Newspapers / The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, … / May 23, 1940, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The Alamance Gleaner : i . a & * * 1 - - T . * ? Vol LXVI GRAHAM, N. C., THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1940 No. 16 WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS By Farnham F. Dudgeon President Asks Billion Dollars For National Defense Program; Nazis Smash at Maginot line (EDROB'g NOTE?When opinion* are expressed In these column*, they are theee of the new* analyst and not neeeasarlly of this newspaper.) n?y d by Western Newspaper Union The above map graphically reveals how close German bombing wings are to England's coast should the Nasi war machine continue to hold The Hague, capital of the Netherlands. As Indicated, it is only 125 airline miles from this point to Harwich, England, and London is only 1M miles south west of Harwich. Lower arrow points to Sedan, where Germans launched their first attack on France's famed Maginot line. THE WAR: On Schedule Since the outbreak of war last year, the prediction that with the coming of spring fighting would "open up," has been on the lips of observers everywhere. As Adolf Hitler's military machine thrust it self across The Netherlands, into Belgium and France, these predic tions were at last coming true. For the world was witnessing what was hailed as "the greatest battle in his i._, ?* lory. As in 1914 the German forces were making the most impressive show ing in the first few days of the fighting. This time fortifications are believed to be stronger and less open to attack but the Nazi army and air force has developed offen sive war to the point where no de fense appears to be impregnable. In The Netherlands, the Dutch army was ordered to cease firing, thus ending resistance to Germany's swarms of bombing planes and mo torized-troops. Scope This intensive fighting along the 200-mile front from the North sea to Saarbruecken was of utmost impor tance to the allies and Germany alike. This was indicated by the staggering amount of force each side whipped into the fray. Some experts claimed that this first great battle might be the most decisive of the war. It appeared that Adolf Hitler, firmly believing that "the Hour" had come, or forced through Germany's Internal situation, had decided to stake all in one gigantic gamble. \ As thousands of Nazi planes rained bombs upon military objec tives and communication lines, Eng land's royal air force flung back the challenge by loosing tan after ton of high explosives in areas near im portant munitions plants along the Rhine and upon large German troop concentrations. Objectives What the aims of the German high command in the great land offensive actually are, of course remain a closely guarded military secret. But in general it appeared that with The Netherlands at their mercy and with key airports in that country avail able to the Nazi air tores, inten sive bombing of the British Isles was an ever-present threat QUOTATIONS ... on the war (Mnt Ley, Nazi Labor Front leader, (peaking of AMf Hitler (aid that be ia waging war, "in God given natural mission" to "bring Europe and the world to reason and thereby make Europe and the world happy." C Viseenat Gort. commander of the British expeditionary forces in France, "We are now on the eve of one of the great momenta in the history of our empire. The strug gle will be hard and long but we can be confident of final victory." Immediate objective in France, of course, would be to break through the Maginot line and render these fortifications useless to the defend ers. This is a major undertaking judging from the claims made for the defensive strength of these de fenses, but word has come through that In the Sedan sector, 146 miles northeast of Paris, the German army engaged in a terrific bid for a definite foothold. PREPAREDNESS: Speed Up Appearing before a joint session of congress, President Roosevelt outlined a plan asking for an imme diate appropriation of $886,000,000 for building up the nation's army, navy and air forces to protect the United States from any foreign in vader. He also asked for authoriza tion of future appropriations, total ing $286,000,000, bringing .his entire request - to over a billion dollars. This sum is in addition to regular military funds for the next fiscal year. Particular emphasis was placed upon a plea to strengthen U. S. air power quickly. ' ???1 :? gen. wtn'MMiira1 Did hm Wu tk* Prmidmft talk? Pointing out that the United States navy was second to none and that the army was at the greatest peace time strength in history, he urged that production of airplanes and the training of pilots be speeded up to provide the needed force in this division of military defense. While war plane production has bedn in creased from about 6,000 to over 11,000 per year, the President asked for an annual output of 90,000 each year. All this must have sounded good to 76-year-old General John Persh ing, A. E. F. commander in the last world war, who two days earlier in a rare public statement had said, "Preparedness is as necessary today as it was when war was de clared in 1917, and we find ourselves in the same condition . . . every energy in this country should be de voted to the idea of putting the United States in a condition of thor ough preparedness against the pos sibility of war." TREND . . . How the wind it blowing NYLON?Heralded for several months as the answer to milady's plea for a superior stocking, hose made of Nylon, a synthetic fab ric developed by duPont chem ists, went on sale throughout the country. Nylon, a tough yet sheer product, is spun from air, water and coal. POLITICS ? In Atlantic City, supporters of a woman candidate for city commissioner, armed themselves with 200 candid cam eras in efforts to keep "repeat ing" voters from the polls. "Ev ery person" whose right to vote was in doubt was due for a snap shot and subsequent check-up. BUILDING?In the 37 states east of the Rocky mountains, res idential building contracts, last month, were highest since 1929. Eighty-eight per cent of the total $133,420,000 in contracti so awarded, was in private owner ship construction as distinct from projects financed from publics funds. BUSINESS: Confusion "When business is good with us, it indicates an upswing in business wuuiuuus uuuugir out the country." So said none other than Postmaster General James A. Farley as he | announced that postal revenues reached an all-time high at the close of the last fiscal year. He also ventured the prediction that the current year would see an even larger J*?" increase in postal Farley returns. In such increased reve nue he observed a general improve ment in business conditions. For some time business analysts have been in accord with Mr. Farley in his thought that business was fairly good and getting better. Now the pattern of war is beginning to stamp itself in the industrial and agricultural fields and these Impres sions are sure to be felt. Foreign markets for farm goods will probably be lost for the time being at least, but there will be a shift in the demand for manufac tured goods from the warring na tions. In particular the allies will no doubt be forced to speed up their purchases of war supplies, mainly fighting planes and equipment. Whether the ultimate result will be a loss or gain for industry in this country is still uncertain. One thing was certain, however, confu sion was the byword on the stock market. Up went some stocks, down went others. Best guess was that the war would tend to accelerate U. S. trade with our neighbors in the Western hem isphere. And if demands for large U. S. home-defense supplies materi alize, war equipment manufacturing firms should register neat gains. POLITICS: Inside Track For a long time New Dealers have been claiming that their champion. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, could have the Democratic nomination for the presidency for the third time if he wanted it. Fact noW Is that with 499 delegates solidly pledged tor him and with New York's 94, practically his for the- asking, ha will have enough votes to be nom inated an the first ballot come con vention time. And the third term tide was rising with the war. Many Washington politicians have felt for months that the President's decision to become a candidate hinged largely upon the development of Europe's conflict. With the outbreak of the "big battle" it appeared to them that he would decide to make the race. Other observers felt he would with hold accepting or rejecting the nom ination until it has actually been tendered. Cordell Hull, secretary of state, appears to have the inside track for the nomination if President Roose velt refuses it Montana's Sen. Bur ton K. Wheeler seems to be running second only to Mr. Hull in the Dem ocratic "if-HE-doesn't-want-it" club. MISCELLANY: Fire destroyed $1,500,000 in war goods stored is the National Guard arsenal at Montgomery, Ala. An investigation was ordered as Adj. Gen. Ben. M. Smith reported he saw flames break out at the front and near the back of the building at about the same time. Back to the United States from the Antarctic came Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd. He said he was back because be had been ordered to return, being under navy orders. His expedition has already charted about 900 miles of unknown coast line in Little America, according to Byrd. Bruckart's Washington Digest Intelligent Political Opposition Results in Better Government Republican Party Is Beginning to Realize This Fact and Has Started a Move to Put Its 'House' in Order. Br WILLIAM BRUCKABT WNTJ Service, National Frees Bldf Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON. ? Early in Mr. Roosevelt's first term as President, Democratic Chairman Farley voiced a thought that hia party, then pre ponderantly in control of the machin ery of government, would be much better off if the opposition was stronger. Later, he amplified that thought with a statement to the general effect that intelligent oppo sition always made for good govern ment. The thing that Mr. Farley feared was that the overwhelming Demo cratic strength in the house and sen ate would run away with itself? would get out of hand. That hap pened. Not exactly in the way, per haps, that Mr. Farley had suggested, but the majority did get out of hand to the extent that congress be came known for at least six years as a rubber stamp. Almost any sort of legislation that was conceived within the administration became "must" legislation. The result was, of course, that there has been a pile of laws passed and a good many of them are so impossible and so un sound that they will rise to haunt the political party that sponsored them as time goes on. Paradoxically, this discussion about Mr. Farley's views and the developments that followed is only a prelude to some observations and re ports of what is going on within the Republican party these days. The facts that have come from the situa tion of the last six or eight years nBP.'jO&EPH MXRflN-He u getting credit for a fob well done. ihow? what thinga are engendered by euccesa or proepecta of aucceaa. Republican wheelhoraea tell me with great enthuaiaam that thia ia certain to be a "Republican year." The voter* will determine the an swer next November, of ceurae, but it ia only a reporting Job to repeat that the Republican leaderahip ia ex pecting to control the house of repre aentativea after January 1, 1M1. It ia only a Job of reporting to aay alao that within the Republican party there are aome faction! that are anarltng and baring their teeth at each other becauae each aide thinka their party will ran the ahow for the next four year*. Hoaee Committee Lute Arm Being Renovated One of the thing* that ia happen ing within the Republican leader ahip, however, diaplay* none of the aign* of the scrap tor nomination* or place* at control. It reflect* prob ably aa nearly the true type of polit ical intelligence aa Mr. Farley had in mind. In the houae of representative* these days, plans are going forward tor renovation of Republican lists on house committees. There have been many changes, usually made singly and without apparent rela tion to each other. But the shifts have been going on for several months and they have attracted little attention, generally. Yet, they make a pattern. The pattern obvi ously is predicated upon a desire of the mainstays of the house Repub licans to see the best men they have placed where they will serve to guide their party policies. Now, it may be that that repre sent* the peak of optimism. The explanation given me, however, was that whether the Republicans con trol the houae or whether, after next January, there still will be a Dem I ocratic majority, the program of re vived party activity will work. If, | tor example, the Democrat* should contro the house, there will be that intelligent opposition" which Mr. Farley suggested as necessary to good government; if, on the other nand, Republicans win control of the house, there will be well-trained men in the posts of leadership that are represented by chairmanships of important committees. This job, of course, is attributable directly to the brains and the polit teal capacity of one man. He is Representative "Joe" Martin of Massachusetts, Republican leader of the house. It has taken him quite awhile to accomplish the end that is now visible, because tor some months there were not enough Re publicans in the house to form a bucket brigade. But the fact re mains that Mr. Martin has laid his plans well, and I think the Washing ton writers almost without exception give him credit tor a job weU done. Veteran Party Worker* Should Get Preference Back of these efforts of Mr. Mar tin, however?'way back in the hin terland, the prospects of Republi can victory, or partial victory, this fall, have brought out the usual number of seekers after the spoils when the sense of smell tells of pos sible pie counter membership. Now, I don't care whom voters may se lect but, being a believer in party responsibility for governmental ad ministration, I always have felt I those fellows who have done the work to bad times, politically, should be allowed to have more voice in party affairs than the Jphnny-come-lately type when the harvest is to be reaped. ? specific case as an illustration of many such instances that have been reported in prima ries, let me refer to an Indiana con test Rep. Charles Halleck of Indi ana s second district had opposi tion for renomination. It is to be assumed that his rival was a capa ble young man, biff the thing struck me as rather sour because Halleck bad fought through the days when a Republican member in the house could count on being nothing more than a piping voice in the wilder ness. But when the prospects were tuch that many looked upon a house seat as a plum, up jumps opposition to a man who has learned much about handling legislation and who stands in a position that will give him a strong say-so about national ?vent the house is con trolled by his party after election To have upset Halleck in the pri mary would have gone entirely con trary to good politics. Mr. Farley's insertion applies again. In event of victory tor Republicans, a man that s capable and informed is available 0 help in party leadership; in event < continued control by the Demo ffato, the needed "intelligent oppo ition is provided. Mr. Halleck ran his primary battle and it is a ribute to his district's voters as eD u to him that ho woo victorious. >. O P. Preeidential Atpirant* 1 re Using Wrong Tactics On the other hand, it begins to jpear that supporters of some of ? candidates tor the Republican -esidantial nomination are not to > commended in the same fashion, tpporters of the three best known ndidatos?Taft, Dewey and Van nberg?are using some tactics it do not make tor sound govern mt That is to say, there are me things going on within the aks of each candidate's backers it likely will rise up one at these ys and smear somebody with a lutiful coat of tar. U these lines are written, it is ireely a month until the Republi is hold their convention at Phils phia. Chairman Hamilton at the tonal committee has called for delegates from the several tos who are to serve as members he convention committee on rtio* oos to get together ahead of e. He has asked them to start ?so that the party platform will not be a clapboard house through which the winds of opposition snow. But there has been objection to that. I regard it as a good move. On the other hand, there are those politicians who are 'hooting at Mr. Hamilton about it and they are stirring up quite a stink. Their attitude simply re *??? ? HV*7 de"ire to get in on the backbone at hog killing-time when there had been no hog Mni., t? speak of tor several years. Speaking of Sports Dean Through? No One Knows Final Sentence By ROBERT McSHANE IBllHMd tor WMtara N?wtpap?r Union.) WHEN the one and only Dizzy Dean pitches his last game of baseball for the Chicago Cubs?and that can well happen in the not too distant future?it will furnish a field day for every sports scribe in the nation. For the in comparable Dis is the sole individual east from that par ticular mold. He is "Mr. Baseball" to hundreds of thousands of fans who can recite pitching records as readily as Junior can tear through the multiplication tables. Other men are more important to base ball. Even the most ardent Dean rooter would hesitate before calling him an elevating influence In the baseball world. But none of them captured the public fancy as did Dis. It was only six years ago that Dean won 30 games as St. Louis cap tured the National League pennant and the World Series. Today, the pitcher for whom the Chicago Cubs -paid $185,000 in cash probably will be relegated to the permanent role of relief pitcher. 'One More Chance' P. K. Wrigley, owner of the Cubs, has given Dizzy a square deal. So has Manager Gabby Hartnett. They've been willing, so far, to give "Just one more chance" to a spectacular, up-and-down, headline making pitching career. When Cub officials first discussed the role of reserve moundsman far their'great one, he had started in every fourth game since the open ing of the 1M8 campaign?a pro gram planned to answer once and tor all whether be could be depended DIZZY DEAN en this hum. In his Irst (toft, sfslnst St. Loots, be was knocked oat ta the fifth Inning. after yielding ire runs and seven hits. 11m next game saw hisn beat Cincinnati on Ire hits. His next start, against St. Louis, saw him head for the showers in the fifth, after allowing five runs and eight hits. In his last game as a regular, every fourth game starter, the Phillies got to him for eight hits and four runs in less than five full innings. That record is a far cry frees St Loots Cardinal days. With that team be wen 134 games daring his stay ef seven years. : The Vagaries of Dix Dizzy and Manager Hartnett seemingly operate on a day-to-day basis. When things are going right with the great one, Gabby is the salt of the earth and a joy forever. When no silver lining can be seen peeping through the dark clouds, then Gabby, in Dean's opinion, is a second rate manager of a third rata tahm. For the most part, however. Gabby has looked with philosophical resignation on the outbursts of his moundsman. Dean's escapades, adventures and holdout sieges have furnished star tling sports (and even front) page copy for many a year. Dix is the only player in existence who has enjoyed the unforgettable expe rience of being bitten by a tele phone. His early-season tirades against Hartnett were superb. Even Gabby must have been proud of his pitch er's originality and forthrightness when be felt he wasn't being given a fair chance to demonstrate his comeback. ? Now Dizzy is close to the twilight of his career in the big leagues. Owner Wrigley has not indicated what disposition he will make of Dean. In fact, ha hasn't even indi cated that be will get rid of him. But chances are that Dix won't grow old with the Chicago Cuba. ki V, . General rq Johnson DANGERS PARADED WASHINGTON, D. C. A digest of those "thousands of telegrams" drawn by the Presi dent's Pan-American speech on Hit ler's latest blitzkrieg would be valu able. Ninety per cent of them were re ported by Secretary Early to ap prove and the other 10 per cent to be from "peace-at-any-pricers." An analysis would be valuable because I can't see how you can approve a speech when you don't know what it means. I have discussed this speech with several informed people. They don't know what it means?and I don't Prom its condemnation at treach erous brutality of Hitler the approv al should have bean 100 per cent and also for its plea for pan-Ameri can unity in defense. This unity the President called "our solution." But then he said: "Is this solution? our solution?permanent or safe if it is solved for us alone? ... I think not!" * * ? What does that mean? It may seem a slight phrase to be quib bling about, but no utterance by a President of the United States on our future course m a world at war is a "slight" phrase. This one wasn't intended to be slight. It was coupled with an assertion that too many at us have been deceived by the "falsa teaching at geography" into feeling safe, "physically, eco nomically and socially," from the impacts of attacks an civilization elsewhere. Then followed state ments that, from the point at view of conquest, Santiago, Chile, is don er to Europe than Alexander found Macedonia to be from Persia or than the distance Caesar traveled from Rome to Spain?that ie, four or five hours from Africa to Sooth America as compared with four or five weeks it took the armies of Napoleon to go from Paris to Boms or Poland. I don't know what that meant bat it sounds like "oar *"-???-? la to Franca." The statement identifying airplane timetables with die pace at conquering armies or from the potat of view at conquest is utterly mis leading?almost as mislasrHng as it would be to say that the speed at a race horse compares with that at a telegram. An airplane can go from Africa to South America id a tew hours. But an army can't It ctot go at all if our aavy and air force are efficient and afloat and not chas ing boogey-men in the east Pacific. This aspect of the speech was cryp tic obscuration coupled with gnu tional and misleading terrorism. It creates an occasion to repeat the quotation from Lloyd George's speech that upset Chamberlain. "The nation is ready as long aa ite leadership is right, as long as you say clearly what you are aiming at as long as you give confidence to them that their leaders are doing their best for than." ? ? ? The President does the deliberate reverse of "saying dearly what he is aiming at" His carefully guarded exterior seems to be full to the bursting point with some kind of in terior content he doem't often ra ves! but every time a new ps ueauia comes, a little at it squirts nail Ida "frontiers in Prance" and "quaran tine the aggressors." The whole country is behind him at any cost or effort to prepare this country tor de fense of this continent It is M par cent against any attempt at "de fending" America by attecktog hi Europe or Asia?with either men, money or materials. It would be a political?as wall as naval and mili tary?catastrophe. For, even for the relative strategi cal ease at continental defense, Mr. Rooeevelt has not prepared the mili tary and naval weapons to make good his position and tha whole at recent history proves that bluffing on a bobtail is suicide. ; m W V - FAT'S IN TBK FIRE The fat's in the fire and oar navy is in Hawaii. Our miniature army is relatively equipped with bows and arrows. It is a pitiful Falstaffian insufficiency. Wa are qwihhHug about the design of a rifle already adopted and hi production alter years of experiment. It appears now that the navy has known the - {acts of its weakness against bombs I, jtrom above, mines from below and secret foreign building programs for some time?without admission be fore the crisis. Surely there was no ignorance in this government about the absolute ly inefficient equipment of our army in almost everything needful for modern war and its otbn grotesque inadeouacv. - J
The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 23, 1940, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75