HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1949-05-26, Page 2WHAT GOES ON
1 1N THE
WOULD
by Natndn$leir
RUSBSA
Russia covers one-sixth of the
world's land surface, and this month
delegates from its most remote
corners gathered at ameeting of
the Supreme Soviet in Moscow.:
There were Uzbeks from Central
Asia wearing skullcaps; Caucasians
in smocks; Yakuts from the Arctic
wearing white elkhide boots; and
others whose appearance and dress
mirrored the 180' nationalities-
count 'ens-180—who make, . up
Russia's population.
The Supreme Soviet includes 1085.
members of the Communist party
(the only party allowed to exist)
and 254 non-party Bolsheviks. And
all 1339 of them were simply there
for the trip—as they are "yes-men"
and nothing else.
They hold sessions to approve
the decrees of the Politburo, which
controls both the Communist Party
and the Ministries of Government.
They would no more think of dis-
approving than of spitting -public-
ly, that is—on Uncle Joe Stalin's
picture. The main order of business
was to approve the 1949 budget—in
which the Russian armed forces get
79 billion rubles,as comparedfired to
66
billions last yea.
The meeting drew world atten-
tion—not so much because of the
budget but because of the dramatic
shifts in the Soviet high command
which has just been announced.
The Politburo was present—and
Molotov sat at Stalin's right hand.
His appearance there seemed to
lend weight to the theory that Molo-
tov has by no means been demoted.
Instead, he has been relieved of his
duties as Foreign Minister in order
to devote more time to bigger policy
tasks—possibly that of succeeding
Stalin,
Should this occur, there will prob-
ably be little change in the Russian
attitude toward the "war -mongers"
of the west. As one ribald observer
pun it, "the only real difference be-
tween Molotov and Stalin is that
Joe's' moustache is more liable to
get into the soup."
THE UNITED STATES
Just a month before the Nor-
mandy invasion—on May 11, 1944
to be exact - the German radio
broadcast a program titled "Vision
of invasion.' It depicted an "Ohio
mother" dreaming of all the horrors
of D -Day. There were vivid sound
effects of screams, groans and' battle
noises and the program was "beam-
ed" both toward the United States
and at American troops in England
—the play reaching an agonized cli-
Mtthi with the death of the "Ohio
isother's0 soldier ton.
The part of the mother was play-
ed by "Axis Sally" — in real life
Mildred Elizabeth Gillars, now 48,
an American who had lived in Ger-
many for years and who had
handled many other Nazi propa-
ganda assignments.
Last January Axis Sally went on
trial for treason at 'Washington.
Records of her broadcasts were
played in court. German actors
identified her voice, Her defense
was that she had been forced to
broadcast — and that anyway she
had taken the German oath of al-
legiance, and so was not guilty of
treason to the United States.
Early this month the jury found
Mien Gillars guilty, of treason,
specifically on the count of her par-
ticipation in the "Vision of In-
vasion" broadcast. Her lawyer im-
mediately petitioned for a re -trial.
If the motion for this is not sue.
ccssful, Miss Gillars faces a mini-
mum sentence of five years fn
prison.
And. all things considered, if she
gets off with the minimum, most
folks will think it Iittle enough,
CHINA
In spite of his retirement as Presi-
dent,
resident, it seems as if Chiang Kai-shek
is still putting a finger, or perhaps
two of them, into the Chinese
political pie. His influence is still
strongly 'felt, and various high -
placed Chinese figures either tele-
phone or visit him regularly,
So Nationalist China seems to be
in the state of not being able to get
along with Chiang, and not being
able to get along without him—
especially since a number of key
army commanders will take orders
only from hint,
Before he left Nanking, Chiang
appointed itis own sten to posts
along the line of retreat extending
along the Fukien coast to Formosa.
At the saute tithe he. started a south-
ward movement from the Nanking -
Shanghai area of government files,
equipment of all descriptions, mili-
tary supplies and the central gov-
ernment's gold reserve.
A considerable sushi in gold is in
Formosa, where it is conveniently
separated from the mainland. Look-
ing on . Formosa as their last bas -
110n, top Chinese officials have not
been unmindful of the feet that
American military men, have dis-
played more than passing interest
in that island, which lies along the
communication line between Japan
and the Philippines,
Chiang himself regards his fight
with the Contnlunists as part of the
larger international straggle, People
close to bim have clearly indicated
hit he is pinning his hopes on an
etrnsi fleet ion. of Russia. n.-Ati7erican.
t a -s fres in the Far East.
To Fight For The Heavyweight Crown-Ezzard Charles le t
above, and Jersey , Toe Walcott are set to f ght a 15 -round match
in Chicago next June for the heavyweight crown vacated by
roe Louis, The Brown Bomber himself, now turned promoter,
will sponsor the )hatch,
se
FORT
SlX61TC
Among the countless Canadians
who take an interest in Big League
b a s e b a 11 doings, the Brooklyn
Dodgers probably number more fol-
lowers than any of the other fifteen
Oohs in the two major loops. If you
happen to be one of these, our ad-
vice is to keep an eye on how Rex
Barney goes this season; as there is
better than a fair chance that he
might develop into one of the great.
est pitching sensations of all time.
* * *
A few words regarding the color-
ful f'fr. Barney might not be amiss.
If, in dishing them out to you, we
lean rather heavily—although un-
beknownst—on the writings of
Arthur Daley of the New York
Times, think nothing of it. When
we started out in this writing dodge
we resolved that, should we find it
necessary to steal, we'd only do so
from the best available sources.
* * *
'When Barney first reported, as
an 18 year old kid, to the Dodgers
back in 1943, Branch Rickey kept
insisting that he'd develop into one
of the greatest pitchers in the game.
Of course Rickey might have been
a trifle prejudiced, seeing that he
owned Rex; but Joe DiMaggio
should be able to give an unbiased
opinion. And DiMag—after batting
against Barney—declared that he
was faster than Bobby Feller In his
prime.
* * *
Yet, up to the middle of last sea-
son,
Rex never really clicked. He I
was so utterly lacking in control
that all he could show for his first
twelve games was one Thinning tie.
This caused Lippy Leo Durocher,
then manager of Brooklyn, to say
"That kid just hasn't got it, and
he'll never pitch another important
game for mel"
* * *
A few days later Durocher was
out of the driver's seat and soft-
spoken Burt Shotten was handling
the reins. Shotten seemed to have
Barney's number; and Rex proceed-
ed to string up eleven wins in a row.
He probably made Durocher sorry
for his harsh words too: for one of
his victories was a no hit, ns) run
game against the Llppy One's. New
York Giants.
* * a
One trouble with Barney was that
he never had a real chance to learn
his trade. After entering organized
ball he moved tip with dizzying
rapidityy, going from Durham to
Montreal to Brooklyn in the spare
of four months. And the first pitch
he made at each of those stops was
—well, out of the ordinary, to say
the least.
* * *
The first ball he threw at Durham
eluded the catcher, barged through
the screen behind the plate, and hit
a sports writer on the head—prob-
ably the least vulnerable spot he
could find on any of that tribe. The
kind of support he got at Durham
made winning rather difficult. His
team -ligates made as many as nine
errors in one game. He pitched a
one-hitter—and lost, 1 to 0. Once
he had a 5-4 lead going into the
eightih and Bruno Betzel, his man-
ager, grimly advised him that if he
wanted to win, he had better strike
out the next six men. So Rex
obediently struck out the next six
men.
* * *
Fresco Thompson, the Montreal
manager, didn't' want anybody to
'Qgreen—and when Barney got to the
uebec metropolis he sat on the
bench until he had a hole worn
through it. On orders from above
Thompson finally started Barney.
His first pitch went a foot behind
Goody Rosesl's back and tore out
the screen. The next few batters
were so afraid to tales a toe -hold
that Fresco Thompson cracked, "It
w the only pitch I ever saw that
retired eigjlt btters in a row." But
Barney lost that game—in the 13161,
rotting.
k * *
That was his only Montreal show-
ing,Brooklyn celled him, and he
started for the Dodgersthe same
afternoon he arrived. His first heave
hit Eddie Stanley, then of the Chi-
cago Cdbs, in the middle of the
back, and the score was tied when
he was removed in the fifth. His
record for that year •was 2 wins 2
losses.
* *
When he got back from war ser-
vice in 1946 he was bad when he
pitched and spent most of the time
on the bench. Although 1947 could
have been a big year, it wasn't till
the World's Series that he really
rose and shone. In a daring move
he was started against the Yankees.
He walked George Stirnwiss, Tom-
my Henrich doubled. Johnny- Lin-
dell walked to fill the bases. And
up to the plate stepped Joe Di -
Maggio.
* * *
Cyde Sukeforth raced out toward
the mound and Barney thought he
was going to be yanked. "Nothing
to it, Rex," said Sukeforth with a
grin."Just strike the big bum out"
* * *
So, with the bases jammed, Rex
Barney fanned baseball's most
dangerous hitter. He threw out
George McQuinn on a force at the
plate. And* he fanned Billy Johnston.
"All my life I'd been a Yankee
Bn and DiMaggio was my idol,"
arney said afterward. "I sorter
felt ashamed of myself. But then I
thought that if I could do this to
the very best of them, I night do
all right with the others."
* * *
What happened last year, we
have already told you. After a poor
start under Durocher, his new self-
confidence really blossomed playing
for Burt Shotten. He warned up
for his no-hitter with a one -hitter
against the Phils—and the one hit
was of the lucky variety.
By the cnd of the 1948 season
there wash"/ a better pitcher in
baseball. That's why we think it
plight be interesting to keep tabs on.
how he goes in the coming cain-
paign.
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