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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1951-03-01, Page 2Pa&e 2 THE TIMES-ADVOCATE, EXETER, ONTARIO, THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 1, 1951 Exeter Times Established 1873 Amalgamated November 1924 Advocate Established 1881 Published Each Thursday Mor.ning at Exeter, Ontario An Independent Newspaper Devoted to the Interests at the Village of Exeter and District Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa Member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association Member of the Ontario-Quebec Division of the CWNA Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation Paid-in-Advance Circulation as of March 311 1950 — 2,329 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Canada, in advance, 82.50 a year United States, in advance, $3.00 Single Copies 6 Cents Each J. Melvin Southcott * Publishers Robert Southcott THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 1, 1951 How Are The Mighty Fallen! The second world war well over, the successful nations gave the United States principally, and the United Nations gen­ erally, the supervision of affairs Japanese, and ’ General MacArthur, a distinguished United States soldier, the principal office in that great task. How he discharged that heavy undertaking is a matter of record. At any rate the rest of the nations were glad to give the honour of the great Japanese undertaking to this United States military knan. When the land forces of the western nations were to be organized, General Eisenhower was given the honourable and severely responsible position of leadership. The rest of the nations concurred heartily in the appointment. As the North Atlantic fleet was being organized it was generally believed that the command would be given to a British sea­ man. At the time of writing this office has been given to a United States naval man. Some wondering is being done in regard to this appointment. It was all very well for the United Nations to set aside the successors of the Duke of Marlborough and Lord Roberts when it came to a military appointment. To set aside the successors of Drake and Nelson when it came to a naval appoint­ ment was cause for grave astonishment. We are certain that the United Nations people are bent on giving duties to the men whom they believe -will best discharge them. To think less of the powers that be who agree to such appointments would be to show distrust in such great leaders. But this only adds to the perplexity. Is it a fact that Britain no longer breeds men capable of high responsibility and outstanding in­ itiative? Have we no longer a Wellington with his Torres Vedras and Waterloo? Have we no longer sailors like Nelson who put the glass to their blind eye and sailed on the enemy with the battle cry “the closed the better” ? In a peril like this of the present hour has the sea disowned the men of the British blood? Is the race of men like Shakespeare and Watt and Stephenson so degenerate that it must in every post of considerable importance walk behind others who have risen to the position of leadership and com­ mand? Things are as they are and it is folly to try to deceive ourselves. The rest of the nations have told us that we are secondraters and we may as well own the corn. But Britishers are of the stock who little heed what other men or nations say of them. They go their own duty-doing way. » * * « Saving The Day War and the preparations essential to being ready for war are both of them ser­ ious wasters. The moneyed people of the land are onljr too well aware of this grim fact and are taking precautions to insure that the wastage shall be kept at its lowest point possible. Banks, as we all know, are interested in the business affairs of the country. Just now they are doing a good deal to have business keenly aware of the necessity of proceeding slowly or at least cautiously. Banks are aware of the tendency of some business men and others to increase then’ inventories or to buy in such amounts that there will not be enough goods to go round. Hence the precaution taken not to loan funds to business for the purpose of in­ creasing inventories. Banks know pretty well what are the normal requirements of merchants and others and are advancing loans accordingly. When anyone approaches the bank in these stirring times, for money, he will be re­ quired to show a just cause why his request should be granted. Further, anyone asking the bank for a loan will need to give highly satisfactory collateral security. The banks are as anxious as ever to promote good business bht they are almost doubly anxious to have the business they encourage secured ujx'to the last point. All this to the good of •everybody. Poor business is almost sure to be a forerunner Of trouble. Banks are anxious to make a dollar. They are also anxious not to lose a dollar. Canadian banks have been the best friends of the patrons for many a long day, When these careful going gentle­ men see a* red light it is just as well for the rest of us to sit up and to take notice. In any case it js a firstrate time for the busi­ ness world to find out where it is at and to make fto blunders in finding out where they stand. Interesting Were conditions not so serious it would be amusing to follow out the replies and the offers and all the rest of it the dip­ lomats are indulging in in regard to the Korean situation. Stalin is about master of the art of using words to conceal his mean­ ing but which may be interpreted in any way that suits himself. Should his listeners say that the word means one thing that astute gentleman of the Kremlin is prepared to prove that his words meant nothing of the sort but something quite different. We should like to see him pinned down as to the meaning of his utterances. But then, one would be a philosopher by comparison who would try to tie a knot on a spoonful of mercury. It would be highly entertaining to know how Disraeli would handle the nim­ ble word manipulator, Stalin. It used to be said that no one can mislead like a dip­ lomat. It is equally true that certain dip- lomates have a way of deceiving the very elect. Meanwhile, Stalin has many a smile as his opponents try to extricate themselves from the labyrinth of intricacy into which he leads them whenever he has nothing else to do. Stalin has the gift of using the truth with penurious frugality. It Doesn’t Work Out A certain wise man said some time ago that the wicked stand in slippery places. However true the saying may have been in Palestine, it does not seem to hold good in Exeter. The feeling that comes over one these days of icy sidewalks where one’s feet go in one direction and his head in quite another direction does not always suggest a mind serene and at leisure with itself. The victim of the slippery slidery in­ cident may appeal’ outwardly calm, serene, and benignant. Even well meaning persons are not always what they seem. As one rises from his tumblings and perturgations bis word may be smoother than butter but we fear his heart is for war. » * * * British Rationings And Subsidies Britain’s Labour Government, when it was placed in control of Britain’s affairs, declared that the day had come that Bri­ tons were to share and share alike as far basic foods are concerned. To carry out their intentions rations were introduced that purported to allow each citizen a def­ inite amount of basic goods. This seemed to be eminently fair. All Britons were to climb the hill of economic difficulty keeping equal pace. The day had come when all would be for each and each would be for all. Jack was to toil in the assurance that his master was sharing in the food pinch. Foi’ a while the regulations seemed to be working finely. Then came the word that some Britons were faring sumptuously every day. One Canadian told us that when he represented an important educational society as delegate to Britain that he never dined better in his life, rationing or no rationing. People began to wonder about it all Slowly the cat got out of the political bag. Those innocent Labour Government men found that there was no statute that one man can make that another man can­ not break through. With this knowledge in mind keen wits were put to work and pro­ visions were made whereby meats “fixed” in one way and another could be brought into Britain that could be bought, provided always that one had the price. Sugar was handled in the same way. Other items might be mentioned but enough has been said to show how the alleged rationing system that was to put all Britishers on a level, simply is not working out. * * * * Let’s Talk It Over Teachers of the South Huron District High School and the Exeter Public School are having problems over salary Increases. There is, obviously, a lack of cooperation and understanding between both factions. One basic reason for this misunder­ standing, we believe, is that there is no committee or organization by which repre­ sentatives of the teachers and the boards can sit around a table and discuss their problems. If each board would set up such a committee whereby both factions would have a direct contact with the other, then such problems as the present controversy would not have to be so bitterly fought on both sides, ’MOTHER' RUSSIA VERSUS MOTHER GOOSE TIMES” Go By 50 YEARS AGO All the sports of our town (Shipka) attended the ball given by Mr. B. Cunningham of the Khiva hotel Monday evening. On Thursday the whole staff of the Public School were enter­ tained by Mr. and Mrs. N. D. Hurdon to an oyster supper. Af­ ter full justice had been done to the edibles a very pleasant even­ ing was spent. Mr. Hurdon said he hoped this would be an an­ nual affair as he considered those who had the training of their children should have the parents’ greatest esteem and con­ fidence. Miss Vera Snell left Monday for Sarnia where she has taken a position in a store. A syndicate is being formed in Hensail to erect a first class hotel on the property purchased by George McEwen from T. Berry last fall. 15 YEARS AGO Traffic on the highway north and south of Exeter has been at a standstill for nearly a week as the roads have become blocked. The C.G.I.T. under the leader­ ship of Miss Flossie Hunter and Miss Stevenson assisted with the service in James St. Church, Sunday evening. Miss Grace Strange presided for the open­ ing exercises and assisting her on the platform were; Misses Laurene Beavers, Dorothy Tra- quair, Jean Appleton, Helen Westcott and June Taylor. At a public meeting in the Town Hall on Wednesday night a new municipal building was favoured and a committee ap­ pointed to secure plans and esti­ mates. The Question ; Will Russian Planes A-Bomb South Huron ? By D.T.S. 25 YEARS AGO Mr. E. C. Harvey has taken the angency for the Mutual Life Assurance Co. of Canada for St. Marys and Exeter. Mr. and Mrs. Victor Snell are moving to Lucan where Mr. Snell will take over the Ford agency. About twenty young people gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. Wethey last Friday evening, the occasion being a surprise for Miss Helen Wethey who leaves shortly for Orange, N.J., on probation as a nurse. Mr. Roy Taylor left on Mon­ day for his home in Richmond, Quebec after visiting for a week with his brother, Mr. S. B. Tay­ lor. 1O YEARS AGO Mr, Harvey Pollen was the lucky winner of the $25 dollar War Savings Certificate in the Times-Advocate draw for prizes. Mr. W. J. Beer who has been in business in Exeter for many years has sold out and now in­ tends to take a well-earned rest. Mr. Earl Russell has taken over the radio and electrical depart­ ments and Mr. Gerald Skinner has taken over the remainder of the stock. Mrs. Mary Gillard has sold her residence on John Street to Mr. Kenneth Hockey who gets im­ mediate possession. Exeter staged a miniature black-out Friday evening of last week to start off the big cam­ paign for selling of War Savings Certificates. ... Neighboring News ... Hubbies Edge Wives In Shooting Match The husbands of the members of the Clinton Ladies’ Rifle Club last week accepted a chal­ lenge from their wives to a shooting match. Unfortunately for the ladies, who will never live it down, unless they manage to do better in a return match, the husbands came out ahead by a slight margin. Prizes were awarded to the winners who were High lady, Isohel 'Epps, with 100; high man, Bob Health, with 100; lucky lady, Norma Grey; lucky man, Earl Grey. Altogether, it was a very en­ joyable evening and rivalry was very keen. A good many hus­ bands were badly worried for a while and made great claims as to the lengths of time since they had last shot and how ter­ ribly out of pratice they were, but they did very well and are once again satisfied that men’ are much superior to women. After the shooting the ladies served refreshments which were very much enjoyed. (Clinton News-Record) East Williams Township To Build New School ’ East Williams Township School Area is going ahead with their plans for the hew school. On Tuesday evening they met with inspector Oakes and the archi­ tect to select plans. When the plan is chosen tenders will be called for and work will start as Soon as posssible. The hew structure will have five Classrooms and will be con­ structed in the Nairn area. Owing to the supply1 situation ho definite date*can he set for the completion but as schools still have top priority in the use of steel, no serious delays should result, (Parkhill Gazette) Fear Flu Epidemic Visitors to Scott Memorial Hospital, Seaforth, have been restricted to the immediate mem­ bers of the families of patients as a precautionary measure in view of influenza epidemics in some parts of Ontario. The ac­ tion, announced by Miss V. Drops, superintendent, emphasiz­ ed that this was only a control measure. (Huron Expositor) Conservation Project Actual and gratifying results as far as Mitchell is concerned came out of the meeting of the Upper Thames Valley Authority held in Stratford on Friday when it approved a flood control and conservation project at Mit­ chell to cost $240,126. The call­ ing of tenders to carry out this work was also authorized. The plan which was approved calls for the reconstruction of the dam, the raising of reser­ voir level by five feet and chan­ nel improvements to the river bed. (Mitchell Advocate) Offer School Site Seaforth Council at a special meeting in the town hall on Monday evening agreed to sell to the Public School Board the pro­ perty known as the Tuckersmith agricultural survey as a site for a. hew public school building. The price was set at $3800. All members of council were pre­ sent, and Mayor E. A., McMaster presided. The Mayor outlined the needs of the boat’d fol’ a school pro­ perty, five acres for a school or 7 acres for a consolidated school He thought Some of the sur­ rounding schools would likely come in with Seaforth in the not distant future. The survey at the West side of the town has ap­ proximately five acres, (Huron Expositor) Will Russia, driven by her communistic doctrine to control the world, attack North America, the stronghold of freedom’s de­ fiance? And if she does, will South Huron be prey to the bomb­ lashings that will accompany such an attack? No one knows the answers to these questions, but in the U.S. and Canadian cities and towns civil defence measures are being taken to satisfy that “just in case” feeling. Military strategists have warn­ ed that Canada's position is vit­ al to Russian domination, not only because of her great re­ sources, but because the shortest route from Russia to the great industrial areas of the U.S. is by way of northern Canada. Before the U.S. is invaded, Canada will be fighting for her preservation, they say, Bomb Attack Most effective and destructive in that attack will be bombs— incendiary, high-explosive and atomic bombs— guided by Rus­ sian jets to industrial and vital centres of the nation. Would shrewd Russian strate­ gists drop an A-Bomb on South Huron? And if they did, what would happen here after the ex­ ploding missile jarred us into realistic consciousness of war. In speculation, let’s answer that first question. Smack in the middle of South Huron in one of the key points of Canada’s de­ fence program—R.C.A.F. Station Centralia. As world warfare stresses more and more the value of air­ power, Canada has taken on a vital role in an international air training plan. Canada’s facilities to train pilots and aircrew, developed during World War II under the British C o m m o n w e a 11 h Air Training Plan, are expected to be a major contribution in de­ fence preparations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Centralia Important Centralia, Canada’s No. 1 fly­ ing training school, is obviously an important link in that pro­ gram. By demolishing it, the Rusians could bring training to a standstill until other posts started operations. Not far removed, is Canada’s major radio and radar training centre, at Clinton. Here is an­ other important segment i n Canada’s defence. If the Rusians wanted to strike at the backbone of Canada’s air training plan, Cen­ tralia and Clinton would be two of the most logical points of at­ tack. Boom! Then What What would happen then? For an anwer, let’s look at the gov- erment’s official civil defence booklet on the effects of an atomic bomb. “When the atomic bomb ex­ plodes in the air, a dazzling flash of light, a wave of heat and various radioactive emana­ tions shoot out in all directions at great speed and are accom­ panied by ail’ blasts and sound waves. The light, heat and radio­ activity reach the target almost at once and the slower travell­ ing blast and sound later.” “The bomb causes damage to materials and danger to persons in these three .main ways—blast heat, radioactivity. Of blast, the book says in part “With an air­burst ~ bomb, the blast wave would come from above down­ wards and produce its greatest effect.” “The blast,” the book says, “would be so great that it would act rather like a hurricane. “Near the burst-point, it continues, “buildings would be completely enveloped and crushed. Further out they would be pushed over.” “Unframed buildings, like or­ dinary dwelling houses, would suffer more severe damage than steel frames. It is estimated that a majority of the buildings with- 'in one mile radius of the blast would be demolished, those be­ tween one and one and a half mile radius would be seriously damaged; and minor damage .would be done to. houses between one and a half and two and a half miles out. Villages Flattened In our case, a direct hit oh Centralia station would result in destruction of homes at Cen­ tralia village, Crediton, the hous­ ing project and the farm houses in that neighbourhood. Repercus­ sions would be felt through Exeter and the surrounding ter­ ritory. The prospect of “heat” flash is terrifying, “Oh explosion a Wave of intense heat would tra­ vel out in all directions in straight lines and at the speed of light, The intense heat would last for approximately three se­ conds after the explosion. “This heat can start fires im­ mediately over a wide area. Se­ condary fires resultihg from the blast such as, domestic fires, gasoline tanks etc, make the atomic bomb a very potent fire­ raiser. “Those fully exposed to the heat flash would suffer severe burns, lessoning in severity up to a mile or more from the blast. A Huge Flame From this, it can be seen that a huge fire, involving homes, barns, buildings and fields would spring up in a radius around the station. “Radioactivity”, says the gov’t brochure, “is an entirely new source of danger from war wea­ pons. The gamma rays, which are similar to penetrating X-rays would reach the ground at about the same time as the heat flash but in advance of the blast wave. They cause no damage to build­ ings but are a danger to human beings and animals. When gam­ ma rays penetrate the human body they damage the living tis­ sue. Persons fully exposed up to, perhaps, half a mile from the blast would be fatally affected.” Not As Bad As Reports Contrary to many reports of mass devastation, the book states “It is quite wrong to suppose that everything living within the’ area affected by an atomic bomb is destroyed and that nothing can be done to reduce its effect. On the perimeter casualties are few and even within the innermost area these can be substantially reduced. With adequate advance preparation and proper organiza­ tion—warning, shelter, disciplin­ ed and well trained civil de­ fence forces—casualties can be reduced to a fraction of what would otherwise occur.” “When thinking of past casual­ ties from this weapon remember that it was used against an un­ warned and, for the large part, untrained population; and at Hiroshima 70 per cent of the total population and at Nagasaki 85 per cent survived the atomic explosions.” Survival Under Atomic Attack Try To Get Shielded If yon have time, get down in a basement or cellar. Should you unexpectedly be caught out- of-doors, seek shelter alongside a building, or jump in any handy ditch or gutter. Drop Flat On Ground Or Floor To keep from being tossed about and to lessen the chances of being struck by falling and flying objects, flatten out at the base of a wall, or at the bot­ tom of a bank. Bury Your Face In Your Arms When you drop flat hide your eyes in the crook of your el­ bow. hat will protect your face from flash burns, prevent tem­ porary blindness and keep fly­ ing objects out of your eyes. 'Don’t Rush Outside Right After A Bombing After an air bust, wait a few minutes then go help to fight fires. After other kinds of bursts wait at least one hour to give lingering radiation some chance to die down. Don’t Take Chances With Food Oi1 Water In Open Containers To prevent radioactive poison­ ing or disease, select your food and watei’ with care. When there is reason to believe they may be contaminated, stick to canned and bottled things if possible. Don’t Start Rumors In the confusion that follows a bombing a single rumor might touch off a panic that would cost your life. SMILES . . . . Snob: “My ancestors caniQ over on the Mayflower.” Snubbed: “Good .thing they did, wasn’t it? The imigration laws are so much stricter now!” # * * # Floridian (picking up a melon —: “Is this the largest apple you can grow in your state?” Californian: “Stop fingering that grape.”♦ * * ♦ He: “Darling, I have been thinking of something for a long*, long time. Something is trembling on my lips...” She:' “Why don’t you shave it off?” * * * * A small boy waiting in the beauty shop for his mother’s hair to dry walked impatiently over to her and said, “How much longer will you be under the brooder?”* ♦ * * Teacher; “Yes, Johnny, what is it?” Johnny: “I don’t want to scare you, Miss Jones, blit my father says if I don’t get better grades, someone is do for a lickin!”' «>!■!(< * A woman went to buy a drink­ ing bowl for her dog, and the shopkeppei’ asked her if she would like one with the inscrip­ tion, “For the dog.” “It really doesn't matter/* she replied. “My husband never drinks water, arid the dog can’t read.”