Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 December 1943 — Page 12

WAR INFORMATION —SOMETIMES HARD on the heels of the war department's blunder in "suppressing the Gen. Patton story, and thereby dancaroadly increasing the delayed-action kickback, comes the publicity fiasco of the Cairo and Tehran conferences. These current incidents, following the attempt to prevent press coverage of the Hot Springs food conference and other Washington fumbling, demonstrate the need for an

tion’s .war information policies. Each time one of these blunders comes to light, the | “administration produces a labored and limp alibi which | Jeaves some official holding the bag. In the case of the Hot Springs conference the goat was the state department, though the discredited policy came from the White House. That was also true of the Quebec conference. Gen. Eisenhower was supppsed -to be solely responsible for. the attempted secrecy on. the Patton affair, but. he is believed - to have put the case up to Washington. " In the Cairo and Tehran cases, Elmer Davis, head of the office of war information, gets the blame. But it seems rather clear that the president was calling: his own publicity shots in Egypt and Iran,

came from the enemy, which raises an entirely different question as to the adequacy of allied espionage control.

the Washington, London and Moscow governments to ob- | serve their own agreements on the release of information. The American public usually is the victim of this, Pr . = i © NEWS OF the Cairo meeting was given to the American press by the White. House on the morning of Nov. 80, |

in strict secrecy, with the proviso that it could not be re- | vealed before 6:30 p. m. on Dec. 1. But at the same time |; the White House was enjoining secrecy on that ‘morning | of Nov. 30, the British Reuters news agency was announc- | : ing- the Cairo meeting ‘and its completion. Of | course Berlin | immediately broadcast the Reuters story, together with | | etiemy ‘counter-propaganda to offset the effect of the Cairo | meeting. Poor Elmer Davis protested to the British government in vain, Before Davis and the American press and public had recovered from that one, the carefully guarded information | _about the Teheran conference of Roosevelt, Churchill and | Stalin was announced by the official Moscow radio. But | Washington still withheld the official statement from the | conference. ~ So the administration's war information policy is often | more successful in keeping facts from the American public ~ than from the enemy. In fairness, it must be admitted that | _ the job is most difficult and that occasional mistakes are | inevitable. But, after all allowances are made, the net is

. and too costly, Whether the cause is the familiar one in Washington ~the president's inability to delegate authority and responsibility—we do not know. But we do know it is high time for reform. American morale during the final bloody phase of the war, and during the fateful conferences ahead, _ should be based on unquestioning confidence in Washing- | ton’s Hdoiaation policy.

THE ‘LEA BILL

E'VE been asked what we think about the Lea civil | aviation bill. " The bill is long and it covers many complex subjects. We suspect that, like almost all proposed legislation, it contains sections that could be improved. However, most of the airlines, 'arge and small, favor it strongly. So do a!

. what seems to us a convincing report on it. Opposition-appears to be based chiefly on_the states’rights i issue, since the Lea bill's main purpose is to extend federal control over commercial aviation. Well, in most cases we're vigorously against further centralization of governmental power, and just as vigorously for decentralizing of many of the powers now concentrated in Washington.

~ But not where nation-wide commerce is concerned. The railroads could not have reached their present development if the various states had continued to enforce differ‘and conflicting, regulations. Much less can comairlines attain the growth hoped for after the wart tate border | is made a regulatory barrier. The fu- ; aviation depends upon freedom of the air ited States. titution wisely makes regulations of interstate duty, and we believe congress should

iL ly with respect to air commerce 2by enacting embodied in the Lea bill. SA

Fight now, than some way to turn countries, Norway and Denmark into

i eh at oud be merican forces now

immediate and thorough overhauling of the administra-.

First reports about the Cairo and Tehran conferences

Apart from that, however, is the apparent inability of |

! craft carriers nor on a 10- -year program of island

that the failures in this important field are too frequent |

vhich has receive blicity | and wife. The case whic a wide pu ¥: leges always, nor do we get them

_ majority of the members of the house committee on inter- | state commerce, who ‘have studied it carefully and made |

ook 10 a1 Who Know Sh hh. The nervous, strung, and the devil-may~care fellow, the fast “tax. fer,” the “plugger” type pilot, the slow -thinker---"all give themselves away.

hand, has fast eyes that seem to take in everything at a glance. He is businesslike. Without patronizing, he shows the plane’s mechanics. He knows the relation between the parts of machinery and the whole, and he knows, too, that the mechanism is sound ouly if the men who maintain and service itare interested “in what they are doing.

‘No "Movie Getaway’

HIS IMPATIENCE with a faulty gadget is exhibited not in yelling at all hands, but in calling attention to the defect. - He is the man who has built up mental traits which enable him to cover everything swiftly. His engine-warmup is efficient. No wide open burst of power for him. He knows that a slow warmup means permitting the mass of metal in the engine to become warm gradually and thoroughly. . He taxies away from the line orderly. No movie | getaway for him, He stays to the right side of the runways, taxiing to the takeoff. He nurses the throt-

| { | |

gun. Power of any kind is the human being’s greatest temptation. And the manner in which any person handles power is the surest index to his makeup.

"Airmen Growl About 'Drivel' * ANOTHER THING." The people who are doing the most harm to our war effort are tM#se overnight “ex-

airpower can or cannot win against Germany or Japan,

| growling about those who-are not sure about the difference between an aileron and a flap. Of course, airpower. alone cannot lick Japan. We are not going to lick Japan with airpower or anything else until we operate from bases in Asia and bégin pounding- Japan proper: :

| Still Jabbing at Fringe

WE ARE NOT informed as to actual conditions inside Germany today. But, when the facts are known, 1 have a hunch that we will learn that it wasn't the attrition of the Eastern front nor of the African reverses, but rather the persistent pounding of the air bombardment of Germany proper which is breaking Nazi morale and the home front. We are still picking and jabbing at the: gutermost fringe of the expensive empire Japan lately acquired and which she is undoubtedly fortifying feverishly. We've got to get at the heart of thé Nipponese, and we are not going to get there from the decks of air-

Jumping. >

We The iy

By Ruth Millett

sone

A 16-YEAR-OLD-GIRL and a 20-year-old soldier say that they are legally old enough to get a marriage license, Three days after their marriage, the soldier is shipped overseas, and the girl's father asks for an annulment of | the marriage, though both the girl and the boy want the mar- | riage to hold.

whether or not the boy and girl go through the war as husband

i 1s bound to interest parents of ‘teen-age girls, for no parent can be sure his own daughter might not contrive to make a hasty and unapproved war marriage.

It is not only the right but the duty of parents.

of a girl under 18 to try to talk her out of a war marriage, to try to get her to substitute a long engage~ ment for a hasty wedding.

What Good Is an Annulment?

BUT IF THE parents fail ahd the girl manages to marry in spite of them, what good possibly can | come of the parents’ insisting on an annulment, that | neither the young husband or wife wants. | All -that their opposition possibly can accomplish is to make the girl feel that all. the world is against | her—that no one is ready to stand by. : Unless the girl is actually a child—less than 16 years of age, say—it looks as though the best solution s to let the marriage stand, | There always have been girls who married when, according to their parents, they were far too young. | But these marriages have not necessarily been doomed I"to failure. Often they have been happy. With. juvenile delinquency what it is today, and | with thousands of girls deciding not to wait for mar--riage, it doesn’t seem sensible for parents to fight a | daughter's marriage in the courts, Shouldn't they | rather be thankful that their daughter dignified her ' love by marriage instead of falling for the Victory girl philosophy that is bound to hurt a girl worse than even an urmony marriage that ends in failure?

To the Point—-

THE U. S. is expected to produce 6,000.000 autos in the first post-war year. The army had bettér discharge the medical corps first. *

. LJ .

AFFAIRS RUN in cycles. This year we have a shortage of fuel, but 1944 is a campaign yéar and there'll be lots of hot air.

a . 2 KING CAROL Has a press agent. Why don’t the paperhangers hire a man to offset the bad publicity they got from Hitler? - +

WINTER IS the season when you can find the rake, but somebody has borrowed the:shovel. :

THE EAST has a fuel famine, reminding us you ‘can't fuel all of the people all of the time.

* . .

ANOTHER WAY 10 Jost Your shist fu thea pres | “Fious Himes a to send 3 10 8 laundry.

soe - . . TOM HARMON was a great open-field runner at

Michigan, and he’s proving he can rip off a few yards through the jungle, 0.

. e ES

: OUR, ALL-AMERIC CAN team this year is made up of marines who cracked 1 that South Pacific line at

The alert, all-around flying man, on the other |

tle ‘and gets his ship rolling before he gives her the |

perts” who constantly are sounding off on whether |

A |

‘The Hoosier Forum | wholly disagree with what you say, but will - defend to the death your right to say it.— Voltaire.

Everywhere I go I hear the men in the air force wrgprs OF EARTHQUAKE

INEA” By Mildred Coggshall, Indianapolis. ‘In a letter received from my husband, 8. Sgt. Keith Coggshiall now in New Guinea, he had this bit of |

news to write which was passed by-

the censors, “7 p. m. Friday, Nov. 12, 1943,

“Now 1 have been through and] seen everything. Just as I finished |

the above paragraph the started ' shaking so much that I] couldn't write. that someone was playing a Joke |

on-me. I looked up and the whole |

building was shaking, almost shook | me off my chair, still I didn't realize what it way, until an Australian captain told me that it was an| earthquake. Boy, then I started]

earthquake. | the- funniest: feeling: T've--ever-had: 1 sure don’t want any more of that,

table |

I thought at first |

would rather have our regular visi- |

tors over with their little presents. | It was an experience that I'll never forget.”

i |

[Times readers are invited express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded. Because - ot the volume received, -lettors shouldbe himited 40-2509; words. lefters must be signed. Opinions set forth here are those of the writers, and publication in no way implies agreement. with those opinions by The Times. The Times assumes no responsi. bility Tor the return of manuscripts and cannot enter cor. respondence regarding them.)’

“| shaking without any help from the MY sentiments are expressed in this That was absolutely! [ttle poem:

+1. Just. hate. ately medicine, If ‘it wasn't for Sister Grace : It's worth taking my dose To see her alge a face.” ” | “BETTER RAILWAYS

gurprised the difference it will make.

nois (fairgrounds line) weuld-bring us back to the Illinois car line each morning. Perhaps if you could spare another car or two and also a supervisor, like the one who systemized the afternoon crowd, you would be

‘Those who ride Central and ‘College cars and transfer will also make better connections, Results: Nobody waiting in the cold. Nobody late for work, due to stopping for breakfast. Think what this would be on your ‘part toward contributing to the war effort, | Everybody happy. A co-operative spirit. A better employee throughout the day. No sourpusses. Why? Because everybody is arriving at work on time. 1 I know you realize how important your services are and your services reflect back to you. Good deeds and co-operative spirit will win the war and hasten victory.

~ You-are- ®-ones who can-change i fairgrounds employees’ frowns to. smiles. :

Keep ‘em smiling. : 8 = = “HOW CAN CITIZENS

Since there has been no Mention | SERVICE SUGGESTION”

of this happening in our papers, thought it would be of interest to others too. we NW “THREE CHEERS FOR TEEN-AGER MOTHER"

It is up to a judge to decide |

like to make the first contribution. | Result: Mr. Remy may be a judge but he! work because he or she had to stop All the boys for breakfast.

By Mrs Walter Haggerty, Indianapolis. THree cheers for the “Teen-ager

By Frederick: 0. Rusher, Employee.

Better service suggestion from HOw can citizens be so different downtown and also at transfer to the need for blood donors? peints, Central and College ave. on| Illinois - (fairgrounds) line, ~

Fairgrounds

To Indianapolis Street Railways: Many thanks to the supervisor

[Who systemized the loading of fair- front.

| Mother's” letter of yesterday's For- grounds employees at the fair-

‘um. Boys Town it is. We have the name and the place right down here at Camp Atterbury. Now where could we get a’ Father Flanagan? We don’t get men like that in col-

in churches.

open for a Father Flanagan.

to “pack a pistol” in this country

We can have lobbyists and proper! the legislation if we went after the breakfast and some for a cup of is straight from the heart. It saves thing. So now, what are we wait- coffee which makes an ideal fresh- | many a man’s life in this. part of

ing for?

think we want the government to stampede downtown as was in the preciation of the soldiers for so finance the thing for us. Too many | | evenings at fairgrounds. Result: little from us!

grounds loading point. Now. here is another problem to, be solved which means better service in the morning.

The same condition exists

downtown loading except not as comprehend. Let's keep our eyes many cars are assigned, yet the | |same number of employees depend! Pebta, Teen-ager mothers, we don’t have on you for getting to work on time, A great many of them stop’ “gi TSure” 4s one of the most important for|

fairgrounds restaurant

er-upper on these cold mornings, Upon second thought I don’t] Here is what happens: The same

try to pick Uncle Sam's pocket. Passengers farther out stand wait-

We can ask the government foriing for cars from 10 minutes until our land over there in that other {Camp Atterbury as a monument to 28 minutes. When a car does come land facing death far from their the boys who have. given their lives! along it is packed beyond capacity | homes, telling us straight out of for their country. Then set aboui and sometimes it doesn't even stop. | {their hearts how much they need I for one would, This, of course, means another wait. jour blood donations. And then 1 see

taking donations.

doesn’t know. kids. want is fair play but it takes the |

justify them.

ents are arrested,

wisdom of Solomon sometimes to myself included, have switched to College ave. and walk. from 38th You know, Mr. Remy, “The hand st. over to the fairgrounds. This that rocks the cradle, is the hand means I walk approximately 15 that rules the world.” Now if par-!squares every morning in order for suppase they [quicker transportation. This should lay it out in jail, and send some of! {not be necessary but it is and many you wise ones fo take charge of more feel the same way. their families while away. I think| Proper loading downtown on Illi-

Passenger late getting to,

Some of your IJlinols passengers,

Side Glances—~By_ Galbraith

|an ad _of the. Curtiss-Wright Co,

|Cross in the Chamber of Commerce

{this ‘0 me:

| thelr all as their contributions!

BE SO DIFFERENT?” By Mary Studebaker, 22 E. 224 st.

A recent picture in The Times,

so very graphically told the vital {story of blood plasma on the battle

How anyone could see that remarkable picture called “The Gift| of the Magi” and not call the Red

building immediately for an ap{pointment is béyond my ability to

A young corporal, Ernest A. somewhere overseas, writes “This donating blood

| things that can be done. And that

the world.” Think of it—this pathetic ap-

1 visualize these soldiers from

‘the comfy, complacent civilians go‘ing about their well-paying Jobs, taking . drives, vacations, going shopping, buying clothes, seeing the new plays and being so darn safe! 1 wonder how the service people can stand to look upon us sometimes! Utiless we do a bigger part! Soon. We must donate blood; we must join the civilian defense corps; when we. finish our day's work dead tired we must go nevertheless; we must prepare tin, save fat, give

# . » “BOYS IN PACIFIC RATHER DISHEARTENED" By Twé G. L's, Somewhere in the South Pacific :

Such laurels are not new to Mr. ever. He has the unique distinction of serving two major committees of the house rules and interstate and foreign commerce committees: It customary for a congressman to have but one such assignment. ” ‘In addition, he is a member of the Patman small business special * committee and the Boren special committee investigating OPA newsprint handling and grade labeling. These regular and special assignments have taken

Mr. Halleck far and wide throughout the country. He

has been with investigating committees in New Orleans twice during the last few weeks,

Might Become Majority Leader

. LIKE HIS Indiana colleagues and most other

congressmen, Mr. Halleck would like very much. to be promoted to the U. S. senate. But because the second district was carved out especially to keep the

“~

late great Republican, Rep. Will Wood, in the house SE

for life, Mr. Halleck is certain of re-election there. Since: he was the first of the Republicans to be

elected from the. state after the Democratic landslide . ..

of 1982 and came here through a special election in’

January, 1935, Mr. Halleck is one of the ranking men

in the house now; .° Should the Republicans succeed in capturing the house next year, he has excellent prospects of being made majority leader. Mr, Martin would be speaker. The two work together very well. With his new chairmanship, Mr. ‘Halleck will have both opportunity and funds to win friends and influence people who might reciprocate when the selection of majority leader is up for a vote. :

In. Washinglon

By Peter Edson ~~

WASHINGTON, Dec, 6.—It's too bad that Senator Hugh A. Butler's flying trip through Latin America was made in such a hurry, and that his report was so hastily that it can be shot full of holes. For the senator from Nebraska was on a hot trail that would haye fed to many U. 8. government expenditures that ‘might not bear close scrutiny. E Exaggerating them by big figures and duplicaisd items, lumping authorizations and credits and unexpended balances in with actual expenditures was not necessary and did no good, Furthermore, Senator Butler hurt his own cause by

submitting his report direct to the senate instead-

of through the committees on appropriations or non-

essential federal expenditures. This roused the fe

of Senator Kenneth McKellar of Tennessee, ranking

member of both committees, and gave the Nebraskan :

a powerful opponent to defeat his ‘purpose:

Senator Butler spent 50-odd days on his 20,000-

mile trip to 20 countries. That gave him two and a half days per country, and his average travel had to be 400 miles a day, to boot. In some places he spent only .a few hours. The senator frankly ad-

mits he did not come back an expert on South

America, but a ‘little more careful digging would have shown what was really wrong and what was constructively right and necessary.

Attention Called to Issue

THE USEFULNESS of the Butler trip attention to the issue, but it: now devol Truman committee, to whom Butler's rent referred, to do the real investigating. Some 0 minor items well worth looking into are these: Maintenance of U. S. automobiles in Latin Amer= ica, $1 million. In addition ‘to that, there's an ftem of another $1 million for travel of U. 8. smpioytes in Lagi

to call ves upon the

and carelessly prepared -

will be

The very n next” confer

. ble by al

complishmen democracy” years. Ove! battle and | States has | machine of record time. Here is a |

Ary’s war eff

Pear] Harbo! which provi victory: “J Combi men reconqu the Aleutian out of most powerfully 1 -Gilberts, an the North Al paigns, Am are major fi German sul the powerfu is delivering against Ger The Arme nearly 10,56! and officers,

. end of this

number 7,7 1,700,000 on the navy 2 324,900; the

- . compared v

guard 171,50

The Figh none in pow It includes