Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 December 1941 — Page 26

PAGE 26

The Indianapolis

r RALPH BURKHOLDER MARK FERRER President

Bator Business Manager (A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER)

t deliv

ty, § Cente & cong 2 cents

a ere BY cartier, a week.

Owned and published Silly (except ) by e Indianapolis Times === Publishing Co, 214 W. B= Marylang St. of United Press, in Alliane cents a soa Audit Bus . ip nrtry ss ‘

@tos LAght ond the Pespte Will Find Phew. Own Way

reau

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1041

'HE LONG SEESAW (GooD news from Russia, Libya and the Philippines is balanced by bad from Malaya. After the letdown of the battle of Pearl Harbor we heeded a pick-me-up. That has been provided in overflow. ing measure by the Russians in Europe and the British in Africa, and by our own defenders on Luson and Wake. AS a result we are apt to get too high unless we watch ourselves, The truth is—as we all know in our hearts—the sooner we give up expecting miracles of quick victory in the Pacific the better it will be for our morale. Such realism will ‘steel us against the losses which are inevitable in the up-and-down fortunes of battle. Once we really get the idea that we are in an all-out wir and not dealing with a pushover, we shall feel ashamed event to think—much less talk—of petty personal inconvenfences. Petty, ¢ompared with what the fighting forces are going through. ’ : ® » ” TC get a sober sight on the immediate military situation, it is not necessary to use imagination or to conjure up future woes. The present facts in the far Pacific are serious enough. We should not be deceived by the comparative lull in Lugon. The American and Filipino forces under Gen. MacArthur and Admiral Hart have fought brilliantly. Our fliers have been especially effective. As a result, the only serious invasion attempt against Manila—the Lingayen landing—has been turned back with the Japanese driven into the sea, But the enemy continues to hold his beachheads at Vigan and Aparri on the northern tip of the island, and at Legaspi on the south, despite heroic efforts to dislodge him. : Although these are not immediate threats of largegcale invasion by ground troops, they provide a chain of encircling air bases, readily supplied from sea. Without underestimating the successful defense to date by the small and inadequately equipped American forces, we should recognize that they have not yet met a major enemy attack but only a delaying and preparatory action. The assault on Luzon so far is weak compared with that on Malaya, apparently just strong enough to prevent Manila sending aid to Singapore. Mie s ” ” 8 » . SINGAPORE, not Manila, is the key to military domination and economic control of the Indies with their raw materials. As such it is the major object of Japanese strategy. So, while the enemy fights secondary delaying actions against the American bases on his flank, he is going all-out against the Malayan peninsula. And on that major front the enemy is pressing the ‘British hard. Press dispatches agree that the British are outnumbered in men and machines. The Japanese are able to bring up reinforcements more rapidly than are the Imperial defenders. The reason for this is the same as fer the loss of the British battleship Prince of Wales and battle cruiser Repulse—the much larger enemy air force. If Singapore is to be saved, many more American bombers and fighting planes must reach there quickly. Since the Philippines have too few, and Hawaii-Midway-Wake also need replacements, the American equipment probably must be rushed from the Middle East. » ® ” ” . w THUS all the fronts are closely linked. While Hitler planes are flying for the Japanese in Malaya, the Nazis are retreating in Russia partly because of air inferiority. Has Hitler taken other planes from the Russian front to support his retreating Libyan army, and to mount the anticipated winter drive through Spain to West Africa or through Turkey to the Middle East? If so, should the Allies weaken the Middle East and Africa to strengthen Singapore, hold the Burma Road, and relieve Hongkong-—not to mention Manila? This is the kind of dizzy seesaw we are in for this week, and next month, and many months to come. ~ If we are to keep our heads through it all, we must learn not to overestimate what happens on any one front «whether it is advance in Russia and Libya, or lull in Lugon, or retreat in Malaya—but let both victories and defeats fall into the perspective of a long war that we shall win in the end. 7

* “

GOOD EXAMPLE a THE U. S. Maritime Commission has issued a fine order: No more elaborate launching ceremonies for new merchant ships. No more costly gifts to their sponsors. No more Government reimbursement to shipbuilding companies for expenses of ceremonies. ‘ ; Launching formalities, in the past, have taken several hours, have delayed work in the shipyards, have added as . much as $500 each to the cost of ships. The new order will save money and even more precious time, The same

policy should be adopted, as the commission suggests, by-| bile

yards building ships for private owners. : {We hope the Navy will apply it to the launching of war vessels. And many other Government agencies would do well to follow this good example, cut ceremony and concentrate on work, .

AMERICAN GOODS NOW I" SEEMS to us that Americans are spiting only them: selves, and hurting Japan not at all, by demanding that

merchants take all Japanese-made goods from their shelves, | S When the merchants bought these goods they wes

carrying out what was then our Government's policy of encouraging trade with Japan iy the hope of preserving peace. But the goods, having been bought and paid for, are Amerjoan goods mow. If they're useful, why not use them? We _ may be suré the Japanese aren't throwing away any of the

Times

SHEERS

.

program JRES, ut Wis time WE interval 35 evi Jom Weeks to ays.

rican oil or scrap iron or cotton we let them have while de was still going on, a \

Fair Enough =~ By Westbrook Pegler

NEW YORK, Dee. 10.~The turning point in this country’s preparations for war was President Ve

# speech of alarm 50 Songres Mh Hitler's asshult in the olished all resiste ance on aad in that direction and . left only. and the British barrier between the a flabby and somewhat ted States.

tic reasons, that ‘ean no doubt now that he

$0 or that he was crashed that frontier Mr. and, in his draoh a sharp warning Souci of th At ALORA war doy which is now in such shape as may be.

It Could Mave Been Worse

IT COULD BE much better, but it could ‘be terribly worse, for at that time we in round numbers

nGihing at all and were, as a , reluctant to sna out of our apathy and prefe to laugh it all off. P The t gave some

a i Be on ee , on ranges an e time between certain points outside our country an certain of our cities and, to make his message sting, brought Kansas Oity and other snug towns in the deep interior under the bomb-sights of his thetical raiders. He was widely sneered at for this alarmist note and Charles Lindbergh remarked in one of his e dis cussions, drawing on the same knowledge which had caused him to write off Soviet Russia as a military incompetent, that we had reached a sorry day if it were true that we werg dependent on another nation’s fleet and soldiers for our own safety. For once, any way, Lindbergh was right. It was a sorry day, for we were dependent on the British resistance but IRE of us hated to admit as much; even to ours selves. :

Election Slowed Us Up

IT MUST BE remembered that much of our poessi< ble progress of last year was lost because we were going through one of our quadrennial mad and an uncommonly bitter one at that, in wh else was forgot but politics. The President was busy gning and so were most of his helpers in the Government, business was fighting him for reasons which need net be stated again and the pecple had little thought of the war as a personal matter, although Wendell Willkie, the only other choice, was in practical agreement with his opponent on the danger. Hitler, of course, knew that this national peculiarity of ours would interfere with our preparations and he undoubtedly weighed that advantage in timing his war. Nevertheless, the program did stumbie away to a clumsy start and the first soldiers of the civilian mobilization were reporting in before the Army was really ready to handle or house them or really wanted them,

Businessmen Had Troubles

INCIDENTALLY, it may be recalled that the Communist Party favored Mr. Willkie because the President had been so energetic in his program, whereas Willkie, if elected, would have to reorganize the Government according to the time-honored custom of turning the rascals out, before resuming the war program :

Businessmen were a pathetic sight in Washi during those months, wandering like bewildered bums in a strange railroad yarg, reading meaningless nums bers on the glass doors of thousands of offices in miles of corridors and wondering just what department had charge of the procurement of woolen drawers and getting plastered in lonely despair at night in the somber cocktail dens of the National

may be none too good even now, but suppose We had come, to the day of Pearl a skilled and unorganized in all the works and war a8 we were when President Roosevelt cranked that siren.

most

Editor's Note: The views expressed dy columnists in this newspaper are their own. They are not necessarily these of The Indianapolis Times. !

War Lessons By John W. Love

WASHINGTON, Dee. 10.—The increases in speed amd”changes in priorities which are now taking place in the American arms pro- | gram make up the fourth series of shifts since the Germans broke into the low countries. The new series may turn out to be the most extreme of them all, Each time startling events have occurred abroad the lessons Jearned there have shown a few weeks later in new pre My tions, redesigns of equipment, switches in s and rearrangements of preference rat-

The four sets of events which have been reflected in the American defense effort were the demonstration of the power of the German army-in May and June of 1040, the demonstration of strength in the air and under the sea which came a few months later, the invasion of Soviet Russia last summer and last week the Japanese assault on the United States. One of the first fruits of the newest crisis was the decision to put anti-aireraft guns at the top of the Army and Navy's critical lists and to start the 160hour weekly schedule in shipyards. Production rates in the new ammunition plants also went to their long-anticipated wartime levels as the expenditure of

shell commenced. - where the pressure is suddenly greatest is in thé manufacture of the tubes or canmop, for the larger anti-aircraft guns. four series of changes began 18 months ago with the abandonment of American complacency over wars in Europe. The two-ocean Navy bill was passed. The $8,000,000,000 set aside at that time was the first of the outlays which have averaged half that much a month ever since.

The Need for More Bombers *

THE APPROPRIATIONS of July and September, 1940, started the main portions of the Navy and Army construction programs, including the Ordnance plants and cantonments. The aircraft schedule was also plotted out in that period and its goal of 3200 planes a month is now more than half achieved. By mid-autumn of last year the American forces were realizing the necessity of ha heavier arms and armor on their planes and and bombers. These conclusi

pr

Ith time to chuck the habit of feeling sorry ¢ Harvard economist. :

INDIANAPOLIS TI

The Morning After the Night

~

3 EEN

Before!

DER FUERRER 1S.

Ar’ 90%

REPORTED CONFINED TO HIS CASTLE RECOVERING EROM A "NERVOUS - BREAKDOWN."

I wholly

The Hoosier -Forum

disagree with what you say,

defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.

but will

‘TOONERVILLE BUS’ SERVICE DRAWS SQUAWK

By William Murphy, 1088 W. Moris St.

There should be some complaint made about the Toonerville bus service that is holding sway on the stockyards line. They must think that the denizens of the valley are Eskimos and live in igloos. To stand at the corner of Illinois St. and Kentucky

‘Ave, walting for one eof these ve-

hicles is to tax the hardihood of

| one most vaunted of Arctic ex-

plorers. I look for a lot of casualties this winter due to this situation. They will find some of the brothers and sisters frozen at the pest if things are not changed. : It is the only city of its size in the country that operates on halfhour schedules. :

“LET'S WAKE UP, WE'VE GOT A WAR TO WIN”

By Robert Funk, $80 Massachusetts Ave. Apt. 320 Totlay we are confronted with a gigantic task. Now we have heard these words & great number of times lately and will hear them or the equivalent a lot more in the future

ahd mystified as to what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen in the future. While we are sitting quiétly and comfortably and peaceably at home, most of us are still somewhat asleep at the true democratic and patriotic switch. Let's wake up. Let’s snap out of it. We've got a war to win. Let's don’t leave the job up to the other fellow. Let's get in there and give all that we've got. Lets get in stride and give Uncle Sam 100 per cent of efficiency. Here at this time, just forget that you ever heard of the word “if.” You've probably heard it quite frequently of late. For example: If I wasn't married I would do this or

Yet we are still a little stunned!

(Times readers are invited their these columns, religious controversies Make your letters short, so ail can

to express views in

excluded.

have a chance. Letters must

be signed.)

that, or if I wasn't overweight or underweight, or if I was in better heglth, or if I wasn’t working, or if I wasn’t so darn short, or if I was only younger or older, or if I was a man, or if I wasn’t tied down, or if T had more time, qr if I didn’t have so much responsibility. You know what I mean. Now let's just remember this. Wars are not completely won on the scene of battle. The backbone, heart and lungs of a war are found at home. They are the constant effort and complete consistency of every man, woman and child in their all-out-aid at home that keeps the fighting machine of our manpower and mechanical force driving on to victory. Therefore stop and think before you speak that word “if”; and see what stand you take in this supreme contest of freedom or dictatorship. Then just think of the many tasks you could be taking part in for the good of the cause, regardless of your particular circumstances. Then break in and give it every ounce of everything you've got.

EXPECTS EDITORS TO HEED NOTICE By Claude Braddiek, Kokomo The Indianapolis Times has served notice on its readers that “so-called criticism by amateur strategists” is out, and that its col umns hereafter cannot be used to spread “alarming rumors which may be false.”

We, the readers, while acquiesc-

~

”

| PR perecty vl I's Not dusting sb icying gn. my new fyrisenl” |

"That isn't a bit

Side Glances «By Galbraith

a

ing in this, will expect the editors and publishers of The Times to follow suit. Ranking newspapermen are none the less “laymen” (with respect to military strategy) yet

| have indulged in it much more

freely than have we, the readers. Already, seme of us are beginning to suspect that the highest strategy might have justified our risking a little in defense of “dear old Dang Dong” rather than risking our all at Pearl Harbor and Hickman Field. . ® » 2 QUESTIONS ACCURACY OF DIETZ PROPHECY By 0. Mankki ; David Dietz recently wrote: “My opinion is that the present war will end by Jan. 1, 1943, or soon thereafter in a complete victory for the United States, ete.” He then lists numerous statistics in an effort to prove his contention. We all hope he’s right, but I'm of the opinion we should prepare for a long and bitterly fought war and past experience with predictions made with the opening shots could be used as a basis for compara.ive opinion at this time (just as a matter of amusement or am: zement). For instance, with the opening of the Civil War in '61 it was the intention, hope and expectation of some learned scientists of that day that the war of rebellion could be quelled in very short order, and 90-day enlistments were all that would be necessary to accomplish the desired subjugation of the South, ® The Civil War lasted over 1460 days from Sumter to Appomatox, so divide 1460 by a 90-day enlistment and we get 18 plus, or in other words, that war lasted 16 times as long as some experts at that time thought it would. So Mr. Dietz opines this one will last a little over 390 days, eh? Well, if he’s as wrong as the 1861 prognosticators were (and he could be) let's multiply his prediction by their factor of ignorance and we get 380 times 18 or nearly 17 years that this war might; could or will last before final victory is ours. "I for ene believe Defense Bonds should be purchased for the longterm pull. Just in case!

ON THE LATE MASSACRE IN PIEMONT

Avenge, O Lord! Thy slaughter’d

Saints, whose bones Lie scatier’d on the Alpine moun- . tains cold; Even them who kept Thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipt stocks and stones, ’ Forget not: in Thy book record their groans

Who were Thy sheep, and in their ancient fold Slain by the bloody Piemontese,

that Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans

The vales redoubled to the hills, To BY siz mati’ eaven, 'd blood and ashes sow —

O'er all the Italian fields, where still doth sway

who, having onian woe,

DAILY THOUGHT

Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh the heart.~1 Samuel 16:7.

“Virtues do

ve

FOR IF our forth of ‘twere gy

— FRIDAY, DEC. 19, 1941 Midway Island

By Edgar Ansel Mowrer

——

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.— Guam has gone and Wake Island may go, but if the Midway Islands hold there will be no irreparable loss, For the Midway Islands lie in almost the exact center of the North Pacific Ocean, are the most westerly of the Hawaiian group and constitute an obstacle to the, Sores of Oahu and Pearl Har-

It is 3200 miles to San Franeisco from the Midways, 3800 miles to Australia, 2000 miles to Alaska, the same distance to Russian Kamchatka, 1300 miles to Honolulu and 1200 et 0 Wake. From the Midway Islands a powerful bom can fly to almost anywhere in the Pacific without stopping. The Clipper landed at Midway early in the afternoon of a steaming September day—and we passengers found ourselves immediately under Navy surveillatice. Marines took us to the Pan-American hotel where we were informed that we would be confined to the building and the grounds. By producing solid credentials and promising fo be good, we finally induced a benevolent captain to allow the Marine to march us to the beach for a swim and back.

Work Well Advanced «

WORK ON THE Midways was pretty far advanced. According to the “schedules” of which So much has been said, by this December they were supposed to be turned into a first-class air and submarine base, * with anchorage for vessels, humdreds and hundreds of men were working, digging, dredging, pouring concrete, and (I hepe) laying solid fortifications. In Noverflber, on my way back from the Far East, there seemed a very frenzy of activity while uniformed Marines stood guard around the hotel and with no exeessive courtesy, shooed vagrant passengers back to the hotel lawns. Midway islands are one atoll. Around a heartshaped space, the point to the north, stretches a coral reef tough enough to rip the bottom of any ship afloat. Most of it is submerged and shown by a line bf foam even in the calmest weather. Within the vast lagoon is ene natural harbor with: an outlet, where boats used to enter in the old days, a tiny dot of land like a, wrench in shape, and two fair-sized little islands, Sand Island arid Eastern Island. Lacking knowledge of the equipment of the Marines, and of whether any warships are there, or of the amount of artillery, one can only conjecture about the present battle. Have the Japanese arrived in transports, and are they trying to land? Is the attack limited to air raids and naval bombardment? The Midways garrison is probably bigger than that on Wake, better ready to defend itself, with more food, wore water and more workmen to help out. Since they were reported to have sunk a Japanese cruiser, they must possess artillery, planes or ships. Almost surely, great efforts will be made to relieve them, and, in the meantime to keep them supplied with ammunition, food and water.

A Word About the Goonies

THERE ARE no rats on Midway Islands, as there are on Wake, but these islands too are a paradise of the most remarkable sea birds imaginable. There are the short-legged gannets, or booby birds, that can sight a fish from 50. feet in the air, power dive into the water, swim after it, and come shooting at an angle of 45 degrees with the fish in their crops. And finally, there are the goonies—to the learned, laysan albatrosses—to my mind the most amazing creature in the world. The goonie is a black and white fellow, elegantly marked, almost as big as a goose, with webbed and clawed feet, and a strong curved beak that can cut off a finger clean with one snap. He lives from preference on live devilfish. He swims well, flies magnificently, but is so heavy often that he must run 50 or 100 yards tp take off into the air. On land he is a clownish waddler. More remarkable than his body is his mind. He is afraid of’ nothing and nobody. Since nothing else has ever frightened them, I cannot imagine their being bothered by Japanese shells bursting among them or by the barking of American guns. Like the Marines, they just do not recognize aggression. It is pleasant to think of the goonids and the

Marines standing siege together. we +The pyrig! 1, The Indianapolis Times an oe Ht tA Daily News, Inc.

A Woman's Viewpoint By Mrs. Walter Ferguson -

FROM WASHINGTON the Office of Civilian Defense sends out instructions for the guidance of the public in meeting air raid alarms. Most important are these: “Stay home. Choose one member of the family to be warden, the one who will remember all the rules and see that they are carried out—mother makes the best.” There are subtle implications of profounder truths in the advice. Our homes are places where can most easily withstand danger of any sort. And are the best wardens to protect us from any sort, except that of actual fighting. It seems to me this warning bestows upon the American housewife her old and somewhat worn title of Home Maker. It is a dignified and honorable one, and it would be curious if war—which seems likely to take us all into the industrial field—should touch us with its bloody accolade, and in so doing, set us up once more in our ancient positions of honor. Men never feel the need of mothers so much as when they are fighting a war. The "World's Greatest Mother.” Such is the lovely name given to the Red Cross, which for millions of suffering people everywhere symbolizes mercy and healing and love.

Same Meaning To All

A THOUSAND fine overtones echo the same qualities when we repeat the name by which we call our mothers. In any language, and to all men, the word signifies sheltering arms, rest, peace and infinite compassion. Every crisis calls for the best within us—or should—and none can be met with valor without the sort of steadfastness which the woman in the home exemplifies to those who trust her. Upon us, then, rests a very high duty. While we think of ourselves as soldiers on the domestic front, our supremest test lies in another direction. " ©an we be better mothers, too, faithful wardens of the mental and spiritual, as well as thes physical well being, of those who’ belong fo us, and can we make our compassion stretch to take in the forlorn and homeless in our communities?

nd

Questions and Answers

(The Indianapolis Times Service Bureau will answer any question of fact or information, net involving extensive research. Write your question slearly. sign mame and address, inclose o three-cent postage stamp. Medical or legal advice cannes be given, Address The Timés Washington Service Bureau.

1013 Thirteenth Bt. Washimgion. D. OC.) Q—-When did the United States take Panama Canal Zone? A~American occupation dates from May 4, 1904, The canal was opened in August, 1914, - © Q=-In paying the Federal tax on admissions to motion picture theaters, is the rate on 10 tickets at 25 cents 10 per cent of the total amount, $3.50, or is the tax computed on each ticket separately? - A=The tax is computed on each admission separately, at the rate one cent on each 10 cents

or fraction thereof of the charge, except that no tax is payable by children under 12, where the admission charge

over the

is less than 10 cents. : Q—How Maly domestic washing ‘and ironing machines are to replace those that wear out annually in the United States? :

aedie la Sekimated that, about 750,000 units will be