Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 January 1942 — Page 10

PAGE 10 .

The Indianapolis Times

ROY W. HOWARD RALPH RURKHOLDER MARK FERREE President Editor Business Manager

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«Ps RILEY 5551

Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way

MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1942

RUSSIA KEEPS ROLLING . | USSIA continues to be the only bright spet on the world military front. Allied operations in the southwestern Pacific have not yet reached the: proportions of effective delaying action. Japan's sweep down the Malayan Peninsula toward Singapore continues. The American Asiatic fleet, having lost ite Philippine bases, has retreated to Dutch stations; while Gen. MacArthur's isolated army desperately continues on the defensive. American-British bomber raids from Burma, and Chinese victories at Changsha, are hopeful potentials, but have not crippled the enemy. Libyan developments are disappointing. Once again the Nazi mechanized army has slipped out of the British pincers, which Mr. Churchill expected to complete a victerious desert campaign many weeks ago. However discouraging these Far Eastern retreats and African delays may be, they are far outweighed by Hitler's losses in Russia. That is the judgment of the RooseveltChurchill strategists. And an excellent case can be made

out for it. EJ 8 2 ' 2 = 8

HIS is based on the fact that Hitlerism is the major enemy; that Hitler could win if Japan fell, but Japan could not win if Germany lost and the Allies concentrated on the Pacific. Hence the rejoicing in Washington and London as the great Red offensive keeps rolling along. Russian territorial gains are gratifying, but are considered secondary to three larger achievements of the offensive. For the first time, Hitler is losing men and planes and tanks faster than he can replace them. Already he has lost the advantages of surprise attack and of killing off his victims one by one. Now he is losing the advantage of numbers. Raw youths and middle-aged reserves cannot equal the crack mechanized divisions and air squadrons which found death in frozen Russia. Certainly one retreat does not spell Hitler defeat. But if the Russians can keep the Nazis on the run for a few weeks longer, with no chance to protect men and machines from a Napoleon winter, the Allies may be relatively strong enough for a world offensive in the spring. Otherwise, the Axis may be able to resume the offensive in the west as well as the east. What happens in Russia within the next two months will largely determine the fate of 1942.

GOLD BRICK FOR FARMERS

T IS an insult to the intelligence of the American people to refer to the legislation passed by the Senate as a price control bill. Senator Barkley scornfully calls it “this farm relief measure.” But even that is misleading. There can be no real farm relief through uncontrolled inflation. And that is just what this bill, as shaped by the farm bloe, would produce. It would not only defeat the essential purpose of wartime price control. It would insure operation of the vicious upward price spiral, The Administration is said to hope that a conference committee of Senators and Representatives will now agree on a better law. We hope so too. The prospect, however, is not bright. The House bill is no better than the Senate bill. Both suffer from the same fundamental defects. Both ignore the economic fact that prices cannot be controlled unless the costs that go into prices are controlled. Both leave wages free to rise without restraint. And both attempt, by demanding preferential treatment for the prices of farm products, to insure agriculture against disadvantage as compared with industrial labor. ® » s 2 ” ” HE Administration's own policies have created an artificial market situation which has greatly increased farm prices and the cost of food. The rising cost of living leads to demands by labor for higher wages. And now, under ‘Senator O’Mahoney’s amendment to the Senate bill, permissible farm price ceilings are “hooked to wages” directly and would rise automatically as wages rise. . That means, as Senator Brown of Michigan pointed out, that “farm prices will go up 25 per cent on the average, and industrial prices will have to follow, Then the vicious : spiral will be on.” This would be the fruit of the farm bloe’s victory. And, sp far from bringing any permanent benefit to agriculture, we believe it would be much more likely to result in an over- ‘ whelming public demand for releasing to the market the ‘huge crop surpluses now stored in Government warehouses and thus taking some of the artificial props out from under farm prices.

1; HEADS FOR OCD

THE Office of Civilian Defense has heen functioning with half a head. Now it is to have one and one-half heads. Mayor La Guardia will continue to be its part-time director, while James M. Landis is leaving his post as dean of

Harvard Law School to become OCD’s full-time “executive.” .

We hope the change will be a great improvement. Mr. Landis is a capable man and a good administrator, and . certainly it is a relief to see someone at the top of civilian defense on a full-time basis. Given a real chance, we be- . lieve he can straighten out much of the confusion that has been bogging down this most important agency. Yet one and one-half heads are not always better than one—not when they divide authority. We would be more optimistic for OCD’s immediate future if Mayor La Guardia could be convinced that the job to which the voters of New . York City have elected him three times calls for at least the major part of his time and energy, and if Mr. Landis could thus be assured of reasonable freedom to get results

| Fair Enough

By Westbrook Pegler

-—

NEW YORK, Jan. 12—Within the last three weeks Adolf Hitler

and Josef Goébbels have ordered the German people to surrender all their heavy clothing and blankets for the army in Russia. In a cheery Christmas message to the civilians, which the Fueéhrer delivered through Goebbels, it was remembered that last year there had been an “appeal” for the delivery of all heavy apparel which they could spare. This time Hitler did not appeal He commanded. All overcoats, all shoes with warm linings, all heavy underwear and furs were to be given up and the Brown Shirts would start their house-to-house collections of such apparel and blankets on Dee. 27. 8 a In Germany, this means, of course, that from now on, this winter and in wintéfs to come, the civilians will not be allowed to have warm elothing, although Hitler, himself, and the higher party celebrities, such as Marshal Goering, of the many spectacular uniforms, will be excepted.

Extras Taken Long Ago

THIS WAS NOT the “extra” stuff that Goebbels demanded. That was turned in a year ago, as he said in his address, sa the meaning of this new demand plainly is that any man who wears an overcoat suitable for conversion into a military coat, anyone whose ration record shows purchases of heavy underwear or blankets or heavy shoes and who fails to surrender the same, now will risk those punishments which the Germans under their libérator know so well. Not only that, but the strange German mentality has even called on the people of Belgium to make similar sacrifices for the comfort of those who pounced on them without warning and kicked their country to death. Americans and Britons are constantly warned, and wisely, not to deceive themselvesSwith undue optimism, but certainly this development in Germany may be contrasted with conditions in the United States without danger. The current American papers offer freely for sale, huge piles of warm blankets, overcoats, suits, ski suits, fur epats, fur-trimmed coats, heavy socks, shoes of all kinds, underwear of all weights desired in any of our climates, gloves, mittens, leather jackets with heavy linings, canvas jackets lined with sheepskin with the fleece on. : There will be no great traffic in rubber overshoes or work boots made of rubber because rubber is one of our problems, but as far as warmth is concerned there seems to be no problem in apparél or blankets and there has been no suggestion yet of rationing here,

It Can't Go On Forever

GERMANY, on the other hand, has not only been on rations for a long time but has not beén able to fill the meager allowances and is now calling in éverything for those millions of German young men who were sent on a wild mission of quick conquest which failed horribly and left them exposed to a winter for which the leader had made no preparations, Previously, the peoples of Norway, Poland and other conquered countries had been required to give up their warm clothing. . It may be culpable optimism to think so, but this is bound to suggest that Germany is beginning to run out of time, because a whole continent ¢an hot go on indefinitely without winter clothing and there is no apparent source of a new supply this sidé of complete victory for the Fuehrer, which he has failed to predict for 1942.

U. S. Aviation

By Maj. Al Williams

THE RECENT Presidential appointment of Admiral Ernest J. King as full Commander-in-Chief of the United States Navy creates a precedent. Heretofore, it was the Chief of Naval Operations who was the bess of the Navy proper, reporting to the Secretary of the Navy. It must be borne in mind that it is the admirals who actually run the Navy, with the Secretary of the Navy doing the reporting to the President. Under Admiral King's appointment, he reports directly to the President, and the Secretary of the Navy receives copies of his reports. I served under Admiral King and know his témperament and characteristics. He igs hard-boiled, but not in the usual sense of the ranking officer who knows he is beyond criticism or contradi¢tion. We had many a battle about the true function of aviation —military, naval, and otherwise—and just how far they extend. This gives me an opportunity to explain that Admiral King welcomes alertness and aggressive= ress in junior officers and that he respects a man who stands up and fights for his opinions.

Right Man in Right Job

ADMIRAL KING'S handling of the annual war games was always marked by originality in strategy and daring tactics. A little too strong a dose for peacetime, make-believe naval warfare, he is just the man for the job of utilizing the Navy to its fullest efficiency and the best interests of the country.

He is the right man in the right job. And this is the opinion of Navy men who like him and those who_don’t like him personally. No man can hope for a better indorsement from those who serve with and under his command. Freeing Admiral King from anesthetizing red tape is the best move the' President has made yet toward winning this war on and over the sea. Modern sea warfare is not covered by any war-college book on strategy and tactics. The answers for victory are to be found in the resourcefulness of a trained, courageous ieader—and Admiral Ernest J. King has what

it takes. Editor's Note: The views expressed by columnists in this

newspaper are their own. They are not necessarily those of The Indianapolis Times.

So They Say—

THE WAR lords of Japan have given their people the largest gift in the entire history of Japan . ., the enmity of the United States—Senator Elbert D. Thomas, Utah, broadcasting in Japanese to the

Japanese people.

* * * . WE WILL WIN only if we utilize every one of the mechanical and human resources that are available to us.—Governor Lehman of New York.

* * *

THE NATIONAL Revolution has not yet passed from the domain of principle to that of acts.—Marshal Petain.

* * ®

THE MOST PRACTICAL measure to lighten the burden of armaments . . . is not through the abandon« ment of the use of force but through pooling and organizing the overwhelming forces of the peaceloving peoples. . . . —Dr. Hu Shih, Chinese Ambassador to the U. 8.

world is the reduction of Japan to an international status little better than that of Pertugal.—Esson M. Gale, Office of Co-ordinator of Information,

* * ».

SOME DAY we shall all join hands again in a rebuilt Manila where the flag of a completely free and

independent Philippine

fui |

THE VITAL need for the future safety of the |

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Sun Spots!

—_— _ Tr Ot ek wich a

MONDAY, JAN. 12, 1042

The Hoosier Forum

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

‘WAGNER ACT FIRST STEP IN DESTRUCTION OF LIBERTY’ ~ Ry James R. Meitzler, Attica Before the passage of the Wagner Act labor had all the rights of any other citizen. They could join unions, persuade other workers to join their unions, have the union of their choice do their bargaining. The Wagner Act deprived the employer and individual worker of their constitutional rights, gave the unions the right to dominate both, and set up the National Labor Relations Board, a court in which the unions were plaintiff and prosecutor, judge and jury. It deprived the employer of his right of free speech . . . of his bargaining rights. . .

The Wagner Act deprives the worker of the right to bargain for himself either as an individual or by the union of his choice if that inion is in the minority. It sets the union over him. It deprives him of his property right by forcing him to pay some of his wages to a union. It deprives him of the right to work unless he belongs to the majority union but it does not guarantee him membership in that union. The Wagner Act places no restrictions on the unions, persons, partnerships and corporations are governed and restricted by law but the unions are responsible t6 no one, not even their own members. Above all law, through an abuse of the right of aksemblage called picketing they are allowed to block private and public property and assault law abiding citizens. These are the first steps in the destruction of human liberty and the Biil of Rights and the setting up of a -gangster government. Whether it is called Communism, Fascism, social security or labor's gains does not matter. Liberty will have vanished and we will have become a nation of slaves ruled by a gang. ® 2 =

NOT OPPOSED TO WAR, WILSON TELLS CRITICS

By H. A. Wilson, Coatesville Well, I sée we've got some World War veterans who got their hair brushed back the wrong way and their temper aroused when I stated my views 6f the draft in the Forum. They got so upset they even called me names.

I am a panty-waist and a would-

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be draft dodger tied to his mother's apron strings, according to their letters. One was so radically hot tempered he promised violence if he could get his hands on me. Well, men (I'll give you the benefit of the

doubt and call you men), it sure

does me good to see you brave, cocksure fellows whom the Army made into big, strong men get into such a rage over as small a thing as one boy’s views of the draft.

Maybe the Army did develop your muscles and broaden your shoulders but they didn’t help your heads any; you still are too narrow-minded to see but one possible side to the draft situation. Just your side,

Why do they object so much to my views? I am not opposed to the war. It was forced on us. I am hot opposed to the draft, That was the only sure way to get an Army large enough to eliminate the Axis. I will be drafted for sérvice within the next year and I know of no reason for not being accepted. Just the same I can seé no justice in drafting boys under 21.

I am as proud of our Flag and our country as any of you veterans. I am as willing to give my life in order that our democracy may continue, if the need be, as you veterans. I will receive no financial gain from the good prices during the war. I am only a farm laborer and as my wages rise, so do living costs. You veterans who are so proud of your heroic patriotism will be among those who will reap the profits and high wages which the war has brought. You will live in luxury compared to the life of the boys in the services and will boast of what you did in the First World War, also what you would do now if you were of military age or were needed. But how many will enlist? Less than 5 per cent. Why? You have no desire to go through the possible ordeal of another A.

E. F. Your only desire is for the

Side Glances=By Galbraith

| LOOPR. 1942 BY NEA SERUICE, INC. T. M. REG. U. 8. PAT. OFF.

75 |

"It's your privilege to complain about our state of preparedness, .. Henry, but you ought to see somebody a little higher up in the Governgent than the mail man}

a Be

younger boys to fight the battle you should have finished back in 1918, while you reap the profits of war prices. Now if you men want to fly off the handle with no regard for your high blood pressure, go to it. I'm only giving my side of the draft situation as I see it.. You feel that the only way for any young boy to prove his patriotism is by enlisting for service. I think there are several ways. Enlisting is one, there is no doubt but I see another just as important; the production of food. Food must be produced for the Army, Navy and the men in the defense plants. With the severe shortage of farm labor it seems to me that staying on the farm is just as patriotic as enlisting for service.

2 ” a HE CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE LOCAL MENTALITY By William Murphy, 1038 W. Morris St.

Mr. that citizens give up their homes and apartments in favor of defense workers who will come here to take jobs which should go to natives just about hits a new low in Hoosier psychology. With about 30 per cent of the hde town boys either on WPA or working the streets this sage . . . now proposes to make things a little better (?) by making them. worse.

It is hard to understand the mentality of the average Indianapolis resident. Their estate has fallen so low that they are even getting to the point where they ridicule each other. They ought to have enough pride in their city to keep it fairly progressive, not a laughing stock of the country. We just missed getting the best quiz show in the country, i. e, the Dr. I. Q. program, by a whisker, It was scheduled to open here gt the Indiana Theater on Jan. 10 but due to the reputation which the city enjoys the parties interested were afraid to complete the negotiations for fear some rabid native would stop it due to the fact that there is a suit pending regarding bingo games, These boys with the small outlook on life had better wake up or they will find themselves hitting the old hard, cold trial like the “Okies.”

a2 8 » AMUSED BY PLEA TO BAN CIGARETS

By Mrs. Arthur Gresham, 1298 N. Euclid After reading N. R.’s article of Jan. 8th, “Why Not Quit Making Whisky and Cigarets,” I was amuséd and as Mr. Voltaire would say, “I wholly disagree.” Evidently N. R. thinks only in terms of excess usage, not moderation, when it comes to whisky, beer and cigarets, but the same may apply to candy, popcorn or pancakes. In trying times as today many of us would never take time for relaxation if it wasn’t for a cigaret now and then and again Uncle Sam can use the revenue from the above vices just as advantageously as from any other source of income. And if N. R. recalls, we're fighting a war today to preserve our present way of life.

LET ME GROW LOVELY

Let me grow lovely, growing old— So many fine things do: Laces, and ivory, and gold, And silks need not be new,

And there is healing in old trees, Old streets & glamour hold; Why may not I, as well as these, Grow lovely, growing old? Karle Wilson Baker (1878-

DAILY THOUGHT

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. —Psalms 12:6.

HIS WORDS, like so many nimble and airy servitors, trip about

Grinslade’s recent requeésty

Gen. Johnson Says—

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.—Recent press photographs have given some faint uncoloréd idea of the singular béauty of the Marivéles Mountains. The pictures were taken looking toward ‘the north with the grim outlines of Corregidor glowering in the foreground, Towering far above it on the opposité shore is the stark range of the Mariveleés hills. North of that, not shown in the pictures of course, is the little province of Bataan which seems to bé MacArthur's choice for his last stand. It is mostly a jumble of incredibly steep mountains of voleanic origin. They form a gigantic and even terrifying rampart inclésing Subic Bay and thé naval station at Olongapo—a good port with some facilities for disembarking reinforcements of embarking a retreat, Reports of actual battle lines are so sketchy that one can only guess how MacArthur has his forces disposed. There are a good many indications, however, that he has been retreating on concentrating lines joining in Bataan province, and it actually holding a position in Subic Bay in the hope of keeping open transport communications.

Classic Siege in Making?

A RETREAT from ‘Corregidor to Mariveles should not be too difficult, if worse comes to worse. In such an event the question would be: “How long can he hold out in Bataan behind his very formidable moun tain defense?”

No fighting army can hold out forever without a constant stream of supplies and ammunition. But in the strategy MacArthur seems to have adopted he can make any eriemy pay 10 to 1 for every advance, if he can get supplies. If the Subic Bay base is still reasonably safe for his support wé may witness one of the classic sieges of history. It is impossible in words to give an adequate picture of the difficulties of an advance through those mountains, Where the mountainous jungle trails are not almost impassible paths rutted deep with carabao tracks, they are the beds of dry mountain torrents strewn with boulders.

Savage Pygmies Help U.S,

THE PEOPLE in those mountainous junglés ate the most primitive of the human race. They are almost naked pygmies—Negritos or Dravidians—with a vocabulary of only a few dozen words but they skulk through those junglé shadows without a séund. With poison blow-pipeés and their peculiar types of arrows, they can harass a column of troéps until through death and terror, their morale is gone. They are reported to be on MacArthur's side. As long as Corregidor is held the Japanese navy can’t make much use of Manila Bay. That time may. not be as long as some of us hoped. Corregidor is not well equipped against air attack. But as long as MacArthur can keep his lines open into Bataan, and especially if Subic Bay remdins accessible to him, the flag won't go down in the Philippines. There is little of spectacular glory in commanding a defense against a siege, but sometimes, as in this case, such a successful defense immobilizes so many of the enemy, as to be the equivalent of a great and. victorious battle,

A Woman's Viewpoint By Mrs. Walter Ferguson |

POOR, BATTERED FINLAND, yesterday our friend, has hy a strangé whim of fate become our foe. Now her people are told that every family must produce at least four children in order to maintain the present level of population, because of the serious loss of life in two wars. Let women everywhere ponder thé news. For in the planning of .all nations, evén our own, the same hints to feminine readers appear. “Produce, produce, produce,” is the cry, and we must have babies as well as 6ther things. And so, in every land, women are faced with a grim and bitter command.

“Bear sons,” théy are told, “so that thére may bs - men to replace those killed in wars.” ‘Which proves that we are not only fighting barbarism, but are pretty well sunk in it already. If you sit down and look this thing straight in the eye, you know a country cannot keep its strength or preserve its independence by raising the birth rate,

Wasteful Way to Build

HAVING CHILDREN only to destroy them before they can.make a helpfiil contribution to théir soe ciety, even though they dé béar arms in its défense, is a wasteful way of building civilizations—and every dead one testifies to the fact. Wars are caused by bad économic systems; all the fighting and dying mén and women may do will never bring peacé unless, during periods of truce, we have sénsé enough to make & sounder économy at home and throughout thé earth. That, in efféct, is what President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill telt us the Allied plang include. God speed the day when it shall come to pass! To what low depths motherhood sinks when it ig debased to such a purpose! And surely we must ree alize that sons bred by women who would willingly submit to this degradation would be fit only for cannon fodder. They would never bé capable of cree . ating a good world.

Questions and Answers

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cannot be given. Address The Times Washington Service Bureau, 1013 Thirteenth St., Washington, D, C.)

:Q@—Which selection was sung by Irene Dunne and others in the operatic scene in “Unfinished Business,” and who was the tenor? : A—The selection was the aria “Finale” from Act 3 of “Martha,” by Flotow, and the tenor was Henry Korn.

Q—How long has Siam been officially known as Thailand? A—Thailand became the official name of the coun try June 24, 1939. The change brought official noe menclature into conformity with popular usage, as the inhabitants, who have always béen known at “Thai,” or “The Free People,” preferred to call their country “Thafland,” rather than Siam.

.Q—Why did Germany pay for the upkeep of the

Allied and United States armies of occupation?

A—This was done in accordance with the terms of the Versailles Treaty that required the German gove ernment to pay the total cost of all armies of the Allied and Associated Powers in occupied German territory from Nov. 11, 1918. ‘

Q—Is there any law obliging an allen resident of the United States to ‘become a citizen? A—No, but any alien who intends to continue to live in this country should apply for naturalization papers for his‘own protection. Most. private and public employment is now closed to aliens and alien resi dents may be subjected to other restrictions by the Government, particularly while the United States is at war. German and Italian aliens cannot be natural«

{ ized while the United States is at war,

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