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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 1950)
Battalion Editorials Page 2 THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1950 STUMPING THE EXPERTS Use the Atom Bomb If We Must . .. Several days ago, we speculated as to how public opinion would view the use of the atom bomb to bring a quick end to the Korean war, but the American Institute of Public Opinion has published another sur vey. The specific questioned asked was “what is your opinion about our using the atom bomb if the Uriited States gets into another world war—do you think we should use it, or not?” The vote was af firmative 5 to 1. The moral issues have apparently been overcome by the universal belief that Rus- Capitol Hill Has Its Money Problems Congressional mailbags are bulging with letters from the aroused public. Sen ator Bridges, (R-NS), said his mail shows “the people are mad—they want to know where our defense money has gone.” Chairman Vinson, (D-Ga.), of the House Armed Services Committee, recent ly made public a letter that he received from Secretary of Defense Johnson in which the $48 billion spent in the last four years is accounted for on a yearly average basis. Johnson said that 41 per cent of the armed forces money was spent for pay, food, and clothing. AbouU25 per cent was spent on maintenance of existing equip ment and installations. Major procure ment accounted for only 18 per cent of the money. sia has atom bombs, and that she would not hesitate to use them against us. This trend is also shown in the 5 to 1 vote in favor of starting work on the hydrogen bomb. It is interesting to note that one scien tist has calculated that 500 tons of heavy hydrogen exploded in the form of hydro gen bombs would create enough radioac tive carbon in the atmosphere to destroy all life on earth. This fact has caused much speculation that unrestricted atomic warfare would lead to a stalemate, since either power could destroy the world in this manner. Research and development received $500 million per year, and the remaining $1,250,000,000 was divided among the Na tional Guard, Reserve, classified projects, retirement pay, military public works, and other costs. These allocations were apparently made on a long range basis, but the Ko rean war forced us to put an army in the field with existing equipment. This de ficiency in procurement, according to Johnson, will be made up as quickly as possible. Sixty per cent of the $10 bil lion recently requested by President Tru man will be earmarked for weapons. Republicans want to know what hap pened to the money the Democrats spent. But the money is gone, and we’ll need more for the present war effort. Another Country Scores Over Monarchy The abdication of King Leopold HI ended rioting and threats of civil war in Belgium. Anti-Leopoldists scored a ma jor victory when the monarch agreed to convey his remaining powers to his son, Baudouin, when he becomes 21 on Sep‘. 7, 1951. The Anti-Leopoldists are composed of Communists, and Socialist-led members of the Belgian trade union federation. Ex tremists demanded nothing less than com- In'Passing . . . It is known that Iran is high in the list of places'where the Kremlin will increase pressure. An outright invasion is not ex pected in the immediate future, but the usual propaganda machine is sowing the seeds of discontent among Iran’s youth ful, low-paid army. Russian troops in Iran would probably lead to full scale retaliation by the United ★ ★ One hundred, two or three hundred years from now, when future generations start collecting antiques which are repre sentative of the prohibition era just pass ed, no table or buffet will be considered genuine without the tell-tale rings left by long-since-broken cocktail glasses. -K- An economist says 11.4% of all the employed people in the land work for the government. The learned gentleman un derestimates. The correct figure, is 100 %. v If you can’t win make the fellow ahead break the record. plete abdication and immediate exile. Leo pold has been criticised for his premature surrender to the Wehrmacht in 1940. This Belgian awakening indicates, that a profound change is under way. The self-styled representatives of divinity with absolute power seem to be on the way out. We hope, however, that the change will be an orderly one based on the will of the people, rather than an opportunity for the local extremists to gain power through violence. States, and Russian leaders apparently do not want to run this risk until their own atomic weapons stockpile has reduced our advantage in this respect. The strategic importance of this state is that it is the only thing between Russia and one third of the wood’s known oil reserves. Advertising Man to manufacturer of hair restorer: “Now we won’t resort to anything so crude as a guarantee to the user of your product. We’ll merely en close a comb and brush with each bottle.” * * * A life in the hereafter may be all to the okey for some of the gentry, but we look forward to a dull time if it’s anything like the description we’ve read. * # * If the warriors get to matching “H” against “H” and “A” against “A” in a bomb-dropping derby, all that will be left of “U” is “O!” "Soldier, Statesman, Knightly Gentleman?* Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Bounder of Aggie Traditioni _ T} l e Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and the City of College Station, Texas, .is published five times a week during the regular school year. Dur ing the summer, The Battalion is published four times a week and circulated every Tuesday through Friday afternoon. Subscription rates $2.00 per summer. Advertising rates furnished on re quest. The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of. spontaneous origin publish ed herein. Rights, of republication of all other matter herein are also reserved. News contributions may be made by telephone (4-5444) or at the editorial office, Room 201, Goodwin Hall Classified ads may be placed by telephone (4-5324) or at the Stuudent Activities Office, Room 209, Goodwin Hall. Entered as second-class matter at Post Office at College .Station, Texas, under the Act. of Congress of March 3, 1870. Member of The Associated Pren Represented nationally by National Ad vertising Service Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. SID ABERNATHY, DEAN REED L. O. Tiedt Frank Manitzas Joel Austin Betty Ann Potter Society Editor Fred Walker Amusements Editor Bill Hites ; . Photographer Bob Hancock, Bill Iptes. John Hollingshead, Janies Lancaster ..Photo Engravers Co-Editors .............Feature Editor Sports Editor City Editor Interpreting the News . . . War Will Keep Red China from UN Seat By J. M. ROBERTS, JR. AR Foreign Affairs Analyst Soviet Russia’s return to the United Nations council table seems to hayg assured that communist China will not be admitted to membership while other commun ists ipake aggressive war. The Russians also have added one and perhaps two serious blund ers to their long list. They reversed themselves on the boycott of the U. N. which had lasted for seven months, gambl ing, a serious loss of face against the opportunity to make an appeal to anti-western sentiment in Asia. Announced Too Soon Their first blunder was to an nounce their return several days in advance, giving the western nations a well-utilized opportun ity to be prepared with antidotes for Malik’s propaganda. And the propaganda itself was so full of ill-considered inflamma tion that it may defeat its own purpose. Malik appealed to Asia. But he tried tricks rather than persuasion on the merits of the communist case. He tried villifica- tion and the “hie lie” technique against the. United States. By mak ing his appeal to Asia thrd^gh ean Set at ‘X’ Months Paris, Aug. 3—(A 5 )—America’s leaders have no hope of defending western Europe from a Russian at tack if it comes tomorrow. But in “X” months—there’s a top secret label on the value of “X”—they believe Britain and France can be so strengthened morally and militarily that they could lead a successful stand. Authoritative sources here who describe, that situation say the number of months “X” represents can be shortened if any Europeans are won away from the currently popular attitude of “what’s the use?” That’s the view being forcefully Official Notice VETERANS All veteran students who are attending school under the GI BUI are reminded that they should carefully check their remaining eligibility in order that they will know how far into the succeeding semesters they may receive Benefits under the Law. Un less the vacation. 15 days leave, is official ly waived, it will be automatically given between the conclusion of the summer se mester and the beginning of the fall semes ter and deducted from remaining eligibility. If the vacation leave is to be waived, the veteran should report to the Veteran Ad visor’s Offifce in Goodwin Hall at once and fill out a waiver, request. Should there be doubt as to remaining eligibility, the Veteran Advisor’s Office will be, glad to go over their records. Bennie A. Zinn for Veteran Advisor Frank Davis, Bert Hardaway, Bob Hughson, Louise Jones, Bill Mebane, B. F. Roland, Dale \Yalston Carter A. Phillips .. .Staff Reporters .Editorial Assistant WTAW Radio Program 1150 Kilocycles Thursday Afternoon 12:15—Big League Baseball 2:55—Scoreboard 3:00—Musical Scoreboard 3:30—-Bingo 5:00—Requestfully Yours 5:45—Navy Band 6:00—Guest Star 6:15—Supper Club 7:30—Sign Off Friday 6:00—Texas Farm & Home 6:15—W-TAW Roundup 7:00—Coffee Club 7:30—News of Aggieland 7:45—Hebrew Christian Hour 8:00—Morning Special 9:00—Concert Hall 9:30—Homemaker Harmonies 9:45—Bob Eberly 10:00—Dick Haymes 10:15—Music for. Friday 10:30—Morning Matinee. 11:00—Bryan News 11:10—Chuckwagon 12:00—Texas Farm and Home 12:15—Big League Baseball 2:55—Scoreboard 3:00—Musical Scoreboard 3:30—Bingo 5:00—United Natiqns 5:15—Requestfully Yours. 5:45—Voice of the Army 6:00—Family Worship Hour. 6:15—'Supper Club 7:30—Sign OU argued to the Europeans at North Atlantic pact meetings in London and in man-to-man conferences with officials throughout western Europe. The Americans make, no effort to hide it, though they fight shy of putting their names to it publicly. America on Alert The Communist attack in Korea and its success have put the razor edge on American awareness of how helpless Europe would be in the face of a full Russian assault. Before, this was understood in a dull and distant way, if at all. This is the way they now paint the picture: The Russians, according to Brit ish Defense Minister Emanuel Shinwell, could put 175 army divi sions into the field tomorrow. West ern Europe probably could not scrape together 15. while it might not necessarily take 175 divisions to stop 175, it would take a lot more than 15. American rearmament of the Atlantic world is going ahead on the assumption that World War III can be avoided. Top American policy makers are said to believe there is less danger now of a major conflict than there was two months ago. Can Expect Opposition They reason that two months ago the Russians might have thought they could edge ahead without resistance. The Korean war has showed they can expect opposition. The fa.ct that the Russians have not moved against western Europe seems to mean to observers here that the Soviets do not want a big war. If they did, they could hardly a pick a better time than now. Potent45-tonPershingTank$ Join Allied Do-or-Die ’Forces fft these tactics, he let them know that he considered them fools, and it may cost Russia dearly. Nehru Perception Slow Nehru of India, for instance, is no man to be fooled by such mouth- ings. Nehru is a type of socialist who may not yet perceive clearly the complete breakaway of com munist imperialism from socialism. But he is np sucker. He knows who started the Ko rean war, who provided the North Koreans with the weapons, and who directs both the military and political tactics of the campaign. India saw the admission of com munist China to tire U. N. as a means of getting down to a nego tiated peace. If Malik had come forward with the least reasonable offer of peace he would have re mained on solid ground with Nehru. If he could still do that he would retain India’s support. But he cannot, for Russian gen eral policy is to promote discord, not peace. If Russia will withdraw, her satellite troops beyond the 38th parallel, stop the flow of arms to them and permit unification of Korea through a United Nations- supexvised election, there qm be withdrawal of U. N. armie? and peace. By ASSOCIATED PRESS Tokyo, Aug. 3—(A 5 )—Powerfully armed U.S. Marines and Army re inforcements rolled out with 45-ton Pershing tanks today to join the chips-down battle for the Allied de fense box in Southeast Korea. They went forward to brace new lines already set for the climatic Allied hold-on somewhere along the winding Naktong River. Allied forces in some areas had pulled back as much as 18 miles in three days to make their stand on shortened fronts. But in the hills northeast of Chinju the U.S. 24th Division block ed a North Korean Red push to ward the plains leading to Pusan, main U.S. seaport on the South east coastal tip. The Reds were about 40 miles from the supply port. Yongdok Regained On the East Coast, South Kore ans regained shell-flattened Yong dok under a new Allied Naval bar rage cover. They drove the Com munists three miles to the north of the city. The barrage continued Thursday with eight-inch cruiser guns hammering the Reds. _ The American retreat in the West and the Korean Republican withdrawal in the north—west of Yongdok — was reported orderly. The Northern Reds apparently were surprised by the withdrawals. The meandering Naktong River offers the Allies what may be the best natural barrier they have had up to now, in the unequal Korean war. It is deep and broad in spots and some bridges across it have been blown. A briefing officer at General MacArthur’s headquarters in Tok yo said American and Korean re treats on the Central and Northern arcs, averaging from two to six miles a day for three days, gained time for a buildup of the reinforce ments from the United States. To Throw Powerful Armor The MacArthur spokesman said the Marines would throw m o r e powerful armor at the North Kore ans than any they had encounter ed. The Marines’ Pershing tanks carry 90 mm. guns. Other Marine weapons include super - bazookas and flame throwers. The Communists, MacArthur’s spokesman said, have lost most of their tank strength. They were reported regrouping and getting ready for the drives toward Pusan and Taegu, which is scarcely seven miles from Naktong, 50 miles northwest of Pusan. At least half a division of Reds had been added to the two divisions in the Chinju area. The battle- tried 24th division halted the Reds in the hills there. One column of Communists was forced into a defile by the Ameri cans on the Chinju front. Fighter planes dived on them, blasting the Reds with rockets and machine- guns. General MacArthur in his Wed nesday night war summary said the. North Koreans had recklessly thrown away thousands of lives, MacArthur’s report said Ameri cans east of Chinju counter-at tacked “for the purpose of recti fying their lines and to disorgan ize a threatened Red offensive.” Boyle Reports A front dispatch from Associa ted Press War Correspondent Hal Boyle said Communist artillery shelled a riverside highway 14 miles southwest of Taegu. He said the Red fire was aimed to cut American highway traffic along the road east of the Naktong Riv er to Taejue, provincial capital. This was the nearest attack on Tae gu up to then. MacArthur reported a regimen- Packenham Leaves BA Department E. S. Packenham, instructor of accounting, has resigned his posi tion to assume a job in the Dallas office of the East Texas Motor Freight Co. according to T. W. Leland, head of the Business and Accounting Department. Packenham came to A&M as an instructor in 1947. He received a Certified Public Accountant cer tificate in May, 1949, and got his Masters Degree here in January, 1950. He taught courses in business management, office management, and cost accounting for engineers. Bible Verse “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye- separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Al mighty.”—II Cor. 6:17, 18. tal combat team of the U. S. First Cavalry Division threw back a Communist thrust east of Kumchon in the central sector. Kumchon was abandoned in flames by the First Cavalry Wednesday night. Allied warplanes continued ham mering enemy troops and supply. Flying more than 400 sorties Wed nesday, they concentrated on close tactical ground support in the bat tle area west of Pusan. The Far East Air Force reported damaging 76 North Korean vehic les, 29 railroad cars and six loco motives. U.S. B-29s bombed nine bridges including one of their more familiar targets — the railroad bridge west of Seoul, the long-lost South Korean capital. In addition to covering the South Korean’s recapture of Yongdok, Naval gunfire damaged military installations at Red-held Mokpo, former Naval base on Korea’s southwest coast. British Bombardment An aerial spotter reported a two- hour bombardment by two British destroyers—“operating under ex treme navigational hazards”—- set a large fire in an oil storage area and hit warehouses, a factory rail road sidings and dock installations at Mokpo. The Far East Naval summary said Mokpo “could be a vital stag ing point for the North Koreans in close-in water resupply opera tions along the west and south coasts.” A hydroelectric plant at Mokpo was the target of rocket-firing W Mustangs. Airmen generally reported they had difficulty finding targets alotfg the Korean roads. Two days ago * t the Communists pushed their tanks and supplies down highways in daylight. Targets Scarce > American and Australian pilots shot some of them to bits. Such targets were scarce Thursday un der terrific pounding and strafing, Pressure on South Korean troops i > * in the North Central sectors had ' * eased noticeably Thursday. Only minor engagements were fought in the Andong-Yechon-Hamchang ar ea. General MacArthur’s headquar ters said the Korean Republicans had been supplied with more ar tillery and were waiting for the signal to kick off on a general at tack. \) Neutral Burma May Be Invoked in War, Rangoon—UP)—The Burmese will find themselves on a limb should Korea develop into a third world war. They would like to be neutral as long as they can, but fear that neutrality will not be tolerated, least of all by Red China. And they believe if they sided with the Communists, even morally, they will feel the weight of Allied might. While the Burmese government is silent on the Korean issue, old- time politicians are counselling the country to _ sit on the fence un til it can join the winning side. But the government, aware that no fence sitting will be tolerated by either combatants of the future, is discussing likely repercussions if another world conflict breaks. India Dismays Burma A well-informed source said In dia’s support of positive American and United Nations’ action in Ko rea dismayed the Burmese govern ment. Burmese policy generally is to follow closely in India’s foot steps, but this time there must he hesitation because Burma must watch out for Red China. This is how the Burmese are making their calcuation should there be war, according to the source— 9 A declaration of neutrality will automatically concert Burma into a battlefield with India and China fighting for strategic bases. Allied bombing would flatten a countryside barely recovering from the last war and two yeafs of in ternal strife. ® Burma becomes a battlefield anyway because whichever side es tablishes bases here will be chal lenged by the other. • The Burmese army is equip ped with weapons mainly of Britr ish manufacture. If Burma votes for the Reds, the British will stop supplies of arms and ammunition. Pretty soon the Burmese will have the arms but no ammunition. • Rightly or wrongly the Bur mese believe the Anglo-Americans, with a Burma hostile to them, will recognize the Karen rebel group and arm them to fight the Burmese, if they go Red. This would relieve Britain of tying down, unneccessarily forces in this country. • The Burmese must export their rice or be killed economically. All her markets are within the Anglo-American bloc. The source said that Burma, with Red China practically on l>cr back door step, cannot afford to antagonize Peking at this parti cular time. He said the govern ment knows it cannot stop the Reds militarily if they chose to walk in because Burma has a rela tively small army. Moreover, the Chinese Commun ists already have a potentially strong fifth column inside the coun try. There are the Red Flag. (Trotskyite) Communists led by • Thakin Soe and the White Flag (Stalinist) group by Thakin Than Tun. "l> NOW SHOWING TODAY thru SATURDAY FIRST RUN —Features Start— 1:56 - 3:33 - 5:10 - 6:40 - 8:25 10:00 Jf BAXTER II NEWS CARTOON PREVUE SAT. 11 P.M. LAST DAY ^Destination Tokyo” FRIDAY — SATURDAY HSR0ES OP THE HERD-WARS? " ^ 8v , “ ,fs - RAY ENRIGHT 60 " 0 ” CH ‘-" ....... 3 CHARLES ONEAL a vom ta * CNtST H * yC0 * LIT ABNER ALL EES QUIET EL PASSIONATO THE-tfA?V'ME IN THE LAST LAP OF THEIR DAILY 24-HOUR SIESTA -AN' THE GORLS HAVE ALL GONE HOME, Moonlight Madness By A1 Capp g-'t' r