The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, August 20, 1948, Image 2
THE NEWBERRY SUN, NEWBERRY. S. C.
Washington Di9cstj
Czech Refugee Confirms
Crack in Iron Curtain
By BAUKHAGE
News Analyst and Commentator.
WASHINGTON.—Is the Union of Soviet Socialist Repub
lics cracking? That’s an idea which is being toyed with by
some wishful thinkers in Washington while others consider
it one of the most dangerous playthings that ever got into the
hands of unwary diplomats.
In any case, the theory is worth examining. It appears to have been
encouraged by some members of the little group of highly intelligent but
also highly prejudiced people who form a constantly growing segment
of Washington society—the political refugees from the countries on the
Soviet borders. One can, however, trust this group for certain basic facts.
Recently, I learned one of theses
facts which may surprise you. OX
course, you recall
that Soviet diplo
macy always has
explained what we
call its aggression
as simply a desire
to surround itself
with what it de
scribes as “friend
ly” countries. The
refugees of whom
1 spoke are living
proof that not all
of the inhabitants
of Russia's satel
lites are friendly.
However, most of
us have been led
at least the govern
ments and the controlling Com
munist minorities which support
them have been able to produce a
degree of mutual affection which
satisfies the Kremlin. After Tito's
action we wondered.
What about the frontiers between
these countries and Russia?
The answer came from an anti
communist, recently arrived from
Czechoslovakia—one of the many
persons who are seeping out of that
and other satellite countries every
day. He was asked in my presence
if the frontier between his country
and Russia was open, in the sense
that travel was permitted under the
same conditions that obtain between
normally friendly nations.
The Czech laughed. He said:
“The border between my country
and Russia is no tighter than a dam
would have to be to keep a drop of
water from getting through.”
I have heard the Russian frontiers
of other satellite nations similarly
described.
My informant also outlined other
significant conditions in Czechoslo
vakia, first reminding us of three
Important facts:
1. Czechoslovakia is the most
industrialized of all the satel
lites.
2. It is also the most demo
cratic in the realistic sense we
view democracy. In other
words the country is thoroughly
indoctrinated with the kind of
democratic methods we know.
This is due in part, of course,
to the fact that so many of the
men responsible for formation
of the Czech republic spent
many years in the United States
and were made thoroughly fa
miliar with American methods.
It is also due to the fact that
they had a long period of prac
tical experience in putting
these methods into effect in
their own country.
3. The Czechs had a very
high standard of living com
pared to the other satellites.
These factors, taken together,
made the Czechs particularly vul
nerable to a Communist coup. When
it came, because of their demo
cratic training and high standard
of living, the Czechs were partic
ularly unhappy as an aftermath of
Communist methods and Russian
domination. In other words, the
Czechs had more to lose than any
of the other countries within the
Red orbit.
Greater Problems
Are in Prospect
Czechoslovakia is not yet thor
oughly communized. There is still
a certain amount of open criticism.
There have been no wholesale
purges. Undoubtedly, these will
come, but when they do—and herein
those who believe that the Soviet
position is weakening are encour
aged—the prospects are that the
harder the Russians crack down,
the greater problem Czechoslovakia
will present to her Kremlin over
seers.
BeToreTEe - coup that ended in the
death of Masaryk took place, it was
estimated that perhaps 20 per cent
of the people had been indoctri
nated with communism. Another 10
per cent were sympathetic, chiefly
from a theoretical point of view.
My Czech informant declares that
it can be reliably estimated that
the taste of practical communism
which the people have had now has
reduced that communist score to
15 per cent.
He also confirmed the recent
statements about the army—though
he gave no figures—made by Gen.
Antonin Hasal who escaped to the
American zone of Germany in the
middle of July. Hasal said that 70
per cent of the enlisted men and
non-commissioned officers in the
Czech army was anti-Communist.
My informant put it this way:
"The air force, many of whose
members fought with the R. A. F.,
is almost entirely pro-Western. If
the Reds hadn't drained the tanks
of all the planes before the coup.
most of them would have flown
away.” Many did anyway and
Czech planes are turning up con
tinually in Western controlled areas
of Europe. This occurs in civil
aviation too because many of the
pilots are former members of the
air corps.
But if the Red government can
not trust the air corps, it has even
less confidence in the Czech armored
force. It has been necessary to
immobilize it
But the greatest friction
caused by partial communiza-
tion Is felt in the nation’s econ
omy. Everyone suffers, at least
indirectly, because of this, but
it can be seen most clearly
among workers. Recent fig
ures, which were made avail
able to the public, indicate that
there is a sharp falling-off in
the man-hour productiveness.
This could be attributed either
to conscious sabotage or to a
feeling of indifference and re
sentment caused by reduced
pay and restrictions on the
union labpr mcvement.
Before the Russians moved in, 75
to 80 per cent of Czechoslovakia's
foreign trade was with non-Com-
munist countries. This * has been
considerably reduced under pres
sure from Russia, but even now
some 60 to 70 per cent of her ex
ports go to Western Europe.
Virtually the entire output of the
great Skoda arms factory goes to
Russia. The output is largely heavy
artillery. Production of small arms
for Russia also has been stepped
up greatly.
Chance of Revolt
Termed Small
Objective observers admit that
there is small chance of an open
revolt. That isn't the Czech method.
They are great underground work
ers, but they haven’t the enthusiasm
for blood-letting that pjople like the
Yugoslavs have. If, however, the
Soviets became involved in war,
undoubtedly the Czechs would join
heartily with those they consider
their liberators.
Those persons who predict a
crack in the iron curtain base part
of their argument an on attitude
among Czech leaders which is said
to parallel that of Tito’s supporters
in Yugoslavia. That is this ques
tion of nationalism. There have
been recent reports from Europe
that Czech Premier Gottwald, who
always has been considered Mos
cow’s right-hand-man in Czechoslo
vakia, is about to fall from Soviet
grace for the same reason Tito fell.
Gottwald is a lifelong Communist
who was won over to the Marxian
philosophy before he had an op
portunity to see it put into effect
in his own country. He was an apt
and willing student in Moscow, but
he apparently cherished the illusion
that his own country could accept
the communist form of government
and still maintain its identity and
its independence. The utter domin
ation by Russia has become not
only distasteful to Gottwald but also
to at least two other members of
his cabinet, including the minister
of justice.
Gottwald is not the leader that
Tito is and he probably can be
brushed aside. But the viewpoint
he has come to represent is pointed
out as one of the weaknesses of the
Russian system.
There is one other fact which
cannot be hidden from the eyes
of any careful observer with
some military knowledge of
Czechoslovakia. That is that the
military preparations in the
country which the Russians
have carried out are almost 100
per cent defensive. Apparently,
the Russian fear of invasion
from the West is greater than
their desire or ability to pre
pare for offensive warfare.
As proof of this, my informant
told me that although one of the
scarcest consumer products in
Czechoslovakia is paper, two of the
biggest mills manufacturing it were
limiting their output to blackout
paper only.
These are some of the reasons
back of the theory which the people
who believe in the old military
axiom that you mustn’t under
estimate the enemy say is dan
gerous.
• * #
Britain's labor government of Att
lee and Bevin declared the dock
ers’ strike a national emergency,
the first such proclamation since
1926 when Bevin himself was a
strike leader. Proves how you can
make the shoe fit, even when it’s
on the other foot.
• • *
If you keep on your toes you’re
not likely to get down at the heel.
BAUKHAGE
to assume that
BUEACHERITE . . . It’s a far
cry from the cloistered dignity
of the United Nations to a soda
pop spree in the stands of the
Olympic games, but Trygve
Lie, U. N. secretary-general,
seems happy about it.
BEANS SPILLER . . . Eliza
beth Bentley, who says she
headed a huge Communist spy
ring in the U. S., told a senate
investigation subcommittee that
she gathered secret military
and political information from
some 50 government employees.
VOTER ... “I wonder,” quipped
President Truman in Independ
ence, Mo., when an election
worker asked him if he was a
Democrat or a Republican as he
went to vote in the Missouri
primary election.
FULLERETTE . . . There’s
something new under the sun—
a Fuller Brush woman, commer
cially known as a Fullerette.
This one is Mrs. Rae Hiter of
Springfield, Mass., first woman
in U. S. to be appointed by a
dealer to sell line of cosmetics
and soap.
FACE TO FACE AT LAST . . . Although each was afraid the other
might steal the show. President Truman and Gov. Thomas E. Dewey
of New York plucked up their courage and shook hands smilingly
when they met for the first time since they were nominated by their
respective parties. The occasion of their meeting was the dedication
of New York’s new Idlewild airport, largest in the world, and the air
show was good enough to make them both forget politics.
REVIEWING STAND IN ISRAEL . . . Government heads of the Jewish
state of Israel are shown on the reviewing stand taking a salute from
the passing troops during the big military parade that marked “Nation
Day” in Tel Aviv, capital of the new Jewish state. Left to right are
Minister of Finance Kaplan; Premier David Ben Gurion; Brigadier
Jakob Dori, chief of staff, and Minister of Labor Bentov.
IT’S ALL PLANE TO HIM NOW . . . PracticaUy any airplane seems
big to a small boy, but when you come up against a mammoth like
this the total effect is almost overwhelming. Ten-year-old David
Bonvouloir of Washington, D. C., is completely nonplussed by the
tremendous bulk of this new navy airliner, a Lockheed Constitution,
recently christened and opened for public inspection.
NEW CHAMPION . . . Freddie
Mills, England’s cuntribution U
the leather pushing trade, upset
all the dope when he won the
light heavyweight champion
ship from Gus Lesnevich on
points.
RANK INSUBORDINATION . . . Ninety high school seniors from 45
states attended the third annual American Legion forum to study
government operation in Washington. During the coqrse of their tour
they visited the Pentagon building to see the army setup, and Chief of
Staff Omar Bradley himself sat up for them. Billy Ray Clark of Jones
boro, Ark., named “secretary of the army” by the forum, even got a
salute from the general.
Hershey’s Draft Plans
N OT all the details have been
released officially yet, but
Lewis Hershey, selective service di
rector, gave a brief report on draft
plans to a closed-door session of
the senate-house armed services
committees recently.
He told the solons that the se
lective service machinery would be
ready to process the first batch..of
draftees by October 15, but esti
mated the second call would not
come before January 1.
Hershey told the senators and
congressmen there was strong pres
sure—at that time—to start drafting
19-year-olds first, since they were
not ready to settle down and would
be less likely to be upset by army
service.
The two armed services commit
tees, however, argued the opposite.
Unanimously they agreed that the
24- and 25-year-olds should be tak
en before they passed the eligible
age. This was later decided.
The selective service boss
estimated that 9,0*0,000 youths
were available for the draft, but
only 1,386,000 would be eligible
under the loophole-riddled plan
for deferments. Of those who
will be caught, the bulk are un
der 22 since many of those over
22 served in the recent war.
The number eligible for the draft
in each age group was broken down
by Hershey as follows: 25-year-olds,
8,000 ; 24-year-olds, 15,000 ; 23-year-
olds, 19,000 ; 22-year-olds, 22,000 ; 21-
year-olds, 222,000 ; 20-year-olds, 475,-
000; 19-year-olds, 635,000.
• • •
Race for Uranium
Most encouraging sigi^ on the
atomic-energy horizon is what the
Russians now are doing in Saxony.
Low-grade uranium deposits
are found in this southern Ger
man state and the Russians
have been working feverishly to
mine them. They have been us
ing a great deal of labor and
going to great lengths to scrape
up this uranium, which is so
low grade that in Canada it
would be ignored.
The fact that the Russians are
taking all this trouble over such
poor quality uranium in Germany
obviously means only one thing:
They don’t have any worth-while
uranium of their own in Russia.
• • *
Corporation Gravy
While the cost of food to the
housewife has zoomed, here is
what has happened to the dividends
of big corporations.
The figures were presented re
cently by plain-talking Democratic
Sen. Joe O’Mahoney of Wyoming,
as compiled from official reports:
Profits of 100 corporations after
taxes:
1940—$1,875,000,000.
1945—$1,943,000,000.
1947—$3,730,000,000.
O’Mahoney also cited a Federal
Reserve Board report, stating that
business profits this year will ex
ceed the dizzy high of 1947. Point
ing to individual corporations which
have shared in this bonanza, he re
ported that General Electric com
pany now is making profits in ex
cess of 20 per cent of net worth.
General Motors, 19.9 per cent, U. S.
Steel, 10 per cent.
The 1947 profits of General Elec
tric, before taxes were paid, were
five times greater than its 1939 prof
its, O’Mahoney charged.
Meanwhile, he declared, wage in
creases have been obliterated by
inflated living costs, as evidenced
by the fact that American consum
ers are paying 37 billion dollars
more for what they buy this year
than in 1946.
• * »
Cabinet Pains President
Visitors who called on President
Truman at the White House after
congress opened, found the chief
executive hipping mad at some of
his top executives. He was par
ticularly irate with Secretary of
the Army Kenneth Royall, Under
secretary of the Army William H.
Draper and the army’s chief of
staff, Gen. Omar Bradley.
Mr. Truman said he was fed
up with Royall and Draper for
their sabotage of White House
policies. Draper’s policy of re
building Germany at the ex
pense of her neighbors and Sec
retary Royall’s inept handling
of army racial discrimination
had got under his skin.
The President was more hurt
than angry at the way his fellow
Missourian, General Bradley, had
reaffirmed segregation and the
army caste system 24 hours after
his commander-in-chief had issued
an executive order curbing segre
gation.
• • •
Spaatz Speaks
One reason air chief of staff
“Tooey” Spaatz retired from the
army was that he felt he could do
the air force more good on the out
side. For the first time, he now is
preparing to speak his mind fear
lessly in a flood of magazine and
newspaper articles.
Unhampered by military restric
tions, Spaatz will tell bluntly how
he thinks America should meet the
threat of another war.
SALESMANSHIP IS DEAD
Speakers at a national conven
tion of salesmanship executive*
declared that the sellers’ market
is over and that salesmanship, now
at its lowest ebb, must devise new
techniques. Lowest ebb is an under
statement Salesmanship, in the
eyes of the customer, has become
not only dead but mummified. In
the period of shortages and wide
customer demand the average
salesman has ceased to function,
except in the manner of a deep
freeze unit.
•
It has become an exploit similar
to a polar dash to approach the
fellow who was supposed to be in
terested in selling something.
«
The customer's greatest need in
contacting a salesman has been
proper defrosting equipment.
•
It has been years since we
saw a clerk or salesman in
many fields smile, register inter
est or show half of 1 per cent po
liteness toward the buyer. We
have frequently had our lower
extremities frozen on the trip
from the store or agency en
trance to the salesman's desk.
•
The old-fashioned American sales
man who used to spring to his feet
when a customer appeared, extend
the glad hand, show a keen desire
to be of service and cultivate good
will or bust has largely disap
peared.
We can remember away back
when, even if the staff had no stock
on hand, it never greeted a cus
tomer with that “less than the
dust beneath my chariot wheels”
manner, and when every salesman
or clerk realized that there was no
percentage in making a customer
feel that a visit to a salesroom or
store was like a trip through the
icepack.
•
Too many salesmen today
don’t even bother to show rou
tine civility. They have de
veloped complete indifference
to a high art. They give you the
old “This is all so unnecessary
and annoying” look if you ask
more than two questions of 10
words each. They give you the
definite feeling that you are In
dulging in a futile dialogue in
an Eskimo igloo.
*
The other day we went to an
auto salesroom back home and
found even the head of the com
pany giving an over-all demonstra
tion of how to freeze the prospec
tive buyer in three simple lessons.
He was on the floor supposedly as
sisting, and at the moment talking
listlessly with a prospect. We drew
near and awaited our turn. The
gent walked off to a far corner
without as much as an “Excuse me,
I’ll be With you in a moment.”
*
Up to this time we had assumed
that at least the boss knew the fun
damental rules of holding customer
good will.
• • •
TRANSFER OF DUR0CHER
It was obvious that Mel Ott
couldn’t stand up against Leo
Durocher: He was using catchers
for catchers.
*
Many good gags have followed the
Durocher incident but we liked Walker
Cooper's "All catchers out for infield
practice, boys!" when his team got the
news.
•
How to score the Durocher play
puzzles us, but we would be in
clined to say that he slid from first
in Brooklyn to second in New York
but was called out by Rickey for
failing to touch Brooklyn bridge.
• » •
"Supreme Court Justice Murray
Hearn, president of the Brooklyn
council for social planning, said
the outbreak of juvenile crime
constitutes an emergency in which
it is essential to enlist the help of
every citizen."—News item.
What! No dismissal of the
situation with a denunciation of
the parents and schools?
• • •
Fashion experts say that skimpi
ness in bathing suits has gone the
limit and that a "new look” cos
tume soon will appear, which may
include a return to the bloomers,
blouse and stockings milady used
to wear at the beach. This will ag
gravate traffic. Think of the
crowds that would be drawn to the
beaches by the sight of women
with clothes on.
Charges of communistic control
of store unions in New York are
growing by the hour. We now hear
that to all queries how to reach a
department, the information clerk
says, “Just keep bearing to the
left all the way.”
And Ima Dodo insists she went
to the hardware department for a
hammer and was told she couldn’t
have one unless she took a sickle.
• • •
War is war. And so is peace.
Green Old Age
“Did your grandfather live to a
green old age?”
“I should say so! He was
swindled three times after he was
70.”
Hard Rations
Stranger (to 'soldier in lunch
wagon)—How come you’re not
eating out at camp tonight?
Soldier—Well day before yes
terday a mule died and we had
hamburger. Yesterday the cat
died and we had rabbit stew. This
morning the cook caught two
skunks, and I figured I’d rather
eat in town tonight.
Practical Results
Mr. Horner—Jasper, how are
you getting along in grammar?
Jasper—Swell. I ain’t had a bad
mark since when school begun.
Petting Party
Bob—You know that poor fam
ily with eight children down ‘the
road? I bought vhem a dachshund
as a gift.
Roy—Why a dachshund?
Bob—So they can all pet him
at once.
Subtle Difference
Bill—Is your cousin looking for
work?
Jill—No, not at all. He only
wants a job.
Dry Cleaning
“I’m all upset. The doctor said
the only way to cure my rheuma
tism was to keep away from all
dampness.”
“What’s so tough about that?”
“You don’t know how silly it
makes me feel to sit in am empty
bathtub and go over myself with
a vacuum cleaner.”
Seek Big Noise
To Scare Fish
The United States fish and wild
life service wants to find a noise
which will scare young salmon
away from the huge spillways and
turbines that have been built in tbe
Columbia river.
For years salmon have used the
river as they come from the seas to
seek fresh water for egg-laying. The
old-timers among salmon have
sense enough to use the fish ladder*
and elevators. But young fish, bom
above the dam, try to come down
the hard way, through spillways
and turbines. Thousands are killed.
If a noise can be discovered which
will scare the young salmon in the
right direction, a lot of fish Uvea
will be saved.
1 =!======
MOROLINE
PETROLEUM J t*L L \
Try //eaMfa/ lemon in Wafer -
The juice of a lemon in a glass of
water, when taken first thing on aris
ing, is ali that most people need to
insure prompt, normal elimination.
No moro harsh laxatives that irritate
the digestive tract and impair nutri
tion ! Lemorr in water is good, for you!
Generations of Americans have taken
lemons for health—and generations
of doctors have recommended them.
They are rich in vitamin C; supply
valuable amounts of Bi and P. They
alkalinize; aid digestion.
Not too sharp or sour, lemon in water
has a refreshing tang —clears the
mouth, wakes you up. It’s not a
purgative —simply helps your sys
tem regulate itself. Try it 10 dayk
USE CALIFORNIA SVNKIST LtMONS
Fiery, Smarting Itch
of Common Skin Rashes
Don't stand such torment another hout I
Just smooth Resinol Ointment on your
irritated skin at once. See how quickly
its medically proven ingredients in lan
olin bring blissful, long-lasting relief.
GIVIS
when cold
miseries strike
FASTREtiBF
W'vS'M* 7 -
RHEUMAT1SM
NEURITIS-LUMBAGO
MCNEILS
MAGIC
REMEDY
BRINGS BLESSED RELIEF
Largs Bottle 1 mu waosl'U?- Small Size Mel
» MltlM: ItE Sill M IIIECtEI «
It III till lilt tlltiS»IT IIH •• miifi II fin I
■«»IU III! ts, las, minwiltl *. TfMMI