in 95 cases out of 100 a "rabid"
dog is merely a hungry, thirsty, mis-
treated or neglected dog that has be-
come desperate?
A far greater menace to the residents
Of Washington and other cities than
rabid dogs is the rat menace, a prod
uct Of mans own filthy habits.
But the majority of humans would
rather strew wasted food to tester into
reeking debris and breed vermin and
rats than to tend a cat or dog, the
friends and allies of man.
And when one considers that the
leading industry Of that higher" animal
man now has become organized mass
slaughter of his own species considerable
temerity is needed to refer to lower
animals. THERESA H. RUSSELL.
Prefers Understanding to Police
To the Editor of The Star:
If it is true that the Japanese propa-
gandists have been inoculating their
soldiers and sailors with the idea that
the members of Americas armed forces
are heartless criminals, as some of our
returning servicemen say, then is it any
wonder that the japanese soldiers and
sailors have atrociously treated Amer
lean prisoners of war?
For long while the slave trade lead
ers convinced our forefathers that the
Negro was a soulless and savage being
and, if history is correct, lot Of those
forefathers did not accord the Negro
slaves they purchased the utmost in
humanitarian treatment. Should we
expect the Japanese to react to preju-
dice-arousing misinformation differently
than the white man?
AS it seems to me, what Is needed
more than an armed force to maintain
peace in the world is a greater under
standing among the worlds peoples
But then, how can that ever be brought
about when the majority Of the worlds
peoples apparently are inclined only to
heed those who seek to promote mis-
understanding? J. J. SPERRY.