The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 18

NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS 18 BROOKLYN EAGLE SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 1945 Japan in Desperate Straits But We Still Face Hard Fight By ERNEST LINDLEY Fata of Bretton Woods Pads Test Of Congress View on World Role The Bretton Woods agreements, now before Congress, cover a field which the average layman instinctively shrinks from entering because it is sprinkled with rather specialized technical difficulties which he docs not understand and perhaps thinks that he cannot easily learn to understand. So when the experts disagree as to the time they can transform into wreckage meaning or practicability of some of the arrangements, the layman is likely to find himself at a loss. Committees of the American Bankers Association and New York Bankers Association have come out against the agreements as they now stand. They prohably The resignation of Admiral Seizo Kn-havashi from the Japanese Cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio is one of the few inductions of the situation inside Japan that have been permitted to come to the notice of the outside world. Another is the statement by Premier General Kuniaki Koiso that "we must soon be prepared to see our homeland convened into a battleground." There is nothing in this gloomy admission to suggest the spirit of confident arrogance manifested by the war lords of Tokyo in the conflict's early stages.

From these signs and from our own knowledge of the military situation as it exists in the East we are justified in assuming that there is deep concern in Japan for the survival of the nation. In fact, Japan has every basis for the fear that the pattern of destruction which is now being worked out so inexorably against Germany will be applied, when the proper time comes, to her own islands Premier Koiso, who concedes the grav-ity of the war situation, la not unaware of what is happening to Germany. He knows from official announcements from Berlin that in two days Allied bombers destroyed Dresden, leaving it unfit for habitation. He is aware that every large citv in the Reich Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen. Cologne and a score of others-is a charred, battered mass on the face of Europe.

And, what is even more pertinent to the future of his own country. Premier Koiso knows that even now, while there is a diversion of the Allied war effort, with a major concentration of strength in the west. American fliers can bomb Tokyo at will and that in their own good even- important city on the Islands. The capture of Iwo Jima. with its potentialities as a stage for land-based homhings of Japanese harbors, coasts and cities, increases the vulnerability of Japan and gives added reality to the danger of an invasion.

This danger is heightened by the virtual disappearance of the Japanese fleet from the seas, made so strikingly evident by the unaccepted challenge to battle which attended the appearance of the great American task force in the waters of Japan a few weeks ago It is quite probable, as Admiral Halsey insists, that the Japanese fleet refused battle because it is already beaten. These are signs of weakness in the armor of Japan which support the conviction that the Japanese war lords and their deluded people are following along the road on which Germany is now so Mr advanced, Rut optimism should be restrained by knowledge that the most difficult task lies ahead that of meeting and defeating the Japanese land armies, concentrated for the most part on the home islands and on the Asiatic mainland, whose strength has not been impaired seriously by the island reverses. The fighting on Iwo, where thousands of Japanese have been killed and only a handful taken prisoner, suggests the character which the war in the east will assume in its final stages. Favorable though the whole situation is, there is nothing in the prospect to suggest that Japan's death struggle will be a short process which will not require heavy sacrifices by both the American and the British people and their armies. ciple a major part of the agreements.

This permits them to lay stress on riehatahle detail. The question naturally arises: does the opposition to detail honestly reflect the attitude of the opposition, or does it signify only that, as a result of previous defeats, the New York bankers and their allies have resorted to shrewder political tactics? The Bretton Woods agreements necessarily represent compromises. That is the only way in which the nations of the world could he brought together. In these compromises, however, the interests of the Cnited States appear to have heen well protected. And to those who have heen working on these problems for the last two years or more, as representatives of the interests and aspirations of the United States, it seems most unlikely that more favorable compromises can be achieved.

On the contrary, they feel the nationalist political trends in some countries are so strong that if ratification were delayed and the negotiations reopened, the result would be either a less satisfactory agreement or none at all. The Bretton Woods agreements, or something similar to them, are essential if anything like order is to be re-established in the international economic field after the war. The fate of the agreements in Congress will be atched throughout the world as a test of the readiness of the United States to play its appointed role on the world stage. be joined in time by spokesmen for some of the business interests which often line up with the New York hankers. Before getting bogged down in technical detail, the layman may remember that the same interests were the principal source of opposition to the Federal Reserve act, regulation of investment hanking and of the securities exchanges, Federal insurance of hank deposits, and sundry other hanking and financial reforms which have come to be accepted as sound.

It does not follow, from their blunders of the past, that these interests arc wrong in their opposition to the Bretton Woods agreements. But, given the past, record, the layman is bound to wonder whether these banking groups are sound in their judgment and whether they speak with a full regard for the welfare of the nation rather than for the protection of their own special prerogatives and interests. The attack, however, is not frontal. Somewhat to the surprise of some of the Government experts, these banking groups seem disposed not to object very strenuously to the proposed Bank for International Reconstruction and Development. They are centering their criticism on the International Monetary Fund, some of the functions of which they propose to trans fer to the international bank.

Thus, outwardly at least, the chief opponents of Bretton Woods appear to accept in prin TMG I A Letters to the Editor of the Eagle Postal Workers Deserve Square Deal Heffernan Says: SSS The fair thing to do is to end this practice of keeping the postal workers on a temporary pay basis and treat them just like' any other regular Government employes that is, put them on a regular yearly wage. This is just what would he done by the Burch bill for a $400 wage increase, for overtime based Otl a 40-hour week and for an opportunity, to be upgraded to $3,000 a year in large cities and $2,700 in smaller cities. As a wartime move this hill should he accepted, but when peace comes there should be a re-study of the postal service and complete justice done to these workers who have not had any general wage raise for 20 years. As a result their scales are completely out of line with those in comparable civil service jobs, Federal, State and municipal. It was a matter of deep regret to us that the bill to help the grossly mistreated postal workers of the nation failed of passage in the last session of Congress.

But another similar measure is now before the current session sponsored by Representative Thomas G. Burch of Virginia, chairman of the House Postal Affairs Committee. This time something must be done about the situation or these faithful public servants who handle the mail will be the victim of a still greater injusticefor the present temporary $300-a-year bonus expires on June 30. Of course it is unthinkable that this bonus would he permitted to lapse and nothing he provided in its place, hut the record of Congress is so poor on this issue that nothing can be taken for granted. Some say environment contrives To shape and fashion human lives, Rut I'm inclined with those to be Who argue for heredity And hold our conduct indicates We're horn with certain loves and hates.

Now, there's the grandson; happy lad. Refusing liver, like his dad. His sister, Ellen, fair and sweet, Thinks liver is a dinner treat-Two children, wholly different, Who share the same environment! In comes the dinner I enjoy. "I don't like liver'" says the boy. And.

that's just what his daddy said, And that's the way he tossed his head. "Good." cries his younger sister, fair, "I'll eat both mine and Edgar's share." And thus, in one environment, Two very different twigs are bent, Dog Licensing Bill Rightly Beaten In the current battle among educators as between the progressives and the classicists, historical accuracy sometimes gets a most unacademic kick in the pants. The other day I found this sample paragraph in an otherwise exhausting, if not exhaustive treatise: The war has accelerated the movement toward a new required core. To some the war suggested the possibility of devaluating the academic currency by offering the bachelor's degree at the end of the sophomore year. Such a premium on superficiality was justified on the grounds that the harhelor's degree was awarded at "the end or general education" in the Middle Ages, a plea which is.

of course, as irrelevant to modern needs as the statement, which would be equally true historically, that the medieval surgeon was a barber. Whatever it is Mayor LaGuardia has against dogs is hard to imagine. There are people like that. People who love dogs have rights. It was to their satisfaction that the State Legislature killed the hill under which licensing of dogs would have been shifted from the ASPCA to the Health from a shelter at a time when the manpower certainly should have had better And the vast majority of dog owners were willing to co-operate in the drive against rahies to the fullest extent without the coercive effort apparent in the Health Department's campaign.

The bill introduced by Senator Hal-pern was properly defeated. It had nothing in it that reflected fairness. There hasn't been convincing evidence of its necessity. There has been strong indication that the Mayor and the Health Department were being motivated by rancor rather than necessity. Dr.

Brady Says: Department. Various incidents following that de booked by a promoter and played under his jurisdiction. In proposing to play Akron at Boston, you knew that the team was undertaking unnecessary travel and utilizing hotel facilities greatly needed in the Boston Port of Embarkation! It is a shock to learn that intramural athletics, handball tourneys, must he maintained by outside financing! Thus in the attempt to acquire a few paltry dollars at Boston for this purpose, Brooklyn College, the community itself, the City of New York and American athletic tradition get a million dollars worth of bad publicity. I did not say that the games should be confined to the college gym as a means of preventing gambling. I maintain that the games should be under collegiate jurisdiction and not rented out to a promoter.

I note that some police authorities think likewise. This you describe as "gibberish." Well, 1 noticed that Columbia, under Dr. Butler, manages to do very well without promotion in outside arenas. Does Dr. Butler speak Brooklyn College, in my opinion, is entitled to the same dignity and sports reputation as Columbia! You say the question boils down to the Mayor's plea, "How can we provide for law enforcement regarding The answer is that the means have been repeatedly given to him, but he will not use them, for he does not intend to go anywhere in this matter, but to the radio next unday morning to recite another chapter of that gripping fairy tale, "The Story of Fio-rello," or "The Struggles of a Little Flower Among the Big Bad Weeds." lie would rather toy with symptoms than be confronted with cause and effects.

You have a big problem confronting you in repairing the damage to the prestige of your institution; I hope that you know the answers. WILLIAM J. A. GLANCY, Member of Assembly. Take My Word For It: F'ank Colby Literally, the man with an impediment in his speerh is always stumbling over his own feet.

The word impediment is a derivative of impede, which comes from the Latin impedire, meaning, "to entangle the feet." The man who rehearse', is a farmer who harrows a field a second time. The original Middle English word herse meant "a triangular harrow Later, a triangular frame studded with candles and used in lighting churches was called a "hearse" because of its resemhlance to the harrow. Still later, elaborate hearses were erected over the coffins of prominent persons lying in state. So, in one of those strange metamorphoses that are so typical of our queer, beautiful language, the word hearse gradually lost first, the meaning of "harrow," second, the meaning of "a framework for supporting candles." and came to mean only, "a vehicle for transporting a coffin to the grave." partment's crusade against rabies have been disturbingly nonsensical, as for instance the wild-eved to-do of a whole mob of police and health officials ganging up on one dog which had escaped Hits Discrimination Against Merchant Marine Personnel To the Editor of the Eagle: As a merchant marine officer let me thank you for your editorial comment on the distinction between merchant marine personnel and the "services." The officers and men of the merchant marine are truly tired of the many petty discriminations that are practiced with regard to the status of seagoing merchant navy men. It would be well for the public to know that without the men of the merchant marine, their sons and brothers would not.

be receiving their foods, drugs, arms, munitions, mail, cigarettes, etc. MERCHANT NAVY OFFICER. Calls for Improvement In Garbage Collection To the Editor of the Eagle: Commissioner Stebbins and Mayor LaGuardia would do well to concentrate on the transportation question, also the little item of garbage and rubbish collection. The bag of refuse which I put at the curbstone Friday at 10 a.m., March 2, was still there on Sunday. March 4.

Not to mention the cans which are so badly needed for the war effort rolling all over the streets as tovs for the children. A RFADER. Backs Junior Republics To Combat Delinquency To the Editor of the Eagle: Recently I read in the press an article entitled "Ocean Front Area Builds Youth Town." 1 sincerely hope that these youth organizations will be established throughout the city. Today more than ever before we need a great many more of these Junior Republic, self-government youth democracy clubs, as it will he the only real way to combat juvenile delinquency and safeguard the welfare of our children. Recently the Marine Park Civic Association indorsed the plan for supervised Junior Republic or youth democracy self-government clubs throughout the city, by legislation if necessary.

Now that the Precinct Coordinating Councils have been established in many districts of Brooklyn and elsewhere, it would be a splendid opportunity with the co-operation and coordination of public-spirited citizens, civic, fraternal and other organizations to begin organizing in every district these youth democracy self-government clubs to teach our boys and girls responsibility, leadership and training for citizenship. THEODORE BELZNER. Advocates Home Discipline To Check Delinquency To the Editor of the Eagle: I believe that "juvenile delinquent" is a more fanciful term for "spoiled brat." In my estimation, parents are too fond of consulting periodicals rather than the hairbrush when their children misbehave. A lack of discipline, a lack of parental courage, and a definite lark of understanding are the main reasons why so many of the courts and jails are filled with children. As Edgar Allan Poe once quoted.

"Children are like tough beef; the more you beat them, the more tender they become." READER. Assemblyman Glancy Replies To Gideonse in Sports Dispute To the Editor of the Eagle: I'nder date of March 5, I sent the following letter to Dr. Harry D. Gideonse, president of Brooklyn College: I have your letter of February 19, 1045, and the inclosed faculty report on the athletic program at Brooklyn College. I am shocked to hear you describe the Brooklyn Eagle as Irresponsible for printing a story that 1 intended to introduce legislation removing public colleges from commercial sports promotion.

The freedom of the press is an American tradition, and the Eagle has long enjoyed an excellent reputation in American journalism. It is its duty to give the people of Brooklyn any particular news affecting that community. As a member of the Affairs of the City of New York Committee of the New York Legislature, it is likewise my duty to concern myself with matters affecting the welfare of the city and to inform the public, through the medium of the press, in order that they, in democratic fashion, may oppose or veto such action as I may take in legislation. The Eagle and its leaders are well acquainted with my efforts in the past to correct the conditions of which you complain. In 1943, two panels of the Kings County grand jury, under the guidance of the District Attorney, investigated crime in that community.

Their findings and recommendations were in accord with the detailed account that I presented to the Legislature two years before, on Jan. 2, 1941! The Eagle is not circulated in my district. I have nothing to gain by any "story" appearing in the Eagle. Consequently, I feel that you owe the paper and its readers an apology. You or any one else can criticize me and I'll defend your right.

I have but one request to make: please he considerate of innocent bystanders: you have been "swinging wilder than a novice on amateur you have been hitting the press, the community, etc. I regret that you Injected personalities into the case. The investigation at present is in the nature of a "John Doe" inquiry. It wouldn't be fair to condemn the boys and close the case. These lads are in one sense minors; they were entrusted to a public institution to develop their minds and shape their characters.

They were exposed to a situation that you admit was dangerous. At the outset, their lives are ruined and their families placed in anguish. The question before the public is: Did the officials involved exer-ci-e reasonable prudence in providing safeguards? It is customary to do this in our schools. You describe me as a legislator without a conscience, because I propose legislation requiring public colleges to play their games within their own jurisdiction, or within the jurisdiction of duly accredited collegiate organizations. Well, several days later the ODT placed a ban on your Buffalo and Boston games and all similar games.

You seem unable to negotiate the usual collegiate rivalries on a home and home basis, in keeping with the prestige which we desire for our public colleges. The games at Buffalo and Boston were Mil the Age: bachelor's QIESTIOXR AND ANSWERS Tea Is very strong green tea harmful to the kidneys? I also eat tea leaves, seem to just crave them. Mrs. F. C.

E. Answer Tea or tea leaves hat the same effect as coffee or coffee beans, only tea is about one-third or one-half as strong in the caffeine or raffeinelike alkaloid in the cupful. This alkaloid is diuretic stimulates the kidney function. Whether vour green tea drinking or eating is harmful to the kidneys depends on how much you drink and eat. I believe moderate use of tea or coffee is not only harmless but rather beneficial to most adults.

The Calcium Shortage Our dentist is a follower of yours he says sometimes you pick on dentists but fundamentally your teachings are fine. He advised me to send for your calcium pamphlet and follow the suggestion in it, for our chil-dren's teeth. Mrs. E. L.

Answer Send 10 cents and stamped envelope bearing vour address, for "The Calcium Short-age." (Signed letters pertaining to personal health and hygiene, not tn disease, diagnosis or treaU went, trill be answered by Dr. Brady if a stamped, self-addressed envelope is inclosed. Address Dr. William Brady, care of this properly conferred "at the end of general master and doctor degrees distinguishing those who went on in the study of specific sciences. And it isn't "equally" or otherwise, true historically that the medieval surgeon was a barber.

It is true that barbers for a period, practiced bleeding and cupping and finally succeeded those of them who abandoned cosmetics in getting into the operative field, just as in our time osteopaths and chiropractors are pushing their way into the field of general therapeutics. If better historians, many modern commentators might learn of the surgery which was born of the Crusaders; of the College of Salerno, instituted by the Popes, where not only clerics but women and Jews, studied medicine; of Piedmont, where surgery was practiced and Cordova, where the human body was dissected for the first time since the closing of the Alexandrian schools. All this leading up to the great moral and intellectual development of the thirteenth century. to Brooklyn. Finding an empty cab in Brooklyn is more difficult than it is at Times Square.

The Conquest of Cancer The conquest of cancer will be immensely aided by the plans of the American Cancer Society, which announces a nationwide campaign to raise $5,000,000 as an initial fund for financing a program of cancer research. The drive will be launched next month. One of mankind's greatest killers, cancer annually takes a toll of 160,000 American lives. The cancer society's program proposes to utilize all the weapons known to science and the best brains in the field to attack the disease, which takes nearly as many lives as heart disease. It is to be sincerely hoped that the drive will be given every support, as Dr.

C. C. Little, managing director of the society, feels that the plans under way will he of tremendous value in winning over cancer. Eric A. Johnston, president of the United States Chamber of Commerce, heads the society's executive council.

Obsolete Poetry 'From 'hp s- Umll Pott-BMpitthl A piec of literature recently become Obsolete is that heart breaking poem with the lines; -Father, rear father, rome home with me now; the clock the steeple strikes one." More Blood Needed Rrooklymtes have an added responsibility in a vital war task the elevation of the quota of the borough Red Cross hlond donor service from 4,000 to 4,500 pints weekly, The increase was the result of the rising number of casualties in Europe and the Pacific, We know of no task assigned to Brooklyn which is as important as this job of supplying our woundpd fighting men with plasma to keep them alive. Type "0" blood is especially needed for immediate shipment overseas. Remember the Red Cross slogan "Never Mind His Name; He Is Your Own "and call TRiangle 5-S040 for an appointment Better Take the Subway The independent taxi owners who would make it possible for a driver in Manhattan to deposit a fare hound for Brooklyn at an exchange terminal to transfer to another cab are propn-mg something that would be a source of never-ending complaint Late at night the terminals would have no Brooklyn-bound cabs. The Brooklynite would he left some garage to take his own chances on getting home. Better to have chanced the subway in the first place If cab drivers are afraid of the trip across the bridge, thev should give up their business And we don't ee any pty cabs going back to attan.

wnWcj uxt owners claim is their reason for not wanting to take the "long" trip WHEN OUT OF TOWN REGISTER FROM BROOKLYN BROOKLYN EAGLE From the Eagle 25 Years Ago March 11, 1920 Historic Fleet Street M. E. Church on Flathush Avenue Extension will go on sale within a week, it was announced. Over l.fiOO school children marched safely out of Public School 25 as flames burned out the upper part of the building. THE BROOKI YN DAII EAGLE KRANK 8CHROTH.

Prnldsnt PublUh crowm i p. CwlaBldf 24 p. v'vn 1 Give to the Red Cross And Give in Brooklyn BUY U. S. WAR BONDS AND SAVINGS STAMPS.