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The Alamance Gleaner Vol LXVI GRAHAM, N. C., THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1940 No. 16 WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS By Farnham F. Dudgeon German War Machine Invades Belgium and The Netherlands; Chamberlain Resigns His Post (EDITOR'S NOTE?When opinions are crpmsed In these columns, they are these at the news analyst and not necessarily ot this nunspapis.) IT'S HIS FAULT I REALIZE THAT I'LL TAKE THE BLAME /Left to right: David Lloyd George, Prime Minister Chamberlain, Winston ChurchiU.) (See Weary Warrior.) THE WAR: More 'Protection' "Germany has respected the in tegrity of Belgium and the Nether lands under the self-evident precon dition that these two countries, in case of war between Germany and England and France, would observe the strictest neutrality . . . These requirements have not been ful filled" . . . Thus read the begin ning of an official Nazi message handed to the Belgian and Nether lands governments as the world learned that once more Adolf Hitler had Unleashed his mighty war ma chine. For earlier word had been flashed that the German army had invaded the three low countries: the Nether lands, Belgium and Luxembourg. According to Berlin the Germans were moving into these tiny nations to "protect" them?even as Norway and Denmark were "protected" on April 9?from invasion by Allied forces. When the news of the invasion reached Paris, French officials, act ing in response to an appeal made by the Belgian ambassador, ordered the French army to march into Bel gium. In London, Exchange Tele graph, British news agency, report ed that 400 persons were killed or wounded in the first German air raid against Brussels. And in Wash ington when the same report was received the Belgian ambassador to the United States asked the state department to notify Germany that Brussels was an "open" city, con tained no troops ' and therefore should not be bombed. Meanwhile President Roosevelt, upon learning of Hitler's latest war move, immediately summoned his cabinet officials and army and navy chiefs to plan America's course in light of this newest war develop ment. Anxious Days Elsewhere nations were attempt ing to calculate the effect of Hitler's invasion of the low countries. The governments were cautious, the citizens?Jittery. Premier Mussolini told Italians that "only facts will break" his si lence on Italy's future course of ac tion in world affairs. The Italian press busied itself accusing England of improper motives because of that nation's fleet concentration in the Mediterranean. In the land of the Pharaohs, Egyp tians were "treated" to their first NAMES I ... in the news ft In France, Joan oi Are'a name was in the news as soldiers and civilians Joined in paying tribute to that nation's legendary heroine on the national holiday in her honor, ft In Russia, of course, it was none other than Josef StaBa who had his name in the news as it eras an nounced that Soviet union citizens read more of his literary works than the writings of any other author. Probably it was "planned that way." ft One year ago the submarine Sqaalas was a name in the news when she plunged to bottom of the sea carrying 26 men to death. Now the vessel gets another headline as she is being recommissioned. New natee?the Sattflsh. . blackout aa the government pushed defense moves to forestall any war like moves on the part of Italy's fleet which was reported massing within 400 miles of Alexandria. A strong drive by Britain and France to weld a "defensive alli ance" in the Balkans was reported as that southeastern section of Eu rope girded itself for coming events, resignedly believing it would be come the eventual battleground of the war. Weary Warrior In England a weary man fought the greatest political battle of his life. That weary man was Neville Cham berlain, prime minister of Great Britain, his current battleground being the British house of commons as a momentous two-day debate on the conduct of the war In Norway held sway. Speaking in defense of his admin istration which was cm trial, Cham berlain told the world that the battle in Norway is not yet over. Experts believed he was depending on a vic tory of allied forces near the Nazi held port of Narvik to bolster morale and aid Britain's North sea blockade of Germany. Winston Churchill, first lord of the admiralty, who day before had been given additional power over the country's war fortunes, rose in the house of commons to take the blame being cast upon the prime minister. Ho accepted full responsibility for the act around which most of the fury of the opposition centered. Enemies of the administration want ed to know why the powerful British navy had not pounded at the port of Trondheim and forced it open for the landing of allied forces in the early days of the conflict Churchill said he had advised against this plan and then told the house that the real reason for the British setback was what Hitler has been claiming all along?Germany's air force Is too powerful to be faced In open combat at the present time. Strongest voice of the opposition was that of David Lloyd George, the man who led the empire to victory in World War L Time after time he was cheered as the house beard him blame failure of the Norwegian campaign on Prime Minister Cham berlain. He flayed what he called "unintelligent and half-hearted lead ership" for lack of success. When the shouting was over Ml members rallied behind Chamber lain as 200 voted against him, the result being that be was not forced to dissolve his cabinet. But as he left the debate cries of "Resign! Resign!" rang loudly in his ears. ' Two days later, after Hitler's army began to march, Neville Chamberlain followed this advice and resigned. DOMESTIC: 11. S. Blitzkrieg Mobilized from quiet military posts in 33 states thousand* of mod ernized fighting men of the United States were going through their paces as the regular army's largest peace time maneuvers?the annual war games?got under way in the deep South. Sixty-six thousand pro fessional soldiers in opposing "Red" and "Blue" factions are fighting it out in the grim exercises which terminate May 29. This make-believe war was giving officials a chance to test much of the new mechanized equipment and "streamline" infantry divisions that have been built up and organized to give the U. 8. a modern army. AMERICAN LETTERS: No Sour Grapes Usually when the Pulitzer prizes for outstanding work in American loiters are an nounced there de scends upon the award committee a deluge of abuse from critics that would strike fear into the heart of the sturdiest of men. But each year the awards are made, abuse notwithstanding. This year ex perts in general John Steinbeck agree that the committee haa done well in making the following 1938 selections: Outstanding novel award to John Steinbeck for his "Grapes of Wrath"; original American play, William Saroyan, for his "The Time of Your Life"; book of history, Carl Sandburg for "Lincoln, the War Years"; Hay Stannard Baker re ceived the award for the best Amer ican biography by writing, "Wood row Wilson, Life and Letters"; and Mark Van Doren'B "Collected Poems" was classed as the most distinguished volume of verse. Each winning author is granted a $1,000 award for his winning work. TRANSPORTATION: Pay As You Go While the nation's vacation-mind ed populace was beginning to salt nickels and dimes away for two weeks of frolic come next summer, U. S. railroads presented a credit plan that well may revolutionize long-distance rail travel. Under this new plan it is possible for any per son with respectable credit rating to buy transportation, Pullman ac commodations and all-expense tours on time payments on trips costing $50 or more. Sixty-six major rail companies are participating in the plan which requires merely that the traveler call at the ticket office, apply for credit in the amount of cost for his proposed trip, wait 24 hours for the routine credit inquiry, and if this is approved he receives his ticket just as if cash was being paid. No collateral is required?only the signature of the individual and no down payment is necessary, pay ments being made on a monthly basis later. HELPING HAND: Red Cross Meeting in Washington for their annual national convention, mem bers of the International Red Cross were read a letter written by Presi dent Roosevelt in which he pledged his support for any international agreement which indorsed condem nation of warring nations bombing noncombatants. Norman H. Davis, chairman of the American Red Cross, reported that U. S. women had made over 2,000,000 gar ments and surgi cal dressings in response to de mands (or these articles from Eu ropean nations. One million dol lars in Red Cross funds was set aside to help Eu ropean war suf ferers. he said. Norman H. Dnk and (800,000 more was received in voluntary contributions. Most at this money has been spent and be stated a new drive tor funds may soon be necessary. EDUCATION: Frontiers Long familiar with trite declara tions that opportunity is unbounded, American youth seldom is given a concrete preview of the avsmias through which it must make its way in this workaday world. Thus the University of Rochester's (Mew York) clinic on "New Frontiers in America" convened by that institu tion's president, Alan Valentine, stands out as a unique and valuable experiment. Here leading industri alists from the nation's major busi ness concerns rubbed shoulders with undergraduates and sought to ac quaint them with goals that lie ahead. Langbourne Williams, pres ident of Free port Sulphur company, keynoted the clinic with the declara tion that new frontiers are constant ly being carved out of a wilderness of technical difficulties and from the creation of new natural resources where it was believed none existed. MISCELLANY: C Alcatraz prison is being modern ized at a cost of over a million dol lars, according to James V. Bennett, director of the federal bureau at prisons. Plans call for completion of the project in July. Work is be ing done while the prison operates normally, entailing considerable risk for the danger of prisoners ob taining dangerous tools or trying to escape. . ... Brueharfu Washington Digit War Is Likely to Be an Issue In National Political Campaign President's Projected Trip at Time of Republican Con vention May Provide Chance to 'Air' U. S. ^ Foreign Policy. ' ' ' By WILLIAM BRCCKAHT WNU Service, Ntltail Frees Bldg., Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON.?Whether we like it or not, it is now almost certain that the national government policy with relation to Europe'* war will become an issue in the forthcoming national political campaign. None can measure yet how great or how small a part this issue will have in the electioneering on the hustings, but I am afraid everyone has to agree that the subject is going to figure in the campaign. If proof were needed of the state ment above, one has only to look into the announcement that Presi dent Roosevelt has chosen the lat ter part of June for a trip to the Pacific coast and return. He said, in making the announcement of his plans, that he was going to talk generally on "conservation." A wag in the press conference that day asked: "conservation of what?" The answer was a hearty Roosevelt laugh. The Roosevelt announcement quite naturally set political tongues to wagging at a great rate. Whether it was so planned or not, the early part of Mr. Roosevelt's projected trip?and he says he is sure to make the trip unless the European war conditions or failure of congress to adjourn serve to prevent?will put him into the newspaper headlines just as the Republican national con vention gets into full swing at Phila delphia. Of course, I would not ac cuse Mr. Roosevelt of trying to steal the show, but I do recall that he ahared front-page space with a Re publican convention once before. The President's planned trip? which he says was carried over in the nature of a postponement from last year when international condi tions were hot?Includes a visit to, and dedication of, the Great Smoky Mountains National park in North Carolina and Tennessee; a dedica tion of the Natchez-to-Nashville high way and a visit to Natchez, Miss.; a visit to his son, Elliott, in Fort Worth, Texas; a visit to the San Francisco exposition, and then a dedication of the Olympic National park, in the state of Washington. President May Visit Alaska If Europe's Condition Permits In addition, Mr. Rooaevalt may go to Alaaka. Whether he makes that trip depend* entirely upon condi tion* in Europe, he ha* explained. There was no mention of the plan* tor the trip bade to the Capitol. The return Journey, however, obviously will take the President through the Middle West. It is in those areas that his conservation and trad* agreement program have had the hardest sledding. The farm vote in those sections is admittedly in a position where it can upset or re establish New Deal control in the forthcoming elections. Since there is no politics in the trip?only con servation and a vacation for the President?it must not be assumed that the President has an eye squint ed to see what the situation Is. To get back to the foreign policy question, however, it ought to be recalled that Mr. Roosevelt has as serted, time after time, that the United States is going to stay out of the wars in Europe and Ada by "policies short of war." What those policies are have not been put out In too much detail, and there are peo ple who want to know more about tbem. It is never to be forgotten that the American people are easy to arouse. Their sympathies are quick. There certainly has been an earnest, an unqualified demand, that the United States stay out?that the war is Europe's war and must be kept over there. On the other hand, there are a substantial number of people who think that Europe's war is Ameri ca's war. They believe that if Hit ler wins this war, the Western hem isphere will be the next on his list. I think that school of thought is wrong, but anyway that is the na ture of some of the talk. 'Policies Short of War' Should Be Defined It appears unthinkable that Mr. Roosevelt, or any other person, would dare to propose measures that would take the United States into the conflagration. But these "policies short of war" may be only steps?not deliberate steps, but mistaken steps. There are differing opinions all ready on what has been done. Thus, it seems fairly clear that whatever the purpose* of the President'* Western trip may be, he is likely to talk about foreign affairs to some extent; and what ever he says will be snapped up by opposition. The Republican leadership seems to sense the trend of events. None of those with whom I have talked are certain Just what the President will do with the opportunity he has made for himself by injecting the Western trip into the midst of their convention. They do not know what to expect, but they are looking for something from the Roosevelt lead ership that will have to be met as a campaign issue. This uncertainty may be one of the real reasons that the Republicans are planning a pre-convention meet ing. They are going to have some of the important figures meet in Philadelphia a week ahead of the convention and these fellows will try to iron out a lot of differences. How far they will get depends upon the willingness of the bigwigs to make concessions to each other. For instance, Alf Landon and Colonel Knox, the 1830 presidential and vice presidential candidate*-, re spectively, broached the idea of a preconvention meeting. Colonel Knox came into Washington, talked with quite a few Republicans around the Capitol and offered the idea of a pre-convention meeting. But Colonel Knox happened to miss John Hamilton, the Republican national chairman. The chairman and the bombastic colonel did not share se crets on the proposal, as far as I can learn. Hamilton Want* Dtlegationt Pichtd Early at PomibU Scarcely bad the Landon-Knox Idea been blazoned acroea the iky when Mr. Hamilton announced that he had written all member* at the Republican national committee and ?- ! JOHN D. HAMILTON ? The bombastic colonel 'happened to miss him.' all ctata chairman about a precon viction meeting. He urged the atate delegation!, especially, to elect their members of tbi convention rcsohi tione committee?the platform com mittee?ahead of time. He wanted them to assemble early and save "an appreciable amount of time" of the convention by working out the platform in advance. These plans are similar in intent Moreover, they are grounded large ly in the same soil, namely, uncer tainty about the meaning of the Roosevelt "policies short of war." For instance, "policies short of war" might include loans to the allied powers if Hitler gets them backed up against the erall and their need for money forces an appeal to this country. The Republicans, as far as I can figure out, do not wish any part of any further loans because it was the Wilson administration that made the loans in the first World war?and those loans have not been paid. But whatever the Republican position, there seems no reason at all to doubt that the weather eye of the Republicans is going to be set on the Roosevelt policies. There will be other things, too, about which they obviously will complain, but every move of the present administration is being closely watched and will continue to be watched right up to adjournment of the Philadelphia convention. All of these factors have a bear ing, as well, upon the third term question. Most people will recall Wood row Wilson's campaign slogan of "he kept us out of war." That campaign slogan Is being recalled more and more as the heat of the 1M0 campaign increases. The Roosevelt western trip has added fuel to the flames in a really big way. Speaking of Sports Fistiana Loses Most Colorful Of Promoters By ROBERT McSHANE (Rtkaatd by Western Newspaper Union.) TTHE most (trident voice of box A ing was stilled recently Just as it was warming up to one of its greatest efforts in behalf of the Tony Galen to-Max Baer light The voles belonged to Joe Jacobs, fight impresario who talked Max Schmeling into the world's heavy weight championship himself Into a colorful, important position In the boxing game. The extremely voluble little man ager, a well-known figure among Broadway sporting circles, died at the age of 44, victim of a heart at tack. Jacobs Inaugurated his ring ca reer at a tender age. The son of a tailor, lie came from tough Hell's Kitchen on New York's West Side. He wanted to be a fighter, but soon learned the futility of absorbing pun ishment when one might Just as well get paid for shouting advice. In fact, it was said he actually had fighters on his pay roll before he got out ?f high school. 'Yussel the Muscle' Known as "Tassel the Muscle," Jacobs collected lrst by himself, then seived as Tex Richard's right hand man. Daring the years, ho turned up as guardian of such fight ers as Andre Rootis, featherweight champion; Frankle Genaro, fly weight champion; Johnny Dundee, featherweight king; Mike MeTigue, light heavyweight titlebolder, and a boot of others. Though his fighters brought him both cash and glory, Jacobs' chief claim to fame was his unequalled ability to think fast and play all the angles. In a racket full of conniv ing geniuses, Jacobs more than held his own. He was a sharper among sharpers. Dm most fantastic sin etc phase of his career vas is shoo tine Schmel inf into ths heavrwsifht champion TONY QALENTO ud JOE JACOBS ? ; (kip. la Jane, MM, Jacob* reached the zenith of Ma career. Schmaling and Jack Sharkey were meeting to decide the championahip vacated by Gene Tunney. First "Yuaael the Muacle" act up a pre light cry about the nine times Shark ey had woo by fouls or had claimed fouls. The Schmeling 'Victory' In the first three rounds of the fight Sharkey seemed to have the situation well in hand. But in the fourth round Sharkey cut loose with on* blow, quickly followed by an uppercut. The German went down, holding his groin. Referee Jim Crowley was getting ready to count when Jacob*, with the inevitable cigar in Ma death, crawled through the repo* and scream id: "Stay dawn! Fool! Ten was 8ebattling obeyed Me master's vote*, and thus became the drat heavyweight t# wta the tttla while resting an M* back. Perhtrps his moot masterful Job wee dene with Tony G also to, the Orange, N. J., saloonkeeper. Jacobs prodded Galen to. a roly-poly, catch aa-catch-can brawler, into the status of a national rowdy and heavyweight threat Galento was one of Jacobs' favo rites. The boisterous, swaggering barkeep was a natural tor "Yuaael the Muscle's" ballyhoo talents. Tony was considered a washed-up fourth rater, but under Jacobs' guiding hand be fought his way into a title bout with Joe Louis. Galen to lost the fight but startled the boxing world with his showing. Because of his manager's death, the blubbery Galen to insisted on postponing his fight with Baer from May SI to July S. Without his man ager he was lost. . v.*... , beneral iohnson Jau^L THE WAX AS ELECTION ISSUE Washington, D. C. Tha rapidly crystalizing policy of this administration to defend Amer ica by mixing aggressively in European and Asian power politics, with whatever consequence that may carry. Is sure to be an issue this year. As in 1916, the sentiment against that, west of the Alleghenies. is overwhelming. In 1917, we were at war and, before the end of that year, with complete and even enthu siastic support of the country. Yet immediately after the declaration of war, there was no snob sentiment except on the Eastern seaboard. I know, because I had undertaken the organization of the selective draft in every American commu nity. Moat of the gray hairs I had until recently, I got in the first anriw 30 days of that effort Was the ambitious experiment go ing to flop? In moot states, except the East, there was only aloof and skeptical if not sullen acceptance. By the persuasive power of the eloquence and idea Hem of Woodrow Wilson, by some arts wa used of blatant ballyhoo and hokum national high-pressure selling, that was changed in a few weeks to a war psychosis which approached hyste ria. Woodrow Wilson could do that be cause he prepared the seed bed by months of patient and long-ouBatlng restraint and, of far mare Impor tance, because we were actually in. and not merely flirting with, a bloody war and a sickly sseeow. Can Franklin Roosevelt de that? which to be elected, he must do, or sincerely change the whole course of his foreign policy? Can he de It when we are not engaged in war, and when no such seed bed is ready? He has another handicap which Mr. Wilson bad not This country had then never tried a mam ad venture in the double-crossing war diplomacy of Europe. W? tried in 1617 and lfll and we know it to have been the most dis astrous gamble this nation ever made. Apart from the handicap of our dolorous experience, is the simple military question of whether we should scatter our strength over vast areas of this globe, or whether. the obvious course is to retain our interior lines, our concentrated strength, the advantages of our nat ural barriers and our unquestioned unity. It is a reversal of every Ameri can traditional (if not constitutional) political principle and of every mili tary ?nH navel axiom. Coupled with the reversal of the third term tradition, it will certainly ha a massive handicap. It cannot be shushed or even minimhred. Only the persuasive skill of Mr. Roosevelt, his literary ghosts, sad the greater pulling power of tour billion dollars, coupled with possible Republican campaign blundering could overcome it Yet, so great is the power at good or ill of all these elements, that I tor one, am not yet reedy to say It can't be done. OMINOUS WAS MOTS How can the British abandon tba Mediterranean? That would bo to abandon France, wbooo lifelino and link with lior African colon ioo it is. It would bo to abandon tho (rant Anglo-French near laotoru army, which to rapidly bains lllll - as a threat to the totalitarian left flank. That army couldn't be muni tioned and supplied by the hag route around Africa. It might pos sibly be (ad by supptiea coming through the Red sea but net sup ported by munitions and equipment. To abandon the Mediterranean to Italy would also be to Tur key and leave the mess in south eastern Europe in Hitler's hands, to the extent that ha could divide up the spoils by some kind of trade between the sunoosed enemies Mussolini and Stalin Such a pair ing of strange bedfellows would ba stranger than the ooupUng at sup poaed enemies. Hitler and Stalin, to ravage and divide Poland. Such results are impossible (or England end certainly for Prance to contemplate. Therefore it seems pretty clear that England to not leaving the Mediterranean with anything except her ordinary com mercial traffic usually routed through the Sues canal. She la lust getting her rich argosies promptly out Of an area of danger from a sudden possible clash of serial and maritime navies hi those waters. It seems to me that the critical element in this war lust now is not what happened in Norway, as what may happen hi the Mediterranean. ? <:>?S
The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.)
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May 16, 1940, edition 1
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