Evening star. [volume], April 22, 1942, Page A-10, Image 12

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

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Parks and the War
It If not surprising that Secretary
ot the Interior Ickes, as custodian
of National Capital parks, should
have decided to force a showdown
with Army, Navy and Public Build
ings Administration officials over the
alarming encroachments on park
land that have taken place recently—
and which threaten to continue.
Interior Department officials, the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission and many local organi
sations and citizens have appre
ciated the fact that in time of war
park areas along with many other
things must be sacrificed. In token
of this recognition, park officials have
made frequent and numerous conces
sions to military and naval author
ities lh the matter of granting use of
park areas on the fringe of the Mall
and In West Potomac Park for war
time office buildings, dormitories and
ether temporary construction.
Bat each concession has been fol
lowed quickly by demands for more
and more space, until much of the
recreational area in the vicinity of
the Monument and the Lincoln Me
moril has disappeared. Throughout
this whole park-requisitioning proc
ess there has been evidenced a
deplorable lack of co-ordinated plan
ning by the site seekers. The tend
ency seems to have been to grab the
most convenient open space that met
the eye, without proper consideration
of the fact that alternate sites might
be found In other locations. The
thwarted attempt to place the new
War Department Building directly in
front of Arlington National Cemetery
was a prize example of this planless
trend. To have placed rows of bar
racklike dormitories on the Mall
would have been an equally iil-ad
vlsed action, In view of the fact that
suitable sites were available else
where—as the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission has dem
onstrated.
It does not suffice merely to say
that war is war and parks necessarily
must suffer by reason thereof. As
Mr. lekes aptly emphasizes, the well
being of a city which has become
the world headquarters of the Allied
war effort certainly is an important
factor in the successful prosecution
of the war. And the well-being of
the thousands upon thousands of
Workers packed in crowded offices Is
certainly affected by the withdrawal
of outdoor recreational facilities.
There Is another point which de
serves frank emphasis. Valuable
planes were destroyed on the ground
in the Hawaiian and Philippine
islands because the Japs caught them
neatly lined up together on the air
ports. In Washington the authorities
have on the one hand cautioned
against the danger of air raids, at
the same time packing important
temporary war structures together
merely because open park spaces
provided convenient building sites.
The result is to increase traffic con
gestion, Increase the hazard from air
raids and possibly to lose the effi
ciency sought in more office space
that would be gained by a more care
ful decentralization of temporary
buildings
Mr. Nelson Protests
The fact that Donald M. Nelson,
chairman of the War Production |
Board, has found it necessary to pro- ;
test to & Senate committee for the
second time within a few weeks
against attacks on dollar-a-year men
tn the Government service should
serve to restrain criticism of this ,
type, which is not founded on fact
•nd which is as unwarranted as it is
harmful to the war effort.
Mr. Nelson has not taken the posi
tion of defending dollar-a-year men
against any and all criticism. On the
contrary, there is no doubt that he
would be the first to welcome valid
complaints. But he does take ex
ception. and properly so. to the com
ments of those critics who attack
the integrity of*dollar-a-year men as
a class without taking the trouble to
ascertain whether their charges are
well founded
The war production chief's latest
protest was made to the Truman
committee—the same group to which
his earlier complaint was directed.
Asserting that this congressional
criticism is handicapping the W. P.
B. Mr. Nelson said: "We are having
tacrcasing difficulty In getting good
teen to come down here to do this
Job. They have to face continued
ariticism of the honesty of their in
tentions. There is a lot of criticism
Just because they are businessmen,
And it to getting to the* point where
| if you know something about busi
ness you art suspect *
It Is to he hoped that the critics
to whom Mr Nelson s remarks were
directed will lake his admonition to
heart, and It Is to be expected that
all who are genuinely Interested in
promoting the Nation's war effort
will do so This does not mean that
doiiar-a-year men should be beyond
the reach of critics when the facts
warrant criticism But it does mean
! that responsible critics should make
a reasonable effort to ascertain the
facts before assailing the integrity
of men who have given up their
positions in the business world—often
at a loss to themselves— to come to
Washington to serve the Government
at the Government's request.
Words as Weapons
The announcement over the Gov
ernment-controlled Tokio radio that
Japanese Christians are praying for
the “restoration of peace” through
out the world lends added signifi
cance to Archibald MacLeish's ad
monishment that the American press
must be prepared to meet an Axis
“peace offensive ”
The fact that the Tokio broadcast
reached this country with the
approval of the Japanese government
may or may not warrant an assump
tion that It was intended for propa
ganda purposes. And the incident,
of Itself, is of little Importance. Mr.
MacLeish, in addressing some 600
editors and publishers in New York,
had in mind not an occasional enemy
peace feeler, but an all-out propa
ganda offensive such as the Axis has
used with such devastating effect in
the past.
"A peace offensive,” Mr MacLeish
told his audience, “is an offensive in
political warfare, and political war
fare Is fought with the weapons
journalists and publishers are trained
to use—the weapons of Ideas and
words. It can be met and turned
only by the employment—by the most
skillful and effective employment—
of these same weapons. And It is the
press, in a country which puts its
reliance in a free and independent
press, which has that skill and can
employ it."
Americans, Mr. MacLeish said, are
aware of the fact that the Axis has
made effective use of propaganda as
a military weapon, but, he added, as
a people we have had little knowledge
and even less experience with po
litical warfare. “The power of words
to overthrow nations and enslave
their people,” he declared, "Is g power
in which we do not altogether or lit
erally believe." The great danger,
he added, lies in this unfamiliarity
with the technique of Axis propa
gandists, plus the fact that propa
ganda attacks upon the American
people will not be advertised as
propaganda, but will be made to
appear as American suggestions orig
inating within the United States.
To meet this menace, the press, in
his judgment, should proceed along
two lines. First, he said, the press
“must expose and counteract those
of its own members who, at this mo
ment of national peril, are attempt
ing to influence American opinion,
not in the direction of American vic
tory, but in the direction of American
defeat." The second line of resist
ance. according to Mr. MacLeish, lies
in the development by the press of
what he termed a “strategy of truth."
This strategy, he said, must have for
its object a truthful understanding
by the people of the meaning of the
war in which they fight, thus en
abling them to penetrate the frauds
and deceits by which our enemies
have confused and conquered other
peoples.
This address by Mr. MacLeish is an
invitation to the press of the country
to play a vital role in the winning of
the war, to serve a purpose which
goes beyond the strict reporting of
the news. It is sn opportunity and a
privilege to which & free press can
and should respond with alacrity.
Orchestra's Function
The cultural standards of the Na
tion must be maintained in time of
war. Otherwise the purpose of the
effort would be defeated In part if
not as a whole. Such is the convic
tion of those who wisely urge the
necessity for adequate support of the
National Symphony Orchestra in this
current period of conflict. Great
music represents a precious portion
of the civilization for which Ameri
can men and boys now are fighting
on a dozen different fronts. It would
be a tragedy if the premier musical
organization of the Capital of the
United States were to be allowed to
fail in days when, as perhaps never
before, it has a function of impera
tive social significance and value.
Victory over the Axis, it now is
clear, will be won not merely by ac
tivity in fields far distant from Wash
ington. What happens in the Dis
trict of Columbia also is important
j to a compelling degree. The morale
of the entire American community
depends upon the development of
unlimited survival power in the Fed
eral structure of the Republic. From
this single center on the north bank
of the Potomac there must go out to
the remotest village of the continent
an unfailing leadership as inspiring
and dynamic as patriotism itself. The
source of the requisite strength and
seal lies deep in the character of
| citizens gathered here from every
! portion of the country. It best is
summoned forth by noble art.
Hence the tremendous popularity
of the National Gallery, a con
stantly growing demand upon the
Library of Congress and the Wash
ington Public Library, unprece
dented increase in attendance at
local churches since December 7 last.
The entrance of the United States
into the second world wide eonuwt
j between the democracies and mth- |
leu barbarism released a spiritual
an emotional and an Intellectual tide
which is sweeping onward with ac- i
eelerated speed and vigor Bach sep
arate concert of the orchestra con
tributes to the demonstration of
American determination to endure
the prevailing ordeal without flinch
ing. The same observation may be
offered In behalf of the Nation a will
to win the goal of peace and freedom
for which, with expanding efficiency, !
it strives.
Only a relatively small and Incon
sequential sum Is wanted to insure
the National Symphony’s eontlnu
1 ance. The -campaign objective Is
$114,000, of which amount approxi
mately $35 000 has been subscribed.
Every penny given to the orchestra
: this year may be regarded as an In
vestment in the essential ideals by
which America lives In return a
regular winter season of twenty
weeks and a summer season of six
weeks of music to lift up the hearts
j of multitudes are promised.
Lava I-Darlan Double-Talk
That strangely assorted triumvirate
| —Petain. Laval, Darlan—who have
cast the already equivocal Vichy
regime into a still more dubious
mould, have all gone on the air to tell
their respective stories. In quavering
accents, the old Marshal, who re
mains technically Chief of State,
briefly bade his fellow eitisens to rally
to the new setup. Then Laval went on
the air with a long and obviously
propagandist harangue. Lastly Ad
miral Darlan gave a radio address
directed especially to the members of
those fighting forces over which he
has been given command.
The most Interesting aspect of
DarIan’s address is the way he em
phasized the separation of military
and civilian authority arranged by
Marshal Petain when he named
Admiral Darlan commander of the
armed forces responsible solely to
himself, the Chief of State, rather
than to Laval, the Chief of Govern
ment. This logically means that the
old marshal has deliberately dele
gated authority in separate spheres
to two men who mutually distrust
and dislike each other, thereby estab
lishing a system of checks and bal
ances under himself. But that
suggests a still more Interesting
Inference. The Germans could have
blocked this arrangement If they had
so desired. That they acquiesced may
mean a plan to play off all three men
against each other, thereby exercis
ing a hidden grip over and above
their obvious power to intimidate and
compel obedience by military action
or reprisals. We here glimpse a
sinister web of intrigue and latent
double-crossing with unpredictable
ramifications.
Meanwhile, Laval, the avowed Nasi
agent, is doing his stuff with the
tortuous ability for which he is no
torious. His broadcast is a tissue of
rhetorical sophistries and special
pleading. Bach group and class in
France is cajoled and appealed to In
terms of their prejudices and selfish
interests. This conscienceless politi
cal manipulator poses as an old
fashioned patriot upholding his
country’s welfare against sinister
foreign influence. Only, the sinister
influence comes from England, while
Germany Is glowingly depicted as
the considerate, high-minded power
with whom France can collaborate In
the creation of a new and better
European order.
To analyze in detail Laval's tricky
distortions of reality would be profit
less. Their only importance is as
indications of his next steps as di
rector of both the foreign and do
mestic policy of the Vichy regime.
There is some evidence to imply that
the immediate emphasis may be on
internal affairs. The new regime
may feel impelled to consolidate its
position at home before venturing
decisive moves abroad. This do
mestic campaign logically should be
accompanied by concessions from
Germany, such as release of more war
prisoners and easing of the occupa
tion. Laval Is now in Paris, confer
ring with his Nasi masters. Events
will soon show how the wind is
blowing.
Coll for Izaak Walton
The fish story has long been a sym
bol of the fantastic and the incredi
ble. Ever since the dawn of history
the fertile imagination of man has
been at its best on this subject. Some
of the tales would make even Baron
Munchausen and Herr Goebbels un
easy and envious.
And yet many are genuine. The
curator of the Chicago Field Museum,
a scientist whose prominence guar
antees his statements, says that in
many parts of the Middle West,
farmers in plowing lowlands often
turn up a species of fish called mud
minnows, which carry a water supply
' in pockets on each side of their
! bodies, to keep them alive until
spring rains have a chance to wash
I them to more suitable homesites.
Bad news, surely, for manufactur
ers of fishing tackle unable to carry
plows as a sideline, but interesting
news for farmers whose hired hands
are always looking for time off to go
Ashing. The combination of business
and pleasure sounds ideal—but is it?
Somehow one cannot visualize Izaak
Walton as enthusiastic. His prey were
wily, gamey and elusive, worthy of
th« angler's highest tribute. Of
course, he was not really Te Compleat
Angler, aa he undoubtedly missed the
experience of catching dry-land min
nows with a plow, but It is thought
that the old gentleman was compleat
enough to get all the satisfaction he
wanted.
Japanese Threaten
Madagascar
Writer Tells How Seizure
Would Interfere Wirti Route
From England to India
By Mary Ann Bodine.
NEW YORK. April 22— (Wide World»
Madagascar, once the haunt of pirates
who laid a heavy toll on rich cargoes
sailing between England and the East
Indies again may serve as a raiding
base should the Japenese seize the island.
In their hands, the Axis would have
a vital naval base on the western end
of the Indian Ocean and thus multiply
the complications of getting the Allied
armies and materiel to the Middle East.
A Japanese mission was reported to
be on the island more than a month
ago negotiating far naval and air bases.
London sources at that time remarked
that since the fall of Singapore the
importance of Madagascar. fourth
largest Island in the world, had doubled.
Japanese control would make it com
paratively easy to cut the supply lines
which run past the cape of Good Hope
and the strategic Mozambique channel,
which separates the island from the
African mainland to the West.
While representatives of Vichy have
insisted that no commitments Iwve
been made to Japan, there has been a
feeling among the Allies that the same
procedure might be followed as in
Indo-China.
Madagascar is far from being Ideal for
such extensive naval operations as would
be necessary to dominate the Indian
Ocean; but its command by Japan
would certainly imperil the United
Nations' hold on the route to Egypt,
British-occupied Italian East Africa,
Iran. Iraq, India and Russia
Its long shore line has few natural
harbors, especially an the east coast,
which is almost straight.
Japanese raiders, however, could be
based at Diego Suarez In the rugged north
tip of the island and at Mmjunga on
the northwest coast, both naval stations
for units of the French fleet In the
Indian Ocean. Diego Suarez is the best
harbor on the island, and Majunga would
be valuable as a base for attack on
Mozambique channel, which is about
350 miles wide.
TTie native* are a simple, primitive
people. They have no formal religion,
preferring to call God simply “the
fragrant one." Their language is soft
and musical and they are fond of sing
ing.
A fabulous land, scene of the exploits
of Sinbad -the sailor and other tall tales
from the Arabian nights, pirate base and
one-time sieve market, Madagascar has
had a colorful history.
Early in the 16th century Diaz claimed
the island for the Portuguese and called
it -isle of st. Lawrence " When hla
countrymen made no attempt to colonise
it, the Dutch tried and failed.
Then came the French, who estab
lished military positions on the east
coast. They were massacred. Not until
the late 19th century did they get the
land.
The island itself is #80 miles long and
its area of 228500 square miles is ex
ceeded by three other islands, Green
land, New Guinea and Borneo.
The chief commercial port Is Tamatavs
on the east coast, but the city is un
healthy, built close to marshes and has a
hot, humid climate. Fort Dauphin, In
the arid southern part at the island hag
little to recommend It save a good high
way to TsmaUve.
Foreigners, of whom there are some
>5,000, have found the island’s high
central plateau a healthy and pleasant
region.
Tananarive, capital city of 100,000,
sUnda on the plateau near the approxi
mate center of the island. It is modem
in appearance with boulevards and
parks, churches, schools, hospitals and
an imposing railway sUtion, and a
palace or two vacated when royalty waa
formally abolished on the island in 1896.
Economically, the island would be a
good grab for the Japanese, for there
is considerable wealth in the red earth.
The gold mines, worked by the French
since 1887, the year after they took the
island over, have not proved as rich as
was first believed, but many varieties
of precious stones are found—rubies,
sapphires; emeralds, topazes and aqua
marines. Iron is abundant and other
minerals are believed to lie in the moun
tains.
Much British capital has been in
vested in Madagascar in the past, but
three-fourths of its trade has been with
France. The chief exports are raw hides,
preserved meat, tapioca, rice, dried vege
tables, coffee, graphite and precious
stones.
At one time the island yielded some
rubber.
The forests have been virtually de
nuded and the tableland is brown and
barren.
Cattle raising is an important indus
try, and it has been Mid that there art
more cattle per capita raised on the
island than in any other country in the
world. The natives will not kill them
for food. A man’s social position is
gauged by the number of cattle he pos
sesses. and he would let his family go
hungry rather than butcher one Of the
beasts.
Food is plentiful and the natives need
Utile money. Moet of their individual
income la from handwork. They weave
beautiful mats and baskets and are
skilled In fashioning silver and gold
ornaments. Like the Japanese, they are
good copyists.
The natives, called Malagasy, are of a
brown rather than a black race, and
belong to the Malayo-Polynesian family.
There are Semitic. Mongol and Negroid
strains in their blood. Members of the
ruling families are descended from
Arabs.
Cites Factual Error
In Report ef Lecture.
To the Bditor of The Star:
In the account of my lecture of Mon
day night in The Star I am reported as
saying that the Chilean Navy is not con
voying ships. But I said that the Chilean
Navy is convoying ships. That point was
important in relation to the general
presentation. KDWIN RYAN.
Conveys Metaphoric Bouquets
For "Answer- to Mia Thom poor
To tb* Ml tor ef The Sur
Flowers to the editor for publishing
Marion Bloom’s answer to Dorothy
Thompson's article on the "Rainbow
Pamphlets." edited by the Womens
Division of the War Department, and a
special bio mom to Miss Bloom for ha
grand retort I EUGENIA WALLACE.
THIS AND THAT
By Charlti f T'acttcfl!
"Parasite" la a word which has been '
bandied around frntr time u» time
In the bird world It is mostly applied
to the cowbird
One of these came to our feeding sta
tion Saturday evening at exactly I
o'clock.
This feeder is located within a few feet
of the window, to it was easy to see the
creature.
Certainly there is nothin* parasitic in
Its appearance
As far as we know, this is the only
bird with a black body and a brown head
and neck.
It is an odd combination, especially
when the black is glossy, with a green
and even violet undertone.
• * * *
Cowbirds. like the English cuckoo, lay
their eggs in the nests of other birds.
The one at our feeding station was a
male, so he would do no egg laying.
We looked around for his mate, a plain
sort of brown bird, but did not see her.
In the meantime, the male was greedily
eating assorted seeds and grains.
He ate as If he had not had a bite to
•at for a long time.
Unlike the local birds, which pick and
choose, he thrust in his thick bill re
peatedly, seizing anything which came
t« bill.
w ^ w w
Last spring we had a female eowbird.
So it would seem that the two are not
often seen together.
These birds, although they indulge in
what might be called an axis-like trick,
do not do what they dp because of sly
ness. but simply because it is their nature
to do it.
Nesting begins in this month, if nest
ing it can be called. The cowbirds are j
what at one time in this country were
called exponents of "free love."
They do not stick together, as most
birds, but make up to any one of their
species they came across in the meadow,
where they often walk after cows, to eat
the Insects stirred up by the feet of the
quadrupeds. (Hence the name.)
* * * *
These birds do not nest, In the usual
sense.
It is a sneak affair, like Pearl Harbor.
The mother eowbird fly* around until
she finds a nice nest with fresh eggs
in it.
Then she lsys an egg, it is believed
Just one at a time, and flies away. Her
duties are over. Not for her the hatching
of the egg, and the feeding of her own
progeny. Most mother birds, aa well as
their mates, work themselves into a
frazsle, as the saying has it, feeding the
young, but not the cowbirds. If they
cannot find a place to put the egg, they
put It on the ground. Sometimes they
pom* bark and ranr tt earefullv in •
n**t oik# thev And a mi table on# Thu I
la thetr only sign of tenderness
• * • •
The eowbird egg u larger In moot ra«et
than the rightful egg* in th# neat
So tt gets more heat
Alao. It require* a shorter t tine to hatch
Hence the cc.wbird appear* first and
gata the Item's share of the food the foster
parent rustles up.
It would seem strange, at first thought,
that tha mother bird in the nest would
not know her own offspring
On second thought, It is seen that she
would have no way of knowing
So she goes right ahead, feeding the
large bird, which often grows so rapidly
that It receives moat of the food
The rightful birds In the nest starve to
death, while the poor mother feeds the
big hungry eowbird. -
* * e *
Sparrows and warblers are the favorite
victims of this deception
Young cowbtrds grow so fast that they
often get ail the food the guileless mother
bird brings, because she is off the nest so
much, looking for food, that she does not
have time to give her own eggs sufficient
warmth to hatch them!
This would seem to be the all-time
“low" for bird intelligence, but again we
have to take into consideration that birds
have no way of protecting themselves
against such goings on.
The eowbird, fortunately, is the only
bird in this country which indulges in
such methods, and so the other species
have not had the chance to build up re
actions against them.
It la just as if a human family of
tender, gentle, kindly persons has sud
denly thrust into it a scheming, me&n
tongued person, who proceeds to “rule
the roost" because the others do not
know how to prevent It.
The cowbird does not often eat insects
off the hide of cows, as is commonly pic
tured, but mostly uses cattle to flush Its
game, as it were.
That is, the cows move, and In moving
drive out of the grass the various Insects,
which are seized by the following cowbird.
Most of the Insects eaten are harmful
species. But this Is offset, according to
the experts, by the fact that for every
young cowbird, two to five other birds are
killed In nesting.
In the far South there are three other
eowblrds, the dwarf, the red-eyed and
the bronzed, all of which lay their eggs
in the same way.
Our specimen, no doubt Just in from
the South, suddenly stopped eating and
flew away.
As he went we noted the sparkle of his
feathers, and how his head and neck
•lightly resembled those of the dovs.
Letters to the Editor
niei — ri Problem of Finding a Home
Far a Family With Children.
To tb« Sditor of The Slur
I am Just one of the thousands who
hare been asked by the Federal Govern
ment to come to Washington and help
out in the present emergency. Like all
decent men, I wanted to keep my family
intact and have its members with me.
Can you Imagine how I feel when,
looking for an apartment, to have the
person in charge throw up his hands in
apparent herror when I tell him I have
two little girls and a pup?
For my own information I would like
to know what one i§ supposed to do to
wnd a place to live here, divorce his wife
and send his children to an orphan's
home or rob a bank and buy .an apart
ment building and live in it alone? It
v seems Uke a child goes into the same
category as a wild animal in this vicinity.
In Mississippi, my home 8tate, we are
glad to rent to a family with children,
as the chances are It is far more settled
and quiet.
It really seems a shame that we have
to make all kinds of sacrifices to protect
a place that is too “good” to give shelter
to children. J. G. POULK.
Disagree* With Proposal
To Saopend Elections.
To tho Editor of Tho Star
I have just read with incredulity the
article by David Lawrence entitled "Fall
Elections Called Peril to War Effort”
and am forced to admit that as an
American loyal to our republican form of j
Government under the Constitution of
the United States I have never expected
to hear or read any such opinion.
Mr. Lawrence's opening reference to
the suspension of elections in Britain
and Canada begs the whole question
involved. Without periodic elections
there can be no representative govern
ment, for the people have no other
way of expressing their will except
through the ballot box. Once that right
is taken away it never can be regained
except by force. The people of Britain
and Canada expect to resume elections
when the war is over, but there Is a
grave possibility that a radical change
in circumstances may make the present
Incumbents unwilling to submit to the
electoral process, or they may be suc
ceeded by those who do not believe
In the democratic process at all. The
very fact that the elected member*
of a parliamentary body are unwilling
to place their political records before
their own people for examination and
approval is a warning signal that gov
ernment of the people, for the people
and by the people is about to perish.
Mr. Lawrence says that a political
campaign at this time would give real
comfort to Hitler, for he would "see
America's energies diverted from all-out
war to all-out politics.” We already are
giving comfort to Hitler on these
grounds. Certainly, the enemy could j
not have been more pleased than when
all sorts of rich plums were being handed
around in the O. C. D. while our brave
young men went through the agonizing
siege of Bataan.
The industrial corporations of the i
United States today are being hounded j
on the grounds they are impeding and
obstructing the war production. There
may be a few auch organizations, but
any one who knows the American in
dustrialist know* that when the Gov
ernment tells Him to proceed, he does
so to the limit of his capacity and
the directions he receives from the
Government. The sight of American
Industry being threatened by our own
Government must give comfort to
Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the writer, although the use of
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters with
a view to condensation.
Hitler, for It it an old story in Germany.
The fact Is that all-out politics are
being played here right now and it is
time to call a halt. If a congressional
election, which must be held under the
Constitution, and which must be held
In good faith, can help eliminate the
disastrous politics which permeate every
aspect of affairs relating to the security
of the United States, then I am sure
Mr. Lawrence would be In favor of
holding the election. His assumption
that a Republican Congress (and I mean
a Congress dominated by members of
the opposition party; would mean dis
unity in our defenae effort is not valid.
It is not so much a question of which
party is in Congress, but rather of
having men there whose sole purpose
is directed toward the protection of
the United States, its territories and
possessions, and the complete defeat
of the enemy in the most efficient and
thorough manner possible. We did H
in 1918—and we also held an election
in 1918. ELEANOR H. FINCH.
Sees Second World War
As a "Crusade" for Freedom.
TO tht Sditor of TK« Star:
If we want a new name for World War
II. can’t we call It “The Crusade Against
Conquest"?
Is not this conflict more than war?
Wars always have been, and always will
be, isolated Incidents in the evolution
of mankind, and the episodes in which
we now find ourselves are no less transi
tory. But from our standpoint they are
also the outward Indications of a deep
seated revolt against the oppression, the
physical enslavement, which certain
powers seek to impose by force upon
all mankind. Germany and Japan are
momentary physical enemies to be de
feated by every means at our disposal,
including an all-inclusive war effort;
but deeper, more far-reaching, than this
is the necessity for a crusade stemming -
from the natural revolt of ail peace
and-order-loving individuals and nations
against conquest, against the enslave
ment of nations whose sincere desire is
to live at peace with their neighbors.
Ail the good, all the real and lasting
power in earth and heaven would be
enlisted in such an effort.
We may tiot see eye to eye with Russia
when political economy is viewed; our
desire few industrial progress and me
chanical aids to human comfort may
be stronger than those of the people of
China and India; we may desire a more
compact geographical sphere of Influence
than does Great Britain; but certainly
all of us can join in a revolt against
the forcible enslavement of peaceful
neighbors. The differences In the opin
ions held by ourselves and our Allies are
superficial and of small import when
we contemplate the basic, fundamental
motive that actuates all of us.
If we value freedom for ourselves and
our children we must become inspired,
determined comrades in a crusade which
will extend far beyond our certain vic
tory In the present conflict. We must
become tried and trusted partners in an
endeavor which will continue long after
history has recorded the Axis try tor
power ae an example of total failure.
Why not "Crueade against Conquest”?
EDWARD PIERCE.
Hoikin'* Answer*
To Questions
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«»•*# Star Information Unraam Prwf*
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Q Where are the highest and lowest
post office* torsi#*' T T
A According to th# toteet Informa
tion, Trail Ridge Colo. Is th# htghe«t
post office tn th# United HUtes having
an sltttud# of U.7V7 fee* above as* level.
Mecca. Calif , tn th# Imperial Valiev t»
the lowest poet office, the elevation being
1M feet below see level These two
places ar# small and cannot be called
cities.
Q Who Is th# author of the saying
that it is better to remain silent and be
thought a fool than to speak out and
prove it?—8 T. D
A. The words, "Better to remain silent
and be thought a fool than speak out
and remove all doubt," are credited to
Abraham Lincoln.
President* and Their WivM—
Meet the 32 Executive# of the
United States and the women
who have presided at the White
House throughout our history.
Do you know their names, term
of office, their poUtics. religion,
education, birthplace, burial
place, parents, wives, children,
personal and public history? This
booklet will answer innumerable
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Inclose 10 cents In coin, wrapped
in this clipping, and mall to The
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Name
Address
Q Is there an estimate of the amount
of explosives the intense bombing of
England costs Germany?—®. D. O.
A. Between August 8, 1940, and Janu
ary 2, 1941, Berlin claimed to have
dropped over 92,000,000 pounds of high
explosive bombs and over 3,500,000
pounds of incendiaries on British soil.
If these figures and the figures of Brit
ish air-raid casualties are correct, it
cost Germany about one ton of bombs
for each casualty inflicted and two and
one-half tons for every eltlsen killed.
Q From what opera Is the song, “The
Last Rose of Summer." taken?—A. H.
A. "The Last Rose of Summer," based
on an ancient Irish air, Is Interpolated
as an aria In the opera "Martha," by
Flo tow.
Q. Can you give some Information on
the big barbecue once given by Gov.
Walton of Oklahoma ?—W. N. D.
A. The food which Gov. Walton of
Oklahoma served at the barbecue which
he held to celebrate his Inauguration on
January 9. 192), included beef, buffalo,
bear, reindeer, antelope, pork, mutton,
rabbit, squirrel, chicken, goose, duck,
opossum, coon. aU cooked in a mile of
trenches. There were also high piles of
sliced bread and coffee urns holding 10,
000 gallons each. A crowd of over 100,000
was served.
Q. in what direction should a tennis
court lief—A. M. N.
A. A tennis court should be laid north
and south so that the sunshine will come
from the aides and not blind the players.
Q. Please explain how a bird can go
forward by flapping its wings and why
a humlngtoird is able to fly backward or
forward.—A. 1C. L.
A. .The back stroke, when the wings
touch over the head, propels the bird.
The front stroke, when the wings meet
over the body, sustains the bird In the
sir. The wing tips of soaring birds are
"slotted" to prevent stalling. Just as the
modern airplanes are constructed. The
tremendous speed of the wings enables
the hummingbird to fly both forward
and backward. Borne birds possess the
power of sailing Indefinitely without
flapping their wings. Their ability to do
this lies in the fact that they use their
momentum against the pull of gravity
and the rising wind or air currents.
Q. How far back does the history of
Japan go?—S. Y.
A. Japan’s history begins with a year
which corresponds to M0 B.C., when a
band of invaders settled in Yamato. The
early history of Japan Is Indistinguish
able from mythology.
Q. Where was the last battle of the
Revolution fought?—E. R. A.
A. The last great battle of the Ameri
can Revolution was the siege of York
town, Va„ which lasted 19 days. On
October 16, 1781, the British Gen. Corn
wallis surrendered to the allied French
and Americans under Gen. Washington.
Q. When and where was paper money
first used?—P. N.
A. Paper money was In use In China
at an early date. The oldest paper money
of which a specimen is known to exist
Is the Kwan note first issued in China
In 1368 A.D.
How Long?
How long do notes of music poise in
air
Or spoken words, unscattered by
the wind,
Retain the contours given by shap
ing lips
Before their pattern blurs as clorfds
are thinned?
How long before the unseen waves
are spent
That carry precious sounds, too
faint to hear
Till captured by a magic instrument
That frees their beauty for the
listening ear?
But you were close beside me. As /
spoke,
Ton did not answer, did not turn
yoy head,
And silence fell about us like a cloak
TiU I forgot the words that I had
said.
Then you replied — your answer
bringing wonder:
Where had my question lingered?
By what art
Were words sustained that did not
fall asunder,
But took to long to penftrate your
heart?
INEZ BARCLAY KIRBY.