Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 March 1943 — Page 10

RALPH BURKHOLDER r = Editor, In U. 8S. Service MARK FERREE WALTER LECKRONE : (A SCRIPPS-HOWAKD NEWSPAPER)

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Give Light and the People Will .Find Their Own Way

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1943

- JAPAN'S ADVANTAGE ‘HE first friction in many months between Japan and Russia is only one factor in a rapidiy developing Far Eastern situation, It is time for another enemy offensive. . And the general setup is favorable to Japan—because most pllied strength. is concentrated on the other side of the world. : Japan may or may not try to blitz Siberia, probably not. But either way Russian policy will influence the direction of the next Tokyo drive. America has a big stake in the result. : The immediate Moscow-Tokyo friction is over sinking of the Soviet freighter Kola last month in the East China sea. Tokyo says the torpedo was from an American submarine, which Moscow does not believe. ‘Hitherto both governments have postponed a hows down in the ancient Russo-Jap conflict. Russia, with hands full fighting the Nazi invader, has avoided Pacific war. .Japan has been too busy conquering Southeast Asia and half the Pacific to grab maritime Siberia. But both governments have kept huge forces on the frontier, for a war that might start any minute. x ” » . o 8 8 HE situation is better for a Jap attack now than any ; time since December, 1941. Again Russia is hardpressed in the West and exposed to a stab in the back. The Siberian winter is about over. Japan, by holding Rabaul in the South Pacific, Kiska in the North Pacific, and her midPacific island screen, has kept American forces far from her home shores. With Wavell's failure to develop a Burma offensive and six months of rain soon due, Japan is fairly safe from that direction. And the beginning of her spring “drive in China has been successful. ' . In contrast to Japan's overall strategic advantage, the United States has only one hand free to hit Japan—and is getting no effective help there from Britain or Russia. That is dangerous. It allows Japan to consolidate her vast territorial gains, and to keep the initiative for new offensives. This ‘should be an urgent subject for the current Amer-ican-British-Russian discussions in Washington. :

CLASS-ANGLING THE RUML PLAN

PHILIP MURRAY of the C. I. O. has advised members of Congress that they must must not vote for the Ruml plan. It would be awful, he says, because rich taxpayers would benefit by it. But Mr. Murray at the same time tells congressmen that they should vote for a plan cooked by the treasury department experts and advocated by Rep. Robertson of Virginia. Under this plan, the normal tax of 6 per cent ‘and the first-bracket surtax of 18 per cent would not be applied to 1942 incomes. The first $2000 of “taxable income” for 1942 would not be taxed. Taxpayers in that ~ bracket would be deemed as owing no tax debt on 1942 incomes, and they could proceed to pay-as-you-go on 1943 incomes. In other words, Mr. Murray is saying the Ruml plan is a fine idea for lower-income taxpayers, but is .a very bad idea for middle and upper-income taxpayers. He seems to think that anyone’ with more than $2000. taxable income is a rich so-and-so and should be made (fo pay two years. ‘taxes in one, or kept forever owing a one-year tax debt— even though two years’ taxes would be 100 per cent or 150 per cent or'180 per cent of what the taxpayer earns in one year. Indeed, ‘Mr. Murray’ S. thought seems to be that the higher a man’s surtax the less he is entitled to equal treat‘ment under. the laws of the government he helps to support.

We suggest that Mr. Murray, instead of trying to tell |

congress what “Jabor” thinks, should consult his own ‘duespaying members as to what they believe is fair. The Gallup poll, nation-wide, found ‘that lower-income taxpayers were 86 per cent in favor of the Rum! plan—which would treat all taxpayers alike, and place all on a pay-as-you-go basis— on the sound theory that what is sauce for the little-taxed gander should be sauce for the larger-taxed goose,

IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE

AST Saturday night an explosion occurred Somifown, : plunging the entire metropolitan district into darkness. A report went out by radio immediately, Thousands of tizens were: interested and excited. : But what you: probably didn’t Know: was that calls ‘poured into the emergency headquarters of the Power & Light Co. They were calls from employees. Approximately 00 were busy getting. ‘to telephones to ‘find out if they ould be of service. ‘About 75 of them were placed at work. ‘was their hands and’ brains which brought quick resumpon of service. ES True, these individuals are the employees of a private prporation. But their ‘devotion to the cause of public servi certainly deserves the hanks ad praise of this: com-

- i

OMBING AND MORALE tithing at : R CEDRIC HARDWICRE, British ‘movie har has an

In their despot distress, the British pobre always felt fier ‘were not he in the Worle that Bo, "United

. out.

ormul By. William Philp Simms -

oof

! WASHINGTON, March Prime Minister Churchill's for-

nations made up of smaller groups

charged ; ligations, finds wide approval

here. to Washington. Back in 1931—

during the Hoover administration! —a somewhat similar ‘but more

detailed world peace arrangement was discussed and received widespread indorsement even among some so-called isolationists. ‘Briefly, the plan set forth was: 1. That a new world peace organization be set up, based on the three natural regions: The European group, the Pacific—Far Eastern group and the Pan American group. 3. That the principal tie binding these groups to-

gether as a global league to prevent aggression would

be the Kellogg pact outlawing war, implemented to make it effective. 3. That a nation making war in violation of the pact be declared an outlaw. 4. That an outlaw state be boycotted by all the other states. 5. That a nation deliberately refusing to carry out this pledge itself be declared an outlaw. . 6. That in event of threatened war, signatories of the global organization would consult on measures; but that, generally speaking, the regional group most directly affected would undertake the correctives.

League's Spirit Worth Keeping

AS APPLIED to the future, for example: Should |

Japan again show signs of new aggressions, China, Russia, the United States, Great Britain, Canada,

Australasia and the Netherlands—the “Council of

Asia"—ought to be able to handle the situation. . Should some future Hitler attempt to imitate Herr Schickelgruber, Great Britain, France, Russia, and others of the “Council of Europe” doubtless could stop him before he got started. Similarly, the 22 states of the “Council of the Americas”—counting Canada, of coursee-might be depénded -upon to keep the peace of the western hemisphere. : Every member of. the world Sganization, however, would co-operate as required by circumstances. They would, in any event, sever all diplomatic and commercial relations with any outlaw state. ; Mr. Churchill on Sunday spoke highly of the old League of Nations. Its spirit, he said, is certainly worth retaining. But proBably its greatest weakness was what, in a different and better world, would have been its greatest strength—the sweeping and Spartan character of its pledges. ' There is now much talk of a post-war “police force.” There is considerable doubt, however, that public opinion here would welcome the idea of having American troops police the boundaries, say, between Hungary and Rumania. French, British, Russian, Czech, Polish or other European troops, yes; for they are of that region. But troops from Georgia, Kansas or California, hardly. The chances are it would not work out well asa permanent proposition.

Why U. S. Stayed Out

: UNDER THE COVENANT of the league, Britain was pledged to consider Japan's aggression against China, in Manchuria, as an act of war against herself. But she did nothing of the kind. Manchuria was too far away. British interests were not directly involved. But Britain did take a firm stand when Italy invaded Ethiopia. Her immediate interests were involved there. Ethiopia is on the flank of Britain's routes of empire. Like it or ‘not, few, if any, nations are now ready to go to war merely for an ideal. National or regional interests is the biggest spur. The great lesson of the league, therefore, was that its creators stressed global responsibility too much and regional responsibility too little. Deep down, that is why the United States stayed It refused to bind itself, in advance, to go to war in defense of the Banat of Temesvar. By the same token, that is why the idea now advanced by Mr. Churchill will probably go far. » = » Westbrook Pegler is on vacation.

In Washington By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, March 23.— One of the jobs given Elmer Davis’ office of war information was to determine what the U. 8. people were thinking. Idea of this assignment was obviously to provide Some basis for determining what war information should be given to the public, correct mistaken . impressions, reveal information needed to support the war effort, clear up doubts and shape the government's war propaganda for home consumption. To get this picture, there have been a series of continuing studies going back to last June. Public opinion ‘surveys were made by Princeton university and University of Denver research organizations and some contracts for survey work were let to commercial market analysis outfits. For. opinions of the war workers, there were intensive.interviews in northern industrial centers. One report on post-war opinion was based on correspondence with newspaper editors, and so on.

"Give Voice to Post-War Fears

THERE WAS FOUND to be little doubt that the

post-war world was going to be terrible, fear of the responsibilities of having to police the post-war world, fear that U. 8. peacemakers would lose the peace, fear of England and Russia. The basic’ fear was a post-war unemployment, depression, continuing higher costs of living. People in general

from a vigorous minority advocating American domi-

nation of the world. While six of every 10 persons | |

sampled favored U. 8. participation in a world organization to maintain peace and. the same number favored setting up such an organization before the | end of the war, the extremist position of the minority was that of many former isolationists who would now

Support the world organization only if they could be | sure that U. S. would dominate it : SS Eerie a a Xo show That okie

tionism no longer spelled security and fewer than 20

Ee iobused firmly ie he principle of inter.

| national collaboration. .| Ideas Become Definite

BY JANUARY, Febtusry and the early past of] | March, opinion. was crystallizing and a few definite | |

ideas were taking shape.

#—| en 1 vith rane |

The. idea is not altogether new:

giving .

seemed to be interested in world security | Sy af after assurance of economic security at home. This point of view found its extreme statement

3 a : : ° ; The Hoosier Forum 1 wholly disagree with what wou say, but will defend to the death your right to say it. —Voltaire.

“THERE ARE TWO CLASSES OF FARMERS” By C: A: Williams, Plainfield

Seems to me we are having more griping this year among some of the farm organizations over farm labor. They would like to call the’ army home and have them plant their crops and then go back and do their part of the fighting, while they drive up and down the road to see if their neighbor’s pumpkin vine has run across the road on their farm, We have two classes of farmers, one that works and one that sits around the corner drug store. The ‘real farmer is satisfied with the prices and is making money. The loud squawking is coming from the heads of the farm organizations,

: . 8 8 “IT'S TIME WE SAID OUR PIECE” By Mrs. Citizen, Indianapolis Well, we Americans haven't said much about the new wartime laws. We've accepted them and tried to adjust ourselves accordingly, wheth-

er it be taxes, rationing or labor. But now it's time we said our piece about the outright waste of

time, labor, materials and the cause|

of confusion among us. This new draft idea is an example of the present “let’s do it this way” plan of operation by selective service. Cards were printed and mailed, . « draft classifications. Now they want to do it all over again, with the stipulation that men over 38 probably will not be called. * Well, why the cost and labor involved to print new cards which mean practically the same thing, when the present card would do Just as well? _-A man having a 4-H card could be called despite his 4-H if the need arises, so I can sée no logic in spending our hard-earned tax money on paper, ink, labor and time so unnecessarily. Army men have already said that men over 38 are just “hospital prospects” when inducted into the army. They cannot be rebuilt into the physical fitness of a man 6f 28, and even the selective service officials should know that! A married man is also unfit mentally, for he cannot forget his wife or children, or cease to worry

‘| make use of the occupational ques-

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded. Because: of the volume received, letters must be limited to 250 words. Letters: must .. be signed.)

over their being able to exist without him. And no amount of training can alter that fact. . Why not use 4-F’s for inactive duty, and thus release thousands of | physically fit men to fight? There are . . . young healthy men in our defense factories. Why not |

tionnaires and replace the defense workers with men over 38 who can still work on the home front? There seems to be no logic in keeping all these young defense workers in a special class when their work can be done by men from 38 to 45, and release more capable and healthy men for the fighting front. . Some of these defense workers brag about their draft status, saying the factory could not operate without them! They had to learn their work, so why can’t other men do it whose age makes them poor army material? , . . = » » » - “CANNOT UNDERSTAND SUCH TACTICS” By Dr. Robert F. Buehl, 1906 S.' Meridian. I have been viewing with-—alarm, for the past few years, the attitude of our police force toward the citizenry of Indianapolis. It is a fact that when an honest citizen reports a felony, the police investigation tries in every way to make the reporter out a criminal and asks insulting’ questions of the one reporting the felony. I cannot understand: such tactics from a force which the taxpayers support and pay the salaries of in order to protect them from violators. From the instances that people have been reporting ‘to me, the policy must be indorsed by the police department heads. Recently, we had a car wreck caused : probably by some persons

who had stolen the car. A little boy

Side GlarussmBy Galbraith

United States would eventually win the war, but there | | Was a very definite expression of fear—fear that the ||

Seventy-seven per cent favored complete disarma- of:

"| ment of the enemy and U. §. participation in a world | A

police force.

Seventy-eight per cent thought U. 8. should con~ | | tinu- to feed and help rehabilitate other countries, | Aq even if it meant continuation of ra

tioning at home. : Seventy-two per cent insisted the U. 8. should start making. Diane for post-war a

after inhushable evidence, this cul-

$15 more.

[lifted at some time:

told the police about seeing the ‘men edcaping. Instead of going after the culprits, the police went to the child’s home and: searched it. There was recently an episode among children about BB guns. A roundup of the guns resulted, but before the investigation was over I was made to feel that I was the criminal—even threatened by the police in my own home to be taken down to the police station, The policeman’s alcoholic breath’ would have’ felled anyone. About three® years ago, after a {holdup during which I was driven around for five or six hours by a group of bandits, I was accused of being the criminal myself, and when I mentioned the: ringleader’s name, no attempt was made to bring him to justice. Three ‘months later;

prit was given a penitentiary sentence. These are only a few of the instances of such injustices meted out to citizens who attempt to cooperate with our police department to apprehend criminals. One almost is led to believe that to secure police protection, the citizen should first become a criminal and thereby in the opinion of the police become a good citizen. One. should have respect for our police force when they show that they merit respect. It behooves a good. citizen to watch this growing menace to his safety and bring to light such infractions of the rights of citizens. To allow such a system to grow will in time cause irreparable inroads on the rights and liberty « of the citizenry. 8 » » “WHY CAN'T PROPERTY OWNERS GET JUSTICE?”

By Mrs. James Brothers, 5410_Rosslyn ave. I have planned to write this letter for months but it took another letter in the Forum fo get me started. 'I see other landlords are being treated the same as I by the rent control division of the OPA. .I have never seen a landlord even get courteous treatment, let alone any action from them. However, I even appealed to Washington and explained to them that my payments on the place plus taxes and insurance not even counting upkeep was far ahead of the|rent I was receiving and that I was having to make up the difference out of my own pocket. I also explained why the rent happened to|: be so low at the time of the freeze and that my house was a five-room modern single and three - room doubles were renting from

I was informed that I could con-

war effort. I can’t see where that

‘| |is a contribution to the war effort.|,

‘I could help a lot more if I could

buy war bonds, which from the looks of things the renter is not doing.

one other’ thing that had a ceiling price put on it that hasn't been

» - .» “ON ‘BENEFICENCE as OF BRITISH RULE"

i. ments in Liberators, its part in . tinue to be smaller than -desirabl

Fa

sider this: my contribution to the §

take that money every month and|

g $ can’t the : property owners| get together like all the rest of them {that ceiling prices have affected and | get some justice. I do. not know of}

2 ie Yo Blame? : MAYBE THE jwitte. the’ ong hits, dreat: up the

allied offensives of the war been launched in the last weeks and on its success depends our’ ability to invade Europe and to shorten the duration of the European phase of the war, It is the offensive against U-boats, : Whereas the course of the war on the eastern front, and the advances of allied forces in Tunisia are the subjects of daily communiques, the Uboat campaign is given little publicity. ; Because figures of allied sinkings are not pubs: lished, and success of our anti-U-boat-forces are not. announced frequently, the general public in both Britain and the United States is less aware of both the menace of U-boats and the success of the measures being taken against them. As the Manchester Guardian wrote last week, Hitler hopes “that his U-boats, by disrupting allied offensive plans, will enable to keep the timetable of land warfare under own control”

U-Boats Hunting in Packs . IF BY PRESSURE .on allied shipping, Germany is able to hold off the allies both in Tunisia and from landing on the continent, she will be better able to prepare and launch a big spring counter-attack on the Russian front. - This is an aspect of the war which is most me

‘portant and insufficiently appreciated outside official

quarters. While no reports are issued from the allied side, thefe was a German special communique last week which claimed that North Atla U-boats fought a bivter battle for days against destroyers, corvettesand aircraft escorting a large \convey, résulting in the sinking of 32 ships totaling 204,000 tons, and one destroyer. 3 <i Since the appointment of Admiral Karl Doenitz as’ commander-in-chief of the German navy, U-boat’ warfare has been increasingly intensified.’ For some’ months now, U-boats have been hunting in echelongs of packs, thereby giving them much greater striking power and less vulnerability,

Situation Really Serious BRITAIN AND the United States are rushing production of the latest types of U-boat killers. They" ° contain the newest devices for Getection and’ for destroying. : The U. S. air force is now eosoperating with the R. A. F. coastal command in its daily hunting of U-boats but unless it gets considerable reinforce8 hunt must con-

Bombing of German factories/ U-boat bases and fueling depots ranks high on the target list for both the royal air force and the United States army air force. These are aspects of the war to which the best brains in the British and American navies and air fortes are giving their fullest attention. : Unless they are successful, the British and United’ States armies are bound to be tied to their present: bases. And that is exactly what the Germans are hoping’ to achieve.

; Copyright, - 1943, by The Indiahapolis Times and the Ch cago Daily News.

‘White Mammoths’

By Stephen Ells

IN ‘SOME PLACES, “White Mammoth” sounds” as though it were written as a textbook for young Communists who want to get ahead in the world. ‘But aside from the somewhat stilted conversation’ and undue heroics, she story tells first hand of the accomplishments of the giant KV tanks against the’ * Nazis. : The KV tank, named for Marshal “Klim” Voroshi-' lov, is—or rather, was—made in a factory in Lenin grad. ‘This factory was evacuated 1200 miles by ral to samewhere behind the Ural Mountains, : Alexander Poliakov started ‘his story in this factory, following the tank force through its daring crossing of frozen Lake Ilmen in the winter campaign of 1941-42 and its surprise attack upon the enemy. The author, who wrote “Russians Don’t Surrender,” was. one of .the most prominent Russian soldier-eor-respondents. He won the Order of the Red Banner’ for his reporting. His death in action was reported in October last year. He was 34.

Duel Between Plane and Tank EVEN THOUGH IT is steeped. Th the. Russian’ ideology, the courage and magnificent fighting of the. Russian tank force makes the book a revealing story:

ad

| about our allies who are past masters: at keeping their:

own Secrets. % Although the story is full of exciting incidents, best. of all was the duel between a Nazi dive bomber: and a British-made tank (“Little Brother”) being’ used by the Russians along with the KV tanks, The dive bomber used all its bombs trying to get ire Brother,” failed and then began .trying to knock it out with its guns, ; Every time it leveled out for a dive, the “Little Brother” would jump forward or to one side to side- ; step the gunfire. Finally the Russian tankman ju sat there while the dive bomber headed at it again. A stream of tracer bullets freq Poin blank at the Plane finished it off. eh ;

WHITE MAMMOTHS. by Alexan from the Russian by Norbert Guter Dutton & Co., Inc, New York. 10

We the Women

By Ruth Millett

Poliakoy! Translated ‘Illustrated. RB. P. ges. 2.80.

“YOU CANT refuse a soldier anything. ” - That—says a mother who recently spent a week-end in New - York, going to plays and night clubs—was the philosophy she heard expressed one way. or an- 8 other everywhere she went. A beautiful girl singing with an orchestra shrugs her shoulders and goes through .a. sexy . routs ‘while she sings to the men in i

tok. and their young dates, “You can’t refuse a sol- ; der anything.”

Maxwell Anderson's popular play, “The Eve'ol St Mark,” points out more gently the same philosophy,

folks who ie i

before Witte & hi. they ought to oe Jave of the sits “the

y-