Evening Star Newspaper, May 17, 1940, Page 10

The Foening Hhar Veith Sunday Mornina edition, ‘THEODORE W. NO&EB. Fditor, WASHINGTON, D. C, A May 17, 1840 The Evening Star Newspaper Company. Main Office: 11th 8t and nnazivanis Ave. ast 42nd 8t. York Offce: 110 Chicego Office: 436 North ‘Michigan Ave. Delivered by Carrier—~City and Suburban, Requiay Edition. ening and Sunday 75¢ per mo. o1 180 per weel e Evening Star .. 45c per mo. Or 10c per weel e Sunday St 2 10c per copy m, . 88¢ per month 600 per month ght ight Rural Tube Delivers. 13 Benlnl -&d Sunday lD!:L - - §he Evenins Bar g e Sunday Star. - e end of vach month or ‘ollection t th g\ week. &dlr may t . Shone Nationa 5050, 1 sent b7 mall or tele Mail—Payable in Advance. 1. $12.00; 1 mo. 81,00 . .00: 1 mo., ‘l%c g d m:.. 80c "88c per mon 858¢ per mon!| 10c per copy 1;"0" Dost office, Member of the Associated Press, o7 News Tinatcnte b Tl Decial ditpatehed The W. P. A. Report If the taxpaying public can derive any satisfaction from the report on the W. P. A. investigation submitted by the House Appropriations Com- . mittee In asking for nearly a billion dollars for relief to start the next - fiscal .year, it must be found in the committee’s assurance that relief ad- ministration “abuses” are lessening, Beyond that, the principal impres- sion left by the report is that there are numerous cases to be catalogued along with the half-million-dollar race track venture in California, which prompted Work Projects Com- missioner darrington’s comment - that “we were taken for a ride on that.” A certain amount of poor adminis- tration—or maladministration—may be expected when vast sums of Gov- ernment money are being spent, even though common decency does dictate that no effort be spared to make cer- tain that every cent intended for re- lief goes into proper channels, and some of the derelictions uncovered by the fourteen-State investigation conducted by an appropriations sub- committee undoubtedly were due to carelessness. But there are gross evils whose cause lies deeper, and the committee observation that it was *“incomprehensible” that Federal of- ficials were unaware of the waste and misapplication of funds in Louisiana, where indictments and prison terms are now the order of the day, raises a grave doubt as to whether the Fed- eral administration was not uhduly remiss there and in other States where similar conditions prevailed. Because of disclosures from time to time over the past two or three years, the nature of the report was not surprising. It is noteworthy, however, that the improvement in administration which the committee . sald coincided with the start of the Inquiry has paralleled the service of Colonel Harrington as head of the W. P. A, and consequently this encour- aging trend may be expected to con- tinue. Nothing could be more im- portant, for there is no end in sight to work relief, in the opinion of those directing it, and such a situation de- mands that the fullest return be re- ceived for every dollar appropriated. A disturbing factor bared by the Inquiry was the “left wing” activities reported by the subcommittee coun- * sel, J. O'Connor Roberts, whose find- _ings in this respect were borne out by Colonel Harrington’s statement that & “good many nests” of Communists have been rooted out of the W. P. A. Colonel Harrington, while opposed to & law that would bar Communists from works jobs, favors a declaration of policy on the question by Congress. That problem, however, could be met . simply by enforcing the section of the Hatch Act which calls for re- moval from service of any Govern- ‘ment employe who holds member- ship “in any political party or organ- Ization which advocates the over- throw of our constitutional form of government in the United States.” Enemies Within During the Spanish Civil War the late General Emilio Mola broadcast to the world the statement: “We have four columns advancing upon Madrid. The fifth column will rise at the proper time.” His reference, obviously, was to Franco sympa- : thizers in the capital who could be relied upon to receive the Nationalist tebels as friends. These “borers .- from within” were enemies of the radical, or Loyalist, government. But Mola’s premature disclosure of their existence cost the victims of his indiscretion their lives. Wholesale executions halted whatever activity they might have attempted in aid of the besiegers. The taking of Madrid was delayed for months. Yet the phrase applied to the disaffected _portion of the city’s population as- . sumed a convenient immortality. It is common now in discussion of the conflict to which the internecine strife in Spain was a “curtain raiser.” The “fifth column,” however, is not -new. .On the contrary, it is ages old. The Bible and the Greek classics report it repeatedly. For scores of centuries treason has been regarded as “the highest crime known to society * * * a crime directed against the very existence of the state itself.” In a vast majority of cases the in- stinct of the human race is resentful of any endeavor to assist an organ- ized foe. But there are exceptions to the rule—Nathan Hale, for example, was a traitor in fact yet not in the _theory of the American people. “Fifth column” enterprises require understanding if they are to be *'judged. The secret German opposi- “"tion to Hitler is a “fifth column” of & sort. On the other hand, Norwegians who betrayed their country, Hol- landers who facilitated the occupa- tion of the Netherlands and all such imitators as they may have in Great Britain or in France or in the United States can expect little mercy when they are caught at thelr odious work. TETT—— America Acts President Roosevelt’s sound and admirably forthright message call- ing for a billion-dollar strengthening of our fighting arms, coupled with the overwhelmingly favorable re- sponse to it in Congress and in the country at large, should dispel any {llusions which totalitarian dictators or others with dreams of world con- quest may cherish about this easy- going, peace-loving democracy. The President' speaks for. an aroused, united and grimly determined people when he serves notice on the forces of international anarchy—static and on the march—that the Western Hemisphere is “verboten” territory and that we mean to keep it that way, whatever the cost. That the cost will. be great and that it will bring enormous burdens and entail enormous sacrifices on the part of every American citizen for many years to come is undeni- able. Another billion dollars on top of the staggering expenditures of the depression period is a serious strain on the national economy. But, as Mr. Roosevelt remarked earlier, when catastrophe threatens our per- sons and our homes, there is no time to count the cost of emergency pro- tective measures, A billion dollars is a relatively small investment, indeed, if it will give this Nation even a rea- sonable degree of security against such frightful carnage as has been visited upon Europe’s more vulner- able democracies. The shocking developments of re- cent weeks—the defeat of the allies in Norway under the onslaught of Nazi air power, the five-day subjuga- tion of Holland and the astounding thrust into Belgium of Hitler's mech- anized divisions—has awakened even isolationists from their complacency, Suggestions of an allied defeat no longer are regarded as fantastic. And, none too soon, we have begun to ponder upon the dire implications of a totalitarian triumph in the epochal struggle now approaching its critical stages across the Atlantic. That is why the United States must act quickly to fortify itself against the possible spread of the conflagra- tion to this hemisphere. President Roosevelt pointed out that our sol- diers and sailors, man for man, are the equal or the superior of any the world over; and our Navy, ship for ship, can hold its own against any foreign fleet. But men without ade- quate arms and training, ships with- out support of a powerful air force and planes that have been outmoded by the startling improvements de- vised by Nazi ingenuity would be at a grave disadvantage against modern mechanized might of the deadly type which conquered Poland, Nor- way and Holland and which now menaces France and England. Science has speeded up war's tempo. As crisis follows crisis in bewildering succession, need for ac- celeration of our preparations to resist invasion from any quarter becomes imperative. It would be dangerous to pause in these prepara- tions to conduct investigations of what Mr. Roosevelt properly has termed “loose” charges that previous appropriations for defense have been squandered. The full sum asked by the President should be and un- doubtedly will be voted cheerfully and quickly. No strings should be attached to the legislation. If in- quiries are deemed advisable at the Capitol, let them come later. It will take time to increase production capacity of shipyards and plane fac- tories—and time is of the essence in this race to make America secure from invasion. Free rein must be given the allies in their purchases of American planes and arms—for by 80 doing we not only diminish the threat to our own country, but gain the potential advantages of greatly Increased production facilities. There is no need for hysteria, no place for politics nor petty bickering in considering means of meeting the emergency with which the Nation is confronted. The occgsion calls for clear heads, courage, unified action— and, above all, speed. By the exhibi- tion of such qualities America will let all dictators know that her peo- ple are resolved that what is hap- pening in Europe must not happen here. . E————— Justification Wisdom of the State Department’s rigid restrictions on travel to Europe since last September is demonstrated by current intensification of the war and ominous signs of its further extension. It is estimated that more than 20,000 Americans have been kept out'of the danger zone because they could not qualify for passports under the ‘“imperative necessity” rule. Even those who complained most loudly when their applications were turned down probably are thankful now that a wise Govern- ment kept them at home. The situation is extremely serious for the 40,000 or more Americans living in Southern Europe and Great Britain and France. Any day now, officials fear, the kind of “total war” Hitler is talking about may bring a virtual rain of bombs to endanger their lives. Everything possible is being done to evacuate those who are willing to leave. They are being urged to congregate at Bordeaux, France, or in Spanish, Portuguese or Irish ports, where American vessels might be sent through the combat ares to pick them up. Transporta- tion 1s difficult throughout Europe, however, and many Amaericans un- b THE EVENING STAR, doubtedly will be left to face the dangerous music. More than 80,000 Americans were brought back from Europe during the first few weeks of the war last fall. Thoss who remained did so from their own choice and despite repeated warnings to get out while transportation was available. Thelr failure to leave sooner has resulted now in what the State Department describes frankly as “another emergency” evacuation problem. This Government cannot force its citizens to come home whenever danger threatens, but it can keep those already here out of danger by refusing to issue pass- ports. Serious as the present prob- lem is, it would have been worse if all those Americans who have wanted to go to Europe since last Beptember had been allowed to do s0. EEEE——— Reckless Language At a time when the United States, facing a serious threat to its national security, is preparing to spend vast additional sums of mohey for de- fense purposes the country is told by 8enator Clark of Missourl that $7,000,000,000 appror~~ted for mili- tary purposes dur e past six years has been “pou,.. down a rat hole.” i If true, the making of that charge could be justified, despite its tend- ency to undermine public morale, by the imperative necessity of recti- fying what would be a truly shocking and alarming situation. But if the accusation is-not correct—and The Star is convinced that it has no sup- port whatsoever in fact—the use of such reckless language at this criti- cal time by a responsible public official is a matter of gravest concern. The Missouri Senator, a leader of the isolationist bloc, was saying in effect that no present benefit has been derived from the billlons of dollars which we have spent on national defense—that we stand to- day in no better position than we did six years ago. If accepted at its face value such a statement, coming & few hours before the President's request for additional funds to meet the growing emergency and made in the knowledge that such a request was in contemplation, could serve only to shake public confidence in the uses to which the new money might be put. But it is essential now, as never before, that this country present a determined and united front to the savage forces which have been turned loose on the world. We have no choice but to prepare ourselves for every conceivable con- tingency, whatever the cost, and in the making of those preparations there is no place for any criticisms which are not fully supported by the facts. Examination of the record shows that the $7,000,000,000 mentioned by Senator Clark—an exaggeration in itself—has not been poured down a “rat hole.” Actually something under $5,000,000,000 has been spent on the Army and Navy during the first six years of the Roosevelt administra- tion. The greater part of this money has gone for salaries, food and main- tenance of the armed services— surely not & usage such as that sug- gested by the S8enator from Missouri. But there have been gains as well, Expenditure of the $5,000,000,000 has increased the strength of the Army by at least 1200 airplanes, 189,000 regular troops and reserves, 8200 motor vehicles, 700 tanks, armored cars and combat cars, 400 anti-air- craft guns and 750 anti-tank guns. The Navy, with other things, has gained 130 new ships and there are sixty-six now on the building ways. But this increment in our armed strength, unhapplly, is not enough in the world of today, to say nothing of tomorrow. We must go forward and our progress should not be Im- peded by careless complaints. We can prepare ourselves for the worst that may come if we choose to do so. That we ought now to devote every energy to that end is abundantly attested by the fate which has overtaken or is immi- nently threatening China, Austria, Czecho-Slovakia, Poland, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, France and England—nations that could not or would not prepare themselves in time to meet the inevitable. Excuse It, Please’ Bpring may have been late in com- ing this year, but it has still brought with it such by-products as excusés to get away. The weather, especially when ajded by a ball team playing on the home grounds, has caused an alarming rise in mortality rate of office boys’ grandmothers—a rather tough specles, usually with more lives than a cat. In schools there is a strange reluctance to put down six and carry two, and an inability to remember when William the Conqueror invaded England or even to guess when Adolph the con- queror will do it again. All that is wanted is & good ironclad, foolproof alibi; powers of invention are stim- ulated to combat the appalling skep- ticism of a teacher who has heard them all. Occasionally one is found, as re- cently was the case in South Caro- lina. Upon putting up his hand, one of the older pupils got the nod, marohed up, and tendered his reason for absence from classes the day be- fore. It was a breathless moment. Would he get away with it or would he get a licking and be kept in and made to write “insufficient excuse” five hundred times on the black- board? He sighed with relief as the teacher's face softened, while ex- pressing the hope that the puplil's wite was doing well and eongratu- lating him on the birth of & son. A WASHINGTON, D. ., FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1940. - Declares We Live In Fool’s Paradise Menace to America Seen In Growth of Mob Rule To the Editor of The Star: I read in your paper a day or so &go & news item quoting a high ranking American Army officer 8s saying that the “blitzkrieg” of the Hitler army in Europe was nothing new; that it had been tried by Gen. Lee and many dther generals without success. I wonder if this gentleman is not committing the almost unpardonable sin of lulling us into insecurity by underrating our potential adversary, Some of our high ranking naval offi- cers who boastfully stated to committees of Congress, as well as publicly, that it was impossible for a submarine to sink a battleship equipped with so-called blisters on its armor, carried red faces for quite a while after the sinking of the British aeroplane carrier which was equipped with such blisters. “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Don't let us fool ourselves by following the ad- vice of a few high ranking Army or Navy officers who apparently live to wear medals and attend social functions, rather than to devote their entire time and energy to devising ways and means to meet'and overcome a potential danger to our security and independence. Let us retire some of these old fellows in high office of the Army and Navy, whose ideas seem to be antiquated and be- fuddled. Let us give some of the younger men of the Army and Navy whose ideas may be better, and minds much more flexible, a chance to demonstrate their abllity to make this country a safe place in which to live before it is too late. I understand that we do not have enough anti-aircraft guns to defend one city. We are living in a fool's paradise. We had better begin to prepare now and on a 2¢-hour working basis or, surely as our forefathers died that we might live in a free country, the “blitzkrieg” will get us. I am pro-ally in mind, body and soul and, if this be treason, make the worst of it. The allies are fighting for the preser- vation of that form of free government that I claim by inheritance. If it fails, I would desire to go with it. Dictatorship is a contagious disease. I have friends who are pro-German but I can not find fault with their right to so lean because this is a free country (at present) and that is the price of liberty. If the allies win this war, the pro-Germans in this country will continue to enjoy the bless- ings of liberty. If the Germans win this war, I, with all other persons who are pro-ally, will eventually be put in a con- centration camp or sent before a firing squad. - That will be our penalty for defending our liberty and a democracy. For me, the latter choice would be more preferable to living under the rule of a dictator. I fear our country is at the present time honeycombed with spies, termites that bore from w’ hin. Don't let us for- get the actions ~t .on Bernsdorff and Boy-ed while guests of our country be- fore we entered the last war. A leopard can not change its spots. Don't let us be caught napping like Great Britain was. Let us prepare. Another billion dollars for the security of our liberty and in- dependence would be cheap insurance as compared to our cost in the last war, Our independence and liberty cannot be reckoned in dollars and cents. Lord Haldane, in 1931, speaking before the American Bar Association in Canada, stated, “Man is born free, yet every- where he is in chains. Those that would be masters cease not to be greater slaves than those whom they govern.” This was merely pointing out the power and force behind the howl of the mob. It was clearly demonstrated when Christ was carried before Pilate that the yell of the mob was a ruthless master and would overcome the careful judgment of think- ing men. It is as true today as it was when first spoken. The mob in Europe, led by a ruthless dictator, is on the march. We may be next. They.must be stopped or civilization will be retarded a thousand years. Let us prepare our de- fenses—two fleets—one for the Atlantic and one for the Pacific—each at least double the size of our present one. An Army and air force large enough to pro- tect our country would eliminate unem- ployment and remove most persons from the relief roll. If we must fall into error of judgment on the questions of preparedness, let it be by overrating the dictators. Such an error would ultimately be in our favor and perhaps save the lives of many good American cltizens. ; Let us keep a sharp lookout for the “Trojan horse” and the “fifth column.” Don't let us be foolish and say, “It can’t happen here.” R. E. WELLFORD. May 15. Housing More Important Than Recreation, He Asserts, To the Editor of The Star: Strange fellows, these men of power in our Federal Government! Confronted with the serious problem of housing and slum clearance, they created the Alley Dwelling Authority to make solution. This observer doubts the sincerity of the, Federal Government in this matter of housing because of the following reasons: First, the limitations and restrictions placed upon the A. D. A. interfere too much with the proper, effective function- ing of this agency. Second, the greatest offender in the creation of housing congestion is the Federal Government itself. Hundreds of families are de-housed to make room for Federal Buildings, thereby adding in- sult to an already injured public. Third, no limit is set on the price to be paid for property purchased for the ad- vancement of recreational facilities and & “nit-wit” can see and understand that & place to live is far more important than place to play. : €. HERBERT MARSHALL, Jr. May 13. President’s Comment on Aggression Appreved. ‘To the Bditer of The Star: I was among the millions of Americans who last Friday night listened with en- thusiassm and approbation to President Roosevelt’s masterful condemnation of the unwarranted aggression of Germany against the Low Countries and his deter-’ mination to keep the United States at peace. - It was particularly satisfactory to hear him expressing his own anger, traction, whose native land is threatened by the same fate) May W EDMUND VASVARY. 2 .wood,| THIS AND THAT By Charles E. Tracewel, Today's installment of the 301 species contains the following birds: Mourning dove, ground dove, turkey vulture (buzzard), black vulture, swallow~ tailed kite, marsh hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's hawk, American gros- hawk, red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, American rough-legged hawk, golden eagle, bald eagle, duck hawk, pigeon hawk, Ameri- can sparrow hawk, fish hawk. Barn owl, American long-eared owl, short-eared owl, barred owl, saw-whet owl, screech owl, great horned owl, snowy owl, Carolina paroquet (extinct), yellow= billed cuckoo, belted kingfisher, hairy er, downy woodpecker, yellow- bellied sapsucker, pileated woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, red-bellied wood- pecker, Northern flicker, hybrid flicker, whippoorwill, nighthawk, chimney swift. L Ruby-throated hummingbird, kingbird, Arkansas kingbird, crested fiycatcher, phoebe, olive-sided flycatcher, wood pee- wee, yellow-bellied flycatcher, Acadian fiycatcher, alder fiycatcher, least fly- catcher, horned lark, prairie horned lark, blue jay, crow, Southern crow, fish crow, starling, bobolink, cowbird, yellow-headed blackbird, red-winged blackbird. mea- dowlark, orchard oriole, Baitimore oriole, rusty blackbird, purple grackle, bronzed grackle, English sparrow, purple finch, American crossbill, Newfoundland cross- bill, white-winged crossbill, redpoll. American goldfinch, pine siskin, snow bunting, Lapland longspur, vesper spar- row, Savannah sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, Henslow’s sparrow, Nelson's sparrow, lark sparrow, white-crowned sparrowy white-throated sparrow, tree sparrow ychipping sparrow, field sparrow, slate-colored junco (snowbird), Montana junco, Bachman'’s sparrow, song sparrow, Lincoln's sparrow, swamp sparrow, fox SpAITOW, L Towhee, cardinal, rose-breasted gros- beak, blue grosbeak, indigo bunting, dick- cissel, scarlet tanager, summer tanager, purple martin, cliff swallow, barn swal- low, tree swallow, bank swallow, rough- breasted swallow, cedar waxwing, North- ern shrike, ' migrant shrike, red-eyed vireo, Philadelphia vireo, warbling vireo, yellow-throated vireo, solitary vireo, white-eyed vireo, black-and-white war- bler, prothonotary warbler, worm-eating warbler, blue-winged warbler, Brewster’s warbler, Lawrence's warbler, golden- winged warbler, Nashville warbler, orange-crowned warbler, Tennessee war- bler, parula warbler, Northern paruls warbler, Cape May warbler, yellow warbler, black-throated blue warbler, myrtle warbler, magnolia warbler, ceru- lean warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, bay-breasted warbler, blackpoll warbler, Blackburnian warbler, yellow-throated warbler, black-throated warbler, Kirt- land’s warbler, pine warbler, palm war- Letters to U. 8. Pacifists Seen as Consolation to Dictators. To the Editor of The Star: When Hitler left the League of Na- tions and commenced to rearm, France and Belgium, remembering their recent bitter experiences, asked England to join in the occupation of Germany, un- less she renounced her intention of bufldhlg another formidable military machine for conquest. Unfortunately for the peace of Europe, the deluded pacifists who ruled England at that time not only refused to take this step, but also prevented the taking of adequate measures of defense, and thus uninten- tionally contributed more to the success of the ruthless aggressor than any other factor, more even than the paid traitors in Norway and Holland. ‘With their diabolical gangster methods of warfare, the dictators seek to exter- minate rather than to conquer the “lib- erty and peace-loving countries.” Nothe ing could possibly give them more genu- ine pleasure and actual encoursgement than the efforts of our “peace at any price” isolationists in the United States, They should know that when people express such opinions in Germany, Italy and Russia today they are shot. It is now becoming evident to most intelligent Americans that the allies are fighting our war as well as their own. For the preservation of civiliza- tion in the world and for the sake of humanity we should not fail to do our full share in this noble cause now. May 12 DORE WALTEN. Thinks America Should Look Into Fifth Column Activities. To the Editor of The Star: Much has been published of late about “fifth column” operations in Norway, Holland and Belgium. Spy ays- tems as pictured in popular movie ver~ sions would lead us to believe that “fifth columns” are made up of daring, glam- orous people with access to strategic in- formation. Actually, such groups are numerically small and of little effect when their activities are known, but the “fitth column” may be numerically tre- mendous in a country and,there is every Teason to believe that such a column is active in America, Instead of seeking information it seeks to spread discontent, disunity, and dissatisfaction. Many of the country’s citizens who would bitterly resent being called “traitor” will will- ingly and gleefully support the “col- umn’s” activities, because they expect to gain personally at their brother’s ex- pense. America should begin to be aware of the “column’s” activities in her bler, yellow palm warbler, prairie warbler, ovenbird. LR Northern water-thrush, Grinnell's water-thrush, Louisiana water-thrush, Kentucky warbler, Connecticut warbler, mourning warbler, Maryland yellow- throat, Northern yellow-throat, yellow- breasted chat, hooded warbler, Wilson's warbler, Canadian warbler, American redstart, American pipit. Mockingbird, catbird, brown thrasher, Carolina wren, Bewick’s wren, house wren, wintet wren, short-billed marsh wren, long-billed marsh wren, brown creeper, white-breasted nuthatch, red- breasted nuthatch, tufted titmouse, black-capped chickadee, Carolina chick- adee, golden-crowned kinglet, ruby- crowned kinglet, blue-gray gnatcatcher. Wood thrush, Wilson's thrush (veery), willow thrush, gray-cheeked thrush, Bicknell's thrush, olive-backed thrush, hermit thrush, Northern robin, South- ern robin, bluebird. L ER] No reader could be more tired reading this list than the writer here in copying it! But it was done for a purpose, to show graphically just how many birds have been seen in what is known as the Wash- ington area, which comprises some 20 miles in all directions from the Cap- itol Building. It must be kept in mind that out of this long list, many species have been seen but one or two times. A few have beer: seen in the past, but no longer come here, Many accidental visitors are included, such as the Hawaiian petrel, which was blown in on a severe storm. Truly, we do not see many American eagles hereabouts, and most of us never sight the bald eagle, which is listed as a permanent resident, more commonly ob- served in summer. They are sald to breed near Mount Vernon and Great Falls, The Carolina paroquet, sighted in Sep- tember, 1865 (and greeted with a burst of gunfire, man's welcome to the animal | world), is now extinet. The famous pileated woodpecker will not be seen by most of us. Experts ques- tion whether there are any left at all. *vws Of all these birds, which are the ones likely to be seen in home gardens? If you are fortunate, you will identify | the following: Red-headed woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, flicker, whippoorwill, night- hawk, chimney swift, ruby-throated hummingbird, phoebe, peewee, bluejay, crow, starling, cowbird, blackbird, Bal- timore oriole, purple grackle, English sparrow, purple finch, goldfinch, snow bunting, white-throated sparrow, tree sparrow, cnipping sparrow, field sparrow, junco, song sparrow, fox sparrow, care dinal, scarlet tanager, indigo bunting, purple martin, barn swallow, cedar wax- wing, black-and-white warbler, ovenbird, Maryland yellow-throat, yellow-breasted chat, mockingbird, catbird, brown thrasher, Carolina wren, house wten, winter wren, brown creeper, white- breasted nuthatch;: red-breasted nut- hatch, chickadee, blue-gray gnatcatcher, wood thrush, robin, bluebird, the Editor Letters to the Editor must bear the name and address of the writer although the use of a pseudonym for publication is permissible. Please be brief! lators whose interest should be to serve all the people, have been a familiar part of the scene since the last war. To gain their own ends others preach change of Government. Our present form of Gov- ernment seeks to “check and balance” these traits of human nature, the effect of which our forefathers had experi- enced. Change of Government won't change the self-seeking of human na- ture, in whatever strata of life it is found. When human nature is willing to admit that the alternative to fair play is chaos and that civilization is capable of existing only because men agree to principles of fairness and justice and practice them, will the “fifth column” no longer find fodder upon which to feed. Men have been willing enough to see the wrong in others and to excuse it in themselves. So long as political and in- dividual expediency is more important than subscription to the fundamental doctrines of liberty, a subscription that means more than lip service, the “fifth column” will be as successful in America as it has been in Europe. The demands of special interests has run up an all-time high of debt in Amer- ica at the very moment when Europe has been demonstrating that every American resource should be used to pro- tect her very life. Why should we feel that the parallel road of policies which sorely afflicted England and France and which we have followed so closely will be less hampering to us in our hour of need. The “fifth column” is made- up of those who follow a policy of expediency in place of principle, even though the skeptic laughs at “principles” as old- fashioned, for he is propagandizing for the “fifth column” consciously with malice, or unconsciously in pursuit of so- called new and liberal philosophies. T the Bditor of The Star: I wonder if there are other Washing- tonians who are as perplexed about the fixing of parking tickets as I? Haskin's Answers To Readers’ Questions By Frederic J. Haskin. A reader oan get the answer to any question of Jact by writing The Eve ning Star Information Bureau, Frede eric J. Haskin, director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. Please give the origin of blitzkrieg or lightning war—J, D. E. A. The inception of blitzkrieg is credited to an Italian general with the French name of Douhet, who propounded the theory of a knockout blow with the air force alone. According to this plan, thousands of airplanes were supposed to swoop suddenly over a potential enemy, paralyze him before he could even mo- bilize by destroying his cities, industrial plants, communications, air bases and so forth, and s0 demoralize the population that it would immediately sue for peace. Q. Does the Government have s lst of the various occupations in the United States?—H. K. M. A. The Department of Labor has ree cently issued “A Dictionary of Occupae tional Titles” which lists and defines 29,744 titles given to 17,452 different jobs in the entire fleld of American work activity, Q. What proportion of the diamonds produced are used for industrial pur- poses?—8. C. A. Three-fourths of the world's dia- monds are used industrially. Q. How many kinds of orchids are there?—T, C. Z. A. There are 1,500 species of orchids in 450 genere. Q. What percentage of the national income is represented by taxes?—R. T. 8. A. According to figures of the Tax Policy League, taxes collected by all units of Government in the United States in 1939 amounted to 20.1 per cent of the Nation's income. Q. Who originated the custom of planting white birch trees on Mother’s Day?—T. L, A. The custom was inaugurated by Solan L. Parkes, an advocate of forest conservation, who planted the first mother’s tree at Reading, Pa., 17 years 8go. Q. What will be done with the New ‘York World's Fair buildings and grounds after the fair is over?>—C. E. 8. A. The New York City Building and the New York State Building and amphitheater will remain and paths, trees and shrubbery will be kept intact. The rest of the buildings will be do- molished and the site will become a city park. Q. Does Canada have transcontinental air service?—D. H. B. A. Transcontinental air service was in« augurated in Canada on March 1, 1939. Q. What are the 13 fruits of the Holy Ghost?—S8. 8. T. A, They are charity, joy, peace, pa- tience, benignity, goodness, long suffer- ing, mildness, faith, modesty, continency and chastity. Q. How many of the Presidents of the United States were unmarried?—E. M. L. A. James Buchanan was the onmly bachelor President. Q. Is it true that the names of race horses are limited in length?—T. C. B. A. The names of race horses are limited to 14 letters in order that they will fit easily on scoreboards and form sheets. Q. When was major league baseball first played on Sunday in Philadel- phia?—C. A. A. The first Sunday scheduled game ever played in that city was on April 17, 1934, Q. Who is eligible to membership in the Order of the Colonial Lords of Manors in America?—H. E. W, A. Membership in the organization {s by invitation and limited to men and women lineally descended from a recog- nized patroon, seigneur or lord of a manor of New Netherlands or province of New York, or a similar system of Colonial landholding in any other of the original colonies. Lineage papers are sent to prospective members and must be filled out and returned. Finland The Star has been requested to re= print this poem on Finland by ons who points out that “while Finland's cause is perhaps forgotten in the latest tragedy in Holland, the senti- ments of the poem seem to apply equally today.” What is a cross But two sticks and a nail? What is a flag But & painted rag? And & man, mortal flesh That will fail? What is the light And whence comes The greatness of man? Whatever the color, Whatever the shade, The number of stripes, Or the way it's made, Freedom's flag