Evening Star Newspaper, April 16, 1942, Page 12

g s gl r-ooou ' NOYES, Editor. " WASHINGTON, D, C. AY _April 16, 1942 The Evening Star Newspaper Company. Whm:ml-”l EEa B » nday Star o Tl g el s may be sent by mal one National 5000 Rates by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. nday ] 2 80 Boe #e ulkb"'nl mo. or 10¢ per w 10¢ per sopy b gor meu r mon nth or or tele- ndsy ‘.":ur mo year months month e lln'im |I IIIM Ktates. $8.00 oar » ‘n 2 3400 months month The Agsoct sively entitied to republication of all Dews dispatches to It or not otherwise Credited 50 1 al news published special disoatches Press is excl { oublication of Normandie I.nquiry In view of the haste, confusion and general laxity which a House Naval Affairs Subcommittee says ex- isted on the Normandie at the time she was destroyed by fire last Febru- ary in New York Harbor, it is not surprising that the great ship failed to realize her destiny as an auxiliary of the fleet. The congressional in- vestigators, after two months of in- quiry, have concluded that the dis- aster which wrecked the converted French liner four days before she was to enter the American naval service as the U. 8. 8. Lafayette was due to ‘“carelessness and lack of proper supervision.” Although con- vinced that the fire was an accident, the group pointed out that the con- ditions which made possible such an accident and its consequences might just as well have paved the way for successful sabotage. If there were saboteurs on the Normandie project, the subcommittee added, they must have held off not because of any risk of detection but because they preferred to act at some later time, For example, the subcommittee found that there was conflict in naval circles over the advisability of rush- ing the ship to completion by a cer- tain date, that there was confusion as to who exercised supreme control over the project, that the contractor was not adequately supervised, that employes an the job were not prop- erly investigated, that persons with- out credentials were able to gain ac- cess to the ship, that essential fire protection safeguards were absent and that, although there had been rumors of possible sabotage, “the care and supervision required in the circumstances were totally lacking.” ‘These are extremely grave findings. ‘Whether the conclusions of the House subcommittee will agree with those of the official naval court of inquiry which has been investigating the fire remains to be seen. Secretary Knox has announced that if the court determines that offenses “have been committed or serious blame incurred, it will recommend what further pro- ceedings shall be had.” The report of the naval court will be awaited with much interest. Meanwhile, careful consideration should be given to the suggestions of the House mem- bers for drastic protective measures in the vicinity of vital water front facilities, ships, terminals and other properties being used in the han- dling of war supply shipments. This matter is so important that it is al- most incredible that there could be any official indifference respecting it. Magnesium Case Ended Another case involving charges that a tie-up between American and German industry had stifled pro- duction of a vital war material—in this instance magnesium—has been wiped off of the Government’s books with the entry of a consent decree and the imposition of fines totaling | $140,000 against the Aluminum Co. of America, Dow Chemical Co., three | other corporate defendants and a half dozen officials. The decree also terminates the patent controls through which the curb on produc- tion reputedly was effected The American concerns were in- dicted last year with I. G. Farben- industrie of Germany, whose thir- | teen-year affiliation with Standard Oil Co. (New Jersey) has just been broken up by a consent decree, and the charges followed the same pat- tern as those of the latter case. By restrictions on patents and alloca- | tion of world markets, the combina- tion was declared to have been re- sponsible for shortage in the United | States and Great Britain of mag- nesium, & metal used for aircraft and other products. The American defendants denied | wrongdoing, and on the contrary pointed to a heavy increase in the production of magnesium when de- fense preparations stimulated the market for this metal. “no contest” to the indictment and meeting the other terms laid down by the Government, a spokesman said the companies were actuated by a desire to avoid litigation requiring the time and attention of officers and key employes who are needed in | the war program. The outcome presumably is satis- factory to the Government also. Free licensing of patents—one of the aims of the litigation—is provided by the decree, and the processes for pro- duction and fabrication of magne- sium will become available to any applicant. The settlement also ac- ! THE cords with the principle recently laid down by President Roosevelt for the suspension of anti-trust litiga- tion involving concerns identified with war production MacArthur ‘Returns’ The great American air raid on key points in the Philippine archi- pelago, from Manila to Mindanao, was not merely a brilliant tactical great psychological significance. Alstralia after his epic journey through the Japanese blockade, one of his first statements was a message to his devoted troops and the Filipino people. That inspiring greeting was: “I came through, and I will return!” The echoing crash of American bombs on Japanese-occupied air- ports and harbors must have been | infinitely heartening to the defend- ers of Corregidor, to the valiant guerilla bands in the Luzon jungles, to the hard-pressed garrison on Cebu, and to the bolo-wielding Moros | of Mindanao. It was smashing proof that their beloved leader had | not forgotten them and had sent them this token that his word would ultimately be made good. archipelago, with its hundreds of islands, great and small, extending north and south for nearly 1,000 miles and with over 16,000,000 in- habitants, is for the most part far occupation is as yet confined to rela- tively few regions, mostly on Luzon and part of Mindanao. Cebu is the only intermediate island where the Japanese have attempted a landing in force, and that only within the past few days. This air raid is in some respects unique in aeronautical warfare, Com- posed exclusively of long-range bombers, the attacking squadron op- erated from Australian bases. This means that it had to fly at least 1,400 miles to reach its objective at Davao, on Mindanao, and 2,000 miles big air base at Manila. All the raid- ers save one returned safely, and the crew of the lost bomber was saved. That speaks volumes for the maneu- verability and carrying capacity of our latest types of flying fortresses, since they had no fighter escorts and must thus have been able to deal with Japanese “Zeros” and deliver adequate bomb loads on their targets, with gas enough to do the round trip of at least 4,000 miles. The outcome of this eminently successful action should be disquiet- ing not merely to the Japanese but also to their Axis partners in Europe. Our giant bombers are coming off assembly lines in ever-increasing volume. What they can do in the Philippines from distant Australia can “be duplicated elsewhere when our air force hits its stride. e ——— Women'’s Land Army The threescore women who have completed a special agricultural training course at the University of Maryland are reported to be having the same experience many college graduates undergo in normal times— they discover there is no job await- ing them. In both cases, however, the college training is of value and, in most cases, eventually is put to use. Despite the widely-publicized short- age of farm labor, university officials say no farmer has come forward to who voluntarily took a course con- sisting of lectures and practical training in horticulture, poultry rais- ing and dairying. Nevertheless some of the women, who own farms, will be able to apply their knowledge and training at once and, perhaps, to help their neighbors. Dr. T. B. Symons, director of the university’s extension service and an enthusiastic supporter of the women's land arthy movement, plans to set up a committee to find appropriate oc- cupation for the landless farmerettes. Meanwhile, school boys are being vacations in another Maryland farm- | labor experiment and State officials are studying the advisability of mak- ing certain types of prisoners avail- able for agricultural enterprises. stand why farmers will not make im- In pleading | mediate offers for the services of the farmerettes. All signs indicate, however, that | the day is not far distant when | agriculture will follow the present example of industry and call upon women to fill jobs left vacant by men drawn into the Nation's war | effort. When that day comes, the farmers will be glad that at least | some women were energetic and patriotic enough to obtain scientific | farm training. Individual Dignity In a recent and somewhat cryptic opinion, the United States Court of | | Appeals upheld the validity of an in- | dictment returned against a local attorney and his client, the latter being a young man ordered to report for induction into the Army The indictment was based on the contention that the attorney and the | client had conspired to prevent the latter’s induction, the appeal being | feat but also a strategic move of | When General MacArthur reached | It should | be remembered that the Philippine | from conquered. Japanese military | for its attack on Nichols Field, the | trained for farm work during their | These are among the numerous fac- | tors which make it easy to under- | ING STAR, so strictly speaking our only concern is with the sufficiency of the indict- ment, but in the interests of a free people, preserving the dignity of the individual as much as possible while organizing our Nation's forces to bat- tle in that behalf, we make it our | concern to flash a signal of warning. | usual, but if we can add one tittle to the preservation of man’s worth be- hind the lines, we accept the con- comitant responsibility.” Possibly the court might have set | forth its position in more explicit | language, but the intent of the sen- | tences quoted seems clear. | extent that this judicial admonish- dency to override individual rights In a time of great national emer- gency, it will have served a useful | purpose. A Voice of the People To appraise Hugh 8. Johnson accu- | rately would require, first of all, a careful reading of everything that he wrote for publication. Having done exactly that, the public to which he was devoted is prepared to appre- ciate him fully. Death has come to him too soon and his work was un- finished, yet there can be no question | about the immortality which he had achleved. He will be remembered as Will Rogers is and for a similar reason. It likewise is true that his | influence will survive in common | with that of Theodore Roosevelt, | whom in many respects he resembled. | General Johnson was character- | istically American. His background | was “the last frontier” of Oklahoma. He was forthright and courageous, frank and fearless. His spirit was | vallant, and even in the midst of the bitterest of battles there was an element of chivalry in his manner. He could rave and sometimes ranted, but a native sense of humor, in- herited perhaps from his Irish ances- tors, invariably preserved him from | uncharitableness. Certainly, there was no meanness in him. Ke was a critic and a reformer, seeking ultimate and altogether perfect ends, and his methods were as incisive as a flame. Of course, he made enemies—and gloried in them. Yet no contemporary could have alleged against him that he was unyielding in his opinions. His fundamental doctrines remained un- changed through the years, but he adjusted his thought to the times with a considerable talent. The in- dividualistic quality of his mind was his most conspicuous and valuable asset. Even as a soldier laboring under a rigid military discipline, he was himself. He brought the same instinctive integrity to his work as a lawyer, as a business executive, a Federal administrator and a com- mentator. It found expression in a richness and variability of language. General Johnson leaves his coun- try in his debt. He served most help- fully in the First World War and contributed to the development of the “will to victory” which now strives toward triumph in the Second. As sponsor and director of the Na- tional Recovery Administration in 1933 and 1934 he taught industry a useful lesson in co-operation. He was fortunate in the chance that made him a newspaper columnist and, in that role, an enduring power. Looking back from the vantage point of half a century, the historians of 1992 may recognize him as an authentic voice of the people of the United States, provocative, insistent, . | i i n, ask for the services of the women | Aggressive and occasionaly mistake yet customarily honest and fair. He was a great personality and as such already has become an enduring part of the tradition by which Americans WA Perchance this is not adjudication as | To the | ment may forestall any careless ten- | live. More Submarines The notable success already achieved by American submarines in their operations against Japanese naval tnits, transports and supply vessels in Far Eastern waters fur- nishes full justification for a further expansion in our underseas fleet. ‘The House Naval Affairs Committee has proposed a new construction pro- gram, providing for 200,000 tons of submarines, enough to build more | than 150 submersibles of the cruiser type, capable of offensive action thousands of miles away from their bases. With more submarines, the Navy will be better able to hit Japan at | her most exposed point—her lines of supply in the China Sea, and the In- | dian Ocean. A marked intensifica- | tion of air and submarine attacks on enemy shipping is needed to give the | United States air and sea mastery [in the Southwest Pacific, a con- trol that would open the way to a later knockout offensive against | Japan. The entire Japanese supply route lies within striking distance of | our cruiser submarines, and our long- range bombers. Because of limited shipbuilding facilities, Japan is par- ticularly vulnerable to protracted submarine and air war against her merchant shipping. Already the If these losses | | fered heavy losses. continue, Japan may armies in the conquered territories. Since the war is likely to be of long duration, steps should be taken, | without delay, to expand our sub- | ing, Congress will increase the Navy's offensive power in the Pacific. taken and the opinion rendered on | technical grounds. The court care- fully refrained from indicating any opinion as to the factual merits of | this case, but it sounded what seems to be a timely and significant warn- ing against doing anything which | might tend to destroy or impair indi- vidual rights in the stress of war. “True,” the court said, “the facts of this case have not been developed, I\ American airmen and American | planes seem undoubtedly to be as superior to Japanese ones as are sil- ver dollars to quarters. The trouble | seems to be a similar discrepancy as | to numbers. Could it be called a beneficent form of infanticide when women are | trained to kill rumors? Japanese merchant marine has suf- ! soon find it | difficult to supply and reinforce her | | sailors or { who could do this job. HINGTON, D. Of Stors, Men And Atoms Notebook of Science Progress In Laboratory, Field And Study. By Thomas R. Henry. How hard can a man work, and for | how long? This question, which may become of vital significance in America's war ef- fort, is answered in part in a report to the American Medical Association by | Dr. A. C. Ivy Chicago. ‘Work, he explained, can be measured in terms of the rate at which the body burns up fuel to provide energy—the metabolic rate. The normal basal rate is between 1600 and 1800 calories. This is the of the University energy of keeping alive, used up when | Any | the body is completely at rest. exertion results in some increase. It now is generally agreed, Dr. Ivy says. | that the maximum exertion which a man can endure steadily for eight hours | is that which increases the energy pro- duction about eight-fold. If continued over a long period the result is collapse. Actually, he says, no such demand ever is made on a worker in American industry. Some tasks, like forced marches under heavy loads, may rep- resent a close approach. An increase between three-fold and eight-fold may be considered “heavy work.” Such work performed over an 8-hour period, he explains, requires a diet con- taining from 1800 to 4,600 calories above the basal requirements. The special requirements are for increases in fats and carbohydrates, such as su- gar, which easily are burned by the body. Extra vitamins may be required, he points out, because various elements of the B complex are necessary to burn sugar and sweating Increases the need for vitamin C. Most of the labor in a modern fac- tory or office, he says, can be considered as “moderate work,” which produces a metabolic rate of less than three times the basal metabolic rate. The increase in oxygen consumption, in heart rate and in blood pressure are slight. The- oretically such work might be kept up for much more than the normal work- ing day. But, Dr. Ivy points out, much factory work involves constant standing and the use of special or small groups of muscles. The burden on the nerve system of the muscles is intense. “Even standing,” he says, “is fatigu- Ing. It is well known that the adapta- tion of the circulation of man to stand- Ing still is imperfect. Only the physi- cally it can stand for long periods. The expenditure of energy is only about 25 to 50 calories above the basal rate but the motor nerve endings may undergo fatigue and the nerve endings in muscles, tendons and joints undoubtedly are af- fected. “Knowledge regarding one of the most important aspects of work, the time required for and the factors concerned in recuperation, is very meager. Some evidence indicates that an athlete after 10 seconds of maximum exertion may not be fully recuperated in an hour. It is believed that a runner cannot do his best daily, and some believe not even weekly. “In hand tests in which small muscle groups are used and the work is car- ried to exhaustion, the average recovery in & group of subjects is 90 per cent complete in 10 minutes and 95 in 20 minutes. In tests on the stationary bicycle, in which the subject does con- tinuous heavy work as long as he can maintain the same degree of work, my associate and I find that recovery in 10 minutes amounts to from 45 to 85 per cent. “Meager data indicate that the re- covery from the fatigue effects of mental work resembles that of muscular work. One investigator found that in repeti- tive mental tasks the optimum rest pe- riod was 2 minutes for each hour of work, or 5 minutes for each two hours.” In both the British and German war efforts to date, he points out, long hours have been reduced as much as possible because of the finding that they actu- ally result in a decreased production. It may be due, he stresses, to the phe- nomenon of “staleness,” familair to every trainer of athletes but the physciologi- cal principles of which are not under- stood. * % ox % Development of a new chemical treat- ment for protection of stored grain has just been announced by the University of New Hampshire. It appears to be highly effective in preventing loss from weevils, grain beetles and other pests. The treatment is the result of three years' intensive work. The new chemical is chlorinated ni- troethance. It is a clear liquid which can be shipped safely in ordinary con- tainers. It has a distinct but not ob- noxious odor. It vaporizes readily on exposure to air and the vapors will penetrate through flour, grain and many other products. While these vapors will kill insects, they are not as hazardous to human beings as other fumigants. The penetrating property of the va- pors is extraordinary. For example, they will penetrate flour stored in tight paper bags. They will go through tightly com- pressed cotton, or other textiles. Also. they will go through waxed paper wrap- pings around packages and through the | cardboard in which cereals are packed. The new chemical has been given large-scale tests on stored products. Applied on the surface of grain in a 60- foot storage vat, the vapor penetrates through the grain and kills whatever | | Insects may be present. Foodstuffs loaded in freight cars have been suc- cessfully fumigated merely by introduc- ing the chemical on top of them and | then sealing the car. marine building program. By so do- | 2 Asks Abnt lse of Veterans To Relieve Younger Servicemen. To the Editor of The Star ‘With all the crying need for man power in the armed service of our country, why not use some of the men of the 1917-18 draft who were soldiers, marines to relieve those younger men who at present are guard- ing our manufacturing plants, communi- cation lines and alien concentration camps? There are quite a number of veterans J.J. G. C., THURSDAY, ot | APRIL 16, 1942, THIS AND THAT By Charles E. Tracewell. “ARLINGTON, VA. “Dear sir: “Today's article prompts me to write concerning the robins. They arrived just before the storm of last Sunday. On awakening during the night and seeing everything buried under snow I could not go back to sleep thinking that all the birds would be frozen to death, espe- cially the robins that were not used to snow. “Even bobwhites have been in the habit of coming in the back yard for seed and bread, and I was sure that | they would not be able to get out from under the snow, as they are supposed to sleep on the ground. “I got up at 7 o'clock and went out and shoveled snow away around where the birds feed and put out plenty of food for them. I was so surprised to see that presently they all began to show up, including the robins. “Later in the day five bobwhites came and I wondered where the others ‘were. Since then nine have shown up, but no more. L B “I had eight robins in the yard and I put out fresh whole wheat bread and raisins and they liked that and would call for more when gone. “I have always put out fresh whole wheat bread, never white bread. Some- times I have used two loaves in one day. I cooked macaroni once and the star- lings seemed to like it. “In a special place I always had for the mockingbird. The robins like tokay grapes also. They are found in the market all the year around. “I dislike infensely the grackles, but cannot seem to keep them out as I do not believe in keeping food from the other birds to keep them out. You said once that they would soon go if they did not find the food they like, but I do not find that to be the case, * x ox “All winter I have fed the blue jays peanuts with the shells broken, but not roasted peanuts where the oil has been roasted out. “I like the blue jays very much and have never seen them do & single thing that was bad. I have fed eight cardinals all the sunflower seed they could eat all the year around, and, of course, plenty of mixed seed. “I have so many English sparrows and they are very noisy. They seem to depend on the seed entirely instead of foraging for their food. The tufted tit- mouse and the chickadees that have been here all winter iike mainly sun- flower seed and also peanuts, but will look for other food, too. They never fail to get fresh water all winter long. “It is a lot of work taking care of birds in the winter, but somehow I cannot let them down after they get to expect food. “I wonder how they will get fed if I should move somewhere else as I may have to. No one else in this vicinity seems to feed birds at all. T have worried about the birds in case * 1 have to moéve, raisins and pears, tokay grapes or apple | them, but what are several blocks to a especially the cardinals. “Yours truly, D. L. C" L This kindly correspondent need not feel that the birds will starve if she moves away Bird feeding, after all, is not done so much for the birds as for the person who does the feeding! It is done to bring the songsters close at hand, to have more of them in spring, summer, fall and winter, but especially during the cold months. Birds existed for thousands of years before any one ever thought of feeding them. Putting out food is a humane act, especially in snowy weather, it is true. That the birds like it there can be no doubt. That it is good for them there is no question But, with a few exceptions. they could get along very well without it. In case one has lured some species to stay North, it would be necessary to keep on feeding them until warm weather sets in The majority of the birds which winter here, however, have their own ways of finding food If an individual friend of theirs moves away they will be able to get along. Of this we feel sure, and so may the worrying type of person. It probably is good for the songsters to be put on their own again, It must be remembered that have a wide flying range. within several blocks may birds | No person be feeding bird? He can fly for miles, and rather enjoys doing so Thousands of householders feed the birds today in comparison with one a few years ago. It is an urban sport now. Except in heavy snows, most birds are able to rustle up their own “grub.” Those countless years behind the ex- periences of their tribes has made it possible for them to take up instantly where they left off before some kind- hearted person began to put out food for them. Let us make it plain that we do not feed birds to keep them from starving to death, except in the most terrible sort of weather, when snow and ice cover ground and trees and shrubs. We feed the birds because we like to feed them, because they come so nicely, and because this gives us a close ac~ quaintance with them, upon which ap- preciation of them grows rather than fades, as it so often does, alas, with some human beings. From now on there is no danger of any bird starving from want of food. Nature takes care of that. 1f one moves, the thing to do is to be glad that one was able to help them and to have had their companionship for a time and to feel sure that they will make their own way, as nature intended them to do. In eating at your table they were just taking advantage of a good thing; nature’s table is still set up for them, and that they still know how to eat at it there can be no doubt in the world. Letters to Criticizes Alleged Waste of Time At Opening of Baseball Season. ‘To the Editor of The Star: Your sports page reports that 200,000 persons will attend the opening of the baseball season. Tuesday is the second day of the working week. A half day may be taken as five hours. Pive times 200,000. gives a total of 1,000,000 man or woman hours wasted. It would be interesting to know how many flying fortresses could be produced in 1,000,000 working hours. Such of the 200,000 as think at all will smoothly deceive themselves with the proposition that it is “necessary re- laxation.” How mch “relaxation” is there on Corregidor or Cebu, in China or the Crimea? Fat Herman and the house painter must laugh. Their playgrounds are empty, their factories full. Those who spend a working afternoon watching one well-paid young man throw a ball to be hit by another well- pald young man with a small stick might think for an instant of those young men—not well paid—who played their last game in a sea of flaming gaso- line beside their sinking tankers. They were bringing the fuel to carry the noble 200,000 from their safe hiomes to the ball grounds. We will win this war—but not because we deserve to. J.D. Editor’s Note: In a letter to Commissioner K. M. Landis, January 15, President Roose- velt said: “I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going. * * * Everybody will work longer hours and harder than ever before. And that means that they ought to have a chance for recreation and for taking their minds off their work even more than before.” Expresses Appreciation Of Gen. Kutz's Impartiality. To the Editor of The Star. I certainly was amazed at recent newspaper reports of the charge against Gen. C. W. Kutz that he shows favor- | itism to the utility companies in dealing with matters coming before the Public Utilities Commission of the District. The impression left by the charge, made by one of his colleagues, cannot be erased by public apologies no matter how sincere, but it is hoped that the incident soon will be forgotten. Any one who has the slightest ac- quaintance with Gen. Kutz knows that | : promptly checked and countered by the a fraction of the people he serves have | he needs no deiense, but not more than had the opportunity to meet him. It was my good fortune, however, to serve sev- eral years with the commission under Gen. Kutz back in 1916. That body then was engaged for the first time in deter- | mining values of properties and fixing rates for thé utility companies operating in the District. The responsibility of the Commissioners required not only a vast knowledge of technical data but also | ability to weigh evidence impartially. From my intimate association I know of my personal knowledge that Gen. Kutz always maintained the strict- est attitude of neutrality toward the interest of the public and of the utilities, and when he made a decision it was as fair and equitable as it was humanly A | Wants Axis-Language Press with | the Commissioners on these problems | 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. The Star reserves the right to edit all letters with a view to condensation. possible to achieve. I do not believe that Gen. Kutz now has lost the sense of responsibility that characterized him so long ago. P. R. ROGERS, Discusses Letter From Unionist Who Defended High Wages. To the Editor of The Star: I too am a member of a labor organi- zation and therefore was much inter- ested in the letter published in your paper of April 13, I take it from the tone of the letter that the author is either a steam fitter, plumber or electrician, because he says that his work requires crawling under buildings. Evidently he must be of the drone type, for that is the place that all good bosses put the inefficient help. He possibly is getting at least $1.75 per hour and time-and-a-half for all time over 40 hours. He says that he works seven days a week, and as most Government construction is on a nine- hour shift, therefore his weekly wage is at least $132.98 for an actual 63-hour work week. He complains of the great hardships that he and his fellow workers suffer and that it costs him $25 or more per week to live. Also that they have to work out in the cold and on occasions their shoes get muddy. @My wish is that it would be possible for the sailors on the North Atlantic patrol or those that may be hanging for dear life to some piece of floating wreckage at this moment, or that the gallant defenders of our foreign outposts could read his letter. It possibly would make them happier to realize that the union building trade mechanic also is suffering along with them., G. Saved for Use by Government. To the Editor of The Star It is reported that the Government contemplates suspending “for the dura- tion” the publication of Axis-language publications. That move should be ! co-ordinator of intormation. Foreign-language papers are invalu- able tools. They should be used, not scrapped. The news and editorial columns of | every Axis-language » paper should be conducted by competent offisials of this | Government. Obviously, in the case of the one or two great foreign-language papers of long-established loyalty, like the New Yorker Staats Zeitung, gov- ernmental supervision would be merely nominal. A most admirable propaganda ma- chine, fully equipped except as to man- agement, lies ready to the hand of Col. William J. Donovan. To neglect to em- ploy it would be & grievous fault. H. P. OKIE. Haskin’s Answers To Questions By Frederic J. Haskin. A reader can get the answer to any Question of fact by writing The Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Has- kin, Director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. Where have the most alr raids taken place during the present war?— T.C.R. A. The island of Malta in the Mediter- ranean Sea is said t0 be the most heavily bombed place, having suffered about 1,500 air raids, Q At what speed does an automobile engine perform most efficiently?—8, G. A. Tests have shown that the engine reaches its peak of efficient performance at about 20 miles per hour. Thereafter each increase in speed makes a definite cut in miles per gallon. Q. How long have chihuahua dogs been in existence?—M. C. D. A. The chihuahua has been the pet of the Toltec Indians and their descendants since about 750 AD. Closely associated with religion, these dogs were buried with their masters so that their jewel bright eyes might light the way to the other world and frighten off evil spirits, HANDY LETTER WRITER—- An up-to-the-minute compilation of accepted standards and model forms for all kinds of correspond- ence. Complete sections on both business and social communica- tions. Covers the general rules of diction, punctuation, grammar; correct styles of address; proper salutations and closings. A spe- cial section on formal communi- cations with Government officials and dignitaries. To secure your copy inclose 10 cents in coin, wrapped in this clipping, and mail to The Star Information Bureau. Q. When a church flag is used, where should it be placed?—N. T. A. A. According to a resolution adopted on January 23, 1942, by the Executive Committee of the Federal Council of Churches, if a church flag is used with the national flag, the former as a symbol of loyalty to God should have the place of highest honor. According to tradi- tion, ancient and modern, the place of highest honor is to the right, on the floor level of the congregation, clergyman as he faces the congregation. Q. What is the real name of the fruit uwewp-mu.muhmmm.m the flavor of pineapple and banana. Q. Where is the largest wool-selling cgnter in the world?—G. D, F. A. The Royal Exchange in Sydney, Australia, is the world’s largest wool- selling center! More than 1,000,000 bales are auctioned off every year. . Q. Who was the famous sctor Who played the role of Maebéth costumed in the uniform of a ‘British general?— C.8.8. A. It was David Garrick, the English actor, who, it is said, kept his hearers enraptured despite his unusual dress. Q. What is the date on the interna- tional date line?—A. P. P. A. The date on the international date line itself is always indeterminate. But in going across it westward, the date is increased by one day, while in going across it eastward, the date is dimine ished by one day. Q. Which are the three largest cattie- raising States?—F. M. B. A. Texas leads with 6,281,537, followed by Iowa and Wisconsin, Q. On what occasion did Mr. Churchill say that he had nothing to promise but “sweat, toil and tears"?—G. 8. T. A. On May 13, 1940, after Great Brit- ain had dropped the Chamberlain gov« ernment and was adjusting itself to the prospect of total war, Mr. Churchill told his countrymen: “I have to offer but blood, toll, tears and Q. What causes the sea nettle’s sting? . —T. R. B. A. The sea nettle is a diminutive variety of jellyfish made up of thousands of cells. Each cell contains a tiny dart. Contact causes an explosion in the cell . and the dart is “fired” with such force it penetrates the skin. The darts are invisible to the eye but when 1,000 or . more are peppered into a few square , inches of the human skin the pain is great. o Q. From what is the name April de- rived?—K. P. C b A. The derivation of the name is uncertain. It may be from the Latin “aperire,” to open, in allusion to its’ being the season when trees and flowers' begin to unfold and the earth opens to’ produce new fruits. Q. Where does Great Britain get its.. sugar?—R. P. A. The Union of South Africa pro=.. vides a substantial amount of the sugar used by Great Britain. The Union took” up the cultivation of cane sugar about 60%; years ago and is one of the world's pfin-w cipal producers. Appraisal—1942 3 This year another measuring mck" will mark % My value to the world. I shall no(& rate, According to the things I Mv% acquired, | Nor yet by those I might uccumulatc. 4 This year my value lies in what ih left ch‘ | When I am stripped to my essentiaks core, B Minus the frills and lurbllom with., which I have regaled my fippant sel before. This year and even years to eomlg perhaps, New levies, not upon my things bné me, o Will mark my worth to be as I give Freely—my total self—to keep free! ISABELLE BRYANS b