davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-04-07

In considering the progress of opera
tions on Okinawa Island, the object Of
our going there should be kept in mind.
That object is to establish air and naval
bases for expanding our air attacks
against the japanese main islands. and
for extending our blockade of Japan to
include the East China and Yellow Seas.
Consequently, of chief Importance to
us on OkinaWa are harbors and alrflelds,
plus ground space in which to extend
the airfields and set up the innumer-
able structures essential to modern bases
of operations.
The japanese, knowing this, appear to
have concentrated their defensive forces
in a comparatively small area in the
southern part of the island defending
the approaches to four of its six air
fields, it's two principal towns (Naha
and Shuri). and part of the shores OF
it's main anchorage, Nakagusuku Bay.
These are the prizes we are after; the
Japanese intent is apparent, to deny us
those objectives as long as they can.
X X
But they are doing so by we'll
concentrated defense, in established po-
sitions. They did not attempt to meet
us at the beach; they did not attempt
to attack us "astride the beach; they
let us get ashore and well established
there without any serious fighting at all.
1t begins very much to look as though
the japanese high command had come
to the conclusion that in any sort OF
open-country fighting the Japanese
Army is not able to face the American
combination of fire and movement.
However this may turn out, what the
japanese are doing on Okinawa shows
that they know perfectly we'll that we
have to come and fight them in the
positions of their choice, for we have to
have those airfields and we have to have
free use of Nakagusuku Bay. When we
have gained these objectives, it will not
matter very much. at least for the time
being, whether or not few Japanese
troops remain in the mountainous
northern end Of the island.
They would be a nuisance, but moth
ing more than that. When we have the
base facilities, air and naval, around
which we can begin the construction OF
the far greater base which Okinawa Is
Evening star., 1945-04-07

stitution of the United States. The
concept that justice and not force
must prevail is the very essence Of
that document. 1t was designed to
be changed, and it has been changed
as the need arose. It had the enor-
nous advantage of being adopted by
a people with common language,
a common heritage and a common
tradition. And yet, as our own Civil
War reminds us, even the finest of
political charters cannot assure
either peace or harmony.
This being so, one might suppose
that Senator Vandenbergs proposals
would be adopted without dissent.
But that is far from the case. There
is small likelihood that oversight ex-
plains the omission of these prin-
ciples from the Dumbarton Oaks
agreement. 1t has become increas-
ingly clear, especially in recent
weeks, that the new formula for in
ternational security is compromise
between traditional democratic con-
cepts and the apparent belief of the
Soviet government that force exer-
cised by the great powers is the best
guarantor of peace. In that sltua-
ton, the real question is not SO much
whether Senator Vandenberg's pro-
posals are desirable, which they
manifestly are, but whether the
probable refusal of the Soviet gov
ernment to accept them would
Justify the United States in refusing
to subscribe to what, in the circum-
stances, seems to be the only
alternative.
Evening star., 1945-04-07
Different From Wilson

From the Detroit news.
The Presidents inclusion of members
of Congress in the American delegation
to the San Francisco conference. which
will perfect the work begun at Dunbar
ton Oaks, was step of evident wisdom.
Mr.. Roosevelt seems determined to avoid
the mistakes of Woodrow Wilson'S lead
ership in similar matters. The mistake
here intended to be avoided Is the now
obvious one of Wilson'S failure to enlist
the collaboration of Congress in the
work eliminating in the League of Ma
tions Covenant. Mr.. Roosevelt has been
careful, beginning before the Dunbar
ton Oaks meeting, to keep Congress
informed of what is proposed to be done
in regard to an international security
organization. Moreover, his meetings
and, previously, former Secretary Of
State Hull's with the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee have included the
Republican as well as Democratic men,
bers. This effort, Loyalty supported by
the Republicans, to exclude partisanship
from the matter now is carried forward
In his selections for the San Francisco
conference.
Evening star., 1945-04-07
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceneN.
"EI CON ",

Dear Sir:
Il read, in recent issue, the letter Of
one who. among other things, welcomes
the bluebirds.
Having lived in Wesley Heights from
1885 to 1912, know of what the writer
speaks. Bluebirds there were. yeS-but
who had them nesting? Very few.
Nov, here near Richmond I have
been three years decentralized from the
District of Columbia and I can tell you
city folks that the bluebirds are numer-
Gus in this country, can more than hold
their own in obtaining a bird box to
raise their family in, and at the present
rate will never be reduced in numbers.
Here at this 24O-odd-year old home the
bluebirds number their focks by tens of
scores.
We're In the woods and two berry
hollies in front, of about 2-foot trunk
diameter, attract many robins in this
season. Our half-plowed field in front
was filled yesterday with several hun
dred robins
Our greatest friends are the chimney
sWifts. They haven't shown up yet,
but they will soon. with their chipping
and flying in the air around, over and
about the house.
The two great chimneys house many
of them, about 10 families, and each
season we must release at least 10 or Is
OF them from the various rooms Of the
house. where they have become trapped
after descending the chimneys
Also we must hoist up the fireplaces
on artificial pole-nets the young who
tumbled with their tWig nests down on
the hearth, though success in saving the
young in this respect is rather poor
"A new note to 'Northerners' is this
there will be cedar waxwings this year
Two days ago 1 counted 81 in one flock
in the top of locust tree, all arrayed
and pointed to the north.
An all spring and summer, evening
and night sound here is that of the
whip-poor-w All I can say on this
score is this-you must have worked in
your garden all day to sleep through
one night of his cry without waking.
And when you sleep through that, it's
easy to be unaware of the noisy yet
melodious ellow-breasted chat
incidentally, noticed that last year
the starlings used the woodpecker holes
in the locusts, and that the builders of
these holes, the hickers, later used at
least one Of them for nesting, after the
starlings had gone, in about the month
OF June. Sincerely, w. w. D., Jr."
X
Whip-poor- wills will remind some
readers of the stories of the late H. P.
Lovecraft.
You never heard of Lovecraft?
Many persons have not, but they will
In time, and all through the affectionate
remembrance of two young men in Wis
consin.
They founded press to put his stor-
les sold to pulp magazines into book
form. Extremely limited editions have
made these books collectors items.
Lovecraft's tales are somewhat Poe
like in character. They are laid in New
England, and bring in visitors from 1.-The
outside" strange beings always ready
to push into our own known world.
Some of the stories incorporate the
whip-poor- wills, which set up con-
slant cry. according to legend, every
time one died.
If they missed getting his soul, they
screamed unusually loudly, and then
died out. In this way it was possible to
tell what happened to the departing
soul.
Evening star., 1945-04-07
A Plea for Justice

The amendments to the Dunbar
ton Oaks agreement which have
been proposed by Senator Vanden-
berg are rooted in the belief that
Justice is an essential condition of
lasting peace. He recognizes that
injustice may be an unavoidable by
product Of military eXpediency. But
he urges with every emphasis" at
his command that we not make the
error of attempting to set up a Sc
curity organization designed to use
force for the perpetuation of settle
ments that are unjust. Senator VAN
denberg sums up his point of view
in these words:
The art of peace is not to identify
peace with a static condition. That
assures war. Peace requires instru-
mentalities which. on the one hand,
prevent violent and evil change while,
on the other hand. they facilitate
such changes as will effect a more
just and equitable arrangement of
the world. We must be practical. We
must avoid attempted miracles But
we need not 60 to the other extreme
OF setting up league with man.
date to sustain, by force if need be,
any status irrespective as to whether
1t is just or unjust
To this end, Senator Vandenberg
proposes eight amendments of the
Dunbarton Oaks agreement. They
are designed to commit the partici-
pating nations specifically to recog-
milton of the principle of justice; to
give stronger voice to the proposed
General Assembly, in which all ma
tions would be represented, and to
require the proposed Security Coun-
Gil to recommend, but not to order,
appropriate measures for the cor
rection of situations which are found
to be unjust. This last amendment
would open the door to change and
progress, and Senator Vandenberg
regards it as indispensable. Without
it, he says, the nations will be at
tempting to police rigid world and
ito deny the progress of legitimate
change except through the armed
conflict which we pretend to strive
to eliminate"
These views of the Michigan Sena-
tor are entirely consistent with
American experience under the Con-
Evening star., 1945-04-07

a coup to neutralize the Red armies for
several months.
But the appointment Of Admiral Su-
zuki, palace man" whom the military
clique tried to purge in 1886, changes
Japans entire political picture. Hiro-
hito, although he is a nonentity as an
individual, still is revered by the masses.
and the military men, who have suffered
defeat after defeat for the last three
years at the hands of Admiral Nimitz
and Gen. Macarthur, have lost face with
their own people. They no longer have
the upper hand in Japan.
The japanese population, which is
now subjected to frequent attacks from
American air forces, is looking to the
Emperor-god to save them from disas-
ter In court circles there are still many
old-fashioned japanese who have never
relished the idea OF a war against the
strong western powers. The appoint
ment of Admiral Suzuki at the head of
the Emperors government tends to
prove this contention and in some
Washington quarters dramatic develop
ments are expected before the Russian
forces are strong enough to cross the
Amur River.
Even the Japanese military clique
which had been publicly advocating a
hara- -kiri war is said to have lost heart
and is willing to surrender power to the
other side without any such attempts
at coups d'etat as we knew in the years
prior to Pearl Harbor The reason for
this is that the military men realize that
while they could continue the war and
lnfict heavy losses on their conquerors,
no successful defense is possible.
X x *
Japan has lost her fleet, and no is
land, regardless of how well it might
be fortified and defended by ground
forces, can hope to survive without the
protection Of an adequate naval force.
From the day when Gen. Macarthur
raised the American and Filipino flags
over Manila the Japs have endeavored
TO make indirect contact with our high
command in the Pacific with sugges-
tlonS for surrender. The suggestions
are said to have included the handing
over OF all war criminals without ex-
ception a complete withdrawal from
all the territories the Japs have oc-
cupied since l941, and a complete sub
mission to all other economic terms
the United States might wish to impose.
These approaches however, were con-
sidered as bluff to gain time. They re-
ceived no consideration. 1t is possible
that the new government. which is fully
aware that total defeat is only mat
ter of time, might make new and more
positive approaches to the American
and British governments to discover the
rock bottom demanded for an early
cessation of hostllitieS.
Evening star., 1945-04-07
Letters to The Star
Tells of an Easter Sermon
Outside a Church
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
On Easter, a bright sunny Easter,
heard two sermons, two inspired and in
spring sermons, one in my church and
one on the street. I want to tell you
of the latter. 1t was very short.
We were slowly moving in line, being
admitted into the already crowded
building when a sailor came by. He
was tall with broad shoulders and he
looked happy He was bareheaded and
he had red hair. I shall never forget
that shining red hair. He looked the
crowd over and said: I'll take your
pictures, going into church." whereupon
he rested his movie camera on post.
Smile he insisted, you should all
smile. Easter is lovely day."
I shall never know his rank or where
he is stationed, but there he stood in
the uniform of the Navy, and by that
token showed that he was ready to give
his life in defense of his country. He
was telling us, the ones who, by the
grace of God and the valor of the fight
ing men of the Allies, are safe and un-
molested by the physical presence of
war, Smile! Easter is a lovely day."
MRS. HELEN E. MOFFATT.
Evening star., 1945-04-07
This Changing World
By Constantine Bro,un

The best-informed military and diplo-
matte quarters here view the reshuff1ing
of the japanese cabinet as overshadow-
Ing MoscoW's denunciation of the Soviet
Japanese neutrality pact, because the
cabinet reshuff1e may bring the war in
the Pacific to a sudden and dramatic
end.
Those few who had been posted on
some of the off-the-record decisions
reached at Yalta know that Premier
Stain had pledged Russia to enter the
war against Japan within a few months
after the final defeat Of Germany and
sufficient troops could be spared and
sent to Siberia to bolster the present
Red forces.
The Japs had strong suspicion of
what was brewing and the japanese
ambassador left Moscow the middle of
last month for Tokyo to make a COM
plete report to his government.
Russias action in denouncing the
treaty may have contributed to the over
throw of Premier Gen. Kuniaki Koiso
and his cabinet and the replacement of
koiso by the 'nonmilitarist," 77-year-
old Admiral Kantaro Suzuki. But it
has been known in Washington since
early in February that the Japanese
would attempt TO organize a liberal"
government in the hope it might be able
to negotiate an unconditional surrender
before the complete destruction of all
Japans industrial establishments and
the annihilation of the homeland
After the return of President Roose-
welt from the Black Sea conference the
reports concerning Russia's intervention
in the Far Eastern war became more
widespread and American military ex-
perts of the Far East decided that only
Two courses were open for the japanese
to meet that new threat Either the
military clique would remain in power
ana decide to strike at the USSR before
the essential relnforcements reached
Siberia or new government headed by
a nOnmilitarlst would be called by En-
pe.or Hlrohito to attempt to surrender
to the Allies before Russia entered the
scene of operations
** -
1t is known here that the japanese
have sufficient forces to make a surprise
attack across the Amur River. destroy
some vital lines of communication and
tunnels of the Transiberian railways
and occupy the Maritime Provinces. The
Jap forces on the Siberian border are
estimated at between 100000 and 600,0 900
welltrained and Well-equipped men
Japanese industry in Manchuria and
other parts Of China still produces be-
tween 1900 and 1900 planes a month
With this force and equipment the
military clique could have attempted
Evening star., 1945-04-07
Wealth Underfoot

Stephen Leacock was one of the
greatest of modern humorists, but
he also was a firSt-claSs economist,
and when he said, as he did, that
Canada can support a hundred mil
lion people, he was not joking. To
illustrate why he believed in a richly
populouS British North America, he
mentioned that the Dominion now
produces more gold in a single year
than all the treasure ships of Spain
In the sixteenth century brought
home in twenty-five million ounces
fine, as against two hundred and
fifty thousand.
THE assets under their feet" are
the resources upon which Mr.. Lea
cock argued the Canadians of the
dlScernible future reasonably may
depend for comfortable sustenance.
In Upper British Columbia alone, he
declared, there is an area of one
hundred and seventy thousand
square miles with only twenty-five
thousand people living in it. With
regard to food, it was argued:
Canada raises six hundred and
fifteen million bushels of wheat.
about one-fifth of what the whole
world eats. But to raise it, we use
only twenty-five million acres of a
possible three hundred and fifty-two
million acres of arabic land Any of
the field crops could be increased
three times over. Every increase of
population would allow of more in
tensive cultivation. The physical
yield of the ground under intensive
crops (market-garden cultivation)
could be made, in dead weight or in
nutrition, twenty to one of what it is
now. The soil of Canada could = -
feed all Western civilization.
Mr.. Leacock similarly visioned a
vast increase in the livestock and
poultry production of the Dominion.
Another food asset which he empha-
sized was the coastal fisheries of
which, he explained, there lis no
limit" Productive forests cover
seven hundred and seventy thousand
square miles, with standing timber
that represents estimate of 1889
two hundred and seventy-three bill
lion cubic feet. Alberta alone has
more than sixteen thousand square
Evening star., 1945-04-07
Urges Rodeo Curfew

To The Editor of The Star:
With all the fuss about the curfeW and
the midnight closing of night spots. the
authorities ought to consider the plight
of animals. After all, no person has to
sit around a night spot late unless he
wants to. But animals aren't SO fortu-
nate No one consults them as to
whether they want to be in rodeos
which bum the same sort of electricity
that night clubs and all-night restau-
rants use If the Government can shut
down night clubs and horse racing why
not shut down rodeos and save them
from cruelty, workers from lost sleep and
electricity for the war effort-at least
for the duration?
MRS MAUD WEISHAAR.
Evening star., 1945-04-07

miles Of coal beds. Potential water
power in Canada, meanwhile. was
guessed to be greater than all the
hydroelectric development of Europe
up to the war" The mineral wealth
of the country likewise can only be
described as colossal"
To exploit the Dominion's natural
assets, Mr.. Leacock contended, "all
we really need is enough of us, busy
enough. Canada is as empty
as ever, almost" Granted there may
be crowds in Toronto or Montreal at
the moment, yet there still is "abun-
dant room, abundant opportunity
life and all that makes it sweet,
waiting for uncounted millions
of people,"
Evening star., 1945-04-07
Mountain Boy

I left my turning plow in turroued
rotD,
On the rocky hillside that used to
tend,
/ hung up my long old gooseneck hoe ..
on things like these can mountain
man depend,
These and the land and sweat of his o,pn
broD,
And the bread earned thus Is sweet
upon the tongue,
But my road lies so far and lonely no,p
Far from an April that Was green and
young.
And though dark ,Datchtul eyes now
meet my gaze.
And the hands touch today are alien
hands,
/ kno,D road leads back to mountain
1Ddys,
And on rocky ledge my cabin stands.
When 90 back the spice,Dood scent ,piH
spill
Elusiue fragrance on the cool, clean
air,
There uDiH be no sound from, hill to
misty hill
SaDe green wind through the noun
tdin's blue-oreen hair.
ALMA Robson HIGBEE.
Evening star., 1945-04-07
Admiral Kings Viewpoint

COIlluldllQer IN CQle1 OF Jne UnlteQ
States Fleet, the islands won by our
forces in the Pacific should be re-
tanned by us in the next peace. He
argues persuasively on this point.
Permanent American control of such
far-f1ung bases, plus big" postwar
Navy, is essential, he declares, not
merely to guarantee our own ma
tiOnal safety but to make clear to
the world that our power will be
we'll positioned to give prompt and
effective support to any decisions
reached by the projected interna-
tional security organization.
In other words, in contrast to what
was done in the years before Pearl
Harbor, Admiral King wants to eS-
tablish adequate policing means to
maintain law and order in the Pa
cific and to make sure that aggreS-
SOrS will not be able to run amok
there again 20 or Is years from now
Few Americans will disagree with
his fundamental thesis. There can
be no doubt, certainly, that the world
must place real power behind what
ever peace system it creates, just as
any CITY, state or nation must place
police force behind its laws. Nor
can there be any doubt that large
measure Of this power must come
from the United States and that
numerous distant bases will be
needed. particularly for the swift
deployment of our naval and air
strength in case of emergency.
Yet, since many of the islands of
the Pacific were inundated by the
League of Nations to such countries
as Britain and Japan after the last
war. or were colonial territories or
were otherwise outside the possess
sion or control of the United States,
1t seems clear that their future dis
position cannot be handled simply
by unilateral action on our part but
must instead be worked out through
some kind of inter-Allied agreement.
One Of the principles of the Atlantic
Charter is that the United Nations
seek no territorial aggrandizement,
and the State Department, in keep
ing with this, leans favorably toward
the idea of international trustee
ships under which different regions
would fall under the guardianship of
one or another of the victors, with
the guardian in each case being
obliged to help the populace toward
eventual independence and being
subject to special controls of the
new world security organization.
Offhand, this idea would appear to
be sharply at variance with Admiral
Kings, but under something like the
trusteeship plan, it ought to be pos
Sible-Without violating the Allan
tic Charter-to turn over to Ameri-
can guardianship key islands won
by American forces. Admiral King
obviously does not wish the United
States to acquire more territory for
territory's sake. He simply wants to
build against the possibility Of future
aggression in way that will serve
not only our own security but the
entire world peace system. His view
point thus seems basically sound,
even though there is room for argu-
ment about how big our big" post
war Navy should be and how many
Pacific bases we shall really need
after Japan goes down.
Evening star., 1945-04-07
Expresses Waltonians' Thanks

To the Editor of The Star:
On behalf of the hundreds of Wal
tonians in the District. Maryland, Vir-
ginia and West Virginia, permit me to
express our appreciation of the coverage
given in The Star on the proposed
Potomac Basin development. This was
most helpful in acquainting your read
ers with our reasons for opposing this
development estimated to cost $685.
100000
On April 2 it was my pleasure to rice
to Winchester through roadsides lired
with red bud Judas treel and dogWoCd
in full bloom that would have been
inundated by the dams. as we'll as the
bridge across the Shenandoah and many
historic points. Such a trip should
prove most convincing to skeptics AS
to the Righteousness of our case and
we are most happy that the Board of
Engineers took so little time in reaching
a decision to abandon the project
LEWIS RADCLIFFE,
National Vice President IZaak Walton
League of America, Inc.
Evening star., 1945-04-07
GruveIy Speaking
By David Laurence
rom the St. Louis Star-Times.

FFUm lHe 81, louis StaT- Il1ltS,
When the California Funeral Directors
Association sounded off with a warning
that creeping paralysis of socialization
progressively neutralizes private enter
prise in the burial industry" we became
gravely alarmed. Here, it seemed, bu-
reaucracy was, indeed, laying profane
hands on the sacred.
However on looking further into the
matter we discovered that the real COM
plant was over the revocation of the
casket makers priority on fabrics for
lining cOfflnS.