Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 December 1941 — Page 10

ROY W. HOWARD RALPH BURKHOLDER MARK FERREE President Editor Business Manager (A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER)

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Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Wep

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1941

RUSSIA IS FIGHTING, TOO EFORE we cuss out Russia for failure to attack Japan we might remember— That the United States is in a world war which it cannot win until Hitler is defeated, and that Russia is the only nation now able directly to whittle down the vast Nazi military power. Japan cannot win if Hitler is knocked out, because the Allies then could concentrate on overwhelming her quickly; but Japan can win if Hitler wins, because both could then use world resources to concentrate on us. Russia is pledged, and bound by self-interest, to make no separate peace in this world war; and she is now shedding more blood to seal that bargain than are we or any other ally. Though Japan is attacking us and others at the moment, in the long run she is a worse threat to Russia than to the United States or Britain, because we are far away while Russia is her close neighbor. Even if an immediate bombing and invasion effort against Tokyo and Osaka were essential to ultimate victory —as it is not—neither Russia nor the United States has sufficiently prepared the Siberian - Kamchatkan - Aleutian bases for the long sustained attack to come. While the American public and amateur strategists are much worried about the part Russia is to play, President Roosevelt and Secretary Hull seem more than pleased with the prospects. = = . =. » » THIS popular American suspicion of Moscow is understandable. It is in part a result of first-month jitters, of the human feeling that our own front is the most important, of ignorance regarding the present military balance on the Siberian frontier, and of the usual civilian habit of judging by today’s appearances on one local scene rather than by tomorrow’s requirements on the whole stage. For similar reasons the Russians and the British public were suspicious of the London government's failure to help Russia by opening a western Eurcpean front this fall; and the Australians, Chinese and Americans were suspicious of Britain's concentration in the Middle East instead of in the Far East to meet the Japanese threat. But, apart from such general distrust which afflicts the public in this and other countries whenever there is an enemy thrust in a new direction, there is specific suspicion here of Moscow. Americans do not trust the Communists, and never will. This is because of the unscrupulous record of American Communists and of the Soviet Government. s = = 2 8 = , NN EVERTHELESS, that has nothing to do with Russia's future conduct in this war, as President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill have tried to explain. If it were to the Communists or Russian interest to make a separate peace with Hitler, or to help Japan instead of the United States, suspicion would be in order. But the whole point is that Russia's interest requires defeat of Germany and Japan, both of whom are neighbors and both of whom threaten her. Whether Stalin's partnership with Hitler which precipitated this war was real, or merely a trick at the expense of others to gain buffer frontiers and time against the inevitable Nazi invasion of Russia, history must decide. But of Stalin’s present hatred for the enemy who came go close to overthrowing him, and of the hatred of the Russian people for the invader, there can be no doubt now. If there were doubt, it would be washed out by the blood of more than a million Russian defenders. : = = ” » ” = LL IN good time, Russia's self-interest and larger allied strategy will bring about that co-ordinated RussianAmerican attack from the north to which Japan is so vulnerable. It must come not only from Vladivostok, but alse from Petropaviosk, and Dutch Harbor and other Aleutian bases. And when it comes, we venture the prediction that the Japanese will “Remember Pearl Harbor” even more vividly than we do. For the wattle-and-paper construction of Japan is weaker than Honolulu. Unlike Pearl Harbor, which is only a base, the tiny Tokyo-Osaka-Kobe-Sasebo area contains not only Japan's best bases but also her New York, Washington, Pittsburgh, Detroit, TVA, Boulder Dam, and sundry other essentials of production and war. Until then, we have the advancing Red Armies to thank for keeping the Hitler hordes out of the Far East, However much the American-Russian alliance is a marriage of convenience, let no American doubt that it is mighty convenient for us right now.

BUTTON UP THE LIP

J COSE talk and rumors have been for many months a disservice to the nation. If you hear a rumor not publicly substantiated in the newspapers, question it. You may be sure that all authen. tic news will be in the papers. When you've questioned the verbal rumor yourself, den’t repeat it to others, for the deliberately launched whispering campaign is a weapon ir the hands of our country’s enemies. It is time to button up the lip and buckle down to work.

RECORD ORE SHIPMENT SHEER weight of metal may well win the war in the long run, and so it is encouraging to read that the all-time record for ore transportation on the Great Lakes was exceeded by nearly 15,000,000 tons during the past season, | More than 80 million gross tons of ore came down the Lakes to the smelters, yielding iron and copper for the war

of death, kicked up a great war

eers, or ts for profit. The international banker is nowhere in this

, would give or lend to set on feet and then not only but accused the suckers of trying to enslave them by lavish gifts, loans and investments. The Long, Yowling Campaign IT WAS PRECEDED by a long, yowling campaign of self-pity which wrung the hearts of Germany's late enemies and moved some sentimental historians to conciude thst the Allies had been guilty of a grant wrong in resisting the Kaiser's war machine 1814 on. And while he was sobbing and bawling over the humiliations of his noble countrymen in the years after 1918, Hitler was creating another war machine embracing all the industry of the entire nation and all its manpower, But neither our American merchants of death nor Britain's were on the job during this period. Thanks to Senator Gerald Nye, who ‘conducted one of those circus quires into the munitions trade, the American me ts of th had sickened of the ingratiand had applied themselves household gadgets, silk stockings and other harmless devices dear to the hearts -loving people. And So the Plants Shut Down THE MERCHANT OF death ved to be human after all and was so ashamed his calling that he turned square, leaving us with no plant ready to turn out the tools that are used in war. Britain, at the same time, had dropped her guard 30 deplorably that when old Chamberlain went to Munich to bow in humiliation and beg for peace, and time, the British simply couldn't take on a fight with Hitler. France had no aviation .at all, the United States was not much better off and Britain, too, though brave, was running a bluff which presently carried through by the magnificent few to whom Winston Churchill acknowledged grateful many, To President Roosevelt's , powerful campaign against the i a people unaware, the United States owes the fact that within the last 18 months this country has largely revived the skills of the munitions and armaments trades and prepared the nation to fight in the air before the fight is over. So Don't Blame Anyone Else BUT IT WAS the national Government this time, not the merchants of death, that built up the war industries to their present promising state so startling against the memory of the bleakness of those plants up to 1935 and after. The President had read Hitler's book, his speeches and his actions and anticipated, in a general way, at least, the course he would take which was unimaginable to most other statesmen and common

people.

the debt of the |

| |

|

So, when Japan, with 10 years of almost continu- |

ous experience in war, struck the United States at Hitler's bidding, all doubt was gone. This wasn't a bankers’ war or a business promotion job of the evil munitioneers. It was a war of national defense, personal to every American, and within the week the Government, itself, had been compelled to order the 24-hour day and the seven-day week and take over the abandoned trade of the merchants of death.

The Singapore Story By Wm. Philip Simms

WASHINGTON, Dee, 15.— At last a cornér of the veil has been lifted from events around Singapore, if not Pearl Harbor. And the revelations come not an hour too soon. Uncanny tales of Japanese cunning and daring were being broadcast throughout the nation, attributing to the little brown men qualities bordering on the supernatural. However, instead of hordes of aerial warriors gallantly committing suicide by diving down the funnels of battleships, as some commentator seemed to imply, it is now known that the attackers were just plain, hard-hitting fighters. One story was that the Japanese airmen made “human torpedoes” of themselves and deliberately crashed into the American and British warships. Nothing else, it was said, could account for their “amazing” accuracy,

Not a Superman Feat

PRECISELY WHAT happened at Pearl Harbor is still not generally known. But eve-witnesses are available of the sinking of Britain's Prince of Wales and Repulse, off Malaya.

The British ships ventured into highly dangerous waters without proper aircraft protection. The sky was overcast and Admiral Sir Tom Phillips, the commander-in-chief, counted on that fact to hide his fleet's movements. But the weather cleared and the Japs spotted him. : Soon the air was filled with hostile aircraft. Some of them dived and bombed the two super-dread-naughts—again and again. Others swooped low and loosed torpedoes at the zigzagging craft, Some scored kits, but many more scored misses. The Repulse alone successfully dodged 19 torpedoes aimed at her huge flanks. No “human torpedo” crashed into either ship. The ships were simply pounded to pieces, blow on blow, by Japanese airmen who had the sky to themselves until the job was done. The only protection against aircraft is aircraft, No, there's no “dragon grease” on the Japs. Such is the gist of the news from Singapore. They did what they did through ordinary courage, training and discipline.

Rditor’s Note: The views expressed newspaper are their own. They sre of The Indianapolis Times.

columnists in this

by mot necessarily those

So They Say—

IF INDUSTRY must surrender some of its accustomed ways of doing business, so must labor.— Donald M. Nelson, executive director, SPAB, * * *®

THE NAZIS have demonstrated the effective —at ieast for +0 pull_of taleehs and halftruths. , Oronkhite, for tional Morale. F . * Ww THE WHOLE climate of public opinion is from the kind of Br which marked similar in 1917—Roger N. Baldwin, on,

Uni I've Mayor

an director, Civil Liberties

* . n beaten before by better men.—Philosoon Bossy Gillis on being beaten for Newburyport, Mass. ‘

Industry will build twe

=

§ for every one

No League (of Nations) has a ¢ of survival | unless the United States is & amber Dr Prank Aydelotte, director, Institute for A Study. * %

The Hoosier Forum

I wholly disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.

NOTICE TO READERS This country is at war and un-

til peace returns it must live ander war conditions. The Times wants to allow the utmost freedom of expression in the Hoosier Forum consistent with public safety and necessities. The public welfare does not warrant use of this column to spread alarming rumors or for the airing of so-called criticism which may be based on incomplete or misleading information. As in all countries at war, rumors will circulate and alarming rumors will spread. We cannot permit the use of this column to give-them additional currency. Healthy, constructive criticism is sound-—even in war time—but the average layman is in no position to pass on technical military matters and therefore when he does so is apt merely to help spread error and misunderstanding, which hurts everybody. ° The Times reserves the right to withhold or condense all such let ters. gy & “END CAN'T BE ACHIEVED BY EXCESSIVE DRINKING"

By ©. Danser, 229 W. 30th St.

are living in and the present national emergency the people should show their patriotism in every way possible. We should try to do our best to keep a calm and sober attitude and use our best judgment at all times. This end cannot be achieved through excessive drinking. Every true American citizen should look upon any other person in a drunken stupor as a disgrace and a menace to the nation’s defense, The police department will have enough on their hands to guard against sabotage and possible outbreaks without having to watch for drunken drivers and brawls. When the people’s lives and liberty are at stake there is no time for purposely muddling their brains. With everybody pulling together

In view of the perilous times we!

(Times readers are invited their these columns, religious conMake your letters short, so all can

to express views in

troversies excluded.

have a chance. Letters must

be signed.)

with the true American spirit, noth{ing can stand in the way of an American victory.

® ® 2 URGES W. C. T. U. KITS FOR BOYS IN THE SERVICE By Mra, Willard G. Gray, 802 N. State Ave. As state superintendent of the | soldiers and sailors’ department of [the W. C. T. U. of the state of | Texas, I sent out the instructions for making and filling several thousand comfort kits for the boys in that state. They were made of strong khaki colored material, and measured nine inches deep and seven inches wide when finished, with a drawstring at the top made of strong narrow tape. Each kit contained one testament, one roll steralized gauze, one roll adhesive tape, one oll absorbent cotton, one bottle indine, one spool khaki colored thread, one spool white thread, one card kheki collar buttons, one card white buttons, one row pins, one card safety pins, one package medium sized needles, one small pair scissors, one pocket comb, one lead pencil or pen. These are important things which they need and use daily. The W. C. T. U. never did give the boys cigarets for the reason that they are habit forming and very injurious to their health. One of these kits would make a most: acceptable Christmas gift to that loved one in service.

$8 8 THE PRESENT WAR AND WILSON’S FAMOUS MESSAGE

By Harry Wells, Brightwood I am a World War veteran and awarded the Purple Heart and Sil-

Side Glances==By Galbraith

wl a —

"Make him look like an old

man,

than we are

. | peasers and doubters, this treacher-

[benefit to the cause of democracy

ver Star medals. I received a picture of Columbia and the American Eagle 23 years ago with the message that President Wilson addressed to Congress. As this message was spoken by our President at that time I think this message to all America now will without a doubt give us confidence of the task that is before us. President Wilson's message to Congress, Dec. 4, 1917:

“Let there be no misunderstanding. Our present and immediate task is to win the war and nothing shall turn us aside from it until it is accomplished. : “Every power and resource we possess, whether of men, of money, or of materials, is being devoted and will continue to be devoted to that purpose until it is achieved.”

Ld Ld Ld

‘PROVING COMPLETELY EVIL NATURE OF THE AXIS’ By James P. Hair

My first recollection of gangster murder was the case of Dion O’Banion, who ran a flower shop in Chicago and a bootlegging business on the side. A rival gang determined to liquidate O’Banion and through

some scheme obtained the services| (of one of his . supposedly gouvd

friends.

This friend, accompanied by the gang's executioner, called at the flower shop and as O'Banion approached, the friend held out his hand in friendly greeting. While he thus held the right hand of the victim in firm, friendly greeting the executioner pulled out his gun and went to work in a thoroughly vicious and un-American manner. Sunday, while the special peace envoy of Japan held the hand of our Government in friendly discussion, the Japanese gangsters struck —stabbed us in the back in thorough gangsterlike fashion. This is just one more link in the chain of Axis actions that goes to prove the completely evil and ungodly nature of this combination of criminajs. They observe no laws and follow no principles. Ruthless, pitiless and conscienceless, they have unloosed upon the world a satanic movement of destruction that must be stopped at all costs. By smiting all Americans and arousing the anger, even of the ap-

ous blow may prove to be a positive

and Christianity. » » os

“LET U, 8. TAKE OVER THE PINBALL MACHINES!” By Norman Watson I'd like to make a suggestion: Why does not the Government immediately take over all the pinball machines in the country in the interests of the war? Then all of us at home could go on putting nickels in these devices with clear conscience and the Government would get the “take,” instead of some greedy individual operator.

THE JOURNEY ONWARD

(Stanza Four) As travellers oft look back at eve

day To gloom hath near consign'd us, We turn to catch one fading ray Of joy that’s left behind us.

Thomas Moore (1780-1852). DAILY THOUGHT Let there be no strife, I pray

thee, between me and thes, for we be brethren.—Genesis 13:8.

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 15—~The air and commentators’ columns are pretty much being taken up either with explanations of why some cryptic words of theirs did not foresee the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor and Northern Luzon, or why clearer words did not. As far as my observation went, words of neither variety went very far in either direction. This is not hard to understand. The northern tip of Luzon, while closest to Japanese pose sessions, is not the military stronghold of the Philip pines. It is true that the Cagyan Valley is a beautiful agricuftural area and that, for those who like Manila tobacco, it raises what is the equivalent of best Havana to the taste of the western world. But this is not a war over superfine wrappers and fillers for cigars. The real citadel of .those islands is Manila Bay with its Gibraltar of Corregidor and its immensely strong flanking works of Cavite and Olongapo. To take these works would be harder than a seige. They could not be captured ™ without great losses. hi. 1

Little Permanent Damage Done

TURNING TO PEARL HARBOR, it is probably the strongest naval and air base in the Pacific. If the attack there had been with any intention of subduing it by force, it is incredible that a very large naval and air fleet should not have been sent, The operation was successful in its destructive ness, but it appears to have done little permanently to weaken our central base in the Pacific. Putting these two considerations together it seems certain that, in addition to the harm intended to vessels afloat, the objects were two; first, destruction of ships and planes; second, a diversion of our Ate lantic Fleet plus perhaps the British Pacific Fleet to cover some greater naval effort and objective, as for example, the ambitious attack on Malaya. Whether such was the purpose or not it certainly was the effect, as the disastrous naval action of Malaya clearly showed.

The Axioms of War

THESE POST-MORTEMS do little good in ape praising the general strategy in the Pacific, but they add a good deal of weight, I think, to the analysis made here a day or two ago which argued that there were two separate and distinct kinds of blunders made by our own command The lesser, probably chargeable to some officer in a relatively subordinate position, was the fact that our airplanes were pinned to the ground, their anti aircraft guns not ready for action either on the ships or on the shore and some, at least, of the vessels not steamed up and ready for action. The greater error was quite clearly attributable to some very high element of command, and was the more disastrous. It may be quite true, as this column itself urged, that there are not enough facts yet upon which to base a judgment, but why is it true that there are not enough facts on which to base an inquiry? Military lessons are only written in blood and f only taught by trial and error. Military commanders who lose disastrous battles through recklessness or ignorance cannot be maintained in command if the confidence of the troops is to be retained. It is almost a military axiom that rewards should be bestowed instantly and on the spot. That is why Napoleon was fond of saying: “Every common soldier carries a field marshal’s baton in his knapsack.” It might have been almost as appropriate for him to have said: “Every failure field marshal carries the bullets for his firing squad in his sabre-tache.”

A Woman's Viewpoint By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

NOW OUR FOREBODINGS are ended. Nervous tension is over, The incredible has happened and we are at war. And I dare pree

diet that those men and women who hoped and worked hardest to avert it will prove to be bulwarks of strength and patriotism in time of trial. For in this battle to which we have set our hands and hearts © we shall need moral as well as physical courage. And that cour age is provided largely by individuals who know how to fight for a principle as well as in the line of duty. Because they know how to fight for principle they make the best fighters for country,

It seems to me also that, from the very beginning, one thing should be clear to us all—the braggarts must be silenced. Each of us must be ready to do the jobs at hand, little as well as big, because the outcome of any struggle depends upon how well all the little” jobs are done.

‘Blood, Sweat and Tears’

I HOPE THE WOMEN of the United States will make a vow. I hope they will resolve to perform the tasks for which they are best fitted instead eof dashing away to find others which seem glamorous and spectacular. If net, we shall only “gum up the works.”

“You can wash dishes” When hundreds of women stormed the defense centers of New York City on Dec. 9, demanding to be used, that was the answer given by the American Women’s Voluntary Service. May we ponder it in our hearts. Because for the duration many of us will have to stick to work that is precisely as mundane and monotonous as washing dishes. If we love the United States of America and the ideals for whicly it stands, we shall prépare our souls for this ordeal, without complaint. War is not a glamorous business. It is not ade venture. It is not fun. It is, as Winston Churchill so aptly said, “blood, sweat and tears.” But the fact that we are sharing hardships with our ceune trymen and have rededicated ourselves to the press ervation of a government of, by and for the people will give us strength for the tasks ahead.

oe

Questions and Answers

(The Indianapolis Times Service Buresu will snswer say 3 “question of fact or information, not involving Ld search, Write yotir question elepriy, Sire oe ond address, inclose a three-cent postage stemp. sl or legal advice cannot be given, Address The Times Washington Service Bureau. 1018 Thirteenth St., Washington, D. C.)

Q—To which religious faith does Lord Halifax subscribe? A—Lord and Lady Halifax are members of the Church of England.

@—Do the ancient walls of Damascus, from which St. Paul escaped by being let down in a basket, still stand? : A—Ruins of the old walls may he traced for a circumference of about four miles in the older part of the City. The eastern gate is very old, dating from s. ‘The spot where St. Paul was let down is pointed out to visitors, hut the identity of the spot is very doubtful. }

Q—What does SOS mean and how did it orige

A—The distress call 80S was first officially adopted for international use at the 1006 International Radie Conference at Berlin, although prior to that date the calls CQ and CQD had been employed during certain periods after 1900. SOS does not mean literally “Save Our Souls” or “Save Our ’ a8 sometimes claimed, any more than the previous tional distress call