The Brussels Post, 1942-3-25, Page 6VOICE
OP THE
PRESS
CARELESS TALK
Some people have been inclined
to scoff at posters displayed at
various points in Canada warning
against careless talk : of such
things as ship departures. It
seems at times that the caution
voiced is rather exaggerated, that
casual words dropped among
friends could not possibly do
harm.,
The story told by a British sea-
man in New York, however, le al.
most an exact duplication of the
picture story told on some of these
wall cards. It is the tale of a
sailor revealing to a girl friend
the time of departure of his ship,
and of the news traveling from
mouth to mouth until it was re-
layed by.means of a signal to a
lurking submarine, and the vessel
was sunk with heavy loss of life.
It is a story that should make
everyone think. It is a deadly
example of just how dangerous it
is to drop even a casual word.
Careless talk does cost lives.
—.Windsor Star
"SMACK JAPS"
A boatswain's mate rushed into
a Chinese laundry in New York
and asked for his bundle in a
hurry, because he had to report
for duty at noon. He didn't have
a ticket but Geyne Sun didn't
-throw at him the old chestnut:
"No tickee, no laundie." Instead
he pushed the sailor's dollar bill
baok to him and gave the fellow
his laundry, saying: "No monie.
Smack Japs." And no doubt that
Mate will smack 'em if he gets
half a chance.
—Peterborough Examiner
ANTIMACASSAR
Macassar, a section of Celebes
which borders the Strait of Ma-
cassar, where a Japanese convoy
has been battered was famous in
the eighteenth century as the
source of Macassar oil, used as a
hair oil. The oil was so popular
that cloth ,covers, known as anti-
macassars, came into use to pro-
tect the backs of chairs from hair
on which it had been employed.
—Sault Ste. Marie Star
ANOTHER WAR PERIL
Another of the unlisted perils
of war—the danger that people
may become cross-eyed trying to
watch both the Atlantic and the
Pacific at the same time.
—Stratford Beavon -Herald
THE OLD DAYS
Men's flashy socks are another
thing that is out for the duration.
However, these are a minor vanity
of the days when Elmer, of Pippin
Centre, used to drive along Main
street' with one foot outside the
buggy box—and stunned 'em.
-Hamilton Spectator
AND STARTED BACK
Hitler went into Russia to find
room to turn around in. Then
he turned around.
—Brandon Sun
Russia Too Busy
To Attack Japan
Naturally, it would be a great
relief to our forces in the Far
East if the heart of Japan were
bombarded, as it• easily could be,
from the neighborhood of Vladi-
vostok. But the war has to be
considered in regard to all its
operations on all fronts. There
le no greater service that Russia
could render at this juncture than
to engage the massive land armies
of Hitler with all her resources,
and to continue to inflict the
heavy 'blows she is now dealing.
It is true, she has an equipped
and self -dependent army in Faro
Eastern Siberia, and is capable of
dealing with any attack that Ja-
pan might make. But it is obvi-
ous that the opening of a new
front would be a distraction from
her supreme effort in the west.
R is what Hitler would desire,
and, therefore, obviously what we
should not desire.
Supply of Rubber
On Alkali Deserts
On the alkali deserts of six
western states there are 500,-
000,000
00,000,000 pounds of natural rubber
—enough to supply the United
States for five months—ready for
immediate harvesting, University
of California scientists informed
-the government.
This rabbet, although not quite
as good as the prime product from,
the East Indies, is entirely satis-
factory, the experts reported.
Most important, they said, is that
it is already on hand and ran be
collected and made into tires,
tubes and other finished products
without undue effort.
It exists in the rabbit brush, a
large perennial shrub which cova
era, vast stretclies of the West's
great open spaces, California,
Nevada and Colorado have most
of it but there are largo tracts
also in Now Mexico, Utah, ':Idaho
and perhaps other states,
DIVIDUAL
111 ',eu
A Weeldy Column About This and That in The Canadian Army
Last week the only reference
made in this column to Army
slang had a slight note of acidity.
This week as Ed. Wynn used to
say "The programme is going to
be different" For once the re-
surrection of Army slang from
the dim mists of a peaceful past
ties up very directly with a piece
of news full of interest for the
members of the Individual Citi-
zen's Army and their army of
relatives and friends.
The term is "Square -pushing"
and the news the promised issue
of a "walking out dress" to all
Canadian "other ranks" Per-
haps I should clarify "other
ranks." This term means all sol-
diers other than commissioned
officers. It saves paper, which
is a commendable war time econ-
omy, and it saves breath, a wise
thing to do at any time. Were
this term not available, it would
be necessary to speak of 'officers,
warrant officers, non -commission-
ed officers and men." So the
two -word substitution is an econ-
omy.
The relationship between the
story of the new uniform and the
slang term "Square -pushing" is
very close. In the piping times of
peace — and I admit there are
those who never associate bag-
pipes with peace—the soldier was
issued with two uniforms, one in
which to train and fight, and the
other, frequently variations of
scarlet and blue or the dark
green of rifle regiments, for walk-
ing out after the day's training
was over. This "walking out"
uniform in barracks was known
as the "square -pushing" uniform,
and although today's young sol-
dier is perhaps not familiar with
"square -pushing rig" as a collo-
quial definition the term does not
apply to him because by the
middle of March he will be the
proud• possessor of—to revert to
the piping tines of peace again—
what we used to call a "best suit."
This new uniform, a picture of
which appeared in this paper two
or three weeks ago, consists of a
smartly cut jacket and slacks,
black low shoes of a lighter
weight than the issued "ammuni-
tion boots" worn with battle
dress, collars and tie and rain-
coat. In general appearance, al-
though it is cut of the same weight
of serge as were our jackets in
the last war, it very closely re-
sembles the jacket worn by offi-
cers even to the brass -buckled
cloth belt. The breast pockets
'have the regulation Army pleat
in them and there are patch pock-
ets in the sides. This uniform,
with which the "off parade" sol -
diet . is permitted to carry a
"swagger. stick" therefore be-
comes the modern equivalent of
a square -pushing uniform.
With the aid of a copy of
"Songs and slang of the British
soldier -1914-1918" — which is
the personal property of 'a mem,
ber of the staff of the I•listorical
Section of the Army in Ottawa, 1
have been able to locate several
definitions of "square -pushing."
The term is first recoraed in the
1880's as being current in garri-
son artillery.units and its orgiin
is thought to be derived from the
fact that soldiers were frequently
seen escorting nursemaids as they
pushed their perambulators around
the "squares," then a frequent
feature of town -planting. Later
the term "square -pushing," ac-
cording to the authority, was ap-
plied to a soldier going out in the
evening "to court a particular girl
or perhaps to find one.". –In
1914-18 this piece of Army..slang
was revived again to apply par-
ticularly to boots and, since mem-
bers of the Canadian Expedition-
ary Force were amongst the best
paid allied soldiers, it is quite
likely that they were the principal
purchasers of civilian boots to
wear with their uniforms when off
parade and attending social ev-
ents, i.e., "square -pushing."
All of this becomes very apt
once again as the new issue of
"Walking out dress" includes —
something unheard of prior to
A.D. 1941 — to use the Ordnance,,
term, "shoes black, low, leather,
pairs One."
75 Nazi Soldiers
Meet 6 Britishers
There's not much anyone can
do with the odds standing at 75
to six, so the Britishers just sat
back and smoked. Londoners got
the story from a New Zealand
soldier broadcasting to the British
Isles.
During the fighting back and
forth across the scorching sands
of Libya, six British trucks with
their crews were returning to
their column when they ran
smack into '75 German trucks go-
ing in the opposite direction.
The Germans pulled to the side
of the road and stopped. The
British did likewise. And because
there didn't seen to be anything
else to do about it, all lit up
cigarettes.
For 'a few seconds all was
quiet,• then the firing started and
the Britons ran the gauntlet past
the German trucks and rejoined
their unit safely.
LIFE'S LIKE THAT
By Fred Neher
,4"
"Nobody ever asks me anything I know."
London Papers
StillAdvertising
Every Advertisement Olivet
Testimony To Faith In The
Future '
London, where food and cloth-
ing are rationed and the shoppers
are "less than 20 minutes" from
the enemy, is still carrying on its
newspaper advertising,
Lord & Thomas, New York ad-
vertising firm, recently issued a
study prepared by its London
branch on British business and
. advertising in the third year of
war, said;
"Woven deep into the ways o3
democracy is advertising: A
bridge between the freedom of
pepole to buy and the freedom
of people to sell. No Nazi bomb-
ing has been able to destroy that
bridge in Britain.
"Every advertisement appearing
there today is a flag of defiance;
is direct testimony to someone's
faith in the fame; is someone's
toast to victory."
Papers Cut Down
Since the Nazi invasion of
Scandinavia whence Britain ob-
tained the bulk of its paper pulp,
British newspapers have -been re-
duced to four-page issues and no
large posters are available.
Because of this the demand for
advertising space in Britain far
exceeds the, supply but items ad-
vertised there include: Soap, ra-
dios, dog food, chocolate, shoes,
tooth paste, cider, vaseline, beer,
fur coats, clothing.
The British Government is the
largest single advertiser in the
newspapers, placing, 17 per cent
of all advertisements published
and even on such a major news
announcement as the clothes ra-
tioning order, used paid advert.
tising space.
Lord and Thomas said govern-
ment advertising has had this ef-
fect:—
"'Me
f-
fect:"7,ilre public is developing
stronger than ever habits of
studying advertising columns for
instructions and advice . of
utmost importance in their lives,
The effect of this, on the future
of advertising, is incalculable."
The firm concluded from its
study prepared as the United
States plunged into the war.
"Drastic changes . in our life
and business are surely ahead of
us. But this (study) will serve -
its purpose if it shows one' thing.
That not war — only defeat —
destroys the ways of democraey,
the spirit, humor and enterprise
of a free people." •
British advertising, Lord and
Thomas said, protects the adver-
tisers' investment in trade names,
keeps contact with the changing
habits of the public and the new
markets growing up in the war,
and "fulfills its responsibility of
maintaining the freedom of the
press by non-government support"
besides upholding public morale.
The firm said ' one of the
strongest supports of British
morale has been the "stubborn"
resistance of the retail disrup-
tions while "buying and selling
keep making the best of it."
Since Jan. 1, 1942, no new
shops may open a new retail
business. Any opened since Oct.
28, 1941, had to be granted a
government license after proving
their services were needed.
Norway Invasion
Costly To Germans
In the final•reckoning 10 Will be
revealed that Norway made a siz-
able contribution to the Allied
cause in the form of deaths and
damages inflicted en the German
fighting forces when Germany in-
vaded Norway and during the ,02-
days
02clays of open warfare that follow-
ed. The' conquest cost the Ger-_
mans between GO and 70 thousand
lives (some estimates: run as high
as 100;000) ; it cost Germany one-
third of her navy; it cost ' Ger-
many vast amounts' of war mater-
ials; it cost Germany her first de-
feat t.n land when rhe city of Nar-
vik was recaptured by Norwegian
and British forces. Perhaps most
important• of all, it cost Germany
valuable time -62 days of fight-
ing for what was carefully plea -
Med as an "overnight job." That
delay was probably in pert re-
sponsible for the postponement of
the invasion .of •l!ingland. •
REG'LAR FELLERS—Chance of a Lifetime
NOW TAKE OFF YOUR HAT
AND LOOK 10 THE LEFT,
PUDDINHEAO
e
THE WAR - WEEK — Commentary on Current Events
United Nations Stand With Bac s
To Wall In Far Eastern Battle
One bright spot in a far from
cheerful picture of the Battle of
the Pacific is the news that a Un-
ited States naval force has arrived
In New Zealand and that other
reinforcements have landed at sta-
tions along the '4,000 mile route
from Pearl Harhour. This is an
important victory. It means that
the supply line from America to its
terminus in New Zealand is open
for reinforcements and for the vital
weapons of war.
In two months of war in the Far
East the enemy, striking with Su-
perior man, uaval and air power,
has pressed the initial advantage
of sun•.prise into far reaching gains.
The lot of the United Nations has
been one of retreat until now they
stand at bay iu their key defense
positions. The call has gone out
from headquarters to hold at all
costs for reinforcements are en the
way.
How long can they "hold that
line?" The allied task is compli-
cated by the extended lines of the
Japanese attaoks, stretching over
nearly 5,000 miles of land and
water. They have opened up so
many danger points that Allied
forces are unable to concentrate
for the proper defense of any one.
With Japan's shorter lines of com-
munications, the enemy has been
able to throw superior forces
against every point attacbed.
Japanese Strategy
The strategy of Japan's vast ex-
pansionist programme is cow clear.
For years systematic planning, spy-
ing and waiting have been part of
this stupendous scheme of con-
quest. The little yellow men have
charted every channel and shoal
from the Strait of Malacca to the
reefs of Australia and on into the
mid Pacific, They have surveyed
every Allied land defense and know'
their weaknesses. They have map-
ped out jungle trails and spotted
suitable ground for air bases. Thus
the Japanese knew where to at-
tack and how and, as in the ease
of Pearl Harbor, when.
With the tall of Singapore im-
minent, the Allies have been forced
to move their Far Eastern fleets
to Dutch Past Indies bases. An
all-out desperate attempt must be
made to hold .Java and Sumatra,
already feeling the hard blows of
the Japanese hordes. They are
key points in the defensive system
of the United Nations, forming e
rampart between the' Minn Ocean.
and the China Sea.
Burma is in grave danger. The
Burma Bond, the vital life -lino of
supplies from the United Nations'
arsenal to China is threatened.
The loss of Burma would he a
deadly blow to Chinn.
Watching Hitler
Should Singapore fall and the
Japanese • become entrenched on
the East Thdiea and Java, they
would be musters for the time
being of the entire Southwest
Pacific„with the exception of;Aus-
trails. Australia would 'tbei be•
come the Allied stronghold and the
point front which the United Na-
tions would have to fight the long
way back. The island continent
Is preparing to meet the growing
threat of a direct Invasion.
Were Japnn alone to be dealt
with, the job would be finished
quickly, But Britain and the United
States have to disperse their for- :
cos and materials over the face
of the .earth. Americans are fight-
ing on the land, sea and air in the
Far Last. An American expedi-
tionary force has landed in North-
ern Ireland. American supplies are
going to Brltain,'Russia, Africa and
the Middle Bast.
Neither power intends to let
Russia down and permit Hitler to
come back next summer and uulit-
fy the winter victory which the
Russians are consolidating. The
demands of the Far East and Aus-
tralia cannot be met at the cost
of giving aid and comfort to I•Iitler
In that fashion.
Churchill's Forecast
Britain also cannot relax for a
minute in Africa. Things mo-
mentarily are going poorly in
Libya, showing the need for
considerable reinforcements. De-
feat there would expose the Suez
Canal and the oil fields of Irak,
Iran and the Caucasus to Axis
attack.
Likewise, Britain and the United
States cannot weaken their
at'rength in the Atlantic to bolster
their naval forces in the Paclfio
and Mediterranean. American sup-
plies must be kept flowing across
the Atlantic at all costs and this
requires heavy convoys. The Ger-
mans already have carried their
submarine wailers to these shores
and generally are expected to pro-
duce a new burst of underseas fury'
in the spring.
Not long ago Mr. Churchill warn-
ed that "'Japanese naval suprem-
acy will last long enough for Japan
to inflict many heavy and painful
losses on the United Nations and
their establishments in the Nasi
East" and added "I believe we
shall presently regain naval com-
mand in the Pacific tad begin to
establish effective superiority in
the air. Later mat -in 1048—we
should bo able to set about our
task in the Pacific in good style."
New Command
Vico-Admiral, C. E. L. Helfrich of
the Royal Netherlands Navy has
succeeded Admiral Thomus C.
Hart as commander of the United
Nations, sea forces in the Bast
Tulles. Ill -health forced the Ameri-
can commander to retire.
tI is considered that Helfrich,
in the detente of his homeland, •
will follow a policy of "ltd • re-
treats", commensuate with con-
serving his forces for tho most
effective blows against the in-
vaders.
Tho sea areas over which the
invaders must move to press home
their conquest are scalloped with
tiny bays and. inlets frena which
the presumably inferior defoutltug
forces may dash out to harry their
convoys and wage hit -and -ran war
on 'their fighting units.
Admiral Helfrich was described
by an American naval spokesman
'as a master in those tnetieti.
THREE MEN
Franklin D Roosevelt was 19,41
Man of the Year, but Adolf Hitler
remains the Worid's No. 1 poison-
ality . Your desclliptioir of
Churchill as: ' ntooJjy Brit;elt,,,,,,nd
half Ainati'a�"�n'`is ap1lyliat-, -ta"to
the'tta:st, if ever any man: rated
Ole title of "Man -and a -half" it's
the British prime minister.
—Two. Letters' in Time Magazine
•140W JUST RAISE YOUR HEAD
A LITTLE AND TAKE YOUR
HAND OUT OF YOUR POCKET'
FINE 'NOW JUST 1.101..D IT'
UNTIL I GET YOU F0CU5SED
By GENE BYRNES .
IT'd ALL 'TOUR FAULT, AGGIFT•
YA SHOULDN'TA TEMPTED ME,o j
elm
•