Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 June 1942 — Page 9

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MONDAY, JUNE 15, 1942 |

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WASHINGTON, June 15—My notes on the Molotov visit include the following: It had a hopeful ending out of an ominous beginning. This business began in the shadows of oldfashioned power politics. It came out six months later as a foundation on which we can establish a world security organization that might prevent these periodic world wars which grind all people between their ruthless millstones. The more of this story that is told the better, From it we see what can be done by men who have ideals and the ability and force to stay with them. I mean mainly Franklin D. Roosevelt. It is possible for a man to change the course of history. It does make a difference what a man thinks, There iS no blind fatalism that dictates events. Of course there are strong forces. But often a strong man can deflect them and change their course. A strong people can do it. What a man in a position of power thinks and wants to happen and what a strong nation thinks and wants to happen are forces that move affairs. Last winter Russia and Britain were thinking how they could survive. Russia was going through a savage winter. Britain was being driven out of the Far East. If either one cracked the other was through.

A Question of Survival

STALIN WANTED to win security out of this war. The handiest way to do it would be to take over adjacent territory, the Baltic states, part of Finland, Poland, Bessarabia and Bukovina, and get himself a westwall of additional territory against Germany. Britain was ready to do anything that would keep Russia in the war. Churchill was reluctant to guarantee to back Russia in taking this additional territory after the war, but others in the government were for it.

By Raymond Clapper

They were ready to sign the treaty that would have made a mockery of thé Atlantic Charter and its pledges against territorial gains or territorial changes that did not accord with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned. - For both Britain and Russia it was a question of survival, of an alliance between them that would keep Germany in a pincers once they had her licked. Individuals will sacrifice their lives for high causes. A nation does not sacrifice its existence but will do anything it thinks is necessary to survive.

Will We Stay Hitched?

RUSSIA AND BRITAIN were up against the necessity of surviving. The U. S. is not so hard-pressed because it has more geographical protection. But we have found it impossible to keep out of general wars. Therefore we have a strong interest in seeing that they do not happen. ; Hehce our national self-interest dictates that we do everything possible to bring about a stable world, to arrange means by which reasonable settlements can be worked out and under which any nation will find it impossible to undertake aggression to get what it wants. The first step toward that is to see that the war does not lead to an orgy of territory grabbing. Russia and Britain abandoned the proposed territorial deal. They pledged themselves to respect the Atlantic Charter principle against territorial! gains. They agreed to abandon their postwar alliance and join in whatever world security organization was set up. President Roosevelt was largely responsible for this decision by Russia and Britain to set aside their own program in favor of broader effort, if that is undertaken, It can only be undertaken if the people of the United States fully support President Roosevelt in the start he has made. If the country should fail him as it failed Woodrow Wilson, then Britain and Russia will pick up where they left off before the Molotov visit. They will go ahead and carve up Europe. And in so doing thew probably will unwittingly plow the ground for a third world war.

Ernie Pyle, in poor health for some time, has been forced to take a rest. However, he is expected to resume his daily column within a short time.

Inside Indianapolis By Lowell Nussbaum

SEEN AROUND TOWN: John Daily, the lawyer, telling friends that his brother, Wilson, now is a major in the army, and is with the troops in Ireland, or thereabouts. . . . Frankie Parrish, the vocalist—not the builder and designer—walking west on Washington st. whistling one of his favorite tunes; we didn’t catch what it was. . . . Tom Kemp, the gas tycoon and amateur farmer, shopping around for a milking machine for his farm. . . | Two men walking east from the Circle on Market st, one carrying an oversize milk bottle, the other carrying a plastic cow (evidently for a window display) and both giggling at the stares of the crowd. . . . The daily procession of naval re- = cruitees heading for Union station in tow of petty officer who works up a sweat running ahead at every intersection to play traffic officer.

A Marine in the City Hall

A PATRON of Berry's restaurant No. 2 on Ohio ct. relates an incident that occurred there the other day. According to our tipster, a badly crippled woman entered to attempt to sell trinkets. A couple of patrons walked out and someone told Tom Walker, an official of the restaurant, that they had walked out because the woman was allowed to enter. Mr. Walker, we're told, replied: “TI don’t care if they all walk out: she has to make a living.” . . . His Honor, the Mayor, now is a U. S. marine. He received a certificate proclaiming him a reserve recruiting officer in appreciation of municipal co-operation with the corps. . For whatever it's worth, we offer the report that the deadline for registering diathermy machines with the FCC has been extended to June 23. . . . The coffee

Don’t Tell It!

MOSCOW, June 15—This is not news. Simply one of those things which is much more important than news. Among the many invaluable lessons, which officers end men of the American armed forces and all Americans could learn from Russia's remarkable military achievements, is one which it is a pretty safe bet you would never guess and probably have never thought of even once. The Russians know how to do one thing that few Americans know how to do. They know how to keep secrets. That js one of the biggest reasons why the Nazis are not in Moscow now. Before Russian was involved in the war, it might have seemed a comparatively inconsequential thing but one “kept secret” went far to change the course of the entire German-Russian war. Over the last decade observers in Moscow agreed that the German embassy staff here was extraordinarily efficient and well-informed. So were Nazi correspondents. Shortly before the German invasion last June, a man who had the reputation of being the Nazis’ best-informed correspondent assured Henry Shapiro, the United Press’ Moscow correspondent, that Germany would never be so roolish as to attack the Soviet but if she did it would be a walkover—because the Nazis could put hordes of bombers over Moscow and annihilate all its defenses and governmental centers,

What Adolf Hitler Learned

“THE SOVIET SIMPLY have no anti-air defenses.” this “best informed” Nazi correspondent said. “Why, they haven't any anti-aircraft guns worth men-

My Day

WASHINGTON, Sunday—Friday afternoon we had a party for sonfe of the soldiers stationed in Washington. The president greeted them. the army band played and then they had some refreshments and sat about the lawn. A chorus, organized by Donald Murray, and composed of members of the United Federal Workers union, sang some of their own songs and we found that there was plenty of talent among the soldiers, One of their number played the piano to start the singing and led at the end. I was really sorry when it was over, because I enjoyed having them and look forward now to another party in the near future. . Yesterday morning, the president and I greeted the British and American boys, whom the treasury department is sponsoring on a trip around the country. The secretary of the treasury came back from the country to be with them

and the British ambassador joined us on the porch.’

I don't believe they enjoyed the photographing any more than they have enjoyed some of their ex-

shop brains department observes that if war is causing scientists to get rubber from milk weed, why can’t something be done about getting hay fever out of rag weed?

Shux, Worms Again

SOME OF THE BOYS around town are in “Seventh Heaven” today. Yessir, the fishing season opens at midnight. Among those who can hardly wait are the game fish in the water company aquarium. Minnows have been few and far between since the game fish season closed. It seems you're not allowed to seine them for the present. Even the fish hatchery folks couldn't help—just advised worms, and no respectable fish cares for a steady diet of worms—we're told. . . . John Hancock, who lives out in North Kessler Manor addition (near 59th and Keystone) has been taking a ribbing from his neighbors for standing out in the street with a fishing rod to get in some casting practice.

Owls or Eagles?

SPEAKING OF North Kessler Manor, some of the neighbors have been complaining about the carryingon at night by the feathered tenants of a tall tree. As soon as it gets dark, the pests start chattering and they keep it up far into the night. Some people think they're owls. Others assert solemnly that maybe they're eagles—that they have a wingspread of more than a yard. Personally, we don't give a hoot. . . . Wonder what the fireman who drives the back end of the No. 13 aerial ladder truck thinks about the new concrete safety zcne at Kentucky ave. and Illinois st. The trucks roared cut of the engine house about 5 the other evening and headed for N. Illinois st The pumpers swung around the safety zone all right but the ladder truck had to do some tall maneuvering.

By Leland Stowe

tioning. Have you ever seen a single anti-aircraft gun anywhere in Moscow? No. Nor have I, nor has anyone else—not one. Moscow has no air defense and Hitler knows it. Our luftwaffe can blast Moscow to pieces whenever Hitler gives the word.” Within a few days Hitler threw everything he had and German pilots learned immediately that Moscow was simply pockmarked with anti-aircraft batteries! They made the most unpleasant discovery of their bombing careers. Moscow was so effectively girded with ack-ack that they could not get to the h®art of the city. In fact, it is stated here that less than 200 German bombers have been able to get over Moscow proper in almost 12 months of war. Veterans of London’s heaviest blitz raids say that they have never heard such tremendously intensive anti-aircraft battery fire. In their opinion Moscow probably has the heaviest concentration in the world!

Can U. S. Learn This Lesson! ALL THIS WAS the fruit of knowing how to keep a military secret, of absolute and airtight discretion among both military commanders, soldiers and government officials. Hearing this striking object lesson set me to pondering about the American character and habits. Americans are trenendously hospitable and love to make friends. They talk with strangers cs easily as with friends. If Americans, especially all those in our armed forces, could learn the Russian talent of keeping secrets. more than one battle which we will probably lose would be won—scores of thousands of American Baye lives would be saved—perhaps many more than that. One thing that America needs urgently, if we are going to win the war without unnecessary losses and reverses, is a nation-wide campaign against loose talk. Its slogan might well be: “Don't tell it!”

By Eleanor Roosevelt

periences. However, they must be a great inspiration to some of the pecple who greet them in different parts of the country. These boys are a symbol of the unity which exists between Britain and us in the fight for freedom. I hope that, before long, we shall ‘have added to their number boys from China and Russia, because in this fight no one carries the burden alone. It is a joint burden and wil] continue to be in the future. Such honors as we pay individual heroes are really only a cymbol of what is due ‘o heroic youth. As one reads of the many merchant ships which have been sunk, I wonder if there should not be some special medal of honor for the men who man these ships. In some cases they run even greater risks than the boys in the regular army and navy, When we realize that, over and over again, they land from one torpedoed ship and as soon as they recover from wounds or exposure, they start out on another trip: we can hardly fail to pay homage for supreme courage. Last night we saw a moving picture, “Mrs. Miniver.” Because everybody had spoken so RISHIF 30 I was rather prepared for disappointment. it is better than I imagined possible—a sermon, beautiful one. ¢

Campaign Among Weary Workers May Be Factor In Home Front Crackup ¥

Jean Grafts, back in the ie Bt man, 1 Ind., visited here last week.

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GRAFFIS

Times Special Writer

NEW YORK, June 15.—The Communists of Nazi Germany have a second front already in action against

Adolf Hitler's regime.

It is the Red Front which Hitler thought he had

wiped out of existence years ago.

Actually, he merely

drove it deeper underground.. And now, gradually, with the assistance of Germany's internal war stresses, the old Red Front is edging back toward the surface. It is not fantastic to consider Soviet boring from . within as a possible major factor in the eventual crackup

of the German Home Front.

It is common knowledge

among military observers that the Russian army intelligence service in Germany today is amazingly good, far surpassing that of any other of the united nations.

Established long before the war, the Soviet spy system had mapped an almost perfect picture of German war preparations. Stalin's knowledge of Germany’s actual strength may have influenced him to play ball with Hitler in the early stages of the general conflict. 2

Preserve Their Ideals

AND FOR the efficient Soviets, it would have been no task at all to incorporate, within their German espionage system, a parallel organization of saboteurs and provocateurs. There are tangible evidences of the existence of a Red Front in Germany today. It may or may not be directed from the Kremlin. But a visitor who is persist ent, cautious and dependable can make contact with it and with the Germans who are working in it. These Germans are the remnants of the Communist party which once seriously threatened to obtain supreme power in the Reich. Driven from active work for their cause, they have nevertheless preserved their ideals and, insofar as it is feasible under the nose of the Gestapo, their organization, In many instances they have even succeeded in making dangerously bold appeals to the German people. Conversations with Communists themselves, ahd with many other Germans who know of and symspathize with the movement, have given me some authentic pictures of this interesting phase of pres-ent-day Germany. ” ”

Typical Example of Work

THERE 18, for instance, the clever manner in which one Berlin unit circularized thousands of shoppers in a big department store. Three men were selected for the job. Each was provided with stickers on which were printed such slogans as “The Red Front

Still Lives,” and “Soviet Russia Will Save You From the Nazis.” During the rush hour for shopping, these men entered the store, and mingling with the crowd, made for the escalator leading to the second floor. Each one quickly wetted the gummed back of a sticker concealed in the palm of his hand. Then, casually but firmly gripping the moving handrail of the escalator, he rode up. As the handrail disappeared at the second floor level, the operative released his grip, moved off into the crowd and was lost to view. But the handrail, now bearing the firmly attached stickers, made its rounds with the escalator and within 60 seconds reappeared at the bottom before the incredulous eyes of shoppers starting up from the lower level. Many persons received this message from the Red Front before the hue and cry of outraged Nazis brought Gestapo agents. Meanwhile, the perpetrators of the trick had left the building, unsuspected.

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Coup Takes Time

MANY TIMES on walls, signe boards, in public phone booths and on freight cars, pro-Soviet and anti-Nazi slogans are splashed in paint or chalked up during the night. Most of them are quickly removed, but others, burned in with acid or cut in with knives, remain over long periods. Execution of a coup requires painfully long and involved maneuvering. Units hardly ever meet as a whole. The leader, over a glass of beer or in a casual meeting on the street or in a park, passes sn idea on to a subordinate. In turn, and often only after many days or weeks of maneuvering, the idea is relayed to other operatives.Finally, after rechecking and confirmation, the desperate plan is put into action. As person-to-person provoca= teurs, members of Germany's Red Front work, as they always did, primarily among the m o s t wretched groups, where co-opera-tion will be most likely. Probably most helpful of the Red Front’s knowing or unwitting

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neutral European cities.

Inside Germany .

Germany's disintegration in the first World War started here, in 1918, when

the sailors of the kaiser’s fleet mutinied against their officers. Hamburg long has been known as the

major anti-Nazi city of Germany,

collaborators are the prostitutes. Old hands in the Red Front know that prostitution is a prod= uct of economic distress. They also know that girls who enter it are traditionally soft-hearted and susceptible to reasonable ideas. 2 2 2

Tired Workers Tested

A PERSONABLE agent, direct« ing his argument toward a prosti= tute’s economic distress, and play= ing upon her natural sympathies after he has won her confidence, may eventually convert her as an active agent. She is then ideally situated to pass on the Red Front credo to her customers. Goebbels loudly claims that streetwalkers have been swept out of existence in Germany. But anyone who walks down Friede= richstrasse at night during a Berlin blackout will give that state ment the lie, Some authorities claim that prostitution in certain sections is comparable to that of 1920 to 1925, when girls of 12 were openly s0=« liciting in Alexanderplatz. Upon hearing these statements, I quizzed a German medical spe= cialist who divides his time between his private practice and Wehrmacht medical duties. He told me that venereal diseases among soldiers and civilians alike was reaching a “terrible” rate. Others who react to suggestions of the Communists are factory workers, men and women, who are tiring under the burden of long hours, cruel taxes, money contributions to scores of war welfare funds, and inability to obtain clothing and proper recreation.

” ”

Grasp at Straws

THERE ARE Communists in the army itself who propagandize comrades in the field. Converts are made among nurses who see unbelievable suffering both on the battle fronts and at home. ~ One of the most fertile fields for planting “dangerous ideas” is offered by the millions of foreigners imported by Germany in con=tract labor battalions. Their own homeland in bondage, separated from suffering

This is a Communist demonstration in Germany—

before Nazi pere

gecution decimated the Red organization, drove the remnants under

ground.

Today they are edging back to the surface—to create a “sece

ond front” right inside Germany itself.

families, enduring the hardest and dirtiest work, living in squalor and earning mere pittances, these men and women are ready to grasp anything which offers the slightest ray of hope. I have talked with numbers of these contract laborers, some of them girls 15 years old. They are thrown together without regard to nationality or differences in sex. Men and women often are quartered in squalid barracks. Today's Red Front in Germany

itself may be merely a spontaneous revival without plan or direction from Soviet Russia. But the fact that it can exist and have followers in the heart of Himme ler’'s Gestapo bailiwick testifies to desire for change among certain classes of the German people.

Certainly, among all the forces now working to split Nazidom wide open, this sudden ‘second front” must be considered.

WLB POLICY SET ON CLOSED SHOP

Calls for Maintenance-of-Union-Membership Clause

In Labor Contracts.

By FRED W. PERKINS Times Special Writer WASHINGTON, June 15. — Confirmation was given today to reports that the war labor hoard has developed a “pattern” for its handling of the ciosed-shop issue. The first statement’ that a “pat tern” had been developed, through requiring maintenance « of = union membership clauses in labor contracts, was made in an official board statement in “Victory,” publication of the war production board. This was in contrast with previous statements by William H. Davis, war labor board chairman, that no rigid policy would be followed and that each case would be handled separately and on its merits.

Similar Clauses Inserted

In four important cases last week, the board statement said, it ordered similar union-maintenance clauses

inserted in collective « bargaining contracts, “settling in each case bitter disputes over the open versus the closed shop.” As “typical” the board cited a clause provided to settle the unionsecurity issue in a dispute between the Brown & Sharpe Co, of Providence, R. I, and the International Association of Machinists, A. F. of L. It requires that all union members and all company employees who hereafter become union members must maintain their memberships as a condition of employment. The board reported “relatively smooth going” on the union-security issue since maintenance-of-mem-bership clauses were accepted, after much controversy, by employers in three major cases—Walker-Turner,

International Harvester, and Feder- : g & O k Co.

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Easy as Stepping Off Porch, Woman 'Chute Tester Claims

RENO, Nev, June 15 (U. P.).— Mrs. Marionne T. Merhar, 29, who volunteered for a “mercy parachute jump” test, thinks parachuting to earth is “just like stepping off the back porch for a bottle of milk.” «Mrs. Merhar, a nurse, and Dr. Harold Lohlein, participated Sun= day in the test conducted by the office of civilian defense to determine whether airplanes might drop physicians and nurses into disareas. Both made their jumps without injury. Mrs. Merhar bailed out at 2300 feet over the Reno airport and reached earth in three minutes. “It was just like stepping off the back porch for a bottle of milk,” she said. “I want to do it again. I think many women will want to jump. It was more fun than I ever had at Christmas. “But there is a somewhat ‘uh’ feeling before the chute opens.” Lohlein and Mrs. Merhar explained that the test indicated that parachute units could supply medical aid more quickly if an airplane

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should crash in an isolated area of Nevada. Mrs. Merhar appeared much more calm than her husband, who presides over a “21” game at a Reno gambling club. Merhar’s habitual “poker face” bore a worried expression as he paced the airport waiting for his wife to jump. When she landed he ran to her and kissed her. “Honey, you were wonderful,” he said.

2 SURVIVE 56-HOUR MINE IMPRISONMENT

RENTON, Wash, June 15 (U.P). —Two men rescued 56 hours after they were trapped in a coal mine rested today, showing no ill effects from their forced imprisonment 500 feet underground. They were Archie Skiver, 39, veteran coal miner and father of three children, and Robert Stonack, 20, an apprentice.

The two were rescued last night when workmen blasted away the last of a 40-foot wall of coal and rock that had imprisoned them since Friday morning. Skiver and Stonack were working at one end of a tunnel when a slide cut them off from freedom, leaving them in a cavern 200 feet long and eight feet in height.

QUAKE . STOCKS FISH ON N. ENGLAND SHORE

NAHANT, Mass, June 15 (U, P.).

| | An. earthquake stocks Nahant fish

markets with cod and haddock today. Thousands of them were killed in the ocean off Nahant yesterday when a severe quake shook shore communities. Fishermen put out in poats to collect the fish. Two boats hauled in more than 600 pounds. Dr. L. Don Leet of the Harvard seismograph station placed the cen-

ter of the shock at 30 miles east of

SHIP WARNED IN VAIN OF U-BOAT

Wind Kept Brazilian Craft From Changing Course As U. S. Flier Advised.

CARACAS, Venezuela, June 15.— U. P.) —First Pilot Carmino Gelio of the torpedoed Brazilian merchant marine training ship Alegrete said today that a United States patrol plane had warned them to change course shortly. before they were attacked. The plane signaled at dusk on June 1, he said, in the first official account of the attack on the neutral Alegrete. The ship signaled back that it couldn't turn east as the plane had advised because of winds. Even then the submarine must have been ready to attack, because shortly after the plane disappeared it fired a torpedo without warning.

Ready for Attack

“We had been prepared for such an emergency,” Gelio said. “We lowered the boats after loading extra water, food and oars. My boat—less than five feet long—contained 15 men in addition to provisions. The seas were very heavy

and on the third day the mast broke |"

at the base and we were forced to use the oars. “As we pulled away from the Alegrete, the U-boat broke water and opened heavy cannon fire, sinking the ship with 20 direct hits,

Found Island Colony

“We pitched around, unable to keep any course for three days and finally sighted and made for Blanquilla island. The boat was hurled against the rocks and completely smashed. All provisions were lost. “That end of the island was not inhabited and we had to rinse our mouths with sea water. Finally we found a fishermen's colony where we stayed until a cruiser picked us

up on June 9.”

Kingan Official Rotary Speaker

“FROM HOGS TO HAMS” will be the subject of T. G. Sinclair when he addresses members of the Rotary at their meeting, 12:15 p. m. tomorrow, in the Claypool hotel. Mr. Sinclair is treasurer of Kingan & Co., meat-packing ese tablishment. He is the fourth gene eration of Sinclairs to be associe ated with such a business,

WAR BONDS|

Equipment in clothing for our American fliers costs about $260 for every aviator, so it takes a lot of money for our rapidly ine creasing air force. This clothe ing is especially manufactured of ° horse-hide jackets and trousers, fleeced lined.

The kit also includes a “B-70" which is a complete jacket and trousers zipper suit, also made of horse-hide and is fleeced lined. Two pairs of shoes, helmet, gog= gles and other lesser equipment complete the ensemble. Your purchases of war bonds, at least 10 per cent of your income every pay day, will help buy these oute fits for our fillers everywhere, for