Evening Star Newspaper, May 14, 1940, Page 8

A—8 — | @he Fnening Ftar TRRBEENT R LENL LB With Sunday Moraing Editien. THEODORE W. NOYES, Editor. WASHINGTON, D. C. 8! The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 3 % lvania Ave. M g Gt 1 Bnepoarig Chicsgo Office: 435 North Michigan Ave. Delivered by Carrier—City and Subuirban. Reguiar Edition. priptand fuseS s o faeom v ar - 45c 0. e Bundar Biar A - 10c per copy Night Final Edition. t Pinal and Sundey Star . 85 per month t Final 8ta Z 60c per month Roral Tube Delivery. e Evening and Sunday Star _ R3¢ per month Evening St d 55¢ per month 10c per copy ch month or mail or tele- t the en eek. Orders may be sent by Bhone National 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Fhly o-:lt; Bund 1 yr. $12.00: 1 mo. 1.9 $8.00: 1 mo., $5:00; 1omo. 500 Bntered as second-class matter post office, ‘Washington, D. C. 1 yr. 1 yr. Member of the Associated Press, The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use ’nx republicatios oi 1l news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in aper and also the local news bublisned here ' rights of publication of #pecial dispatch erein also are reserved. _—— + American Crisis If there had been any doubt in the minds of any one as to where the American Government’s sympathies and Interests lie in the war today, . Becretary of State Hull dispelled it with extraordinary candor last night in his righteously wrathful and forceful address before the American Society of International Law. In measured and meaningful terms, the usually reticent head of the State Department, in effect, served notice on the world in general and on war- mad Germany in particular that this Nation henceforth is allied morally, at least, with the European democ- " racies now battling for their lives in Holland and Belgium and France. The United States has been forced to become partisan in this most , critical of all wars for reasons that go deeper than sentiment. Mr. Hull - has admitted publicly what many LELL R AR 3 B L L L T T T e s H B FANR SRS IO G AABB T BAR T BRI aG s e e anne anxious observers have been saying privately with increasing solemnity of late—that the structure of civili- zation, of “world order under law,” has begun to crumble and that its threatened collapse directly and vitally menaces our own Nation. We cannot escape being caught in the crash merely by shutting our eyes and stopping our ears and protesting that it is “none of our business.” As Secretary Hull put it, “We cannot shut it out by attempting to isolate and insulate ourselves.” It is a mat- ter of dire reality that such an atti- tude well might accelerate the very catastrophe - which its deluded ex- ponents seek to avert. Secretary Hull went far in laying down a new and more virile Ameri- can policy with respect to Europe’s war—but The Star believes he should have gone even farther. He spoke of the efforts of the Nation to use its “moral influence” against the spread of international lawlessness. Moral influence is"a proper instrument of foreign policy under ordinary condi- tions, but it has become a pitifully impotent and ineffective factor in 8 world largely dominated by mili- tary violence. It has been demon- strated that aggression of the type which marches brutally and in- exorably across neutral and inof- fensive countries today cannot be halted by appeasement nor by ap- peals to reason. America must awake to the plain and unpleasant fact that unless moral aid to the beleaguered allies is supplemented by practical, tangi- ble assistance of a degree not here- tofore extended, the walls of Euro- pean civilization as we know it may 1all before the forces of totalitarian anarchy—and no democracy, How- ever powerful or however secluded, could long survive such a cataclysm. The United States wants to stay out of this war, of course; but it may find itself engulfed by it eventually unless realistic steps are taken without further delay to help France and Britain and their allies beat back the formidable, relentless hordes of Hitlerism. The most immediate need of the embattled democracies of Europe is planes. Let us stop quibbling about premiums for plant expansion, about release of latest designs, about how and when payments shall be made— let us remove all obstacles to the speedy production and delivery of these potent challengers of Nazi air power. Every American plane sent into combat strikes a blow against 8 military machine that is a poten- tial threat to our own Nation. The more blows we can strike without engaging in the battle ourselves, the less our chances of involvement. Suggestions already are being made in Congress that laws requiring pay- ment in cash for war purchases be revised. This would involve repeal of the Johnson Act, barring loans to debt-defaulting nations, and modifi- cation of the cash-on-the-line pro- vision of the Neutrality Act. Al- though the allies have not yet ex- . hausted their cash, the time may come before many ‘more months have passed when credit will be asked. Is this Nation going to im- peril its own security by shutting off further supplies of planes and guns because the nations fighting our battle for us cannot afford to pay cash? Would it not be better, indeed, gs ritain and France than to see the flames of conquest spread to this part of the world? These are some momentous ques- tions of policy which the adminis- h give planes and guns outright to | b o o _THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGION, D.' C, TUESDAY, MAY 14 1040. tration and Congress and the Amer- fcan people may have to answer de- cisively before very long. The deci- sions must be reached in an atmos- phere of sane reasoning and practi- cal considerations, It is not a bit too soon to start thinking about them. e ——————— An Auspicious Start While Hitler's legions were bludg- eoning their way across Belgium and the Netherlands yesterday, meeting stubborn resistance by land, water and air, Winston Churchill made his maiden appearance as Prime Minister in the House of Com- mons. It was a triumphal debut for the statesman upon whom Britain now pins her hope of victory. By .a vote of 381 to 0, a cheering cham- ber approved Mr. Churchill’s ap- peal for support of a government representing “the united and in- flexible resolve of the nation to prosecute the war to a victorious conclusion.” It is an auspicious be- ginning for a cabinet pledged to in- troduce a new order into the con- duct of the campaign. That ‘order, the Prime Minister declared, has but a single goal— “victory at all costs.” Mr. Churchill’s pronouncement is auspicious from another and even more important standpoint. He warned the empire of the struggle that lies ahead. “I say to the House, as I said to min- isters who have joined this govern- ment, that I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. . . . We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We face many, many months of struggle and suf- fering.” Thus, in his first words to the country as custodian in chief of its dreams and its destinies, Prime Min- ister Churchill seeks to drag his compatriots out of the miasma of complacency in which too many of them, as well as their sympathizers abroad, are mired. It is a clarion call to them to abandon the smug theory that Britain always “muddles through.” It is a warning of the peril lurking in the myth that be- cause the empire is “a slow starter,” it is nevertheless a sure winner. It is a rebuke to those who take refuge in the delusive slogan that though the sons of Nelson and Wellington “may lose battles,” they invariably wind up by winning wars. Noteworthy new names appear in the revised regime in Downing Street and Whitehall. Labor, in the persons of Major Attlee and Arthur Greenwood, receives two of the five portfolios which compose the com- pact inner war cabinet. Recognizing the tremendous role that must be played by Britain’s workers in main- taining war-waging efficiency, Mr. Churchill has invited Ernest Bevin, general secretary of the powerful Transport Workers’ Union, to become Minister of Labor, and Herbert Mor- rison to serve as Minister of Supply. His majesty’s “loyal Labor opposition” is thus awarded no fewer than four places in the “victory” ministry. In The Star’s opinion none of Churchill’s appointments outranks in imporfance and potentiality that of Alfred Duff Cooper in place of Sir John Reith as “Minister of In- formation”—that is, if the change means that Britain is no longer to fight either in the dark or amid an impenetrable fog of senseless censor- ship, if not downright misinforma- tion. The time has gone by for the allies to indulge in idle dreams. Into their ears needs to be drummed day and night that they face a hideously strong and relentlessly resourceful enemy. Mr. Churchill does well to indicate his intention of breaking with the policy of optimism and con- cealment for so-called morale-build- ing purposes. Library Changes Dr. George F. Bowerman soon will retire from the administration of the Washington Public Library. It is natural that he should be succeeded by Miss‘Clara Wells Herbert, who has been his associate since 1907 and his principal assistant since 1920. These changes are not sudden de- velopments, neither are they such as to involve any startling alterations in policy or method of business. Dr. { Bowerman and Miss Herbert have brought to approximate perfection a system which serves the community efficiently, - economically and with rich cultural effect. The library, under their management, has been a school for the people. Such was the purpose of its founders. It will con- tinue to be the aspiration of their successors in time to come. - Friends of the library are grateful that the first thirty-eight years of its history have been a period of steady growth. The work has been carried forward mostly by members of the original group of trustees and employes. . When new personnel has been introduced, the constructive traditions were. maintained. Thus, the institution is a living entity in itself, independent of individuals. And they who have given themselves to that end are satisfied that it is 80. Miss Herbert will follow the path of Dr. Bowerman and in turn will be followed by another administrator who will preserve the same ideals of Pprogress. ‘The Library always has trained its own staff people, preparing them for special tasks as they were needed; and the advantages of such an ar- rangement now are manifest. The Bension Grab The House of Representatives yes- terday was the scene of a grotesque exhibition as fhe votes of two hun- dred and forty-seven members passed the Rankin blil (o pension wives, children and dependent par- b ents of deceased Word War veterans who had a8 much as ninety days’ service, without regard to the cause of death. ; ¥ ‘The indorsement of this proposed grab was a legislative travesty, for no one with even an elementary grasp of finances should think of saddling the Government with such & preposterous burden in view of present conditions. The answer, of course, is the im- minence of election time, for to put the matter in the most charitable light, it is safe to say that it was this reason, rather than belief in the |- justice and equity of the measure, that was responsible for nine out of every ten votes cast in its favor. Aside from its financial aspect— and estimates of the cost have ranged up to $100,000,000 annually— the principle of the bill, which is the product of a high-powered lobby, is thoroughly indefensible. Represent- ative Rankin of Mississippi, the au- thor, and other supporters, say in excuse for the measure that it will aid dependents of veterans whose deaths- were indirectly due to war service. But certainly, there is no justification for creating a class of beneficiaries whose claim on the Government has such a flimsy foun- dation. The bill now goes to the Senate and it may be expected to encounter more backbone there than was shown in the House, where the opposition could muster but thirty-one votes. The Senate should not even bring it to the floar. Right-thinking veterans unques- tionably would applaud this treat- ment of the measure. — Where the Blame Rests The Star cannot agree with Rep- resentative McGehee's thought that blame for the failure to amend the District Unemployment Act is to be placed with the leaders of labor and the unemployed. The blame for the deplorable fiasco which has marked attempts to amend this act rests with the House District Committee—and no- where else. Labor leaders have been short- sighted and selfish, it is true, in their efforts to make the local benefits so liberal as to antagonize the repre- sentatives in Congress of States wheres such liberality would be out of the question. But it is to be ex- pected that labor leaders would try to get all they can, and they are not the ones who write the legislation. The real difficulty has been two- fold. First has been the dillydally- ing of the District Unemployment Compensation Board, which appar- ently is incapable of effective lead- ership and seemingly is uninterested in making any real effort to secure a just compromise between the con- flicting aims of tax-paying employers and labor. The second difficulty has been the failure of the District Committee to meet its responsibility and report to the House a series of amendments that would represent reasonable lib- eralization of benefits while reducing the outrageously excessive taxes now collected to pay them. Mr. McGehee has perhaps done all in his power to accomplish this. But the House District Committee has let it slide, as it lets other things slide, and the session will probably close— as Mr. McGehee predicts—without any amendments. Labor’s fault? Not atall. It is the fault of a legislative body too pre- occupied with other things to func- tion in behalf of the voteless, tax- paying constituents who live in Washington. — By the Sword Some countries may have scenes of political violence in their halls of parliament, but not Cuba. This is well illustrated by a recent contro- versy there between a candidate for Senator and a candidate for Repre- sentative on the same party. These gentlemen, when they agreed to dis- agree, did not thresh out their diffi- culties in Congress and thereby call attention to an unfortunate lack of harmony in the party. Instead, a combination of party loyalty and pa- triotism caused them to adjourn their meeting to a quiet spot in the country, where the discussion could take place calmly. < There the senatorial aspirant pre- sented his point, which was on the end of a sword, and pressed it home vigorously. The would-be Represent- ative parried cleverly and had at -least partial success in getting the senatorial ear. Arguments on both sides were keen, having just come fresh from the grindstone, and the proceedings moved rapidly, some- times faster than the eye could fol- low. The debate was, of course, con- ducted under the auspices of a sub- committee on practical politics which gave both participants a chance to secure the floor, and the loser the privilege of staying on it. Thus in strictly parliamentary style the mat- ter was settled, the swords of politics sheathed and its wounds patched up, Privately, the legislators were carved up some, but there was no visible split in the party. SES—————— A certain powerful . Protestant church issues a clarion call to par- ents to teach their children “the facts of life.” It might be mildly suggested that among these is the fact that, if a President has acute need of a competent diplomatic ob- server at. Vatican City, that does not .mean that these United States are in the least danger of becoming dominated by the Church of Rome. S — British unemployment is the low- est since 1920, according to foreign advices. Yes, and may go lower yet. A b ‘Of Stars, Men And Atoms Notebook of Science P}ogrou ‘ ‘In Field, Laboratory And Study By Thomas R. Henry. A few evenings ago an elderly gentle- man in evening dress stepped on the platform of an ornate assembly hall in Washington and, somewhat bashfully, drank a cocktail. He did it in the presence of a very distinguished company—the member- ship of the National Academy of Sci- ences, the real “brain trust” of America. ‘The gentleman was one of them. He imbibed a salt and water cocktail—very mild indeed. The “bartender” was at least equally distinguished—Dr. Ernest O. Lawrence of the University of Cali= fornia. A few moments later the martyr to science began to explode. It sounded like a machine gun in operation some- where along the Maginot Line. “Bang- bang-bang” went his fingers, his chest, his heart, his stomach, his liver, as Dr. Lawrence held in front of various parts of his body an apparatus known as the Gieger counter. . The noted scientist shared the stage with some white lilies which were given some of the same cocktail to drink- through their roots. They also exploded like machine guns when exposed to the Geiger counter. The man and the lilies both had drunk 2 minute amount of “artificial radium.” The machine gun shots were exploding atoms. They had penetrated to nearly every cell of the man's body. They were diffused through the stem, the leaves and the blossoms of the lilies. It was an entertaining demonstration by the World’s foremost atom-smasher, inventor of the cyclotron, of other pos- sibilities, from the splitting of uranium, which, according to persistent rumor among American physicists, Adolf Hitler is trying to have developed into the most potent war weapon yet devised by man. After 15 months since the prospects of atomic power have been known, nobody has ever proved conclusively that it can ever kill a single human being or ever turn a single factory wheel. The chances are that it can do both some day. Meanwhile, it has proved quite unex- pectedly practical in a far different field. About 20 artificially radioactive ele- ments, hitherto unknown on earth and obtainable in no other way, have been obtained by splitting uranium, or pos- sibly actino-uranium, approximately in halves. It has provided an extraordi- nary tool for medical research. It may have provided remedies for certain spe- cific human diseases, such as deep- seated cancers and the terrible blood dis- easeé, leukemia. This is a long call from fuel-less bat- tleships ploughing through the seven seas on their missions of death, or fuel- less airplanes loaded with bombs to drop on defenseless cities. The physicists of America would prefer that it stopped there for the time being, although they are in duty bound to find out all they can about it and report their finding to the War Department. They are skepti- cal but they are worried. They will continue to be worriéd until the war is over. There are other ways of obtaining “artificial radium.” The stuff in the cocktail served by Dr. Lawrence may have been obtained by the bombard- ment of other atoms. Some of the most essential, however, can be made only by splitting uranium. It is a dismal shift of the scene from the well-lighted hall of the National Academy of Sciences, founded by Abra- ham Lincoln, to & medieval castle on the outskirts of Copenhagen which the Danish government a few years ago de- voted to the uses of Denmark’s most famous living citizen, Dr. Nils Bohr. He was the man who first announced uranium splitting to the American sci~ entists. ; Late in January, 1939, the actual fis- sure of uranium was confirmed almost simultaneously by Dr. Merle A. Tuve in Washington and Dr. Fermi’s associates at Columbia. That same day they re- ceived a cable from Copenhagen that the same thing had been accomplished a few days before in the Danish castle. ~.0f. Bohr has thrown the resources of his unique laboratory open to the world. Last summer several American physicists and graduate students were working there on the uranium-splitting problem. There, if anywhere on earth, the solution might have been expected. Today Prof. Bohr's castle is in the hands’ of the Germans, there are no further reports of scientific results obtained there, and a great darkness has settled over the spot which a month ago was one of the torches of advancing civiliza= tion. But American physicists are none too optimistic or pessimistic over the fu- ture. The theoretical possibilities, they say, dwarf the imagination. The practical possibilities, up to the present, are nil except for the creation of artificially radioactive elements. But they would like to know what is happening at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute. It would be .& big load off their minds and their consciences if they could be assured that the Germans have advanced no further than they themselves have advanced. ‘To the Editor of The Star: The people who.use the “cowpaths” through the Mall are taxpayers, and since, due to all the regulations, their cars are parked 10 to 15 blocks from their work, they should be permitted to cut across the Mall if they wish, Did it ever occur to the authorities to put walks across the Mall where the tax- payers evidently desire to walk? Fifty- thousand dollars for lights around the Union Station and the motorists avoid it! The taxpayer should get some con- sideration for his money. He can't yote; must he give and give and receive no re- turn for his money? Let’s give the tax- payer a place to park and allow him to walk when and where he pleases, since his money keeps. up the government in the District. Let the police go after the holdup men and quit arresting people for walking across the parks. ONE WHO PARKS SIXTEEN BLOCKS FROM THE OFFICE. : May 13, . A THIS AND THAT " By Charies E. Tracewell, “EAST FALLS CHURCH, Va. “Dear 8ir: “How thrilling it is to discover a new bird in one’s yard! “This happened to me today as I looked out in the lilac bushes and saw s small gray-blue bird flitting about, dart- ing out now and then at an insect, fly- catcher fashion, “It was a blue-gray gnatcatcher, a dainty bird hardly larger than a chicka- dee and nearly as cute. “The bird book gives them as being sbundant, but it’s the first time I've seen one, and, by the way, it can sing & lovely little song. It sounds entirely different from any other bird. “Our yard also boasts the beautiful towhee, who has been here for almost & week. His mate is not around to my knowledge. The brown thrasher, flicker, mourning dove and, of course, the robin are others who are here. I have seen one chimney swift and several tree swallows already. “There is one bird which seems to be noticeably absent in this locality and that is the blue jay. Have you noticed this? We usually have s0 many, but they seem to have deserted us entirely. “Sincerely, G. B. 8.” * k% % The chickadee is really a whopping big bird in comparison with the tiny gnat- catcher. The latter is but 4% inches in length, whereas the cheerful chickadee is all of 5% inches or thereabouts. This makes the blue-gray gnatcatcher the smallest bird which visits our gar- dens, next to the ruby-throated hum- mingbird. This column has never been fortunate enough to have one of these gnat- catchers in the yard. Jt is listed as a common summer resident. Nest building begins with them the third week in April. Young on the wing have been observed as early as the last week in May. Occasionally they appear here by March 6. Mainly they are gone by the middle of September. * % % % This must be a most interesting visitor. It is said to resemble a miniature . mockingbird, but according to the pic- tures it more nearly resembles a wren. The song of this bird is judged very sweet, but 1t is 50 soft that one must be very close to hear it. The gnatcatcher belongs to the rel- atively small number of birds which do not seem to use much common sense about singing close to the nest. The male, which takes turns with the female in sitting on the eggs, is said to sing fearlessly even while on the nest. This, surely, is not & very discreet thing to do, under the circumstances. * X *x % As to the bold, handsome and somewhat waggish blue jays, they have a habit of leaving neighborhoods at times. Our community has been fortunate, we feel, in having them at all times of the year, not in numbers, but three or four or half & dozen. They keep things in an uproar wher- ever they come, not by frightening other birds, which they surely do not, but mostly because of their jaunty ways and loud calls and cries. Several years ago this column received & letter from another Virginia corre- spondent—we think it was Virginia— stating that the jays left a neighborhood every PFriday. This, according to our correspondent, led to an old legend, that the blue jays visited the devil on that day. Here we get down to the very roots of folklore, % * k% A grand bird is the jay, taking him as he comes, and that is the only way to take him, for he brightens up any yard. Other and smaller birds, while never disputing anything with him, do not really fear him. We have never seen an instance of a Jay attacking any other bird, He has a reputation, of course, of being an egg eater, and no doubt he does it, but so do other birds. At feeding stations he remains only half an hour at the most. Peanuts will attract him. He is as bad as any squirrel in bear- ing off the goobers. He seems to have the ability to cram several in his bill. The jay likes to carry off sunflower and other seeds, packing them in his Jaws, or whatever you call that portion of the bird anatomy. These bits of food he hides in trees, selecting the crevices of bark and notches. While he undoubtedly does this for his own future benefit, he also helps many a smaller bird. Nuthatches, brown creepers and many other birds find and devour the food which the jays hide. Since the jays are large and capable, they must carry away and hide immense amounts of foods, over the days, most of which is probably found by other birds and by squirrels. It is in this way that nature helps carry them all through the winter, These methods have been worked out over the centuries, While they may seem to be haphazard, they pass that greatest test: ‘They work, ‘We hope no newcomer to bird feeding resents the visits of the jays just be- | cause they are so much larger than most guests and seem so bold and buccaneer- ing in their ways. They are beautiful, lusty fellows, with a real sense of humor, welcome visitors where bird feeding is carried on in the same good spirit. Letters to Correspondent Opposes U. 8. Entry in War. To the Editor of The Star: We are again faced with the same situ- ation as that which confronted us at the start of the first World War. Being a young man with military training, I ob- serve with interest articles appearing in your paper encouraging the idea of the United States entering the present war on the side of the allies, I wish all your readers could have witnessed a little incident which oc- curred across from the White House on the evening of May 7. A World War veteran, shabbily dressed, thin and hun- gry, was suddenly taken with a convul- sion and lay on the walk for at least a half hour before police or medical aid arrived. After recovering, he stated that he had not eaten for days and that he had been refused help by several organi- zations where he applied, including the Veterans’ Hospital. The persons who witnessed this happening will verify my statements, To think—a man who gave the best part of his life for this country, fought and was willing to die for “democracy” —forgotten! Are we again to sacrifice our youths, the strong and healthy, our leaders of tomorrow, to fight some one else's wars, and to return crippled, shell- shocked or gassed, only to be forgotten? May 8. J.C. M. War Veterans Oppose Loans to Defaulters. To the Editor of The Star: As foreign propaganda calculated to involve the United States in another European war increases, there appears to be little doubt that the next big inter- national issue to fought out in the United States Senate will be the ex- tending of credit to the allied powers for war munitions. This cannot be accom- plished without the repeal of the so- called Johnson Act, but here again there is little doubt that the internationalists will soon make such & proposal and sup- port it with high-sounding pfopaganda throughout the country. Behind this effort there will be, for one thing, an intensification of the old familiar cry that if credit is extended to the allies America will be “preserving the world for democracy.” - And if Uncle Sam is gullible enough to swallow that dose again, the next step will be the call for American soldiers. Then a lot of fine, new slogans will be invented for American consumption, new and more of Europe—and for what! ‘The Johnson Act provides that credit cannot be extended to a debt defaulter. It was enacted into law at a time when the public was indignant because of Europe’s welching on the payment of war debts, and when such terms as “Uncle Shylock” and “the greedy Americans” were being .flung about with wild abandon. : 2 But with the recollections of the i a!!égggé §F the Editor Letters to the Editor must bear the name and address of the wur‘iit:r alt;lwghbtlx “uze o‘g a pseudonym for publication permissible. Please be brief! be told that the repeal of the Johnson Act must result in Europe’s buying all of their products at high prices, that soon they can again become prosperous. In the cities the workers will be told that the continuance of their jobs depends largely upon the extension of credit to the allies so that the wheels of our indus- tries may be kept going at top speed. But no attempt will be made to recall the fact that the prosperity which was temporarily enjoyed by the farmers and workers during the first World « War nearly spelled complete disaster when peace finally came, bringing with it a depression from which we have not yet recovered. Any seeming prosperity built on war orders is bound to react dis- astrously. Nevertheless, the stage is being set carefully for the next barrage of inter- national war propaganda engendered by the paranoiacs of Europe to inveigle good old, big-heatred, rich Uncle Sam to ac- cept another stacked deck. And the plot is likely to succeed unless the American public becomes angrily conscious of the threadbare fraud which is again being perpetrated in the name of democracy. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States has seen and experienced war at its worst. It resents the proba- bility of the Nation’s youth being used to increase the number of white crosses in the American cemeteries already in France for no good reason. We will do better to attend to our own business at home and let Europe fight its own wars, When and if the Western Hemisphere is attacked by the madmen of Europe it will be time enough for the United States to take ’em apart. VICTOR E. DEVEREAUX, Director, National Department of Americanism, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. May 10. Germany Repays Dutch Kindnesses With Bombs, To the Edftor of The Star: All people of Dutch origin—naturalized Answers To Questions By Frederic J. Haskin. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Evee ning Star Information Bureau, Fred- eric J. Haskin, director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. How much money will the Ne¢ York Yankees receive for permission t broadcast the games?—J. R. A. The Yankees will be paid $75,000 by the sponsors for the privilege & broadcasting the baseball games daily int 1940, Q. What kind of an animal is & potto? —8.C. A. It is a small lemurine mammal of West Africa about the size of a squirrel, with soft yellow fur and protruding, yellow, perpendicular eyes. The potto is a nocturnal animal of the tree-tops and its weird, whimpering cries are believed by the natives to be voices of evil spirits. Dr. W. M. Mann, leader of the Smithsonian-Firestoge Expedition in Liberia, has captur®d one of these rare animals for the National Zoological Park at Washington. Q. Who was called the Rock of Chicka- mauga?—J, C. A. This was the title given Gen. George Henry Thomas because of the stead- fastness with which he held his position on that famous battlefield in the Civil War. Q. What is the meaning of the legal term habeas corpus?—W. H. R. A. This is “the great writ of personal liberty.” Habeas corpus is a court order directing one who holds another to produce the body of the person detained before the court to determine whether there exists sufficient cause for his de- tention. Q. How much rent did the United States Government pay to France for the trenches in the World War?—H. U. R. A. The War Department says that tiie United States has never paid rent to the French Government, or to a French citizen, for the occupation of trenches in the battle line. The rumors in regard to this matter have probably originated from the fact that the United States rented ground for training purposes, and paid a certain amount for damages to property when training trenches were constructed. Q. What was the first sports paper in the United States?—E. D. A. The first newspaper devoted to sports was the American Turf Register, which appeared in Baltimore in August, 1829, Q. Have there ever been man tele- phone operators?—E. T. H. A. The first operators of the telephone switchboard installed in New Haven, Conn,, in 1878 were boys. *“Ahoy-ahoy” was used instead of the customary “hello.” E Q. Was Eli Whitney interested in the manufacture of firearms?—D. M. A. In 1798 the inventor secured Gov- ernment contracts for manufacturing firearms, and was the first to effect a division of labor by which each part was made up and ‘then assembled. He also designed ingenious machinery for the manufacture of the guns. Q. How many post offices are there?— R.LL. A. There are 44,400 post offices in the United States. Q. Who was elected Vice President with Abraham Lincoln for his first und second tegms as President?—C. R. A. Hannibal Hamlin of Maine was elected for the first term and Andrew Johnson of Tennessee for the second. Upon the death of Lincoln, Johnson be- came the 17th President. Q. Has there ever been a poll taken to show what is the favorite American poem?—M. J. R. A. Such a poll was conducted in the columns of 252 daily newspapers located in 39 States, and the favorite in this survey was “A Psalm of Life” by Henry ‘Wadsworth Longfellow. Q. How many deaths occur from drowning?—W. D. W. A. In 1939 the total number of deaths from drowning was 6,700, Q. What are the words most frequente ly mispronounced?—C. D. H. A. According to & tompilation of the Office of Education, the 12 words most often mispronounced are: On, again, toward, interesting, accept, address, preferable, drowned, perform, automo- bile, attacked and forehead. The Miracle of Spring The cold and snows of winter were un- known To her until she was a woman grown, For she had lived her life where golden hours The whole year through were filled with birds and flowers. When first she saw a snowstorm's daz- zling white She was awestruck, and silent at the sight Of so much beauty, soft and deep and still; Each snow fall brought an added, deeper thrill shaking | But when the winter days grew short the invasion of their native country, and with good reason. I recall the special trains with thousands of children from Germany arriving in Holland soon after and dark It seemed to her as if the very spark Of life more The cruel hand of winter laid them low. And then, one day, she heard with face aglow, ‘The icebound stream throw off its broken chain; Saw Wild geese fiying north; and once again Green grass sprang from the earth; the golden cup Of the first daffodil was lifted up; The swelling leaf buds burst on every