Zurich Herald, 1944-05-04, Page 6THE DECLINE OF WALKING
In England, as in Ireland and
Scotland, walking is a tradition,
has not been checked by the
motor car. People think nothing
of walking twenty or thirty miles
day. The late Lord Tweedsmuir
once told us that he had walked
75 miles in a single day; a feat
which, almost incredible to Cana-
dians, was by no means extraor-
dinary for the Old Country. In
hie "Prophets, Priests and Kings,"
Mr. A. G. Gardiner told how the
late Lord Grey had once walked
25 miles in a driving rain across
the moor to cover a bird's nest
from the storm. And then, of
•course, there are those tales of
the delights of walking by writ-
ers like Hilaire Belloe.
All of us might be better if the
habit of walking should come
back to us; better In health and
strength, and better in our souls
because of more love and know-
ledge of the beauties of the coun-
tryside. True, many of us sub-
stitute golf for walking—but who
ever heard of a golfer stopping
on the fairways to admire a tree
thr a bird; or seeing anything of
e good earth but his bad lies?
—Ottawa Journal.
—o ---
NOT PUSHOVERS
The secretary of state for Scot-
land has urged that Britain's
echool books 15e purged of refer-
ences which belittle Britain's al-
lies. We might also stop belitt-
ling the enemy, The enemy is
tough, shrewd, unscrupulous, well
equipped, determined and capable.
The sooner we realize this and
set to work to beat just that type
at enemy the sooner will we be
within sight of victory.
All too much is heard of the
stupidity of Nazi soldiers, of the
"inevitable" collapse of German
morale, of Germany's lack ef oil,
food, rubber and clothing. It has
been indisputably proven that
gust before the Nazi blitzkrieg
;nto France Nazi fifth columnists
spread_ word among French peas-
ants that the German army was
eying of undernourishment. And
then came the German army.
This enemy is no fool.
—Ottawa Journal.
—o—
PLEASANT ADVICE
A lesson that small boys have
been trying to impress upon their
pparents.for ages is confirmed by a
,ondon medical authority. He
Warns against the habit of getting
Out: of bed suddenly in the morn-
ings. He advises: "Lie awake at
least five minutes before arising.
''tretch every limb, and a few
minutes spent in reading is ex-
eelleq"
Occasionally a health special-
* presca-ibes something that can
be performed with pleasure.
—Guelph Mercury
—0—
DRINK "HOME" STUFF
Apple and tomato juices will
be available in quantity for Can-
adians this Winter. This should
lessen the need for imported cit-
rus fruits and thus conserve ex-
change, while putting the money
Into the pockets of Canadian pro-
ducers who have lost their over-
seas markets.
—Brantford Expositor
—0—
CARELESS SMOKERS
So a tossed -away cigarette end
hardly ever starts a fire, eh?
That's what you think,! A state-
ment released by the Canadian
Underwriters' Association de-
clares that the carelessness of
smokers was responsible for by
far the largest percentage of the
46,629 fires which destroyed pro-
perty worth $22,735,264 in 1940.
—Brantford Expositor
—0—
QUEEN GIVES TONE
Nice comment from a para-
grapher in The New York Sun,
to the effect that Queen Eliza-
beth, at 41, is equalled by few
women for charm with less fix-
ing up, and every time Her Majes-
ty appears in a news reel, it lifts
the whole program up.
—St. Catharines Standard
—0—
LINCHPIN DEFINED
Prime Minister Churchill, with
his usual gift of expression, has
called Canada "the linehpin of
the English-speaking world." A
linchpin is the phi passed through
the axle -end to keep the wheel on.
—Brantford Expositor
—0—
VOLUNTARY GIVING
If only the Germans had a
sense of humor. They gravely
announce that the Winter relief
drive will open earlier this year,
with "voluntary" contributions
being withheld from salaries and
wages.
—Windsor Star
—0—
TROUBLE TALKERS
If some people didn't have
trouble, they'd have a hard time
carrying on a conversation.
Average cost of the iron and
tel in an automobile to the man-
ufacturer is three cents a pound.
Scene from Newest German "Horror
Film Released. by Biritistr,
Nazi movie cameramen who took this picture of German infantrymen racing past blazing ruins of
ss Soviet town intended that the finished film, called "War in the East," would be shown in the Reich
to boost home morale. Instead, the film, which previews a Nazi "victe y" over Russians, fell into Brit-
ish hands, is now being shown in Britain as "a masterpiece of the Nags' glorification of brutality."
'i H E W A R WEE K—Commentary on Current Events
Roosevelt Answers Hitler's Threat
Spitzbergen l : waded . Russia Holds,
"Whoever believes he will be
le to help England must defin-
te y 'know one thing: every ship,
whether with or without a convoy,
that comes before our torpedo
tubes will be torpedoed."
"No act ef violence will keep us
the occasion of the 8th anniversary
of the Nazi accession to power last
January.
No act of violence will keep us
from maintaining intact two bul-
warks of defense: First ,our line
of supply to the enemies of Hitler,
and, second, the freedom of our
shipping on the high seas. From
now on, if German or Italian ves-
Sele of war enter the waters the
protection of which is necessary
for American defense, they do so
at their own peril."
So said President Roosevelt on
the occasion of his last radio ad-
dress, an occasion which had arisen
from attacks on American ships at
zaa.
Mr. Roosevelt, opening his speech
w ith a listing of these attacks,
!said:
"These acts of international law-
lesaness are a manifestation of * * *
the Nazi design to abolish the free-
dom of the seas and to acquire ab-
solute control * * * of those seas.
* * * iryor with control of the seas
* * * the way can become obviously
clear for their next step, domina-
tion of the United States, domina-
tion of the Western Hemisphere by
force of arms.
To be ultimately successful in
world mastery, Hitler knows that
lie * * * must first destroy the
bridge of ships which we are build-
ing across the Atlantic, and over
which we shall continue to roll the
implements of war to help destroy
bion.
Generation after generation, Am-
erica has battled for the general
policy of the freedom of the seas.
• * * No nation has the right to
make the broad oceans of the
world, at great distances from the
actual theatre of land war, unsafe
for the commerce of others.
There has now come a time when
you and I must see the cold inex-
orable necessity of saying to these
* * * seekers. of world conquest
* * * "You shall gono further."
* * * This is the time for preven-
tion of attack. * * * Upon our ma " al
and air patrol * * *falls the duty
of maintaining the American polioy
of freedom of the seas—now. * * *
Our patrolling vessels and planes
will protect all merchant ships —
not only American ships'*but ships
of any flag—engaged in commerce.
* * * It is no act of war on our
part when we decide to protect the
seas that are vital to American de-
fense. The aggression is not ours.
Ours is Soley defense."
The essential element of the
new situation created by the Ameri-
can challenge to the axis is in like
North Atlantic. It is through
those waters that British vital life
lines to Canada and the United
States run. And the effect of the
President's stern order to the navy
is to place those life lines under
American armed protection.
Spitzbergen Offensive
A British - Canadian - Norweg-
ian expedition crept secretary.
across northern seas to Spitzber
gen Islands,: and struck. tor,' .�
Nazis knew what was ataot
tain's immediate objective was t.a
deprive the Nazis of any value the
Islands might have in strengthen-
ing Hitler's war effort.
About 1,000 Norwegians were re-
moved to new homes in England.
Three times as many Russians
were taken to undisclosed destina-
tions.
Huge stocks of oil and coal were
fired. Damage done by efficient
Canadian sappers renders the isl-
ands useless for years. They lie
depopulated in the Arctic Ocean,
400 miles above Norway and 750
miles for the North Pole.
Spitzbergen meant far more to
Britons than a regrettable bit of
wartime destruction. Those who
have been clamoring for a British
land offensive somewhefe ,against
Nazi -occupied Europe, saw in Spitz-
bergen a sample of what migha be
coming.
As a Norwegian possession, the
Arctic islands brought dangers, of
British invasion home to Nazi sen-
sibilities. Berlin has been most
apprehensive about Norway. Arid'
with reason, judging by recent outs
breaks in that country.
Russia Stili Holding
Russia is still the great enig l;
How can the Red armies be power-
ful enough to hold the Germans at
bay? Part of the answer may be
in the tremendous losses suffered
by the Germans. In men alone the
.:casualties must be well over a mil-
.
lien. In equipment an authorata-
live estimate of forty per cent is
given. German servicing of ad-
-vatnced units has daily become
mare difficult and the mechanized
forces have found the Russian ter-
rain Very costly in fuel and upkeep.
The.rest of the answer may be that
the "encircled" Russians have re-
fused to"retreat even though they
have suffere:teibly `,but so have
the Germans. Ther air force, ad-
mirably handled, has hail telling
striking power. Russian railways
have done an amazing job, mainly
due to the high morale of the
workers who ignore ordinary work-
ing hours. The Germans have made
two serious miscalculations — the
volume of Russia's war material
reserves and the fighting power of
her civilian population.
Thus far Napoleon's road to Mos-
cow has proved too tough for
Hitler. The distance that the
french grand army negotiated in
r ilQ-odd days, afoot and with horse,
vie, ax oxen transport, is twice
than that covered by
arind, legions in the
41114.
AND TI -IE BAND PLAYED ON
With Gas
Goes On Kerosene
Jimmy Engler, a service sta-
tion operator in New York, has
solved the gasoline problem so
far as his personal consumption
of fuel is concerned.
He has equipped his car with
a tank for kerosene and a small
auxiliary tank for gasoline.
The gasoline, he says,. is used
only for starting the motor. Once
started, the gasoline line is turned
off and the car operates on kero-
sene. .
He says, he uses; three .gallons
of kerosene; =ata7aa cents a gal-
lon, ;to one 'gallon of gasoline at
about "t0 cents a gallon.
i Book Shelf
° MARRIAGE IS A PRIVATE
AFFAIR
By Judith Kelly
It is interesting to read a book
about people who are not too
beautiful, , too good, too clever,
too abnormal, but who are just
the average persons, well brought
up, well educated and well enough
endowed with this world's goods
for normal and gracious living.
Such are Theo Schofield and
°Tom West in "Marriage Is a 'Fri-
vate Affair." This 1941 Harper
prize novel was written by Judith
Kelly, a native of Ontario.
The story deals with the first
four years of their married life.
Deeply in love, there is every
prospect that their lives will be
happp, though more or less con-
ventional. Toni is endowed with
much common sense and, besides
his love has a great respect for
his wife. Theo tries bravely to
live up to his ideal of marriage
but, emotional and youth -loving,
finds distraction away from home.
Failing as a wife, she realizes
that marriage is a system of
rights and obligations and that
more than love is needed to cope
With its problems. Eventually
they reach their full maturity and
understanding of each other.
This story is a fine example,
skillfully handled, of essentially
decent people, adjusting them-
selves to sane living.
Marriage Is a Private Affair , .
by Judith Kelly .' . _Harper &
Brothers . . Price$2.75.
LL THE LATEST PICT ' k`, S
1V/ail only two Durham Corn
Starch labels for each pic-
ture desired—or one Bee
Hive Syrup label.
To start, ?elect from the
"Flying Torpedo"—"Sky
Rocket"—"Lightning"—
"
ocket"—"Llghtning"—
" D efiant "—" Bpi tfir e"—
"hurricane" or "Catalina'?
. the list of 20 other pie.
tures will be sent with your
Srst request, Specify your
name, address, picture or
pictures requested—enclose
necessary labels and mail to
the St. Lawrence Starch Co.,
Limited, Port Credit, Ont.
00
Believedto have thrived in the
days of Shakespeare, a gum tree
recently felled in Eooba Forest,
Australia, yiel led 1.r"•n
ties eight feet lona,;.'
Firemen's Tests
Toughest Devised
Would -Be Members in New
York City's Fire Department
Must Pass Severe Physical
Test
Appointment to the New York
Fire Department is the ambition
of 5,400 young men who have un-
dertaken to pass qualifying exam-
inations, notes The Toronto Tele-
gram. The physical test—stated
by the head of the Civil Service
Commission to be "the toughest
ever devised for a government
Job, civil or military"—will dispose
of at least half of the aspirants.
The first test is for co-ordin-
ation; each man sits in a seat
equipped with a steering gear and
foot and hand brakes and is judg-
ed on his response to signals
clashed on a board ahead. Then
he lifts weights while lying on his
back with someone holding his
feet, To score perfection he must
rise to a sitting position, bringing
a sixty -pound weight over his head.
Penfection in lifting dumbbells is
with those who lift eighty -pound
weights in each hand. Then the
aspirant has to carry a dummy
weighing 170 pounds up eight
steps. -
After which he is required -to
take a ten -foot broad jump, hurdle
a three -and -a half -foot rail, dodge
through barriers, climb a ladder
ten feet high and swing across a
ladder for fifteen feet, jump or
drop from an eight -foot wall, vault
a box four and a half feet high ad
keep going. The time limit for This.
is thirty-one seconds. After a
fifteen -minute rest, comes a'. anile
run.
Educational requirements
elude matriculation standing
high school.
The young fireman, after six
months' probation .service, starts
at $2,000 a year:" The,department,
with more than 10,6•b0 -men, is on
the three -platoon system.
Sell Gas In Can
To Domestic User
Gasoline may be sold in cans or
other containers providing it is
for use in lamps, stoves, washing
machines, or for domestic pur-
poses, Oil Controller G. R. Cot-
trelle stated recently in a wire
to a Midland washing machine
agency.
The agency asked for a ruling
and reported to the oil controller
that gasoline station operators
had refused to sell gasoline in
containers under any condition,
and that domestic consumers were
suffering.
"Prohibitions only apply to
gasoline for use in private pas-
senger vehicles," stated the wire.
New York
Trai 1 For Raids
one
Managers of skyscrapers, apart-
ment houses and loft buildings in
New York City have trained 50,-
400 men in the last three months
to combat incendiary air attacks
and bombing raids on the city if
they should come. This army of
private fire fighters and salvage
crews will total 200,000 men 'with-
in a few months, according to B.
H. Belknap, head of the manage-
ment division of the Real Estate
Board of New York. The work is
being done under the supervision
of Mayor F. H. LaGuardia, Civilian
Defence Director. Mr. Belicnap's
statement was the first inkling
that New York or any other At-
lantic Seaboard city was prepar-
ing -for eventualities that might
come out of strained relations with.
the Axis powers.
Alter 50,000 key men are fully
trained they will instruct others
so that the private fire brigade
will total 200,000 highly efficient
men who will not only know how
to put out fires, salvage sections,
but also handle sabotage and all
forms of subversive activity,
The fire brigade is being taught
the significance of different colors
of smoke and how to fight the fire
behind the smoke. The incendiary
bomb, he explained, heats to 3,400
degrees when the bomb explodes,
throwing sparks- in every direction
and ,setting fire to -everything
within many yards of the missile.
Sound. Ed .ca i:on
Best Foundation_:L_r,
Labor Minister •McLarty $ays
Youths Under Sixteen Not
`Weeded In7'Industry
Children under 16 years of. ago
are not needed in war industries,
Labor Minister McLarty said re-
cently in a statement emphasiz-
ing the importance of young people
continuing at school as long as
possible and "as long as they can
profit from such attendance."
"It is hoped that parents and
teachers will discourage boys and
girls who are making progress at
school from taking jobs," said Mr.
McLarty.
"Our mast pressing concern is,
of course, to further war produc-
tion but we must not lose sight of
the problems that are bound to
arise after the war and among
these will be some measure of un-
employment due to an inevitable
dislocation in industry. Workers'
with the least education and the
least training are sure to be am-
ong the first to be let 'out and
the last to be taken on."
The Minister said that sound
education and training gave the
best foundation for permanent em-
ployment.
LIFE'S LIKE THAT
By Fred Neher
?naanpn e, coma?Ix,ied KdW' ko.i '1 ..... . _. » .
"How many times must 1 tell, you never to bonier me when
Vitt wedeln's 1 ler