Evening star. [volume], December 06, 1939, Page A-14, Image 14

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Finns' Resistance
Destroys Spell Red
Army Has Exercised
Bubble of Invincibility
Pricked by Ferocious
Defense Fighting
By COL. FREDERICK PALMER.
Reports from Finland certainly do
not warrant any change of view on
the part of world military experts,
who have long been saying, "Maybe
Josef Stalin has found a new and
better way of making an army, but
we cannot see it.”
To them he had undermined the
basis of sound military organization,
attested through the experience of
the ages, by placing political com
missars over the generals. ‘
It is about as conceivable as that
President Lincoln should have sent
a “good Republican” to show Gen.
Grant how to conduct his campaign
against Lee, or President Wilson
should have sent a “good Democrat”
as the mentor of Gen. Pershing in
Prance.
The Soviet Army has exercised, a
mysterious spell. How good was it?
Was it really better than the army
of the Czars? Although other great
armies conceal their combat plans
and new weapons which rivals lack,
an experienced eye may see enough
of their form and organization to
pass judgment on their efficiency.
But the Soviet Army has been in
accessible to any satisfactory ob
servation.
French Officers Sent to Soviet.
From an authoritative source I
know that two French officers were
sent to Russia to report on the
Soviet Army at the time France was
In negotiation for a mutual defen
sive pact with Russia, which should
insure entree for military experts of
the future allies. One officer, who
made his studies at some distance
beyond Moscow, formed an utterly
pessimistic conclusion. The other,
who did not obtain the privilege of
going far from Moscow, was im
pressed with what he saw—im
pressed with the window dressing,
without getting into the shop itself
to “see goods.”
ine worm nas ueeu uuijicmcu
with written and photographic
views of the march of Soviet mili
tary might past Lenin's tomb. It
was a great show. But how efficient
in battle would be the planes roar
ing overhead, the tanks thundering
by and the infantry with its vigor
ous steps? Howt would the whole,
not just the chosen few for review,
stand the supreme test, all summed
up in the two wrnrds of “fire dis
cipline” under fire?
Five days after vast Russia's ruth
less surprise attack, we may meas
ure results not only by Finnish re
ports. but the atmosphere of dis
comfiture in the Russian reports.
First, by sea? On paper, the
Soviets had an overwhelming naval
superiority. They should have been
able to close the harbor of Helsinki
by mines. They have apparently
vainly attacked Hangoe, which, with
the control of the Estonian coast,
should have made them masters of
the Gulf of Finland.
An expedition, with naval pro
tection, should have enabled the
Soviets to take possession of the
Aaland Islands and land guns and
an army defensive force. But, ac
cording to reports, the amazing pic
ture is that the Finns are fortifying
the Aalands and holding them in
control of the Gulf of Bothnia. The
Finns are still masters of Finnish
waters, incredible as it seems, and
they are laying mines to harass the
enemy.
In the air? The Soviets claimed
6.500 planes against the 150 of the
Finns. Of course, it was nothing
remarkable for bombers to kill
civilians in surprise attacks on
urban populations at peace.
And, of course, dropping soldiers
by parachutes was discounted long
ago as sheer, wholly impracticable
stunt propaganda. Imagine 500 en
emy soldiers dropped behind the
front near one of our divisions of the
A. E. F. in rest billets! They would
be much easier to hit in their de
scent than ducks on the wing. But
the Americans, in their good nature,
would doubtless have said, “Poor
boobs! Do your mothers know you're
out?” and surrounded and captured
♦ Horn
The honors in the air seem to be
with the Finns so far, whether they
have taken the offensive by bombing
Murmansk or not. Apparently they
have brought down an astonishingly
large number of Russian planes.
Soviets Are Outraged.
On land? In the north, at this
writing, the Finns, fiercely fighting,
seem to be holding Petsamo and
the nickel mines at Salmijaervi.
On the Karelian Isthmus Moscow
reports no progress, except in form
ing a ragtag Communist government
for Finland. How different it all is
from the march past Lenin's tomb
and the easy going into Poland and
rousing the peasants to shoot all the
property holders! The Soviets are in
a mood of outrage and self-pity.
All of us know the visibility of the
skater on a lake. Be he in khaki,
German green or French horizon
blue, he is a distinct target against
a white background, while the Finns
have been unkind enough to provide
themselves with modern semi-auto
matic rifles. And how mean of these
aggressive Finns! They actually
have anti-tank guns without Stalin’s
consent. And a shell bursting in
front of a tank, if it misses the
mark and crushes the ice—why, the
tank’s crew will find the tank will
not float. The world’s wish may be
father to the thought, but there 1s
the ring of truth, though numbers
may be exaggerated, in the report
that the Finns have taken 1,500
prisoners in their wicked strategy
against that of the commissars.
Two utterly different systems are
at war: A little nation of educated
people in a self-reliant democracy,
against an illiterate horde under the
illusion of Stalinism. The Finns
know their fate if conquered. They
had better die fighting than-to be
massacred after surrender. If the
Asiatics in the Russian horde get
going—as the author knows occurred
on other occasions—they will ravage
and pillage in mass libertine license.
Was Col. Lindbergh right about
the Russian air force? And were
American engineers who have been
in Russia right about the Russians
being able to press the button to
make a machine run, but helpless
about repairs?
The end is not yet. But has Fin
nish resistance pricked a military
bubble? Has autocrat Stalin made
an army as good as that of the
Czars out of the Moujik masses who
followed the little father as the
divine head of church and state
and now follow Stalin as the suc
cessor of the deified Linen? With
out indulging in sentiment, the news
we have from Finland so far is
the most suggestive in a military
and a world sense of any we have
had in this war. And let us con
sider a larger, highly skillful army,
against the Soviet Army in the dis
illusionment of its sacrificed sol
diery, when the generals turn in
angry concert against the commis
sars who are in quarreling mood
after losing their faith in Stalin.
(Released bj me North American
Newspaper Alliance. Inc.)
Testimony Completed
In Maverick Poll Tax
Conspiracy Case
San Antonio's Mayor
Charges Prosecution
Witnesses Lied
By the Associated Press.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex., Dec. 6 —
The State's case against Mayor
Maury Maverick, charged with en
tering into a poll tax payment con
spiracy, may go to a District Court
Jury tonight.
Testimony was completed shortly
after Mayor Maverick Insisted un
der lengthy cross-questioning that
he never proposed to buy poll tax
receipts for voters. Texas voters
must exhibit a poll tax receipt.
Principal prosecution contentions
were:
That Mr. Maverick last January
27 proposed to Miss Rebecca Taylor,
manager of the San Antonio Local
of the International Ladies’ Gar
ment Workers’ Union, that money be
advanced to union members unable
to pay their poll taxes.
Sees Political Attack.
That on January 28, 500 silver half
dollars were checked out of Mr.
Maverick's bank account and deliv
ered to union headquarters.
That on January 30, George Glass,
union business agent, handed “five
or six’’ members a sufficient number
of half dollars to cover their poll
taxes.
Mr. Maverick admitted he drew
out the $250 In 50-cent pieces, but
said he intended the money to be
used in an intensive campaign to
impress upon union members the
desirability of their becoming qual
ified voters.
He clearly Indicated through cau
tic answers to prosecutors’ questions
that he felt District Attorney John
R. Shook and his assistants had not
treated him fairly in the criminal
proceedings climaxed by the trial.
For 10 years Mr. Maverick has
fought the political organization of
which Mr. Shook is a member.
Charges Testimony Untrue.
At one point L. J. Gittinger, as
sistant district attorney, asked Mr.
Maverick why, in his opinion, Miss
Taylor gave certain testimony in
direct conflict with that of the
Mayor.
‘‘I think you told her what to say,”
the defendant answered.
Mr. Maverick said Miss Taylor
“lied” in certain parts of her testl
money, but that “she didn't lie as
much as Burket (Maxwell Burket,
Miss Taylor’s attorney).” Both Mr.
Burket and Miss Taylor were State
witnesses.
Jewish Center Group
Will Hear Leaders
The Town Hall Association Group
of the Jewish Community Center,
will discuss “Business and Govern
ment-Friends or Enemies?” at the
regular meeting tomorrow at 9 p.m.
The radio broadcast will feature
Jerome N. Frank, chairman of the
Securities and Exchange Commis
sion; Senator Robert A. Taft, Re
publican. of Ohio; William Me. C.
Martin, jr., president of the New
York 3tock Exchange, and Floyd M.
Odium, president of the Atlas Corp.
FORDS
ENGINE HEADS
WELDED
WELDIT, INC.
516 1st St. N.W. ME. 7944
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SHEFFIELD PLATE
STERLING SILVER
DIAMONDS-JEWELRY
Unusual Sterling items include
Tea Services of six pieces with
trap to match by Tiffany; Services
by Kirk in Mayflower pattern, also.
in hand-chased Castle and Bird
designs: Bowls, Center Pieces, Plat
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of Ornamental and Serving’ Pieces
Candlesticks. Flat Ware and in
numerable pieces by well-known
craftsmen such as Kirk. Gorham
Caldwell; Bailey, Banks dr Biddle:
Tiffany. Stieff: Black. Starr dz Frost
aird others. j
Fine Diamond Pieces, including
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inum ladies' ring mounting: thirty
three diamonds (in row) bracelet;
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smaller Diamonds: Diamond Wrist
Watches and other jewelry.
Will Conclude
At Auction
| (BY CATALOGUE)
AT WESCHLER’S
915 E St. N.W.
TOMORROW
Commencing 10 O'clock A.M.
This tale consists largely ci
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