The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 10

I "THE VOTE r-S NATIONAL WHIRLIGIG 10 BROOKLYN EAGLE, THURSDAY, JAN. 29, 1942 Must Restrain Our Optimism; Germany No Hollow Shell RAY TUCKER'S LETTER power in Libya gives emphasis to Secretary Knox's recent word of caution agair.st -placing reliance in reports of internal dissension in Germany and excessive hope in the current trend of battle in Russia. The whole situation, in so far as Germany is concerned, has its encouraging aspects, but it would be foolish to believe that the Nazi regime is in process of disintegration. While it is true that the Russians, with the aid of a bitter Winter which has impaired seriously Germany's services of supply, have beaten the German armies on the Eastern Front, it is also true that these armies remain intact, that their striking power is tremendous and that they will again be formidable when Spring appears. Germany, in spite of reverses that are concededly serious, is by no means a hollow shell, as is proved by her resumption of the offensive in Libya and the massing of troops and equipment for a possible drive on Turkey or the Near East.

Even though the Far Eastern scene assumes increasingly ominous aspects, the Nazis remain as the most formidable threat to our security and freedom. The sudden transformation in the military situation in Libya, where British Imperials and Axis mechanized forces are locked in battle south of Bengazi, should have a sobering effect upon the thinking of those who, contemplating the heartening scene in Russia, rush to the conclusion that Germany has spent its fury and that Its military power is on the wane. Libya offers a warning against over-confidence. While not among the most important developments of fhe war, General Rommel's recent drive is one of the most surprising. The British victory in Libya was believed to have been complete and to have brought this campaign to an end, leaving the Axis forces, cut off from reinforcements and supplies, incapable of effective resistance, much less a successful counter attack.

This delusion has been dispelled in most convincing fashion. Striking with apparently undiminished power, General Rommel's forces have advanced from El Agheila to a point ten miles beyond Msus and are fighting fiercely to carry their lines forward. This surprising resurgence of Nazi 1 FROM WASHINGTON The Roberts report pilloried Admiral Kim-mel and General Short as the individuals mos culpable for the worst disaster inflicted on a major power since Trafalgar. But the document carried undertones which assess ba-sic blame on the Executive, Legislative, Naval and Military higherups, on the American people and even on the Supreme Court. Every neophyte realizes that the elderly Sjp-retaries Knox and Stimson, who won no honors as alert and masterly tacticians, were named for political reasons.

They were adopted by the Democrats in 1940 in order to damage the G. O. Presidential prospects. A silently resentful personnel has groused for a year because Admiral Kimmel was elevated over forty-six senior officers as a long-time White House favorite. He was F.

D. aide in World War days. Cordell Hull was exonerated from any direct connection with the calamity. Nevertheless, he Insisted on a Marquis of Queensbery respect for the rules, although he knew he was dealing with gangsters. The Army and Navywpre warned against any action permitting history books to indict the United States as the aggressor.

The armed forces were instructed to turn the other cheek until after the bell rang and punching began. The gentle attitude of the Secretary of State also hamstrung agencies charged with combating subversive activities in Hawaii. When the Supreme Court's 7-1 vote denied our Intelligence and PT3I agents the right to tap wires, it blocked effective intercept tion of enemy phone, cable or radio messages. (Even Mr. Roberts voted for that decision.) So we obtained our data on Tokio's warlike preparations from the British, Chinese and Koreans, who were at their listening posts.

Huge appropriations for fortifying Pacific outposts were not asked in time. When Congress finally decided to Gibraltarize Guam, Mr, Hull nipped the move for fear of offending His Imperial Highness. Even had vast funds been requested long ago, Capitol Hill would not have granted them for fear of popular sentiment against war, high taxes and other sacrifices. Read between the lines the conclusions hint that December 7 was a tragic alarm for all of us. 'A NOT ACCORDING TO HITLER'S PLANS KEFFERNAN says The Battle of the Strait Although the smoke of battle still obscures the continuing action in the Strait of Macassar, enough of the picture emerges to show that there is going on there the biggest naval action of the Pacific war.

It shows, too, the determination of the Japanese to break through the ramparts of the islands separating them from Australia, and the courage, tenacity and efficiency of the Dutch American and Australian forces engaged in keeping the Japs back. It is obvious that the Japanese are suffering enormous losses. Though they seldom count the cost in lives when they want an objective, even the Japs cannot go on forever losing ships and men. They may have found in those waters an opposition much, stronger than they expected and which may, consequently, throw out of gear their whole plan of conquest, as Hitler's plan was thrown out of order before Moscow. New Scout Head Here The Brooklyn Council of the Boy Scouts is assured of continued able leadership with the election to its presidency of George A.

Barnewall, vice president of the Brooklyn Trust Company. Last year Mr. Barnewall demonstrated his deep interest in the organization by his successful handling of its annual appeal for funds. He should be ideally equipped for his new post. Incidentally, Mr.

Barnewall will also head the financing drive again. On this occasion it is appropriate to call attention to the outstanding service which has been rendered to the Brooklyn Scouts during the past four years by the outgoing presiderft, Judge Albert Conway of the Court of Appeals. In recognition of his fine work Judge Conway has been elected to the newly created post of chairman of the group's executive board. The Eagle congratulates Mr. Barnewall on his new honor and hopes that the Scouts' 1942 appeal for $40,000 in Brooklyn meets with the success that it deserves.

LETTERS TO THE EAGLE Proposal to Pay Retired Police, Firemen As Air Wardens Opposed To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle: Brooklyn Boys Are Again In the Ranks Of Death Names that appear In the communiques show why Brooklyn has a vital interest In the progress of this war and the Americans who are fighting it. Our boys are making heroic history. When Capt. Colin Kelly of the Army Air Corps furnished us with the first example of American heroism In the Philippine theater the fact that his wife and baby son were living with Mrs. Kelly's parents in Hicks St.

gave us the first thrill of local pride. Then came other names which were familiar In our neighborhood life. The most recent is that of Col. Hugh Casey, who won his eagles by gallantry in action under General MacArthur. "1 Letters must bear signatures and addresses of writers but pen names will be permitted at the discretion of the editor, who reserves the right to cut them down to meet requirements of space.

If each family determines to abstain presently from bidding for scarce things so that in the future it will have more opportunities for the enjoyment of things, buy Defense Stamps and Bends, buys home sites, plans a balanced diet, walks instead of rides, saves systematically to pay taxes one family, multiplied by 30,000,000 can send President Roosevelt and Congress a victory message which will retard inflation, simplify and fit each piece into the economic puzzle called price control legislation, influence the trend of necessary taxation so it will be more equitable and dissipate the fear of millions who fear, unreasonably, what's around the comer. The family unit is the sensitive mechanism which can be made to act as the stabilizer of the volatile price structure. CHRIS K. KINSELLA. Lake Ronkonkoma, Jan.

18. Says Decrease in CCC Registration Warrants Discontinuance of Agency To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle: As one in charge of a Brooklyn agency registering lads during the past five years for the CCC, may I say that I believe that this once most important and profoundly serviceable department has about run its course, and is now outliving its usefulness. The very large unemployment in factory centers during '36, '37 and '38, has gradually decreased. The number of boys applying for the CCC work, and we have registered over 1,800 at our Hou.e, has grown smaller and smaller every month until it Is now practically negligible. Of course, this is due to the increased factory employment, and still more to the imminent draft, and to the great numbers of lads over 18 and 20 years of age who have enlisted in the Army and Navy.

I am deeply impressed with the duty of lessening the expenditure for non-defense Governmental agencies, and I trust that one of the first of these to be eliminated will be the Civilian Conservation Corps. W. E. DAVENPORT. Brooklyn, Jan.

21. How Treasury agents swung into action to prevent shipments of strategic materials to Far Eastern areas endangered by the Japanese attack provides one of the most dramatic stories of the conflict. It is estimated that they may have prevented millions of dollars worth of valuable goods from falling into hostile hands. Secretary Morgenthau's men in the fund-freezing and export control divisions got news of the war's outbreak while on the golf course, at church, in the movie houses or at home as did many Americans. They sensed the need for immediate counter-measures and rushed to their desks on Sunday afternoon.

First they checked "customs cards" to learn what cargoes to Hongkong, the Philippines, Thailand and the Malay States had been approved or were scheduled for early departure. Then they requested thirty banks to report on transactions which they were handling through cash deposits, letters of credit, sight drafts, etc. Next they asked all Federal Reserve institutions to canvass local concerns. They sent a fourth warning to corporations which deal directly with foreign firms and whose business relationships are not reflected in bank accounts. Meanwhile, the Navy and Maritime Commission recalled fourteen vessels already en route to the danger zone.

Within a few days Washington had a complete inventory of articles destined for countries in the sweep of the enemy's southward advance. AH" warlike materials, whether on the docks, in process of manufacture or simply on order, were frozen. The SPAB was notified where -the metals, machinery and clothing could be picked up and the Wallace organization passed the information along to the naval or military agency which wanted it. i Bridge Modernization Assured Controller McGoldrick's announcement that the city has obtained priorities for materials necessary to carry out the modernization of the old Brooklyn Bridge is good news to this borough for it assures the prompt initiation of this important improvement. With Borough President Cashmore, Borough President Nathan of Manhattan and John H.

Delaney, chairman of the Board of Transportation, collaborating, the work should be pushed without unnecessary delays. Altogether it will cost about $750,000. As we have frequently pointed out in these columns, this project will not only clear the roadways of the trolley tracks, thus greatly expediting the flow of automobile traffic, but will also remove the terminal sheds, which have been eyesores at both approaches to the historic span. Buy Defense Bonds Out of Income The sale of defense bonds is progressing at a satisfactory rate, but attention is now being called to the fact that withdrawals from savings banks indicate that many citizens are taking out their savings to make the bond purchases. This misses the whole point of the Government appeal, which is to persuade people to forego a part of their current income.

The Treasury's idea is that citizens continue their regular savings but spend less and place these additional savings in defense bonds. A good slogan is: "Save RegularlyBuy Defense Bonds." Revised Orders the St Louis Prist And now the slogan is. don't fire till you see the slam of their eyes. Having observed in the Brooklyn Eagle that a bill had been introduced in the City Council providing for the appointment of a certain number of retired police and firemen to act as air raid wardens with pay to insure a permanent squad of air raid wardens, I think it should be taken into consideration that many are volunteering their services as air raid wardens whatever their personal circumstances. Why should any group be paid for such services? And should not the regular police and fire departments constitute the permanent squad of air raid wardens? Brooklyn, Jan.

22. MILTON A. SLADE. Suggests Defense Bonds and Stamps Replace Medal and Trophy Awards To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle: To assure our country's victory our Government needs money and metals. Therefore, schools, colleges, clubs, lodges, for the duration can serve a two-fold patriotic gesture; in lieu of presenting costly medals or silver loving cups, Defense Stamps or Defense Bonds should be presented to those fortunate recipients who have successfully participated in a given match or contest.

This should be the credo of every American: "For Uncle Sam do your share; For the Red Cross all you can spare." Brooklyn, Jan. 23. JULIUS CHALIF. Victory for U. S.

Held Dependent on Sacrifices of America's Families To the Editor 0 the Brooklyn Eagle: Statisticians tell us that we have 30.000.000 families in the United States. If each of the 30,000,000 families were informed that it took seventy pounds of scrap iron and seventy pounds of waste paper to get into the movies or a broadcasting studio each family would dig up it entrance fee and you'd have over 1.000,000 tons of scrap iron and 1.000.000 tons of paper. And if each family sold its scrap, paper, woolen raes 1 clean out the closets, the garage, the cellar, the attic, the barn) for $1 and donated it to the Red Crass, 60 percent of the $50,000,000 national quota would be achieved. If each person lifted just one less spoonful of sugar to cup per, meal per day, in thirty days we save 8.100.000.000 spoonfuls of sugar. A FACT A DAY ABOUT BROOKLYN The Brooklyn Navy Yard, with its eight piers and two ways for shipbuilding, is one 0 the borough's waterfront landmarks.

The yard also has lour graving docks, and equipment and accommodations cr the construction and repair 0 every type of naval vessel up to the largest battleship. Recently authorised warship construction and a vast expansion program have made this yard one 0 the most important in the country with more than 30,000 men currently employed. mm On the Military Affairs Committee In the House of Representatives sits a Brooklyn Congressman who is particularly proud over the exploits of Colonel Casey, as well as over those of Maj. Emmett O'Donnell. He is Representative James J.

Heffernan, Democratic leader of the 12th A. who in years gone by was in large measure responsible for the appointment of both those officers to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Major O'Donnell. as has been already told in the news, is a Bay Ridge boy. His father is Emmett O'Donnell, principal of the Manual Training High School Annex.

Some years ago, when Jim Heffernan was first active in politics, the late Daniel J. Griffin, later Sheriff of Kings County, was Congressman from the Fifth District, At Mr. Hefferaan's request, Representative Griffin had young O'Donnell. who also was grandson of the late Matthew Tobin of Bay Ridge, appointed to the Military Academy. Colonel Casey is another of Representative Griffin's- buys who was recommended to the Congressman by the present Representative Heffernan.

The colonel's father was superintendent of the big contracting corporation at the head of which was Edward Belford, brother of the distinguished Catholic prelate, Mons. John L. Belford. When MacArthur was organizing the Filipino Army, Casey was an aide. He returned to Washington, but went back to MacArthur just before Dec.

7. That Brooklyn men are leading in the battle line is not surprising. Leaving out the service of our regiments in previous wars, we need only regard events within our own memory to recall heroic exploits of our own men in the first World War. The record of the 106th, in Gen. O'Ryan's division, plays a big part in military history.

It was that command which was in the van in the successful breach of the Hindenburg line that had held against all assaults from the early years of the war; the 106th of Brooklyn, although caught by our own barrage through bad timing at headquarters, crashed on beyond the set objectives. Brooklyn contributed largely to the old 69th which broke the Germans at the Ourcq under command of Maj. Martin Meany of Flat-bush, who, commanding the same outfit as Acting Colonel, recently led his regiment from its training camp to whatever destination it was after Pearl Harbor. BUY DEFENSE BONDS AND STAMPS 25 YEARS AGO IN BROOKLYN January 29, 1917 In an address before the Parent-Teachers Association of Public School No. 90, Hans von Kaltenborn of the Eagle advocated abandonment of Latin and Greek in favor of courses bearing more direct relation to life.

GRIN AND BEAR IT Senator Burlirigame declined to accept the challenge of Borough President Pounds and Controller Prendergast to present his facts to a grand jury and asserted he intended to press his demand for a legislative inquiry in regard to the West Side Terminal contracts. PLEA TO WORKMEN By EDGAR A. Gl'EST Workman, every nail you drive Helps to keep a boy alive! Every tempered bit of steel, Every turn of gear and wheel Somewhere, land or sky or sea, Helps us on to victory. Workman, in the task you do You are serving freedom, too. Has your boy gone off to sea? Pilot of the skies is he? Night and day remember, then, Work can bring him home again, Workman, skilled of eye and hand, Longer at your duty stand.

8omewhere now are lads you know-Fighting 'gainst a cruel foe, Fighting hard for freedom's sake, Needing things you toilers make. Workman, every screw you turn Speeds some soldier boy's return. Every rivet red you drive Helps to keep a boy alive. Workman, faster and day, Work for victory while you may. By Lichty mr.

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