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The Alamance Gleaner ?<>L LXVI . GRAHAM, N. C., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1940 Na 38 : i WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS By Edward C. Wayne Army Preparing for New Recruits; Tension in Balkan States Increases As Britain and Axis Exchange Blows; U. S. Community Chest Drives Open (EDITOR'S NOTE?When qklui an iiapaanad la tkau colamni, SMI an tkoM at tka aaws analyst US aot lecemrtlj at IkU aawipaper.) THE WAR: New Scenes The Balkans blossomed out as the new critical area in the European struggle. German troop* who ear lier entered the country to seize the rich oilfields were increased and took over more territory. Ten di visions of Nazi troops, 150,000 men, as well as numerous aircraft, ar rived. Neytral sources said the ac tual goal was Greek and Turkish ports which control access to Asia Minor oil lines. Turkey and Greece are allied to England as non-belligerents. Turkey also has an alliance with Russia and expected help from the Soviet if the situation came to a showdown. Russia, meanwhile, made a vast military zone of Bessarabia, which it seized early this year from Ru mania. Many tacticians believe Rus sia was ready to oppose Germany in the Balkans, but others were less sanguine. They believe Russia al ready is outflanked in that theater. A drive to Greece and Turkey also would give the Axis powers a base on which to move toward Suez from another angle, causing a pincer movement with the Italians mov-. ing east along the Egyptian coast. Africa still was a gem for con quest. Gen. Charles de Gaulle, lead er of the "Free France" forces, based himself at Ouala, in the Cam eroons, in tropical West Africa. His arrival coincided with a reception at Dakar for Gen. Maxime Weygand, representative of the Vichy forces. Neutral sailors escaping from Dakar reported the-6enegal sector had been taken over by German authorities. Washington looked at the news ap prehensively. Officials there believe the Germans soon may use that air base for commercial flights to South America. Air War Over England, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany furious air battles continued. The fight al ways was "the same as yesterday ?but more violent." Each side daily stepped up bombings of enemy ter ritory. The great St. Paul's cathe dral in London was damaged. Many died each night under the debris of stores and apartments. The Ger mans used a new bomb, combina tion explosive and incendiary. Berlin, like London, while able to deliver tremendous blows'on its op Here u Actor-Producer Charlie Chap tin, looking a bit dishevelled at he is es corted into New York's Astor theater alter * fighting" his way through a friend ly crowd to see the world premiere of his latest picture. The Greet Dietater. The film has attracted wide attention be cause of the umilarity between its leading characters and the actual men controlling the axis powers of Europe. position, was unable completely to defend its home front. British fliers increased the length and ferocity of their raids on the capital and in dustrial centers. Germany began to evacuate children from Berlin. At Sea British and Italians both claimed victory in a Mediterranean engage ment. The Italians said a British aircraft carrier and destroyer were damaged. The British declared the destroyer Ajax, which last summer tool part in sinking the pocket bat tleship Graf Spee off South America, engaged three Italian cruisers, sank two and crippled one. Tbe following mwsfatici \j uiuu. I ? day other British warships claimed to have sunk the third Italian ship. The British said they also had learned through neutral sources that two Nazi transports had heen sunk by RAF planes in the French har bor of Lorient Three thousand Ger mans were reported drowned. Burma Road Britain opened the road through Burma to Nationalistic China, closed three months earlier in an attempt to appease Japan. Japanese since then have invaded Indo-China and established bases within easy raiding distance of the road and its stations. The British and Chinese had landed thousands of American trucks in Burma to aid transportation of mu nitions to Gen. Chiang Kai-shek. The situation yet may bring Ja pan and the British into open con flict and the resulting snarl easily can involve American interests. In do-China and the outlying Dutch East Indies are the chief sources of America's supply of rubber and tin. THE ARMY: Awaits Recruits While men between the ages of 21 and 35 wondered which 700,000 of them would be first called into camp under the selective service act, the Senator Hush Daw Holt of if en fir ginia, who voted against the draft, dis plays his selective service registrnuon cer tificate indicating I hat despite his opposi tion he complied with the late. Although he is is years old, ha is exempt from service as he is a member of Congress. army was pushing with every de gree at speed the preparations tor their reception. There still were in dications many would not be or dered to report to camps on the date originally set, November 13. Bar racks, kitchens and sanitation facili ties had not been completed in many camps and until these are in operat ing order, many summoned may be sent to southern stations where they will be able to live under canvas, to begin their toughening up process. In three months time the average soldier is expected to be able to carry pack and equipment weighing 34 pounds and 8 ounces on a 28 mile hike. This consists of 'a ride and bayonet, weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces; helmet of 2 pounds, mess kit, 1 pound: raincoat, 2 pounds, 4 ounces; half tent, 2 pounds, 8 ounces; blankets. 4 pounds; haver sack, 2 pounds, 8 ounces; trench tools, 2 pounds; toilet articles, 1 pound, 3 ounces; canteen and cup, 3 pounds, 8 ounces; clothing, 10 pounds, 8 ounces; first-aid kit, 4 ounces; gas mask, 3 pounds; car tridges and belt, 8 pounds. Dr. Clarence A. Dykstra, former city manager of Cincinnati, has been named head of the draft administra tion by President Roosevelt. His salary will be 810,000 a year, which is half at what he received in Cin cinnati; and 89-000 less than he was getting as president of the Univer sity of Wisconsin. He has a leave at absence from the school. President Roosevelt will pick the first numbers from the "goldfish bowl" indicating which men will be called first. He will be blindfolded by Col. Charles Morris of Elizabeth, N. J., the same man who blind folded President Wilson for the same job in 1017. LOOKING AHEAD: Coming Events Me vies?The motion picture indus try is expected in the near future to announce another prize cam paign somewhat like last year's "Movies Are Your Best Entertain ment" drive. Youngest Senator Joseph tf. Built Minnesota newspaper man just appointed to the Senate of United States to succeed the late Senator Ernest Lundeen of that state, will be the youngest member of that body when he takes his desk in Washington. He is 34 years old and delayed his trip to Wash' ington so that he might register for the draft. FUND RAISING: President Speaks Community Chests in thousands ol communities taking part in the 1940 Mobilization for Human Needs opened their drives tor funds. The first gun fired was a speech from the White House by President Roose velt. "The ancient injunction to love thy neighbor as thyself," the President said, "still is the force that animates our faith?a faith that we art determined shall live and conquer in a world poisoned by hatred and ravaged by war." WASHINGTON: Defense The capital is filled with rumors of impending changes in the defense commission setup following the elec tion. One rumor has it that if Roosevelt wins, he will offer Wen dell L. Willkie, his Republican op ponent, the position of commission chairman. A more likely routine is that Wil liam A. Knudsen will be elevated to the position of "chief of staff" and that Donald T. Nelson, former Sears Roebuck executive expert, will be "co-ordinator" between the commission's several divisions. Secrets Leaks in information supplied by the army to congressmen has irked defease officials. It was indicated there will be a general tightening up. Two recent events were the final straws. First, members of the house appropriations committee made public details of an airport program that the army was guard ing and asked be kept secret. Then Rep. Van Zandt (R., Pa.) made an array of figures of arms equipment, although Chief of Staff Marshall was said to have requested the tables be treated as confidential. Otherwise on the Washington front: ? C Secretary of State Hull nmde pub lic denial of rumors that he would resign. c American diplomatic missions in Rome and Berlin were ordered home in what was described as a person nel shift C Rumanian owned funds and se curities totaling $100,000,000 were "frozen" in U. S. banks during the Balkan disturbances. LABOR: New Regulations With the federal law reducing the maximum hours of labor from 42 to 40 no# in effect. Federal Admin istrator Philip B. Fleming an nounced regulations exempting thou sands of "white collar" workers from the provisions. To these the law will not require that overtime wages be paid. Overtime for all others will be time and one-half time. The regulations are the result of months of study and bearings by the wage-hour division. They de cided that an executive is one whoee duty consists of management of an enterprise of "sub-division" at a sal ary of at least <30 a week. He also must have the power to hire or fire. MISCELLANY: C Col. Fulgencio Batista, once an obscure army sergeant, was inaug urated president of Cuba. For years he was the strong man back of a long line of presidents. Batista de cided he could better carry out his program from the .presidential pal ace He was elected in July. Of peasant stock, Batista wants educa tion for the illiterate thousands. He has built schools, laid out an agri cultural program and advanced pub lic health. ? ? v Washington Digest World Bristles With War Talk As America Arms for Defense U. S. Trains Conscript Army and Prepares for Action; Germany, Italy, Jppan Present Solid Front, Assume Militant Attitude. By BAUKHAGE (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) Baukhage, NBC Commentator, whose voice on the Farm and Home Hour is heard daily by many of our readers, is the author of the following Washington col umn. Soldier, writer and broad caster, for the last quarter of a qentury, Baukhage has covered foreign and domestic news from all parts of the United States and prin cipal capitals of Europe. WASHINGTON.?It is just about as far from the executive offices of the White House on Pennsylvania avenue to the broadcasting studio as it was from our house on Spruce street back home to the store where my mother used to send me for a loaf of bread (and a stick of "lick riah" if I had an extra penny). It was on my way to the store one day that I first saw a live man wear ing the uniform of the United States. It was my Cousin Ned just starting off for the Spanish-American war in his sailor suit. I've seen a lot of uniforms since, on the avenue in Washington, too, but I couldn't help thinking as I walked along the other day scuffing the dried leaves that had fallen from the immemorial White House elms, that a lot of nine-year-old kids and oldir ones, too, are soon going to be seeing plenty of uniforms for the first time, on the streets of the home town, just the way I did, 40 years ago. Right now that is something that Washington and pvery other city, town and cross roads in the country have in common. In the corridors of the marble buildings beside the Potomac they are talking about the same thing that they are on Main street and at the general store. I wouldn't be surprised if certain gen tlemen in certain foreign capitals were talking about the same thing, too: Our new citizen army. Need for Conscript Army in Peacetime There are certain things about con scription that people are thinking about. According to a lot of letters I get, what many people want to know is why we need a citizen army in peace time. I put that up to a military man and this is the way be answered me: "Speed is what counts in an arpiy today. We aren't calling out these boys to fight anybody. We are call ing them now to train them so they'll be ready if we ever need them. The United States can always raise a big army if war is ever declared. But neither we nor any other coun try can raise a trained army over night?and a lot can happen in the night these days. What we want to do is train men for a reserve. They will still be a part of our de fense after their active training is I over. "If this war ends and a disarma ment agreement is reached with all nations we won't need to train any body any more. Meanwhile these men when they are through their year's service will go home and slip back into their niches in civilian life. But if a war comes they can step into the ranks over night as they would if we were in danger any how. But they will step back as trained soldiers, not raw recruits." That seemed to me a new way of looking at H. It explains why there is a need now. A Are engine wouldn't be much use if you had to teach the Bremen how to use it after the house started burning. Triple Alliance Powers Have Belligerent Attitude Is our house actually in danger of catching on fire now? Well, I am a reporter, not a prophet. The profit motive isn't overemphasized in the reporting business. Furthermore right now the air in these parts is so full of political speeches and other war talk, just as it is out your way, that you can hardly see across the Poto mac on a dear day. The political speeches are so belligerent and the war-talk, especially what we are get ting from Rome, Berlin and Tokyo is so politicsl, it takes a fine-tooth comb to separate them. A dispatch from Rome says the axis doesn't want to get us into war and wants to stop our aid to Britain. Berlin says that if we attach Japan, Germany and Italy anil at tack us. That would get us into the war which Rome says the axil doesn't want. 'Tokyo says that If we don't Id HHIHHHHHii her do what she wants in Asia, Japan will attack us. Certain people in Washington say if we get into war with Japan we can't help Britain. And so it goes. Wathington Emphasizes Dot ana, Hot Off ana Just now Washington isn't as war- , likp as it sounds. .The emphasis is on defense, not offense. However, there are conflicting views as to j what we ought to do. I talked with an official who isn't what you would call a fire-eater. He expressed a view which some of the | people in the state department agree I with. "Japan has declared herself our ( enemy. The time to strike is now, not delay the way Great Britain did. \ We could get it over without a long war." Another man who speaks for an other group which is supposed to re flect White House opinion, said this: "The United States has to play a cautious game. Our job now is to keep out of war. Aid Britain aH we can. As long as the British navy controls the seas Japan can't hurt us." If that policy is followed, and I think most observers here believe it will be no matter who is elected President, we will simply reply to any further unfriendly moves on the part of Japan by economic meas ures. We have cut off some of her vital needs. We can cut off more. And heaven knows what the ladies could accomplish if they suddenly | quit buying silk stockings. That's Japan's chief income?raw silk?and if they couldn't sell it to us, the Jap anese would have to let their silk worms turn up their toes and die? and you know something pretty bad is supposed to happen when a worm turns. French Ambaaaador Hae Hard Job It is hard to find out whether you are at war and if so, with whom, these days. Of course, we are at peace with France. At least we rec ognize the French ambassador, the suave and amiable Henri Haye. He has a very hard job because, as everybody knows, the govern ment of Vichy has about the same relationship to the French people as French perfume has to a piece of Limburger cheese. The dachshund's tail wags the French poodle. And the United States govern ment, which can't admit officially that this is true, acts just as if it knew it all the time. It has frozen French financial holdings in this country. It is as hard for the French government to draw on funds invested here as it is for a Hollander or a Belgian or the citizen of the other occupied countries to get their money?which doesn't make them angry either. Some Hollanders in structed their agents here not to pay out their funds to anybody even if they themselves write letters order ing this done. For, of course, the Nazis could force the owner to order the securities sold and then confis cate the funds and use it themselves. Well, one of the many ticklish as signments of Monsieur Henri Haye is to try to get the government to loosen up on those French invest ments. Of course, some funds can be drawn upon for special purposes such as the expenses of the embas sy. And there has been a worried rumor that the United States gov ernment might have to turn the en tire amount over. Predict Balanced Budget for 1943 With congress and the defense commission bent on seeing that the mooey appropriated for national de- \ fense gets put to work, all the talk is about what's going out and very little about what's coming in. You haven't heard a thing about balanc ing the budget recently, have you? Well, you will 'soon. Perhaps bo fore this item meets your eye. For the experts say that we are going to have a $15,000,000,000 budget in 1943 and what is more we are going to be able to balance it. How will this feat be accom plished? Simply through normal taxes, they tell us. Production and national in come will mount so fast owing to pyramiding defense expenditures that norma] taxes will bring in enough money to get the dizzy old : budget. This statement comes, not from i starry-eyed optimists but from fishy i eyed financial experts who are paid to get the low-down for their no t less fishy-eyed banker clients. - . ' (_ V ' ? . V SPEAKING OF SPORTS By ROBERT McSHANE ft IU'**"**>>Y W**>w" ^ Wf ITH the World Series of 1940 v" already written into the fec ord books, American league fana ?till are wondering how it all hap pened. Deacon Bill McKechnie, pilot of the world - champion Cincinnati Reds, knows most of the answers. He knows, for instance, that the Red pitching staff was superior to any thing the Tigers faced during the current season. Derringer, with his smartness and control?with that tamed side-arm curve?was a man to be depended on, despite a weak start. The Kentucky sharpshooter handed out very few gifts. m /\i ? if l ne uid master Twice, with Bulk Green berg en base, Derrikger blanked Body York In the ftnal and decisive came. In three famines, with the Tiger lead off man on base, "Oom Paul" took a notch In Us beM and held the damage to one unearned ran. When It was over. Pan! had allowed ex actly as many hits as did Back New ?om?seven?hot he held the win ning ticket In the matter of runs. It was the third time la It years that a World Series went seven games, and the fourth National league victory in the last decade. When the Cards last won, six years ago, two pitchers, like Derringer and Walters, each wen two games. Those two pitchers were Dtxxy and Pan] Dean. As one baseball writer put it, the series was a matter of pitch and punch. It was a duel between the salary whip of Cincinnati's pitchers and the war clubs handled by the Tiger (lugger*. Cincinnati cauea tne turn by hitting at a better clip than the Tigers. That, plus superb pitch ing in the clinches, put the National league on top after a long span of desolation and sadness. Hie Reds were ripe far a series rletory this pear. The team paid no attention to the fact that M was beaten four straight hp the Yankees la 1*3*. That fact alone was sap posed to spell defeat. Instead of being disheartened, the Reds prored to be s better ball elnb than thcp were last pear. Maeh of the credit gees to Bill McKeehnie, one of the most popular managers of the pres ent baseball era. No Forgotten Man Del Baser, however, hasn't been forgotten in the rush. Early season dopesters had the Tigers resting in fourth place at the season's end. Many of the baseball-wise gentry had them lighting for top baling in the second division. How the Tigers managed to win a pennant still baf fles most old-time baseball players. The infleld was slated to fold when the going got tough. York, Gehring er. BaricII and Higgins weren't names to conjure with. But they did have the courage to carry on through days that meant real physi cal suffering on the baU Held. It was a spot where experience made up tor the lack of youth. That experience came very cloee to car rying the Tigers through to victory. vaaeod far the Beds' victory. Sease of them undoubtedly were tsnfrlbel lag factors. Bat the pcteclpal rea son for Cincinnati's grtp an the wo rid championship rests to the pitching arms ef Paul Derringer and Becky Walters. They helped prove that a eagy, capable pitching stag is mere U he desired than an ar ray of sluggers. Deacon Bill McKechnie la the au thority for that statement. ' Three other men who should not be overlooked for their ahere in the Reds' success are Joe Beggs, Lom bard! and Bill Werber. While they weren't outstanding in the series, their consistent work throughout the season made it possible tor Cincin nati to compete for the crown?and that's Just as important l . ... L'JJf. . **s I-'- A ifi f*- Ufa General HIMH S. johnson JfcfJV Washington, D. C. FAB EASTERN 'CRISIS' What is the treat crisis off the coast of China which so plainly threatens us with war with Japan? It is that Japan, Germany and Italy have agreed that if any other nation makes war on any one of them, the three will join to defend each other. There is nothing new about that kind of defensive alliance. That is the kind of agreement that France and England had with Po land which brought On this now world war when Germany attached Poland. That turned Hitler's threat west when it eras headed east. It is the kind of agreement that France had with all the small nations around Germany which were ere- - a ted by the Treaty of Versailles?the so-called Cordon Sanitaire, which didn't work except to destroy En But now it is said that ? war be tween us and Japan is immediately threatened becauae of this very usual, but not very sensible, triple alliance. Why? Because oaa: people want to fight a war against yellow men in Asia? Ninety-nine per cent erf them don't, >0 per cant wouldn't even know what the issues are. We are told that our great danger is eastward, in Europe, that Hitler is our menace. Yet here is a "situ ation" that threatens to embroil us 12,000 miles from the heart ?f that danger?4,000 miles westward fmaa our own coasts. What American interests an ! threatened there? Pi initially some Standard Oil properties and, as Car as China is concerned, net POO.OM* 000 altogether?that pins aa insig nificant annual trade totaL Our principal trade is with Japan. Such j a war would coat us that and un counted billions more, and get is | nothing. Our flag is in ths Philip pines?with our promise to the IB ipinos made at their to wife draw it Our interests there are al most negligible. The argument of our dependence on Indo-China and Malay asm for rubber and tin is a light makeweight for war, recently greatly discounted or cianplriely ex ploded. Why then are we being shored to the edge of war without the win of the people or congress, and with no more reason than hue bsan stated here; largely an the supputt of a lew cocky professional admirals and a fewer amateur military kihilinat Reasons other than "political ex pediency" are advanced. Our great naval strategist, Walter Lipptnaan, calls what is going on the battle of oceans. Mr. Winston ChurcMB seems to assume a British-Ameri can naval alliance already in being. Seveaal others of lika mind say it is up to us to destroy the Japanese navy before it can grow further or receive aid from any other navy. Why? We are committed to a navy large enough tor hemisphere defense. England may need abso lute naval supremacy not only in a hemisphere but around the world. She needs it because the "Ron never sets on the British domain." She needs it to keep weaker peoples in subjugation. Is it our policy to do that tor ourselves? ? ? ? ELLIOTTS CAPTAINCY Elliott Roosevelt says I am a "dis gusting old man," and now, in the same connection, Ernest Lindley says I am a Mexican lumping bean. In criticixing the appointment by ob vious favoritism of draft-sllgiMo young Elliott to a soft, non-com batant job as kiwi air !??[<???, J didn't call any names. I didn't even stsesi any blame to say eg tha Roosevelt family except inadvert ence This column has opposed at tacking the President for the errors of his kin and has consistently da fended the latter. I still insist that Mr. Roosevelt did not originate the errtfr ef EBh ott's appointment. For one reason, be is too good a politician to permit this bitter sod unnecessary afffodt, directly or indirectly, to slrnoet ev ery home and mother in America. Even that political coodusta Is a little bit unfair.' F.D.R. likes to emulate T.R.'s boys, who in lfllT or before, rushed to combat Service. Some served in England's armies before 1J1T. I forget the exact record, but, as I remember, all saw front-line set vice; an, 1 seem to recall, came away bearing honor able scars; one, I think, was wound ed three times; one was gassed, and one, I know?the youngest and best-beloved ? shot from the skies in flaming death, Bes buried by bis chivalrous enemies to the fields of France. When they sought to bring the honored little that was left of him home to his mother, T-R. wrote Gen. Peyton March, who had also I lost a son, "Where tha tree falls, there let it Be." ,i. ... . ..iSsii
The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.)
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Oct. 24, 1940, edition 1
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