davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-08-02
August

August creeps over the land on muff1ed.
sticky feet. Sirius, the Dog Star ascends
his throne for period of regal uncomfort-
ableness. brassy sun courses across a
washed-blue sky and at night moist sultri-
ness lies like heavy blanket on the Earth.
This is the other quiet month OF the cycle.
Twice each year before the beginning of
new seasons, in February and in March,
the countryside is peculiarly silent.
Through hot days and heavy nights the
corn pushes toward maturity. Go to the
edge OF field in the light of the Thunder
Moon and you can hear the corn ladies
rustic their bustles. Shorn fields and
meadows browse through sitting days.
Cows spend the noon hours beneath pro-
tecting trees and the hens gather in the
shade OF the tangled blackberries. Grass
hoppers make noises like fishermen wind
ing their reels; bees and insects explore
the flowers in the perennial border beneath
farm kitchen windows.
The first goldenrods lift yellow plumes
along weathered rail fences; hardhack
holds its purple spires against rocky up
land pastures. Scraggly-armed sumacs
hold high their wine-red pennants and ad :
vance-scout autumn asters reflect the blue
OF the sky. Through the quiet days the
wildlife of field and wood slips about its
business. Sometimes huge black thunder
heads below up from the horizon and
Vulcan hurls his forked javelins of light
ming. Dusk comes on reluctantly and sun.
set glory fingers above the horizon
Crickets play their monotone fiddles and
the firefiies stage their green-gold lantern
ballet over lawn and garden. "A whippoor
will sounds his poignant, plaintive call
from the wall behind the barn. Taps to an
August day.
Evening star., 1947-08-02


The Nations military leaders are faced with
a great many adjustments and revisions during
the next two years to put Americas new plan
for armed forces unification into operation.
The plan signed into law last week by Presi-
dent Truman created three separate and CO.
equal departments for the Army, Navy and
Air Force. They will be headed by civilian
secretaries without cabinet rank. Navy
Secretary James " Forrestal was named
Secretary of Defense, with cabinet rank, to
direct activities of all three. Other new
agencies will coordinate virtually every part
of national life that has an effect on security.
Military leaders, however, know their Difficult
ties will not be confined to unified control at
the top. Their Job is to close gaps and prevent
overlapping through all levels of the service.
The new law clearly outlines duties of tacti-
cal units of the armed forces. Principal prob
lens of coordination leaders feel will affect
the service" corps, which support the tactical
units
An example is the probable re-vamping OF
military medical service. The Army and Navy
have their own medical systems, directed by
separate surgeon generals Offices. They have
their own hospitals, their own doctors, their
own methods of supply and administration,
The Air Force, which has specially trained
flight surgeons to care for its flying personnel,
has given up its fight for a separate medical
system How close the other departments will
come to one system that would make common
facilities available to all three is anybody's
guess.
Another change will be unified procure
ment system to buy. so far as possible supplies
for all the armed forces. The hope is to pre-
vent duplication and rule out any possibility
of competition being set up between forces
buying the same types of items.
Difficult Tasks of Consolidation.
Attempts will be made to consolidate equip
ment specifications but, officers point out, there
are bound to be exceptions In ordnance, for
example, there Is little in common between
types of guns used by the Army. Navy and
Air Force. Even while the Air Force was a
part of the War Department. it developed its
own independent research and procurement
systems. Another major development will be
coordination of training between the services.
One of the toughest jobs facing Mr.. Forfestal
is to set up a powerful budget system to CO.
ordinate preparation and submission of budget
estimates for all the departments. He will have
to decide which service needs the bulk OF the
defense appropriation, according to the over
all defense need. This year the departments
are operating under separate appropriations.
All personnel of the Army Air Forces, both
military and civilian also will be transferred
to the new department. No changes in rank
will be made as q direct result The law also
states that civilian workers will not be pro-
NOTED or denoted so far as pay is concerned
but that they may be assigned to different
duties.
More complicated is the question OF whether
military personnel in such services as the
Engineer, Signal and Medical Corps-which
support the air forces-will be transferred or
will maintain their status in the Army DEPART
Evening star., 1947-08-02

the Soviet Union are for q good, perhaps
bumper, harvest. If those crop prospects
materialize, they would have important
consequences, economic and political alike
1t Is needful for the efficacy of the Soviet
counteroffensive known as the Molotov
plan that Moscow give substantial aid to
its satellites If it is to bend them without
too much friction to the network of eco
nomic pacts now being negotiated. The
effect of those pacts will be to isolate the
Soviet bloc from the economic integration
of Western Europe envisaged under the
Marshall plan. Nearly all of Moscow's
satellites are complying with Russian de-
mands regretfully, since they thereby
weaken or Sunder their normal economic
contacts with the west. Moscow must have
something tangible to offer them in ex-
change for their sacrifice. bumper
Soviet crop would furnish exportable food
surpluses besides raw materials of other
kinds.
AS short-term proposition, this may be
a trump card in Mr.. Molotov's diplomatic
hand. But as long-term factor its value
will tend to diminish. The reason is that,
under normal conditions, nearly all of
Russia's satellites are themselves self
sufficient in foodstuffs and many raw
materials. What they need above all
else is to supplement their agricultural
economies by manufactured goods. And
Soviet industry is in no position to supply
their needs adequately in this respect.
Only revived Western Europe and Amer
lea can do so. II Europe therefore is
split economically under the Molotov
formula, Moscow's satellites, to say moth
ing of Russia itself, will feel the pinch of
industrial insufficiency in growing meas
ure. Bumper harvests will not remedy that.
Evening star., 1947-08-02
Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
,oriter, although it is permissible for a
,priter known to The Star to use
nom de plume. Please be brief.

that 1t was an average, probably oak, oarrei
rather than one made of pine or balsa LAS lar
as the inches of flooring are concerned, you
may let them be pine or even balsa)
was a range officer during part OF my
war service and had occasion to watcn tne
effects of 30-30 bullets, and 3o-30s are to zzs
what a tornado is to gentle zephyr.
So, I refuse to believe that the slug went
through the oaken outside OF the barrel, yaro
or more of packed sand, another hall lncn OF
oak barrel bottom and then 3-lnch noorlng
possibly that was oak, too rather than plneJ
B. H. SNIFFEN,
Major, Mi. Res.
Evening star., 1947-08-02
ever eloquent or solemn, cannot offer ade-

ever eloquent or solemn, cannot offer ade-
quate guarantees.
Yet, because of the very fact that mans
weapons are now so terrible, the world may
have a better chance than ever before to
build lasting peace. Current events may
not seem to justify hope on that score, but
as peoples everywhere become more con-
scious of how unendurable another major
war would be, their governments may find
themselves compelled to avoid it, and
indeed to do away with armed conflict
forever. At any rate humanity should
feel itself driven irresistibly along that
course-if not by reason. then by fear.
Evening star., 1947-08-02

ments Air officers hope the men will be al
lowed to transfer with assurances that they
will keep the same opportunities for advance
ment they hold as members of the Army.
Some officers see likelihood that courts
martial syst ms will be standardized, along
with studies of dozens of other proposals to
equalize treatment and opportunities. One viii
be the ROTC programs OF the Army and Navy.
The new United States Air Force will per-
manently take activities built up during the
war by the Army Air Forces They include every
phase of air action except support OF the fleet.
naval reconnaissance and anti-submarine war
fare-duties of Naval Air Forces. Still to be de-
cided is the question of consolidated air trans
port activities, now operated separately by the
Armys Air Transport Command and the Navy
Air Transport Service.
New Agencies and Their Work.
Establishment of the new agencies ordered
in the law and their present counterparts, In
clude:
l. The National Security Council.
Corresponding to the present COMMITTEE OF
Three"-the Secretaries of State, War and
Navy-the council will be composed OF the
President, military department secretaries and
chairmen of the National Securities Resources.
Munitions and Research and Development
Boards. 1t will deal with overall problems OF
military power in relation to defense needs.
2. The Central Intelligence Agency.
Existing now in modified form, the agency
will be headed by either military or civilian
appointee of the President. 1t will coordinate
intelligence services of all agencies so far as
they relate to defense, but will maintain no
investigating power and will have no enforce
ment powers.
3. The National Securities Resources Board.
new agency, the board headed by CIVILIAN
appointed by the President, will be concerned
with manpower and natural and industrial re-
sources of the Nation
a. The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Existing now by executive order, the stan
will consider problems of unified command,
joint training and personnel and material
needs Up to 100 junior officers will assist as
members of a joint STALL
S. The War Council.
Composed of Mr. Forrestal, the three mill
tary secretaries and the chiefs of staff. the
council will meet on broad policy matters OF
the armed forces.
g. The Muniton Board.
This agency. existing now will be headed by
civilian appointed by the President. 1t will
deal with procurement and supply matters ana
will be in charge of Standardization of equip
ment whenever practical.
T. The Research and Development Board.
Headed by a civilian. the board will advise
the Secretary about the status OF scientific
research affecting military security and TO
supervise research within the armed forces.
Until further appointments are made, the
acting civilian department secretaries are:
Army, Secretary of War Kenneth c. Royal
Navy Undersecretary of Navy John L. Suli1-
van and Air. w. Stuart Symington. Undersec-
retary of War for Air. The Army and Air De-
partments will be headed by military Chlefs
of staff. Chief OF Naval Operations will be
the top military man in the Navy Department
Evening star., 1947-08-02
FOREIGN Policy Test?

1t is difficult to avoid the conclusion that
Senator Taft, If he finally decides to be-
come an avowed candidate for the Re
publican presidential nomination, would
like to make an issue of the Truman
administration foreign policy.
In his speech at Columbus, the Ohio
Senator walked very softly on this polit-
ically dangerous ground. Nevertheless, 1T
seems quite evident that Senator Taft was
laying a foundation for attacking our
foreign policy If his scheduled tour of the
West persuades him that the issue would
be a popular one.
So far as the country's long-range
interests are concerned, it might be good
thing to have this question brought into
the open and settled one way or another:
For one thing, preconvention campaign
by Mr.. Taft which raised the foreign policy
issue probably would smoke out Governor
Dewey. The New Yorker could hardly
remain so neatly balanced on the fence
if his principal rival for the COP nomina-
ton we're stumping the country in opposi-
ton to the stand taken by President Tru-
man and such important Republican
figures as Senator Vandenberg. And it
would be healthy thing if every one knew,
in advance cf the nomination, where the
two leading candidates stand on this vital
issue.
Even more important however, would
be the test of public sentiment which
such a campaign would entail. Before
many months have passed this country
will have to make up its mind whether
it is going to shoulder the burden of a
real effort to save what Is left of a free
world, or whether it is going to pull out
of the international field and let the rest
of the world go its own way. II Senator
Taft decides to go to the people on this
issue, an answer to the question will be
forthcoming, and that, whatever the
answer, would be better than drifting along
in 1948 without any clear indication as
to what the people want to do.
If the Ohio Senator takes the plunge,
however, he may find that he has gotten
himself into pretty deep water. 1t is easy
to sit back and point an accusing finger
at President Truman and at his predecessor
In the White House. 1t is easy to call the
roll of mistakes made at Teheran, Yalta
and PotSdam. But it Is quite another
matter to propose program now which
offers both an alternative to the admin
istration's program and some hope of
creating world in which we can stay alive
Reading Senator Tafts speech, one would
think that this Government was exclu-
sively responsible for the deplorable state
of the world He does not even mention
the Russians, yet the policies and tactics
of the Soviet Union make up the very
heart of the problem which confronts us.
If Senator Taft decides to meet the Pres
ident on this ground, he will have to come
forward with some program of his own
for dealing with the menace of Soviet
aggression. And 1t Is very doubtful that
he has one
Evening star., 1947-08-02
Strikes as Communist Tools

To the Editor OF the star.
The observations of David Lawrence. ex-
pressed in his column in The Star OF July a.
signify the advantages of protective measures
in the Taft-Hartley bill for responsible" laoof
unions a recent exhibition Of which he states
is shown by the instructions Of the Inter-
national Association of Machinists in foroiddlng
its locals "to call unauthorized strikes; ne
also includes in his observations that the la"
does not say all strikes are forbidden
In addition to Mr.. Lawrence's expert ANALYSIS
of this situation would like to make an eie-
mentary remark to the effect that the PUBIC
should by now be fully aware OF the dangers
of ",,nauthorized work stoppages,' which II
led by radicals become the tools OF Com
munists for stimulating propaganda to promote
general strikes, thereby paralyzing industry,
lust as is going on in France at the present
time.
General strikes are certainly calculated to
stop the wheels of industry and eventually en-
able fifth column influences to infiltrate into
"responsibIe" labor unions for q more far
reaching control. MRS. D. N. HULF1SH.
Evening star., 1947-08-02
The Reel Guarantee

At Copenhagen the International Con-
gress for Microbiology has adopted an
eloquent resolution condemning all forms
of archaeological warfare. 1t has done so,
however, with a somber awareneSs that Its
action can be little more than whistle IN
the teeth of the wind If the governments
of the world do not establish good and
lasting peace.
It is only the abolition of war itself, after
all, that can serve as an absolute guarantee
against the terrible weapons of mass de-
struction now within the reach of every
nation with brains 1t is true that under
the plan proposed by the United States
the atom can be controlled effectively
enough to prevent its sudden misuse for
military purposes. But the same cannot be
said of germs. Unlike the A-bomb. whose
manufacture requires vast industrial facil-
tiles almost impossible to hide or disguise,
germs can be bred easily. cheaply and in
large quantity by virtually any country,
large or small. And the Job can be done in
such a way as to defy quick detection.
The germs, moreover. can be every bit
as deadly as any atomic weapon-bomb,
gas or gigantic radioactive cloud. In fact,
according to some authorities. they can be
far deadlier. 1t has been publicly stated,
for example, that the United States has
developed toxic agent whose lethal
potentials are terrifyingly fantastic. This
agent is said to be only scientific
curiosity" that may never amount to any
thing practical. but in theory at least
and theories have a way of becoming real
It is so powerful that an ounce of it could
conceiyably kill 1s0 100000 human beings.
Needless to say. of course, other nations
have not been backward in this field either.
This is a matter that speaks pretty much
for itself. With what science can make
available now or in the foreseeable future,
with atomic energy, bacteria, electronics,
guided missiles, supersonic rockets, etc.,
the black art of war is being developed to
a point where human beings no longer can
endure it. We can establish strong con-
troll over the atom, and If we do, the world
will have taken long step forward toward
real security. But even then there will
still be the danger of germs-a danger that
does not lend itself readily to control and
against which resolutions or treaties, how.
Evening star., 1947-08-02
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUeU.


Dear Sir:
Every summer get interested In new bird.
This year it is the catbird.
II suddenly find this the most interesting Of
birds, and I don't know why feel that way.
do other people feel that way about the
catbird?
81 want to be watching it all the time There
are at least six of them that come almost to my
hand for food
Il think this is marvellous bird. Do other
people think so? Sincerely, J. L. g.
Many people admire the catbird.
The late Harry Shannon, known as the
Rambler in his production Of hundreds OF
articles for the Star. wrote just one devoted
entirely to bird-the catbird.
1t is that sort of bird. 1t wins friends, not
easily. but surely.
once it has won them. it keeps them for life.
Not all birds are that way. Some OF them.
such as the starlings, have a hard time OF 1t
getting any friends at all.
Even after people have been exposed to the
wiles of the English sparrows for years, these
birds still lack human friends.
But the catbirds go right on, season after
season, attracting all persons who have real
opportunity of watching them for a long enough
time.
City people usually miss them, for catbirds
do not come to the city streets TOO often. NOW
They like best the country districts and the
suburban areas. In the latter they fnd con-
ditions just to their liking.
The trees the shrubbery, the many feeding
stations-these appeal to catbirds. With such
aids and friendly humans, they wax lat ana
healthy and bring up their young.
The new catbirds shortly find the life to
their liking. and remember it all winter down
South. so that next spring they come straight
back home"
X
The catbrd is one of the surest BIRDS TO
come back to the old stand.
That is why it Is so pleasant to make this
species your friend
You may feel pretty sure that the catbirds
here one summer will come back the next.
Not Just catbirds-no the same catplrds.
This means that the specimens made friendly
with handouts of raisins will be back in the
bushes next spring, whining for more raisins.
This remembrance-for it can be nothing
else-strikes straight home to the heart OF the
birdlover.
1t is one of the best reasons for being bird
lover at all. There can be little question tnat
some hardshelled persons think you are nuts"
for being interested In birds. 1t is one OF the
penalties one must bear for liking something.
There is nothing a human being can do that
some other human being does not find dis
tasteful, wrong, or silly.
Let us all rejoice this year that plenty OF
catbirds have come to grace our SUBURBAN
streets.
They are pretty. hardy, interesting, amusing,
helpful-what more can any one want?
They eat many inimical insects, and combine
with their grace q touch Of the whimsical.
What odd noises they can make!
It is question, whether startling or catbird
excels in this respect. Both can make unusual
sounds-but the catbird, of course, is a real
singer too
Half of the enthusiastic people who go on
about how prettily the mockingbird sang really
heard Q catbird.
Evening star., 1947-08-02
By THE HAsKIN SERVICE

@. Is Beatrice Lille related to the famous
Sir Robert Peel?-L. A r.
A. The great Sir Robert Peel. who lived from
1888 to 1850. was Prime Minister IN the early
years OF Queen Victoria's reign The London
Bobby is so called in his honor. He was the
second baronet Sir Robert Peel, the fifth
baronet and Beatrice Lilies husband, died in
1884 Their son, Sir Robert Peel the sixth
baronet, died in World War II.
@. Does Antioch College, Ohio. offer the full
A. B. and B. S. programs?-M. j. p.
3 A. Antioch offers the full A. B. and b. .. pro-
grams on a five-year basis instead OF four.
Over half the time Is spent by the student on
the college campus and the rest In Alternating
periods is devoted to jobs which may be any
where in the United States and in almost any
kind OF business, industry or profession.
@ When did the football series between the
Army and Navy begin and which team has won
the most games?-G. o.
A The football series between Army and
NAVY started in 1890. No games were played
from 1894 to 1898, in 1909. 1917, 1913. 1873 ana
1929 The total number OF games played Since
the bepinning is A. OF these Army has won
Is NAVY 10, and there have been three ties
How far does an iceberg usually travel?
j. J.E
warmer ocean water anu sun o0U o'' o.
so huge that they travel 1000 miles OF more
before entirely disappearing.
@. Why did John Paul Jones serve In the
Russian navy?-I. l..
A. In 1871 Catherine the Great invited him
to help to reorganize her navy. Upon the
advice of jefferson he accepted
@. What does the expression Parthian shot
mean?-. K.
A. It means a parting thrust. The phrase
refers to the custom of the ancient Parthians.
who in battle would feign retreat ana tnen
shoot backward with unerring aim
Evening star., 1947-08-02
Doubts Efficiency of .2s

To The Editor OF The Star:
With no desire to 90 onto any witness stand
I do want to assure you that your report from
Fishkill, N Y, Of the 20 slug that hit the LADY
in the leg after passing through barrel OF
sand, . barrel bottom and three inches OF noor-
ing is unbelievable to me-and began shoot
ing .22s at the age Of about ten.
The assumption is that it was ~ long
rifle" cartridge, the most powerful dast I knew
which the "a rifle handles. And before go
further your article gave the impression that
the barrel was tightly packed with sand, and
Evening star., 1947-08-02
Letters to The Star
Mr.. Ickes Taken, to Task
To the Editor Of The Star

To the Editor Of the Star:
Harold L. Ickes in his column in The Star OF
July 80 lowers himself into an tndefensible
position. In deploring the resignation OF Ben
jamin Cohen from the State Department. he
says that perhaps both President Truman and
Secretary Marshall "felt that, so long as there
are men in the armed services or with Wall
Street connections to draw upon, there Is
nothing to worry about"
Any thoughtful person who notices that
statement will realize that no writer mindful
of his reputation would use such careless
insinuation. The innuendo is completely de-
void of logic and entirely irrelevant to th?
eulogy on Mr.. Cohen. Had Mr.. Ickes cited fac-s
to support his impression. instead OF merely
stating his opinion that there are too many
brass hats and Wall Streeters in the Govern
ment he would have had something to COM
mand respect. But to attribute ignoble mo-
tives to the two men with nothing but empty
words is childish name calling, and the mud
that he throws at the President and the Secre-
tary only falls back on him.
GEORGE FREDERICK MILLER.
Evening star., 1947-08-02
Questions and Answers
Bv Gould Lincoln

reader can obtain ths answer 70 any snsstsscn
Bureau @ 31s 1 street NE. Wsshinston 2: o:
Please fnclose three CD cents for return POSTAGE
Evening star., 1947-08-02

The Russians are suspicious of Amer
leans. How could they help. it, considering
how unsuspicious of Russians quite a few
Americans are?