davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-03-21
The Final Phase

Although experience in this war
tends to discourage any soaring
flights of optimism, the latest news
from the Pacific supplies ample basis
for the assertion that the fight with
Japan has moved into what Rear
Admiral De Witt Clinton Ramsey
calls it's final phase"
American carrier planes have just
dealt a crushing blow to what was
left of the japanese imperial fleet.
This enemy fleet. beaten and driven
from the open Pacific, had sought
refuge in Japans inland sea. Pre-
sumably it went there for two
reasons-to hide out while battle
wounds were being repaired and to
obtain the additional protection of
land-based aircraft. But the enemy
was to find no sanctuary in the in
land sea, nor were the Emperor's
land-based planes able to shield his
crippled navy.
An unspecified number of our own
Navy planes, taking off from what is
described as the mightiest carrier
feet ever assembled, has sought out
the reluctant enemy fleet, and has
damaged from fifteen to seventeen
of its warships, including one or two
battleships and two or three heavy
carriers, and has destroyed at least
ATS Japanese planes. The implica-
tons of this are perfectly clear. The
imperial fleet must choose between
two alternatives-it can submit to
destruction ship by ship in progress
sively futile effort to hide away, or
1t can come out into the open and
60 down fighting. In either even
tuaGty, its days are numbered, and
1t no longer can be regarded as a
serious threat to our own Navy.
According to Lieutenant General
George C. Kenney, air commander
under General Macarthur, the Japa-
nese Air Force has Jared no better
than the japanese Navy. He esti-
mates that the enemy has lost 10000
planes since September i. The quail
ity of enemy pilots has deteriorated
until they have no business in mod
ern combat" The enemys good
mechanics have been left to wither
on the vine in Rabaul, Hollandia and
the Dutch East Indies. AS result
of these and other factors, in Cen
eral Kenneys expert opinion, the
japanese Air Force is broken and
no longer a threat"
That leaves the japanese Army,
which is largely intact and of first
class fighting quality. If the final
decision in the Pacific war has to
come in land combat, the fight may
yet be long and hard. But no nation,
and least of all an island power, can
hope to survive in modern war with
out navy and without an air force.
II this has not already been borne
home to the japanese, it soon will be,
and in this sense, if in no other, the
final phase has been reached in the
only major war ever fought in the
Pacific.
Evening star., 1945-03-21

defensive- offensive against the Red
Army in Siberia.
The chances of success against the
Chunking forces appear better at this
time. In spite of the definite improve
ment Of the defenses in that area the
Japanese still have numerical superior
ity on the ground and in the air.
A lightning advance with the bulk
OF this army might throw Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek's forces off balance
and might end his hold on China en-
tirely. But there is little practical
value, outside of its morale value at
home, that such victory could achieve.
The disappearance of Chang from his
temporary capital would play into the
hands of the Yenan Communists and
strengthen their prestige as the only
remaining forces to oppose the invader
The cost of such an offensive would
be out of proportion to the practical
gains and possible setback would be
one of the most serious incidents in
the campaign in China Coming after
the disasters in the Philippines and
at Two Jima it might spell the end of
the present regime.
An offensive defensive operation in
the north against Siberia appears to
most military observers to hold a more
profitable prospect.
The Japanese are believed to have
about 100000 fighting men facing the
Russians in the Korean -Manchurian
area. They are not as well equipped
as year ago but are still considered
strong force capable of successful
offensive so long as the Russians are
not in a position to increase their
present strength in Siberia.
There Is no question that the Tokyo
government expects Russian interven-
tion in the war soon after the German
collapse. Until this occurs there is
little likelihood that the Red Army
will be considerably reinforced. The
Russians must use railways to bring the
necessary war material and soldiers from
Europe. And while the Siberian rail-
roads have improved, any interference
with them would make offensive action
In the Far East much more dificult
On the other hand, it is believed
that the defense forces in the Maritime
Provinces are numerically inferior to
those of the Japanese If the Japs
actually possess the number of troops
they are reported to have on the south
bank OF the Amur River, they could
without much risk knock out the rail-
way between Western and Eastern
Siberia and also capture Vladivostok
and those portions of the Maritime
Provinces which are strategically i'm
portant.
Evening star., 1945-03-21

are generally interpreted as referring
to Poland and as critical OF Soviet
Russia's unilateral actions there and
elsewhere, together with the pres
sure exerted by Moscow to obtain
compliance with its plans for hegem-
ony in Eastern Europe by London
and Washington. These statements
may be considered in connection
with recent pronouncements by
Vatican organs such as Civilta Cat
tolica, which branded the Polish
settlement" arrived at in Yalta as
a cause of the "foundering in the
Black Sea" of the Atlantic Charter.
Evening star., 1945-03-21

1t is questionable whether the elm
lnatlon OF the U-boat bases would be
worth the diversion to Norway of a
sufncient force of Allied troops. landing
craft, aircraft and material to do the
Joo Certainly 1t would seem that until
the major task of defeating the German
armies IN Germany itself has been ac-
complished, Norway must be left aside
unless the threat of the U-boat be-
comes so great as to imperil the larger
Undertaking, which is hardly probable.
After North Germany has been
cleared up, however, if the Germans in
Norway still retain their hold and try
to continue their U-boat attacks on our
shipping-and perhaps rocket opera
tlons against the island of Great Britain
they Will have to be rooted out. But
in that case it would seem quite prob
able that Allied arms might have
swedish assistance. 1t is one thing
Tor the Swedes to remain neutral in
the war; 1t would be quite another for
them to stand by and watch a band
OF German pirates, cut off from their
home country continue to use Norway
their slaughter and torment of the Nor
Wegian people, with whom the Swedes
have so many ties of blood and tradition,
Meanwhile, however, the Germans In
their Norwegian harbors will be a
threat which must not be disregarded.
The German surface navy is at pres
ent In the Baltic, but it IS gradually
losing its bases there; II It loses Gdynia,
as seems likely very soon, its operations
IN the Eastern Baltic win be consider
ably restricted. It Is always possible
that the desperate overlords of Naz
Germany may think some of the avail
able cruisers and destroyers can be best
expended in attacking Allied merchant
ships.
Let us keep in mind that these are
all desperate measures. Their sole OBJ
ject is to gain time. The Germans know
that we shall eventually put an end to
their submarine activities and to their
V-bomb activities in the best and most
final way: BY taking from them the
bases from which these weapons are
used. But they mean to put that time
of as long as possible, in the faint hope
that something may turn up"
Downright. 1elSJ
Evening star., 1945-03-21
Troinino Colts

Toward the end of winter, after
the icehouse was Allied and the
seasons supply Of firewood was piled
In the yard waiting for the saw
machine, came q period when ia
ther liked to have the colts get
little training. Of course, training
the -year-olds to work single or
double, in a wagon or in a sled, was
not job for boy That required
both patience and strength. 1t was
called breaking in"
Training the colts, the six-month-
old little fellows and the year and
a-half flllies and geldings. was an
other matter. Training meant
teaching them to lead we'll by
halter; it meant putting on pieces
OF harness so they would know the
feel Aof leather; it meant teaching
them to stop at Whoa" start at
"Get up" and go right and left with
Gee" and "Haw"
To farm lad, training colts is
ever:so much more interesting than
teaching the calves to lead. Calves
are all right; they have a place. But
the space between bovine and equine
is wide. The Morgan colts were live
ly, friendly, inquisitive and intelli-
gent; the Jersey calves were pretty
and pleasant, but they lacked the
zest and snap of the energy-filled
colts. Father insisted that colts be
led by halter from the time they
were few weeks old. 1t made the
training easy. It was only a short
step from leather around their faces
to leather on their backs. The chief
thing was to let the growing colts
know that man was in command
and twelve-year- -old felt himself
an important man, and was glad to
be In command.
A lad enjoyed walking up and
down the long driveway with a colt
On either side. The real thrill was
handling the year-and-a-half and
two-year olds; they were big and
powerful. AS father would say,
"son, whether you can handle the
two-year olds depends upon the
training you gave them as colts.
Take them young and train them
Evening star., 1945-03-21
The Pope's Lenten Address

The address delivered by Pope
Plus XII last Sunday is a noteworthy
continuation of previous Papal pro-
nouncements on the present state of
the world and it's outstanding prob
lens. Speaking from the balcony of
Saint Peters to a vast throng which
filled the spacious square below, the
Pontiff couched his words in his dual
capacity as Bishop of Rome and as
head of the church which extends
throughout the globe. Most of his
immediate audience were inhabit-
ants of Rome; so much of his ad-
dress concerned their special diff
culties which typify Italy's troublous
situation. The Pope deplored the
current decline in moral standards
among the italian people and was
especially severe against war profit
eers and black marketers. whose
hands are smeared with the blood
OF widows and orphans. This blood,
like that of Abel, cries up to the
heavens against a new Cain"
The broader aspects OF his address
included an appeal for a true and
lasting peace" But the Pontiff
warned that "the path that will
have to lead from the conflict to the
suspension of hostilities. from the
truce of arms to peace, is still in
each of its stages covered over with
shadows that may perhaps conceal
surprises and dangers. - The
reconciliation of peoples will only be
able to guarantee stability If it is
carried out faithfully and with large
mindedness."
AS on several previous occasions,
the Pope. strongly condemned the
Nazi and Fascist ideologies, admon-
, ishing those who have allowed
themselves to be seduced by the ad-
vocates of violence" that there re-
mains no other way to salvation
than that of repudiating definitely
the idolatry of absolute nationalism,
the pride of race and blood" But
he likewise admonished those "who
would yield to the temptation to
profit from present conditions and
turn the peace organization to their
own advantage against the firm
rules of justice" Such persons,
though temporarily presenting them
selves as benefactors, would histori-
cally be Judged as having "lessened
and frustrated the hopes Of a people
whose unspeakable suffering entitled
them to special plea for the respect
Of their inalienable rights"
Those somewhat cryptic phrases
Evening star., 1945-03-21
This Changing World
By Constantine Brow,

While the American naval, air and
land forces are expected to continue
their advances toward the main Japa-
nese islands of Kyushu and Honshu,
where many OF the Japanese war in
dustries are still located, Japanese
counteraction may be expected either
against the Chinese forces on the
Running front or against the Russians
in Siberia.
So long as the present militarist
clique dominates the japanese political
scene, there is every indication that
the Japs would, If necessary, abandon
their homeland and continue to fight
In China. Undersecretary Of State
Joseph @. Grew, on his return from his
post as Ambassador to Tokyo, predicted
the Japs would take such course after
their defeat in their home islands.
The position of the enemy Is worse
than appears on the surface. The
Japanese Navy has been reduced to the
size OF a strong American task fleet, and
no longer is capable of defending the
Islands. The American submarines and
naval providers, together with the air.
planes from carriers and the stations
In China. have taken"a very heavy toll
OF the Japanese merchant fleet.
In the early days of the war the
Japs had about 100000 tons of ship
ping. A minimum of 10000 900 tons is
required to supply Japan with food and
raw materials to keep its industries 60
ing. Today, however, the Japanese
merchant marine, including the wooden
ships which are hugging the coast OF
China, has been reduced far below the
minimum tonnage.
In the last 10 months the japanese
have transferred a large number of
their important war plants to the Chi
nese mainland and particularly in Man
churia, where they have ample raw
materials with the exception of iron
They obviously believe they can con-
tinue to resist us indefinitely.
The transfer of most of the indus
trial and military establishments is
proceeding at greatly increased pace
The Japanese military leaders are
aware that the days Of the German re-
sistance are numbered and the NaH
surrender will be the most dishearten-
ing blow Japan has yet suffered They
also know that with their present lin
tied naval and air forces 1t will be i'm
possible to prevent an American land
ing on the main Japanese islands.
Under these conditions it Is believed
that the Japanese general staff is
planning either to resume the Often
sive on the Chinese front or start a
Evening star., 1945-03-21
Remaining Source of Consolation


To the Editor of The Star:
The Sunday Star of March 1s con-
veyed a sober experience which cannot
be ignored in the face Of the thunder
ing echoes of war which roll over once
peaceful communities of the world
Each step of our way into enemy
territory has been, and probably will
be hotly contested. The editorial un-
der the cryptic title Of Competitive
Bombing" asked most significantly:
will the result be an engendering OF
mass hatreds that will endure and ex-
press themselves in treatment of the
vanquished so drastic as to engender
among the conquered peoples an endur-
ing spirit OF resentment and desire for
revenge?"
And then I continue turning the
pages and I tremble with unsurpassed
anguish as I read: Red Cross Worker
Views Scene of NaN Atrocity."
We had believed that the use to which
the Catacombs of Rome had been put
was the work of the Dark Ages, of those
centuries of which even historians shud-
dered when confronted with the evil
dence. But today, in the year of our
Lord, 1945, history is repeated by q
massacre which staggers the imagina-
ton. What will the crushing of the
masses bring upon this world? we well
may ask one another.
Every day live, the days which now
are being so carefully measured out to
few fortunate souls as yet untouched
by war, find myself turning more and
more to the Holy Scriptures to find an
answer to these staggering problems
The Book Of the Ages has not failed
to extend hope to the hopeless in times
past, neither does 1t mince words about
what Is to come upon the earth. It
offers peace In our time. If not peace
from external strife, yet peace in the
heart of that soul who places his des-
tiny in the hands Of. his Maker and
his Saviour.
CHARLES ALLEN RENTTRO.
Evening star., 1945-03-21
U-BOat Threat Again
By Maj. George FieIdine Eliot

There seems good reason to expect a
renewal OF German submarine warfare
against the transatlantic shipping
lanes, which are the life lines of the
Allied armies along the western front
and are likewise the life lines of the
people of Great Britain.
The Germans are known to be collect
ing considerable numbers of U-boats in
Norwegian ports, and some at least of
these submarines are fitted with q new
device the so-called SchnorkeD which
enables the submarine to draw in air
while remaining submerged. Thus the
underwater cruising radius of the sub
marine is greatly increased and it is
enabled to avoid detection by aircraft
to much greater extent than was for
merly the case.
This seems likely to bring about Ger
man submarine operations at focal
points Of traf1lc, notably in the vicinity
Of British ports where the coastal COM
mand Of the Raj formerly made U-boat
warfare suicidal. The reason that the
time for the renewal of the U-boat
effort seems near is that if it is to do
Germany any good it must come soon.
+ +
IL may DC pTcSuulcO tIidt A1lleu dlI
and naval forces, having had ample
notice Of German plans, will be ready
to deal with the new U-boats. Heavy
shipping losses in the North Atlantic
now would be a serious embarrass-
ment, because of the switch of shipping
to the Pacific and the increased de-
mands of the great offensive in the
west and the need for relief tonnage
to take care of the starving people OF
liberated Europe.
Aside from direct countermeasures,
therefore, 1t may be asked whether
there is any chance of eliminating the
U-boat threat altogether by driving
the Germans out of Norway.
There can be no doubt that an at
tempt to invade the Norwegian coast
would be risky in the extreme. The
distances are not too great to permit
Of direct air support from the British
Isles in those days OF long-range fight
ers, but the coast is heavily fortified
at all possible landing points, it is rocky
and deeply indented by fjords, and
the interior for the most part is noun
famous in the coastal regions. The
roads are few, and the terrain favors
the defense Of the roads by compara-
lively small forces.
Evening star., 1945-03-21
No Color Line

The American First and Seventh
Armies, according to Stars and
Stripes, has abandoned the tradi-
tional policy of segregation and are
preparing to send some $500 Negro
riflemen into combat with white
troops. This is an experiment which
will be watched with greatest inter-
est, for If it is successful the disap-
pearance of the color line" in the
Army of the United States is virtually
assured.
No reasons for the change In policy
were advanced, nor has there been
any explanation as to why it
apparently affects only the First and
Seventh Armies. A good guess would
be that the reluctance of the Army
to adopt a far-reaching change of
policy in the midst of battle was
overbalanced by the desperate need
for competent riflemen, and 1t may
be that geographical factors played
part in the choice of the First and
Seventh Armies for the experiment.
In any event, the undertaking is
off to good start. All of the Negro
riflemen are volunteers, and more
volunteered than could be taken.
Some colored noncommissioned offi-
GERS voluntarily accepted q reduction
to privates to qualify for infantry
training. All of those interviewed
by the correspondent for Stars and
Stripes expressed their desire for
combat and their dissatisfaction
with service behind the lines.
OF course, the need for service
troops is inescapable, but the assign
ment ought not to be made primarily
on a racial basis. When men want
to fight for their country, and II they
are qualified for combat, the oppor-
tunity for service in the front lines
should be made equally available
to all.
Evening star., 1945-03-21

we'll" Yes, training colts was good
work. It was preparing for the fu-
ture. A farm lad would not realize
it, but as he trained the young horses
he had known from the day of their
birth, he was training himself in
patience and kindness.
Evening star., 1945-03-21
The Finnish Elections

The parliamentary elections just
held in Finland are notable in sew
eral respects. To begin with, they
are the first genuinely free elections
of any Importance held in Europe
since the start of the war in 1889.
In the second place, this unfettered
expression of a national electorate
conforms fully with the formula
evolved at Yalta whereby the Big
Three promised to assist former
Axis satellites to solve their prob
lens by democratic means" and
help liberated peoples to form in
terim governments pledged to hold
"free elections" as soon as possible.
This is precisely what has hap
pened in Finland. After that coun-
try quit the Axis and made it's peace
with Soviet Russia, an interim re-
gime headed by Baron Mannerheim
quickly gave place to a provisional
government headed by Juho K.
Paasikivi, a left-wing Social Demo-
crat who had opposed the war with
Russia and was thus acceptable to
Moscow. Premier Paasikivi prompt
ly dissolved the old Parliament, re-
stored to legality the Finnish Com
munist party. outlawed during the
war, banned the Finnish Nazi party,
and campaigned for a new parlia-
mentary majority pledged to whole
hearted cooperation with the So
Wet Union He frankly warned the
electorate that this policy was vital
to Finland's future, while the Mos
COW official press organs admonished
that the result of the election would
show whether or not the Firms had
broken with their anti-Soviet past.
The voters were thus under con-
sidera BILE moral pressure to cast their
ballots for the Paasikivi ticket. the
so-called Popular Democrat Coali-
ton, consisting of Communists, bolt
ing Social Democrats and other
left-wing elements However there
seems to have been no actual inter-
ference with the electoral process.
Indeed, the results themselves indi-
cate that the voters cast their bal
lots freely and in secret, as the law
provides.
1t certainly was a record vote
fully 100000 with a 24-year age
qualification and a population
totaling about 3,5OO,OOO. The Popu-
lar Democrat Coalition took 81 seats
out of the possible 200 The right
wing Social Democrats got 50 seats,
but large proportion of those cleo
tors were favorable to the Paasikivi
program, voting regular" for
party reasons. The 81 other seats
went to the Conservative and Lib
eral parties, though many of their
candidates were new men" not in
volved in the pro-war and anti
Soviet record of their former par-
liamentary representatives.
Under these circumstances, the
parliamentary situation is unclear
Technically, Mr.. Paasikivi does not
command a majority. the Popular
Democrat Coalition holding only
81 seats out of 200 However. he is
virtually assured of strong Social
Democrat support, while many of
the new men" in the Conservative
oil ~ vii
follow him on most issues. Every
intelligent Finn must realize that
practical cooperation with Russia
is the only feasible policy, and Mos
cows reaction to the outcome of the
election is now to be awaited.
Evening star., 1945-03-21
Enter Spring

Spring In the North comes charging In
On robins clarion note
A challenge, flung on the frosty atr
From a pioneering throat.
Pale blossoms thrust aside the snou,
Stredu,s break their bonds NTH q roar,
And the naples Redeemed finger tips
Beckon the spring once more.
Spring IN the South comes gliding In
On relpet-sIippered feet
A softer shade in the green OF her gotrn,
Music bit more speet.
Then. In some opal n1isted ddiDn,
Remembering the date,
One finds that springtinle, long ago,
Slipped through the garden CGte.
ANNA u. pNu9TLEY.
Evening star., 1945-03-21
The Fiddler Beckons
From tn. Lyons (K.ns., News.

From the Lyons Kans.) News.
President Roosevelt estimates the per
capita share Of the national debt by
June 80, ls46, will be $2,1SS for each
member Of your family, including your
children and grandchildren. The debt
may some day be foreclosed on the
Kids. We old fools ars comparatively
sate 4 ~ doat live too long.
Evening star., 1945-03-21

BARRIERS in Minnesota have actu-
ally been requested by the authori-
ties to give their customers the latest
information on the war manpower
situation. 1t is only fair to give them
something to talk about in place of
the temporarily shelved question of
who will win the next race.