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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1942-09-10, Page 6ALL HANDS SENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR In au emergency l man b f must know his aboveion. The photo shows the crew of Canadian destroyer during "aband onshidrAleadng-semanchecks wth the officer in charge of this particular station and ma lees Sure every man is on hand. VOICE O F T H E PRESS A REPORTER JOINS UP When an R.C.A.F. mobile re - Waiting unit stopped off at Kirk - had Lake, Ont., a while back, the editor of the Northern News sent Stew Bridges, his star re- po •ter, to cover the event. In ate due onnrse Stew Bridges re- turned to the office wearing a pleased expression. "Where's the itorlrt" his editor demanded. ''Oh, the story?" mumbled Stew Bridges." Sorry, I forgot all about the story. We got talking and the first thing I knew I had jeilsed the R.C.A.F. —Maclean's Magazine. —o— EACH OF US The thought. of the week comes From Brooke Claxton, Montreal. M.P., who said in a speech at Cleveland: "The Government can order, control, tax and ration, but the extra effort which measures the difference between democracy and dictatorship, between victory and defeat, can only be given freely by each of us." —London Free Press. —o --- INEFFICIENCY The nicest indictment of med- iaeval inefficiency we've seen for some time is that of a transport authority who points out that the 19 stone piers of Old London Bridge were "constructed without engineering experience adequate for the enterprise" so the bridge functioned only 600 years. —London News -Chronicle. —o— JUST REVENGE Porcupines don't know there is a{ war on. Otherwise they might have spared the tires of a Plum- per, Idaho, man's car. Instead, one animal stuck in a couple of quills and put two tires out of business. Its action was in re- venge, of course, for being run over. -Lethbridge Herald. —0 -- MORE THAN SANG FOR SUPPER Casting bread crumbs on the lawn is almost as self -rewarding as casting your bread on the wa- ters. A robin in Kentucky drops a dollar bill on the back porch of a man who feel the birds, thereby doing more than sing for lt,e dipper. —Hamilton Spectator. —0— HARD-BOILED TEA. All this advice about how to brew a good cup of "the bever- age that cheers" from a minimum of tea is going to be wasted, we fear, on Jim Cue, an of the Soo Star, who says tea isn't worth a hoot unless it's been boiled twen- ty minutes. —St. Thomas Times -Journal. IT'S AWFUL Now it's the men who are be- ing hit. The number of fur felt hat shades is to be reduced from 42 to 18 and wool felt shades from 18 to 10. Boys, it's awful! __Owen Sound Sun -Times. Swiss Maintain True Democracy Self -Government Has Work- ed For 651 Years, Says The Cleveland Plain Dealer Mose than 4,250,000 people have just paid homage to a successful Idea—the idea that men do not have to speak the same language to dwell in harmony as a nation; that free men are capalble of de- fending themselves and that dem- ocracy is the best form of gov- ernment. These people knew what they were doing, for the idea has work- ed for 651 years. It works today although their land le surrounded on all sides by an enemy who stands for the antithesis of every- thing they cheristh. Yet this small nation has much to teach the great powers of the world, for Srwitzerland has stood as a beacon Wet through Europe's stormy history. Perpetual Pact Formed It was on Aug. 1, 1291, that the men of the mountain regions of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden formed a perpetual pact to defend themselves against the tyranny of the then dominant House of Haps- burg. Other men joined them un- til the Swiss confederation was formed. Today its people speak four languages, 2,900,000 Germans, 880,000 French, 240,000 Italian and 44,000 Romansch. Yet few nations In the world are as unified as is Switzerland. The secret may be thee high degree of self -govern- —0— THE FUNNY SEX Funny sex: They paint their legs to look as if they wore stock- ings or they wear stockings that make their; legs look mbar en Sun. Ceylon, which was an ancient centre of civilization, has been held in turn by the Portugese, Dutch and Britieb, ment which the Swiss enjoy. The Swiss still hold their open- air Parliaments in their cantons. But this earliest farm of democ- racy is no barrier to swift action when it comes to protecting the country. Hitler and the detractors of democracy are completely re- futed by the example of the con- federation in defence. Every Swiss serves in the army. Completely Mobilized When war came in 1939 Switzer- land mobilized completely. Since June, 1940, the number of men in active service has been reduced to 200,000. The cost of this isheavy on a small country, particularly one which depended so much on tourists and the luxury trade as did Switzerland. Yet the people bear the cost cheerfully, for they know that nothing could repay them for the loss of that liberty which they have maintained and defended since 1291. Butting Sheep Wins Bout With Bear Probably it never happened be- fore and never will occur again, but it is reported from Sussex, N. B., that a sheep didknock n out a. bear. Bruin, spying tethered sheep in a field owned by Adam Hughes, charged. The sheep also charged, butting bruin between the eyes. Down went the bear. He lay dazed for a few moments, then struggled to his feet and ambled away in search of an easier meal. LIFE'S LIKE THAT By Fred Neher o • J+•J`-j • IllfIi •• • • 'I t,1 r� , 1 , Z ' •,, Will /If,,,, , •,,,'I ,/,' i, it n, ,• 1 14:4 , ' -' ,,.• j•ry,„^, S -z 11,1, r.P�G /✓6,4ER- ywy��/14,�1t1{,rf `AitiNt( �! /tan' renrcl " rr c<a n , ._ , tri , "Nevar mind how' us r,, .,.'i;,lit/, . THE WAR • WEEK --- Commentary on Current Events As Global War Enters Fourth Year? Are Allies Turning Ticle Of Battle Vireo years ago last week the Nazi legions poured across the frontiers of Poland to loose upon the world the second great con- tlict in a generation, gays the New York. Times. A European war at shirt, it became a world war after Japan's Pearl Harbor attack last Decemiber. Laet week as the war's third year was ending, British bombers were taking off to pound German porta and industrial centres with a view • to relieving pressure on Russia. In Egypt there was om- inous quiet as the armies waited for the zero hour that might de- termine the fate. of the Middle Bret. In China, the Japanese were in retreat, possibly with drawing forces for attacks elsewhere, and in the South Pacific they were hard•+peessed as the first Ameri- can offensive threatened their position in the Solomons. India was tense for the blow that may come in November when the rains end. On the other side of the world Brazil, by entering the war, had supplied new and strategic bases for fighting the Battle of the South Atlantic. The War Spreads • This was the world war picture last week as the third year of the war drew near its end. The fires the Germans had lit when they marched into Poland in the early hours of Sept. 1, 1939—bad spread around the globe. On that first morning there were just two na- tions at war, Germany and Po- land. The number of nations in- volved has risen from two to forty- two, thirty-one of them on the hide of the United Nations, eleven on the side of the Axis. It is a war that has spread in waves. Poland was engulfed in the first wave, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and France in the second, Yugoslavia and Greece in the third. Minor war-s— Finland and Russia, Italy and Greece—sprang up and were in- corporat&l into the big war. It beat against the defenses of Eng- land in the west, turned east onto the steppes of Russia. Battles were • fought in North Africa and West- ern Asia and sea fighting brought the war to South America. Ger- many's partner, Japan, carried it on to the other side of the world, linked it with the war in China, made it, save for the fragile peace existing between Russia and Ja- pan, all one. As Fourth Year Begins The prize for victory, then, be- came the world. But for Adolf Hitler, with three years of many victories behind him, that goal still seemed far from realization. Before him, still in being despite herculean efforts to destroy it, was the Red Army, and behind him a growing Anglo-American strength. In the Far East the Jap- anese, after five years of war with China and almost eight months of war with the Western democ- racies, faced American power on one side and on the other a Chin- ese Army that would not stay beaten. These were the problems the Axis nations must try to solve In the fourth year of the war. Froin their very nature they raised anx- ious questions in the United Na- tions. Can the Russian armies continue to hold out against the Wehrma.cht and launch new blows of its own? Has the growing strength of the United Nations reached the point where an invas- ion of the European Continent ible? Can the British to pass by such a stronghold and rtri ce directly at Astrakhan and the Caspian Sea. This explains the massive assault and the tremend- ouseacrifices the Germans aro making. A week ago, when Nazi tanks swanned across the Don elbow, Stalingrad seemed doomed. But in the interval the Ituesians summoned fresh reserves. Now they may have a chance to repeat the Indomitaible defense of Lenin- grad and Moscow. becomes poss hold the Italian -German forces in Egypt away from Suez? Where will the Japanese launch their. Fall offensive and will there be forces euough there to turn it back? The fourth year will pro- vide answers. Stalingrad Stands Out of the fighting that rages over the long Russian front one solid fact stands out, The Russians etill hold Stalingrad. The Volga city controlling the vital artery of water conununication in Cen- tral Russia is this year's main German objective. The German High Command announced that it would fall last week. Afire and in ruins, it still resists the invader. Hitler must have Stalingrad to pen the Russian armies behind ,T. 1 the Volga and exploit his gains in the Caucasus. It will not suffice long I've been here. Get me :down! !" Retch Hit From Alr Brom Royal Air Force head- guartere in Britain last week came a grim estimate- of the damage that had been inflicted on Ger- many since the beginrring of the year. Five square miles spread about in nine of Germany's large cities had been wiped out. More than 1,000,000 persons had been made homeless. More than 500 war factories had been destroyed. Reich Marshal Goering made a boast at the beginning of the war, that no enemy planes would be allowed to penetrate the German anti-aircraft defenses. The Reich was now being hit from the air from two sides. R. A. F. bombers were striking with increasing force from England in the west; from the east, planes of the Red Army were carrying out raids from East Prussia to as far as Berlin, attacking the new centres of production which have been established since the R. A. F. be- gan hitting the Ruhr and Rhine districts. American bombs on Tokyo last April awakened Japanese leaders to the danger of future raids from Chinese bases within easy strik- ing distance of flimsy Nipponese cities. Two such bases were at Chuhsien and Lishui, amid the tea plantations and terraced moun- tains of Southeast China. The Jap- anese war machine was set in motion against the airfields; 100,- 000 troops pressed toward them in a pincers move along a 250 -mile stretch on the Chekiang-Kiangsi railroad still held by the Chinese. By mid-July the whole rail line had been occupied and the Mik- ado's legions were in possession of both bases. Tokyo declared that the air-raid danger had been el- iminated, spoke of using the cap- tured rail line as a link in an all - land route to Singapore. Last -week it appeared that the Japanese boasts had been pre- mature. Once more China bad turned the tables on her enemy. Japan was in rapid retreat. In six weeks Chiang Kai-shek's men had recaptured fifteen cities, among them Chubsien and Lishui, had re- taken 200 miles of the Chekiang- Kiangsi railroad; claimed 40,000 Japanese casualties. The sudden change of military fortune puzzled observers in China. In part It was attributed to the bombing of Jap - a n e s e airfields by American planes, in part to the fighting qualities of the Chinese soldier. But these factors, it was held, could not wholly account for such major withdrawals. Chinese military experts were inclined to attribute the Japanese retreat primarily to a change of policy by the Mikado's war lords. In their opinion Tokyo has decid- ed to strike elsewhere, is giving up a conquest In order to shift troops to the new scene of action. Military experts pointed to four possibilities: (1) That Japan, her hand forced by the approach of Winter in Siberia, was making ready a long-delayed s t r o k e against Russia; (2) that the gen- eral staff, alarmed over American invasion of the Solomous, was about to reinforce Nipponese de- fenses in the Southwest Pacific; (3) that Japan planned to take advantage of Indian disorders and strike at the subcontinent; (4) that a new offensive in North China, aimed at cutting the road. to Russia, was to begin. Meanwhile American aviation continued to aid. Last week Am- erican bombers blasted the Nip- ponese air base at Lashio, Bur- mese, terminus of the now use- less Burma Road. A.ncl in Chung- king the arrival of the first group of Chinese fliers trained in Am- erica was a further symbol of Chinese-American collaboration. The importance of . Brazil's en- trance into the war should not be minimized. For one thing, it R G'L.AB FELLERS—Question No. 5,726 SEC.AUSE HE'S MY BROTHER! ANYBODY WHO HAPPENED TO BE MY BROTHER. WOULD BE YOUR UNCLE! TELT, p4g, POI', WHY IS Er THAT UNCLE.EORCiE 15 MY UNCLE.? a• will now be possible for the Ifi*F Red States to collaborate in tie* construction of great bases, both sea and air, in Brazil, and they will be adequately protected. Again, the psychological effect of Brasil's nation w i 1 I be felt throughout Latin -America and 111 all time Latin sections of Europe. Why did Hitler decide to goad, Brazil into active warfare? There seems to be only one reasonable explanation, namely, his convic- tion that this would force a fur- ther diversion of American %ap'ply, and neeessitate transfer to Brazil of essential equipment that would otherwise have gone to tile Euro- pean and other fronts. Undoubt- edly, there will be a marked stej- ping-up of shipments to Brazil (and from Brazil) but, on bal- ance, the development is decided- ly favorable to the Allies, Getting Rid Of Bats in. Holuaso The first step in getting' rid o bats in an open attic must be to close all openings by which the bats can get in. Small bats can get through holes hardly one-half inch across. The best marial for •the job is oakum, which. Is tarred -felt fiber. Bats dislike the odor and will keep away from it. During the day all but two or three of the principal openings should be closed. These should be left open for a night or two until the bats have learned to use them3 and should then be closed several hours after dark when all the bate have gone out. When bats collect within walls or under floors, they can be driven out by the liberal. use of moth flakes, which will be effective even in the daytime. Openings should not be plugged when there is a chance that bats are remaining within the house. rr WOULDN'T MATTER 1 IF HE WAS THE BARBER,THE BAKER, OR THE CHIMNEY SWEEP, HE'D STILL BE 'YOUR UNCLE AS LONG, AS HE WAS MY BROTHER! SCOUTING A birthday coincidence, pro- bably unique in the world, is con- nected with the life of Lord. Baden-Powell, Founder of the Boy Scout Movement. Lord Baden- Powell's birthday was February 22nd, and that of his wife, the Chief Girl Guide, the same date. Their son Peter Baden-Powell was born on the same date and married a young lady also born on February 22nd. To mala; the sequence even more unique their first child, a boy, was also born on the same date as his parents and grand --parents. * * :i When a Boy Scout Headquart- ers in much bombed Malta was destroyed recently a framed pic- ture of the Scout Founder, Lord Baden-Powell, carne through un- scathed. A newspaper photo- graph received recently from Mal- ta shows Rev. Bernard Hersey of the Grey Friars rescuing the pie- ture of the late Chief from the rubble. Assisting him in salvag- ing effects of the building are s: Boy Scout and a Sea Scout, * 4' * "When I see a Scout Troop at work I think to myself, 'By Jove, here's another group of Comman- dos almost ready to take their place in the fighting line' wrote a British Scoutmaster, now a member of a Commando unit. "I am very thankful to Scouting. Each man in a Commando has to go through the training a Boy Scout goes through from the Ten- derfoot stage, with a few ad- ditions." * * The Cornwell Decoration, which perpetuates the memory of Jack Cornwell, who won the V.C, in the First Great War when he lost; his life in the Battle of Jutland, has been awarded to Scout Jim- my Cluff of the 30th Stepney Troop, London. Jimmy lost a leg and suffered other injuries while on duty in a Nazi air raid and displayed the same heroism as that exhibited by his Stout hero, Jack Cornwell. * R ,R The world's first Boy Scout Troup was organized at a camp on Brownsea Island, Dorset, on July 25th, 1907, by Lt, -Gen, R. Baden-Powell, for the world's first Boy Scout camp. The sole surviving member of the camp staff, "P, W,. Everett," now Sir Percy Everett, and still active in Scouting as Deputy Chief Scout, paid a visit to Can- ada shortly before the war. By GENE BYRNES WELL, SUPPOSIN I WAS YOUR BROTHER THEN WOULD-) t BE MY OWN UNCLE? e 5 f ^`rcr {r, rt, i• i nn ac. Air rIz>'t