Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE SITN. NEWRERRY. S. C- FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22. 1939 WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS BY JOSEPH W. LaBINE European War Gathers Steam After Preliminary Skirmishes; Polish Resistance Is Expected (EDITOR’S NOTE—When opinions are expressed in these columns, they are those of the news analyst and not necessarily of this newspaper.) - Released by Western Newspaper Union. - THE WAR: Lineup As day after day passed into his tory, the War of 1939 engulfed more nations and brought more millions face-to-face with dread actuality. On Britain’s side came the Union of South Africa, one-third of whose 30,- 000 European population speaks German. A few days later Cana da’s Prime Minister Mackenzie King ordered a declaration of war pub lished in the Canadian Official Ga zette. After 10 days of fighting, the lineup found Germany and her ally, Slovakia, with 90,600,000 popu lation against a total ally population of 505,556,000. The figures: Nation Germany Slovakia VERSUS Poland France Great Britain, including: United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Union of South Africa .. Canada India Population . 86.600.000 . 4.000,000 . 32.348.000 . 43,000,000 . 48.000.000 . 8.000,000 . 1,600,000 . 10.000.000 . 11,209,000 351.399.000 Still aloof were the impondera bles. Egypt, treaty-bound to Brit ain, had severed diplomatic rela tions with the Reich. Turkey, also treaty-bound, called up her reserves as France’s Gen. Maxime Weygand reached Ankara. But the greatest imponderables were Russia and It aly, both leaning Germany-ward, whose jump to Adolf Hitler’s assist ance could place France and Brit ain in an extremely uncomfortable position. War of Words Past-master at the art of propa ganda is Germany’s Dr. Paul Jos eph Goebbels, whose technique aft er one week of war was obviously taking better hold than the ironclad cen- sorship of France and Britain. The allies’ first mistake was to confine an nouncements to useless offi cial communi ques, opening GEN. GOERING the way for He wooed France. nervous con jecturing. Ministries of information worked at such a snail’s pace that the London Daily Mirror comment ed: “The mills of the Gods grind slowly, but seemingly those of the air ministry are geared even more slowly.” Soon radiophotoing of news pictures was banned by London, leaving U. S. readers with nothing but German propaganda photos. Meanwhile the British propaganda office gave correspondents such pat ently cooked-up stories as one that the ex-Kaiser had warned Hitler he faces disaster. Herr Goebbels was smarter, if more unethical. His radio stole a Warsaw wave length and warned the Poles to evacuate. But he did allow U. S. correspondents to visit the front and released announce ments which were acceptable to the press because they were partly true, and more damaging for the same reason. ^But the major war of words came from Germany’s Field Marshal Her mann Wilhelm Goering, who swore at Britain and cooed at France, re newing the well-substantiated rumor that Germany will be ready for EXPECT FRIENDLY ROUTE THROUGH AUSTRIA TO AID POLAND SWITZ. FRANCE ITALY WESTERN FRONT Italians chuckled at France. peace when she has conquered Po land. Sample: “We want nothing of the French . . . It is the English government which incited people. We know Eng land will fight till the last French man—remember that, you French men!” Next day Britain reiterated: No peace talks if Germany stays in Po land. Western War In 1914 it took two weeks to start a real dogfight on the western front. The War of 1939 proved no excep tion. In the first seven days allied troops made steady gains, “feeling out” the enemy on all parts of the front. But not until the allies had dug in almost to the recessed Sieg fried line did Adolf Hitler withdraw several divisions from Poland and rush them westward to the rescue. As the second week got under way, two salients and counter-offen sives seemed brewing into two ma jor battles. (See Map). The first was near Saarbrueken, where a French offensive pointed eight miles into German territory. To the west, Nazi troops sought to relieve this pressure and possibly reach France’s highly touted Maginot line. Meanwhile, just north of Switzer land, French troops pushed into the Black forest hoping to open a path via Austria to sorely pressed Po land. In Rome military observers chuckled over this offensive, know ing full well that France had origi nally intended to aid Poland via highly vulnerable Italy, which de> cided instead to stay neutral. Eastern War As war in the east reached its second week, Adolf Hitler released a masterpiece of understatement: By decree, Germany’s far eastern fron tiers were restored to their 1914 po sitions (See Map). Since Germany had already regained about twice the area she lost in 1919, some naive observers may have wondered why Der Fuehrer continued his march to Warsaw. But while he was about EASTERN FRONT Losses regained, and then some. it. Hitler had evidently decided to take a little more, plus all the land Poland got from Austria-Hungary in 1919. This was no easy job. Blustering and boasting of the war’s first days was silenced as Poland lived up to her promise. The retreat had really been strategic, after all. Moreover, Marshal Edward Smigly-Rydz really had about 1,000,000 unused troops. As the Poles dug in behind the Bugg and Vistula rivers, London heard that the eastern front’s greatest bat tle was growing on a 250-mile front. Even Berlin communiques admitted “fierce battles.” Biggest of Poland’s unspoken wor ries was the juggernaut at her back door, Russia. Thousands of reserves poured through Moscow bound for the west after mobilization was de creed “in connection with the Ger man-Polish war.” Was the Red bear about to strike, too? Next day Moscow’s Pravda said no. Russia was merely preparing to disarm and interne eastward-fleeing Poles when the war was over. War at Sea Still a mystery was the where abouts of Germany’s giant Bremen, which left New York one day be fore war was declared. Reports placed her variously at Iceland, Mexico, South America and Russia, but she was probably snug in a Spanish harbor. Manhattan’s wa terfront still housed the French Nor mandie and British Queen Mary, probably there for the duration. Though British and French lines no longer announced their schedules, the He de France sneaked into New York. Two British boats, the Geor- gic and Samaria, sailed in darkness. This was fool’s fun unless convoys awaited the allied vessels when they left neutral waters. After one week of war 12 British-French boats had reached Davy Jones’ locker as the Reich’s submarine campaign began gathering force. Small victory for Britain was the fact that all Ger man shipping had run to cover; un less allied boats could sail the seas there might be a repitition of 1917’s near tragedy. In that year convoys were perfected. War at sea could not fail to touch U. S. shipping. The Manhattan and other boats left for Europe with giant flags painted on their sides. New York brush wielders did a landoffice job camouflaging allied vessels. Off Cobh, Ireland, the liner Washington rescued 33 crewmen from the torpedoed British freight er, Olivegrote. But U. S. shipping was a breath holding business. Painted flags meant little in mined waters. Be sides, other neutral nations were be ginning to suffer: (1) A Dutch mine sweeper hit her own mine and sank with 33 aboard; (2) a Greek freight er, Kosti, was reportedly destroyed by a German mine in the Baltic; (3) Danish fishermen, fearing mines, clung ashore Is Moscow-Berlin Axis Being Formed? Europe Can’t Decide, But Has Doubts Jlsk Me Another A A General Quiz Soviet and Germany Still Suspect Each Other Despite Shouting Over Non-Aggression Pact; But Does Hitler Hold the Upper Hand? By RONALD CAPPER (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) P ARIS.—While France and Britain cock one eye down a rifle barrel at Germany, the other eye never veers from the most enigmatic question mark facing war-mad Europe—Soviet Rus sia. Will the Old world’s No. 1 diplomat, Josef Stalin, come to Germany’s aid under the trade and non-aggression treaties those nations signed just before the war? ' Is Comrade Stalin merely playing Germany for all she is worth? Or has Adolf Hitler out smarted his new friend, forcing Stalin to aid the Nazi cause? The implications of a German-Soviet alliance are tremen dous. Indeed, this possibility has worried European observers ever since Adolf Hitler came to power, for together these mili tary juggernauts could be fear some. There is no longer any prob lem of ideology standing be tween the nations, although American Nazis and Commu nists would have us believe the two theories are at swords’ points. Ten years ago this was true, but through the ensuing years Ger many and Russia have approached a similarity. Watuns Surprisingly Alike Naziism thrives on a principle of racial superiority which states that an individual race is entitled to rule the world. Bolshevism operates on the opposite principle, that all men are equal, and without distinction. Since neither idea is practical in application, both the Reich and the Soviet can overlook their theories to settle more realistic problems. What really counts is Naziism’s seven-year swing from an attempt to save capitalism to a concept of state-controlled capitalism that is not far removed from the Russian system. From this parallel purpose might spring almost anything. Yet a study of Soviet history dur ing post-World war history will show its foreign policy has pursued one aim consistently and with consid erable success. That aim has been prevention of a German, Italian, French and British alliance opposed to Russia. So long as this “ganging up” is averted, the Soviet will be free to complete its big task of in ternal development. Here’s how they’ve accomplished it thus far: Didn’t Like Hitler. In 19|2 the Soviet signed a trade treaty with .Germany, then suscep tible, to any sort of back-slapping sifter its rough treatment at Ver sailles. But as a matter of expedi ency Russia drifted away from Ger many when Hitler came to power. They didn’t like him. Science Seeks Clue To ‘Misplaced’ Vein Of Volcanic Lava BOULDER DAM, COLO. — Ten miles south of this massive concrete structure geologists have discovered a “missing link” in volcanic his tory—a lava “dike” formed in gravel. How it got there is the problem worrying Prof. Ian Campbell of the California Institute of Technology and Dr. E. T. Schenk of the national park service, who have decided the “dike” is a mere geological young ster of some 25,000 years. Never before has lava been found cutting through gravel, and how it forced its way into a porous rock of this type in such clean-cut fashion is a big mystery. “It is difficult to believe,” the ge ologists have reported, “that an open fissure four feet wide could have been formed or maintained in these gravels while the dike magma was pouring in from below. “A possible explanation may be that the first surge of lava was rap idly chilled by contact with the cold and perhaps water-filled gravel. This chilled glass thenceforward formed a seal which prevented any side es cape as the remaining bulk of the magma pushed in. “Spectacular too, is the texture of the dike itself. Most dikes that are intruded into the shallower parts of the earth’s crust are very fine grained.” When Hitler left the League of Nations, Russia played another card by entering the good graces of Ge neva—but not, mind you, until Ger many was safely out of the road. Thus the capitalistic countries were divided again. In 1936 came the third card, ap plication of sanctions against Italy in the Ethiopian campaign. Thus the Soviet won a sort of friendship with France and Britain, with whom diplomatic relations had already been established. New Phase Began in 1938 Last autumn things looked dark for the Kremlin. Climaxing the Su- detenland crisis, thfe “big four” of Europe met at Munich without con sulting Stalin. That meant a possi ble capitalistic unity which might end in the long-feared anti-Commu- nist alliance among France, Brit ain, Germany and Italy. Russia sat sullenly for many months, leading some observers to the false conclusion that she intend ed to remain isolated. But Stalin was still playing his cards wisely. He saw a breach growing once more as Hitler gobbled up Czecho-Slova- kia and Memel. Then, when ap peasement talk started again, he made overtures in the direction of France and Britain. Finding them faithless, yet still keeping the pow ers divided, he turned about sud denly and signed the treaty with Germany. Two Schemers Work. This is the supreme test of Soviet diplomatic wisdom, for Josef Stalin, smart though he may be, is dealing with another smart schemer in Adolf Hitler. There is good reason to believe Germany got the upper hand during the tense pre-war days when Russia hesitated over ratify ing the non-aggression pact. Gloating over her spotlighted po sition, holding the balance of peace or war, the Soviet might have main tained this enviable status if Hitler had not been equally alert. Der Fuehrer knew the British ambas sador to Berlin has always favored a policy of Anglo-German friendship against Russia. Furthermore, he knew Russia was aware of Sir Nev- ile’s ambitions. That is why the ambassador was kept busy commut ing between Berlin and London with diplomatic notes which might have led to an Anglo-German settlement. So uneasy did Russia become that the supreme Soviej council met hur riedly and ratified the German non aggression pact within 20 minutes after Premier Vyacheslaff Molotoff introduced it. Suspect Each Other. But this hesitancy, this obvious "squeeze” play, does not speak well for future Soviet-German relations. Only a few days before the ratifica tion, Russian deputies applauded a mock battle in Red square where young Soviet fighters routed an “in vading force” clad in German field- gray uniforms. The big question now is whether Hitler has outsmart ed Stalin to such a degree that the Soviet cannot regain its former po sition. Russia has things to fear from Germany. Should Poland fall, the convenient “buffer” territory be tween the Reich and the Soviet would disappear, bringing Hitler closer to his long coveted Ukraine. Should this issue develop into war between the two nations (much to the democracies’ glee) no one can tell whether Russia’s mammoth but untried army could stop the highly efficient Prussian military machine. Here’s New Way to Cut Taxes In Your Town: Grow a Forest XX/’ASHINGTON.—Raise a W 4f you want to lower forest your taxes. That’s the advice of F. A. Silcox, chief of the United States forest service, who suggests that American communities might fol low the example of European towns in licking the tax ogre. The idea is already catching hold. Some 1,500 cities, towns, villages, counties, school districts, churches and townships now own about 3,000,- 000 acres of forests, and new plots are being reported to the forest service almost every day. By selling fuel, pulpwood, Christ mas trees, maple syrup, nuts and other forest products, communities can take a substantial cut from their annual tax levy. What’s more, the forests offer new playgrounds, fish and game reserves and recreation facilities, besides protecting city watersheds and providing employ ment. Swedish Forest Runs Street Cars. The community forest idea start ed in Europe, where such famous preserves as Germany’s Black for est and those at Fontainebleu tind Versailles have been producing rev enue for years. At Orson, Sweden, the forest provides enough to pay all local taxes and supply free street car and telephone service. America’s oldest forest is at New ington, N. H., which was started in 1710. Since 1832 it has provided fuel for the church, the poor people and the school, plus $5,238 in cash which paid community debts, im proved the village buildings and helped build a library and school. Seattle Forest Shows Profit. Wisconsin has adopted the pro gram scientifically. Each year the state pays 10 cents an acre to the county owning the forest, until the production stage is reached. Then the state gets its money back as timber is cut. CHRISTMAS TREES — Here’s one product from your community forest that helps cut the local lax burden. There’s also maple syrup in some localities, fuel, pulpwood, etc. Seattle has the largest municipal forest, covering 67,000 acres. The city claims to have sold more than $1,000,000 worth of timber, which is more than the initial cost of land and trees. Mr. Silcox is sold on the idea: “It doesn’t take much money to start a forest,” he said. “Most of them can be developed on cheap land, and there are millions of acres of tax-delinquent land that can be put to work. One of the great val ues of the project is the opportunity it affords for replacing a public doll by worthwhile work.” The Questions 1. Are zebras black with white stripes or white with black stripes? 2. White persons constitute what per cent of the people of the Brit ish empire? 3. Why do people generally walk in circles when lost? 4. In what cities would you find the following districts: The Loop; The Barbary Coast; The Bowery? 5. In what wars did the United States draft troops? 6. What country is designated by the sobriquet Cousin Michel? 7. Are animals other than horses spoken of as thoroughbred? 8. What is the difference be tween a dove and a pigeon? 9. Are there white elephants? The Answers 1. The basic color of a zebra is white, and his stripes are black. 2. Fourteen per cent. 3. Because one leg is shorter than the other. 4. Chicago; San Francisco; New York. 5. Civil and World wars. 6. Germany. 7. Other animals eligible to be recorded are spoken of as pure bred. 8. A dove is a pigeon. 9. White elephants are merely light-skinned Asiatic elephants, and may occur as the offspring of normally colored parents. This type is revered in Siam, and kept in the royal stables of the mon arch. Strange Facts 1 Prying Railroads f Home Products ' Desert Increase In the early days of the rail roads, travelers often aroused sus picion and station agents frequent ly asked them personal questions. But the Liverpool & Manchester railway went further. Up to 1837 this road made each passenger fill out a ticket application that not only asked his name, address and the purpose of his trip, but also his age, occupation and place of birth. • • • In “The Westphalian Last Sup per,” a stained-glass window in St. Mary’s cathedral in Soest, Westphalia, Germany, Christ and His disciples are depicted in their customary places at the table, eat ing Westphalian ham and pumper nickel and drinking Westphalian beer and kuemmel. * * * Scattered throughout England are some 400 “camping coaches,” or remodeled railroad cars, in which about 50,000 persons each year spend their summer vaca tions. The coaches, permanently located on beautiful country sid ings, accommodate private par ties of from 4 to 10 and cost from $10 to $25 a week, which includes linen and tableware. • • • Soil erosion, now ravaging a large part of the world on a scale unparalleled in history, is believed to have formed about a million square miles of new desert in the past 25 years.—Collier’s. fOR COOL. HAPPY FEET Learn to Unlearn Child of Nature, learn to un learn.—Disraeli. TheSjR’s ofaMotorOik etcputoffar- £ ft &L ranker ^ Quaker State Motor Oil has a back ground of over half a century of scientific refining ... is recognized by car owners, the world over, as the quality lubricant for automotive use. ?! Acid-Free Quaker State Motor Oil is refined exclusively from the finest Pennsylvania crude oil. All impurities are scientifically removed. Each drop of oil is pure, heat-resistant lubricant ... assuring maximum reliability. When you use Acid-Free Quaker State Motor Oil regularly, you are free from worry about motor troubles due to sludge, carbon or corrosion. Your car will run better, last longer. Quaker State Oil Refining Corp, Oil City, Pa. By burning 25% slower than the average of the IB other of the largest-selling brands tested —slower than any of them — CAMELS give a smoking plus oquaf to 5 EXTRA SMOKES PER PACK E NJOY cooler, milder smoking... the fragrance and delicate taste of finer, more expensive tobaccos — and at die same time get more smok ing per pack in long-burning Camels. CAMELS Here are the facts from a recent series of impartial scientific laboratory tests of 16 of the largest-selling brands: 1 CAMELS were found to contain MORE TOBACCO BY WEIGHT than the average for the 15 other of the largest-selling brands. 2 CAMELS BURNED SLOWER THAN ANY OTHER BRAND TESTED-25% SLOWER THAN THE AVERAGE TIME OF THE 15 OTHER OF THE LARGEST-SELL ING BRANDS! By burning 25% slower, on the average. 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